How to Build High-Quality Backlinks for Your Shopify Store

Backlinks remain one of the most powerful ranking signals Google uses to evaluate websites, for Shopify store owners, earning the right backlinks can translate to higher search visibility, more organic traffic, and more sales, making backlinks a core part of effective Shopify SEO.

However, not every link is equal. High-quality backlinks from relevant, authoritative sources amplify your store’s trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines and shoppers alike. This guide teaches actionable, ethical, and Shopify-specific link-building strategies that actually work.

 

Why Backlinks Matter for Shopify Stores

• Search rankings: Google treats links from reputable websites as endorsements. The better and more relevant those endorsements are, the higher your pages can rank for competitive product and category keywords.
• Referral traffic: Placing links on high-traffic blogs, resource pages, or niche directories can direct targeted shoppers directly to product pages or landing pages.
• Domain authority and trust: High-quality backlinks for Shopify Store help your entire domain to rank stronger over time, making it easier for new product pages to rank quickly.
• Brand awareness and alliances: Backlinks from industry blogs, influencers, and partners build recognition and credibility with customers.

Expect practical, step-by-step strategies below that are optimized for Shopify stores and ecommerce ecosystems.

 

Quick SEO and Content Preparation Checklist

• Ensure core pages are optimized: product titles, meta descriptions, structured data (JSON-LD for products), and fast-loading templates.
• Create linkable assets: long-form guides, original research, infographics, gift guides, data-driven posts, and strong category landing pages.
• Set up tracking: Google Analytics UTM parameters, Search Console, and a simple backlink tracking spreadsheet.
• Identify ROI-focused pages: product pages, category pages, top-of-funnel guides, and seasonal landing pages.

 

Guest Posting on Relevant Blogs

Guest posting means writing articles for other reputable websites in exchange for a backlink to your store.

Why it works for Shopify

• Blog posts allow contextual links to product pages or guides.
• E-commerce brands can showcase product expertise, use cases, or style guides that naturally lead to product links.
• Guest posts on niche blogs reach customers who are ready to buy.

Step-by-step process

1. Discover targets: Use search operators like “your niche + write for us” or find niche blogs, industry magazines, and lifestyle sites that cover your product area.
2. Assess quality: Check Domain Authority (or comparable metrics), traffic, relevance, and engagement.
3. Pitch a helpful idea: Propose topics that match the host site’s audience and naturally highlight your product or guide.
4. Write with value: Produce actionable content, not thin promotional pieces. Include one contextual link to a store page or a guide.
5. Follow up: Promote the published post via your channels and track referral traffic.

Example: A home-decor Shopify brand publishes a guest post on a popular interior-design blog titled How to Style Small Balconies for Summer. The post links to a product category (space-saving planters) and generates targeted referrals and a spike in sales of that category.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: High relevance, strong referral traffic, control over anchor text.
• Cons: Time-consuming; some sites may not accept promotional links.
• Best practices: Prioritize value, disclose commerce relationships, aim for one contextual link, and diversify guest-post targets.

 

Influencer and Blogger Outreach

Partnering with influencers and bloggers to review or feature your product, often in exchange for product, a fee, or a commission. This results in backlinks and social proof.

Why it works for Shopify

• Influencers reach ready-to-buy audiences.
• Product reviews and gift guides often include links to product pages.
• Visual platforms such as blogs, Instagram, and YouTube are ideal for showing products in use.

Step-by-step process

1. Map micro and macro influencers by niche, audience demographics, and engagement.
2. Prioritize relevance over follower count. High relevancy leads to higher conversion.
3. Propose a clear collaboration, such as a review, tutorial, unboxing, or affiliate partnership.
4. Negotiate backlink inclusion. Some influencers will include links in blog posts, video descriptions, or resource pages.
5. Measure performance via UTM tags and affiliate links.

Example: A beauty Shopify store sends sample kits to micro-influencers for an honest review series. Several bloggers write detailed tutorials linking back to specific product pages and a best-sellers category.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: Great for social proof and immediate sales.
• Cons: Links may be nofollow (still valuable for exposure); cost varies.
• Best practices: Focus on long-term partnerships, negotiate for blog posts or resource page links, and provide unique affiliate codes to measure ROI.

 

Leveraging Broken Link Building

Broken link building identifies outdated or broken links on other sites and offers your content as a replacement.

Why it works for Shopify

• Many resources link to products, guides, and product roundups. These links naturally go stale as retailers change inventory.
• You can offer product category pages or evergreen guides as replacements.

Step-by-step process

1. Find relevant resource pages in your niche that link to competitors or outdated products.
2. Use tools such as link checkers or site crawlers to detect broken links.
3. Create or identify a replacement asset in your store, such as a guide, product roundup, or updated resource page.
4. Conduct outreach. Politely notify the webmaster about the broken link and suggest your resource as a substitute.
5. Follow up and be helpful. Provide copy or formatting suggestions to make the fix easy.

Example: A sports accessories Shopify store finds a workout blog linking to a sock brand that has shut down. They offer their buyer guide to “best running socks” and secure a replacement contextual link.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: High success rate, provides value to webmasters.
• Cons: Requires research and patience.
• Best practices: Offer high-quality replacement content, be concise in outreach, and track wins.

 

Creating Shareable Content

Developing content assets designed to attract links organically, such as how-to guides, original research, data studies, infographics, and interactive tools.

Why it works for Shopify

• Product-led stores can create buying guides, size calculators, style lookbooks, and data-backed trend reports that attract links from editors and bloggers.
• Shareable assets earn links naturally and provide long-term SEO value.

Step-by-step process

1. Brainstorm linkable asset ideas such as seasonal gift guides, trend reports, size or fit calculators, product comparison charts, or original survey results.
2. Create high-quality assets, including long-form text with visuals such as infographics, charts, downloadable PDFs, or interactive widgets.
3. Promote your content with outreach to journalists, roundups, niche blogs, and social media communities.
4. Repurpose by converting long guides into shorter blog posts, infographics, and social posts to increase pickup.
5. Track mentions and follow up with sites that mention you without linking.

Example: A pet-accessory store runs a survey about pet travel trends and publishes a 15-page report. Animal bloggers, travel sites, and local newspapers cite and link to the study.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: Scalable, evergreen, and often attracts high-quality links.
• Cons: Requires investment in time and design.
• Best practices: Add embeddable code for infographics, include clear attribution instructions, and pitch editors who cover data or trends.

 

Directory and Niche Listing Submissions

Submit your Shopify store to curated directories, niche marketplaces, and local business listings.

Why it works for Shopify

• Local shops benefit from Google My Business and local directories.
• Niche directories such as fashion boutiques or organic retailers bring targeted referral traffic and local SEO signals.

Step-by-step process

1. List only on reputable directories such as industry-specific directories, credible review sites, and local chambers of commerce.
2. Complete profiles thoroughly with business name, address, phone, description, and product categories.
3. Avoid low-quality, spammy directories that exist only to sell links.
4. Track listings and review site traffic in analytics.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: Good for local and niche visibility, often quick to implement.
• Cons: Low value if the directory is of low quality.
• Best practices: Prioritize relevance and authority, keep profiles consistent, and claim Google Business Profile.

 

HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and Digital PR

HARO connects journalists with expert sources. Responding to queries can earn press coverage and high-authority backlinks.

Why it works for Shopify

• E-commerce founders, product experts, and trendsetters make excellent HARO sources.
• Press mentions often lead to authoritative links and increased trust.

Step-by-step process

1. Sign up for HARO and other relevant journalist tools.
2. Monitor queries daily for those that match your expertise.
3. Respond quickly and concisely with data, quotes, and story angles.
4. Follow up respectfully and provide additional assets such as images or product samples.
5. Leverage press hits on product pages and social channels.

Example: A small electronics Shopify brand answered a HARO query about durable cables and was quoted in a major tech outlet. The article linked back to their product roundup page.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: High-authority links and brand exposure.
• Cons: Competitive. Responses must be timely and valuable.
• Best practices: Keep a library of ready quotes and data, and designate a HARO responder on your team.

 

Collaborations with Complementary Brands

Collaborate with non-competing brands for co-marketing campaigns, product bundles, or co-authored content that results in mutual backlinks.

Why it works for Shopify

• Cross-promotion reaches complementary audiences and creates natural linking opportunities through co-branded pages and resource pages.
• Drives referral revenue and shared audiences.

Step-by-step process

1. Identify complementary partners such as suppliers, complementary product brands, influencers, or local businesses.
2. Propose specific initiatives such as bundled offers, joint webinars, or co-authored guides.
3. Create linkable collaterals such as landing pages, press releases, and campaign posts.
4. Cross-link campaign assets and track conversions for revenue sharing.

Example: An outdoor gear Shopify store partners with a travel blog for a co-branded “Weekend Hiking Pack” series. Both parties create resource pages and link to each other’s product bundles.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: Win-win exposure and highly relevant links.
• Cons: Requires coordination and clear agreements.
• Best practices: Define promotion timelines, anchor pages, and reporting expectations.

 

Building Backlinks Through Shopify Communities

Use apps, marketplaces, community forums, and Shopify-specific partner resources to gain exposure and relevant links.

Why it works for Shopify

• Shopify app stores, theme marketplaces, and Shopify partner blogs often feature merchants and case studies.
• Shopify community forums and niche Slack or Discord groups can create organic mentions and resource links.

Step-by-step process

• Leverage partner programs by getting featured by app vendors as a case study customer or through integrations.
• Offer unique integrations by creating how-to content for using your product with popular apps and pitching the vendor for a feature.
• Engage communities by answering questions on Shopify Community and niche forums. Create a help page that others can link to.
• Create a Press or Resources page that makes it easy for partners to link to your brand assets.

Example: A subscription-box brand documented a case study about using a fulfillment app and was featured on the app vendor’s blog. This created a contextual backlink to their subscription landing page.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: Relevant and Shopify-connected backlinks.
• Cons: Depends on relationships with app vendors.
• Best practices: Produce case studies and tutorials that showcase app value and tag or notify the vendor.

 

Social Signals and Content Syndication

Amplifying content via social channels and syndicating to platforms such as Medium, LinkedIn, and industry sites to gain visibility and potential links.

Why it works for Shopify

• Viral social posts and syndicated content can attract bloggers and journalists who link back to the original store content.
• Social proof drives the discovery of product pages and resource guides.

Step-by-step process

1. Publish teaser content on social platforms and link to full guides or product pages.
2. Syndicate premium content to relevant platforms with canonical tags pointing to your site so SEO credit remains with you.
3. Encourage shares by offering embeddable widgets and short scripts for partners.
4. Monitor mentions and request links from authors who referenced your content without linking.

Pros, Cons, and Best Practices

• Pros: Increased reach and helps with discovery.
• Cons: Social links are often nofollow, but can help generate organic follow links through discovery.
• Best practices: Always use canonical tags for syndicated content and encourage direct linking by providing easy-to-copy link snippets.

 

White-Hat vs Black-Hat Backlink Strategies

White-hat strategies are ethical, follow search engine guidelines, and focus on long-term value. On the other hand, Black-hat strategies attempt to manipulate rankings with low-quality or deceptive tactics and carry high risk.

Why choose white-hat for Shopify

Shopify stores that rely on sustainable traffic and trust should avoid risky practices. A single penalty can wipe out rankings and organic sales. White-hat strategies, although slower, create consistent and compounding results.

Backlink Types Overview

• Editorial links (natural mentions): Low risk, very high long-term value, excellent for Shopify.
• Guest posts on relevant blogs: Low risk, highly effective, excellent for product visibility and brand awareness.
• Influencer and blogger reviews: Low to medium risk, high effectiveness, very good for targeted audiences.
• HARO and press coverage: Low risk, very high value, excellent for credibility and authority.
• Infographics and research: Low risk, high long-term effectiveness, excellent for attracting natural citations.
• Niche directories (reputable ones): Low risk, medium long-term value, useful for local or industry-specific stores.
• Broken link replacements: Low risk, high effectiveness, excellent for relationship building and gaining authority.
• Sponsored posts (disclosed): Medium risk, medium value, should be used cautiously.
• Private blog networks (PBNs): Very high risk, short-term gains only, not suitable for Shopify.
• Paid low-quality links: Very high risk, low long-term value, not recommended.
• Automated link schemes: Very high risk, likely to lead to penalties, not suitable for any Shopify store.

Takeaway: For Shopify SEO, white-hat strategies like guest posting, influencer partnerships, content assets, HARO, and broken link building are the safest and most effective. Black-hat shortcuts may bring temporary boosts, but they put your entire business at risk.

Read more: White Hat vs Black Hat Link Building: What Really Works Today

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are backlinks in Shopify SEO?

Backlinks in Shopify SEO are links from other websites that point to your Shopify store. They signal to search engines that your site is trustworthy and relevant, which helps improve rankings and traffic.

2. Why are backlinks important for Shopify stores?

Backlinks are important for Shopify stores because they increase authority, bring referral traffic, and improve keyword rankings. High-quality backlinks can lead to more visibility, higher sales, and stronger brand credibility.

3. How can I get backlinks for my Shopify store?

You can get backlinks for your Shopify store by guest posting, collaborating with influencers, running HARO outreach, creating shareable guides, using broken link building, and submitting to reputable directories.

4. Are paid backlinks safe for Shopify SEO?

Paid backlinks are generally unsafe for Shopify SEO. They often come from low-quality sites and can trigger search engine penalties. It is better to invest in white-hat link-building strategies like guest posting and digital PR.

5. How long does it take to see results from backlinks?

Results from backlinks usually take three to six months. Search engines need time to crawl the links, update authority signals, and reflect improvements in rankings. Consistent link building speeds up results.

6. Should I build links to product pages or blog posts?

You should build links to both product pages and blog posts. Blog posts and guides earn links more easily, while product and category pages benefit from targeted anchor text that drives purchase-ready traffic.

7. What are the best backlink strategies for new Shopify stores?

The best backlink strategies for new Shopify stores include guest posting on niche blogs, partnering with micro-influencers, submitting to local directories, using broken link building, and creating a strong guide or resource.

Conclusion

Backlinks are not a magic bullet, but when built thoughtfully, they are among the most reliable ways to improve visibility, traffic, and sales for Shopify stores. Focus on creating value with high-quality content, useful resources, and authentic collaborations. Then use the strategies above to attract links that matter.

Three quick wins to start immediately:

• Publish one long-form, data-backed guide this month and promote it via HARO and outreach.
• Run a broken-link campaign targeting 30 relevant resource pages.
• Reach out to five micro-influencers for reviews with an affiliate incentive.

If you want expert help, Link Building Guru specializes in building high-quality backlinks for Shopify stores. We focus on white-hat outreach, blogger partnerships, and digital PR that drives measurable results. Contact Link Building Guru today for a backlink audit and a tailored outreach plan that fits your budget and growth goals.