In the competitive world of e-commerce, having a visually appealing Shopify store is only half the battle. To attract more visitors, you need high search engine rankings—and one of the most effective ways to achieve that is through link building.
Done right, link building can improve your store’s visibility, drive organic traffic, and help you stand out from competitors. In this guide, we’ll explore smart link building strategies tailored specifically for Shopify store owners.
Why Link Building Matters for Shopify SEO
Link building is the process of getting other websites to link back to your store. Search engines see these links (backlinks) as “votes of confidence,” which can improve your site’s authority and rankings.
Benefits of link building for Shopify:
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Higher rankings in Google search results
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Increased referral traffic from other websites
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Improved domain authority
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Brand credibility and trustworthiness
Without quality backlinks, even the most beautiful Shopify store might remain invisible in search results.
Smart Link Building Strategies for Shopify
1. Create Share-Worthy Content
Content marketing is the foundation of effective link building. The more valuable and engaging your content, the more likely others will link to it.
Ideas for Shopify content that earns links:
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Ultimate product guides (e.g., “The Complete Guide to Choosing the Perfect Leather Wallet”)
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Trend reports in your niche
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How-to tutorials for using your products
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Infographics that summarize key industry insights
Pro tip: Use tools like BuzzSumo to see which topics in your niche get the most backlinks and replicate their success.
2. Leverage Influencer Outreach
Partnering with influencers in your niche can generate high-quality backlinks and boost brand visibility.
Steps to get started:
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Identify influencers with blogs or websites.
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Offer free products in exchange for an honest review.
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Request a link back to your Shopify store in their post.
This method works particularly well for fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and tech products.
3. Guest Blogging on Relevant Websites
Guest blogging is one of the oldest yet most effective link building strategies. By contributing high-quality articles to reputable sites, you can earn authoritative backlinks.
How to succeed with guest blogging:
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Target blogs related to your niche
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Pitch unique, valuable topics
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Include a contextual link to your Shopify store or a specific product page
4. Build Resource Page Links
Many websites maintain “resource” or “recommended products” pages. Getting your store featured here can be an easy win.
Example: If you sell eco-friendly products, reach out to sustainability blogs that list “Top Eco-Friendly Brands” and request inclusion.
5. Utilize Broken Link Building
Broken link building involves finding broken links on other websites and suggesting your content as a replacement.
Process:
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Use a tool like Ahrefs or Check My Links to find broken links.
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Identify relevant broken pages.
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Contact the site owner and recommend replacing the broken link with one to your Shopify content.
This strategy is mutually beneficial: the website fixes its broken link, and you gain a backlink.
6. Get Listed in Niche Directories
Not all directories are worth your time, but niche-specific directories can send relevant traffic and strengthen your SEO.
For example:
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Handmade product marketplaces
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Local business listings
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Industry-specific buyer guides
7. Offer Expert Insights for Roundup Posts
Many blogs create “expert roundup” articles where they feature multiple opinions from industry professionals. By contributing your insights, you can secure a backlink.
Example pitch:
“Hi [Name], I’m the owner of [Your Shopify Store], and I’d love to share my thoughts on [Topic]. I can provide unique insights and also share your post with my audience.”
8. Create Link-Worthy Tools & Freebies
Offering something useful for free—like a calculator, template, or downloadable guide—can naturally attract backlinks.
For example:
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A size guide calculator for clothing brands
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A color palette template for home décor businesses
Technical SEO & Internal Linking on Shopify
While external link building is crucial, don’t ignore internal linking—links within your own site.
Best practices:
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Link from high-traffic blog posts to product pages
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Use descriptive anchor text
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Avoid orphan pages (pages with no internal links)
Tools to Help with Shopify Link Building
| Tool | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Backlink analysis & broken link building |
| BuzzSumo | Content research & influencer discovery |
| SEMrush | Competitor backlink tracking |
| Hunter.io | Finding outreach email addresses |
| Google Search Console | Monitoring backlink growth |
Measuring Your Link Building Success
Track these metrics to ensure your efforts are paying off:
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Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA)
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Number of referring domains
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Organic traffic growth
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Keyword rankings
Final Thoughts
Link building is an ongoing process—not a one-time task. For Shopify store owners, a smart, consistent strategy can mean the difference between being buried on page 5 of Google and dominating the top search results.
By creating share-worthy content, networking with influencers, and using advanced outreach tactics, you can steadily build a backlink profile that drives traffic and boosts sales.
If you combine these link building strategies with strong on-page SEO, your Shopify store will be well on its way to higher rankings and increased revenue.
