Here's how to build links in 2 words

To build links:

Offer Value

Why else would they link to you? We are rational people - when it comes to business, we don't help strangers out of the "goodness of our heart", especially annoying, insincere spamblasters at our potential detriment.

Link building is sales, nothing more nothing less. Why do you buy something? Because you perceive it to benefit you. Thus, think like the prospective linker - why should they link to you. If you were in their shoes, would you?

Here are some specific value propositions:

• money (no link farms)
• link trades (this 1 is my favorite - if someone pitches you a link say sure thing but link to me too - 2-way is fine in moderation and/or if you're getting the better deal. aim for 3, 4 5 way trades. this is also why it helps to have affiliate sites that you can link from because linking from your clients can create a conflict of interest)
• technical /website insights - i.e. broken link building, finding typos, etc.
• organic, strategic outreach with custom value props - my favorite 1 is listicle additions
• a simple ego boost - if you GENUINELY send an email address from your real email, and say WHY you like their stuff (you can't lie) then they may link to you simply because you made them feel good. they may not give you the link but they'll at least hear you out. And that will open other doors. Who knows, maybe they want to hire you to build links for them.
• good content for natural links (content should always be built with this intention because it makes all of the above methods easier (and its just good SEO), but expect about 1 natural link per 100 billion site visitors - source: science)
• HARO - HARO is tough, but the tougher the link is to get the better it is. it requires you to demonstrate actual EEAT. If you demonstrate that with a human, Google will reward you. Its best for YMYL sites and you need a decent budget
• other value offers - handies, manual labor, seo work, an introduction to 1 of your contacts, content writing (i.e. guest blogs), etc. - get creative. what can help them or their business?

Yes, this is in direct conflict to what Google says - I think they say something against value exchange. But would you call HARO black hat? HARO exchanges value too. Also, how will they know? Also - it is in their best interest to reward many of these types of links. Example: 3-way link trades. Yes I link to people in exchange for other links, but I have high standards for my sites - i am STILL giving them a vote of trust, even if i'm getting something in return. You think CNN is throwing out DF links without getting something in return? (not sure actually but probably not). That is why link farms don't work - they will link to anyone. The best assessment of a backlink's quality (among many other things) is the editorial standards of the linking site!

Conclusion to my word vomit: Link building is sales - to build them, offer value. Determining what that value is is the hard part, but the payouts are well worth it.

Anyways, back to work.