When you hear “link building,” what comes to mind?
If it’s something you’ve heard your coworkers mention, but don’t really understand what it means, don’t worry. We’ll help crack the link-building vault.
In this blog, we’ll talk about what it is, why it matters, and why August is the perfect time to start this pivot. No complicated jargon, no hidden meanings—just plain good old-fashioned know-how with a side dish of tricks and tips.
What Is Link Building?
In simple terms, link building is the process of getting other websites to link to your own. It’s when other websites include your content as external links on their pages.
They help boost your visibility and credibility, which in turn drives more visitors to your website. Broadly speaking, there are two main approaches: white hat and black hat—in other words, ethical and less ethical link-building methods.
These links, also known as backlinks, tell search engines like Google, “Hey, this is great content, and I think it’s worth referencing.” The more high-quality backlinks you’ve got, the better chances of ranking on the first page of search results—maybe even at the very top. In fact, 85 percent of marketers expect link building to remain a key ranking factor in the years to come.1 2
But even the biggest upsides come with a small challenge: not all links are created equal. Some might lead to low-quality pages that don’t support your content or might even confuse your audience.
High-Value vs. Spammy Links
Imagine two websites linking to your free eBook about content marketing. One is an established university website with trusted references and reliable sources. The other is a sketchy domain called free-ebooks-4u.biz, cluttered with irrelevant links and keyword-stuffed phrases—that’s classic black-hat territory.
Guess which one Google Search is more likely to rank higher.
You’re right—the ethical white-hat link building site will rank higher. If you’re linking to bad websites, you just might hurt your SEO efforts. High-value links come from respected websites—they’re earned, not bought.
Quick Tip: Trust your gut—if a website feels natural and helpful, it’s likely high-quality. If it seems shady with broken links, avoid it. Focus on building relationship-based links instead.
Read more: SEO in the Age of AI: Adapting to the New Search Revolution
Ready to Transform Your Business Development Approach?
Why August Is a Secret Weapon: Building Links at the Right Time
August tends to slow things down. There are fewer replies and quieter inboxes since people are out on vacation. But for marketers like you, it’s the perfect opportunity to ramp up your link-building strategies while the rest of the competition hits snooze.
Here’s why:
1. Less Inbox Noise, Less Competition
Since your competitors aren’t focused on link building or running aggressive campaigns, your email outreach and pitches are more likely to get noticed.
Timing is everything when it comes to link building. While others are taking a break or waiting until the busy season to start pitching, you’ve got a golden window to connect with potential partners. Don’t miss out just because it’s vacation season.
2. Companies Are More Open To Guest Posting
While it’s not an industry-wide phenomenon, some companies might also slow down their publications and editorial calendars. This creates an opportunity to pitch guest posts or contribute fresh content.
Offer niche-relevant stories like behind-the-scenes insights, customer journeys, or seasonal articles like “August Prep Tips for Q4” or “Late-Summer Strategy Sessions.” Publishers want to stay active—and you can help them do just that, while earning high-value backlinks.
3. Planning Season
August may feel quiet, but many editors and content leads are already planning their Q4 calendars behind the scenes. The good news? They’re open to new ideas.
With less noise, lighter workloads, and Q4 coming up, content teams are more receptive to pitches. It’s also a great time to repurpose your older case studies or evergreen content to meet the evolving mid-year market demands.
So no, August isn’t “dead time.” It’s a golden window for strategic content promotion, outreach, introductions, and collaborations—without the rushed, transactional feel of busier seasons. Think summer-casual meets white-hat SEO strategy.
Read more: Amplify Your Reach: Synergizing SEO and Social Media for Maximum Impact
Effective Link Building: Tactics That Work
Let’s be honest—some link-building tactics are gross and time-consuming. Cold outreach with zero context? Pass. Buying links from sketchy link farms? Hard pass. Broken or dead links just to have anchor texts? Don’t fall for the black method.
Instead, try these ethical, no-fuss methods that actually work. After all, high-quality links will benefit your website far more in the long run.
1. Guest Blogging
Reach out to sites relevant to your niche and industry. Look for those that have strong domain authority and pitch something fresh, useful, and timely for inbound links.
Many sites are short-staffed in August and might need your guest article, so it’s best to build relationships today. They get fresh content and you get backlinks and open future collaborations. It’s a win-win.
2. Digital PR
Do you have an original story or fresh research? Pitch it to media outlets, niche blogs, or newsletters in your space. According to a survey by Editorial Links, 48 percent of respondents believes that digital PR is one of the most effective strategy for link building.3
Think less “Please link to us,” and more “Here’s a unique insight your readers will love.” When done successfully, you ensure high quality in both backlinks and brand credibility, which helps bring referral traffic. Plus, you can use internal links to guide readers deeper into your content.
3. Relationship-Based Link Building
Your link quality often depends on your relationships—and unfortunately, you can’t fully control who links to you. While Google filters out toxic link-building techniques, the best way to ensure lasting SEO value is by building relationships with trusted partners.
August is a great time to reconnect with partners and industry peers while things are quieter. Start by offering something valuable: a quote for their upcoming article, a link to their recent piece, or even just a genuine compliment that opens up the conversation.
When you lead with value, links tend to follow.
Earning links doesn’t require cold pitches or awkward requests. Bank on real, long-term connections to result in natural backlinks from people who genuinely trust your content.
Build quality backlinks with Allied Insight.
August might be slow for everyone else, but that’s when the real magic happens. Instead of doing the same strategies as everyone else, consider being one step ahead, looking for more opportunities, and exploring new approaches—like pivoting from the usual cold calling to building links through relationships.
At Allied Insight, we turn quiet inboxes into golden opportunities—building backlinks that are genuine, trusted, and built to last. Let’s make this month the start of your strongest SEO season yet.
References
- Moogan, Paddy. “The State of Link Building Report 2021.” Aira, 2021, https://info.aira.net/hubfs/Aira_State_of_Link_Building_Report_2021.pdf
- Harutyunyan, Maria. “LinkBuilding Statistics 2025: Must-Know Stats, Strategies & Emerging Trends.” Loopex Digital, 6 Aug. 2025, https://www.loopexdigital.com/blog/linkbuilding-statistics
- Tatarek, Pawel et al. “The State of Link Building | 2025.” Editorial Links, 26 Jun. 2026, https://editorial.link/link-building-statistics/
