Some time ago, I had a conversation on the Acupuncture Marketing School Podcast with Michelle Grasek about link building and SEO for acupuncturists.

Somehow, I became Maria Katerina Yohanneson instead of Maria Katarina Johannesson – which actually sounds a bit cool!

And, that actually feels right in this context. Link building is often misunderstood. People overcomplicate it or turn it into this dark, behind-the-scenes magic.

But the fundamentals? They rarely change.

Backlinks aren’t hacks or tricks. They’re votes of confidence. When another website links to you, it’s basically saying: “I trust this business. I think they’re relevant. I want to  be associated with this business. That’s why I said in the podcast, “backlinks are like digital high-fives.”

For an acupuncturist, that might look like:

• A mention on a local wellness blog

• A collaboration with a yoga studio

• A testimonial link from a supplier

• A podcast feature

Not random links in the “spray and pray” way.

A lot of link building problems actually start before anyone sends a single outreach email.

If your website has unclear messaging, if it’s not clear who you serve, if that isn’t clearly specified on your website, or if there isn’t an overall logical structure to the site, even the best backlinks will help very little.

If you’re a business owner, you’re probably busy actually running your business.

And this is something we also talked about in the podcast, especially when it comes to acupuncturists and other wellness practitioners. Your time is limited, and marketing can easily become one more thing on an already long list.

Many practitioners are also naturally more introverted, which can make marketing feel uncomfortable and lead to no action. .

You also don’t have to do everything yourself.

Often, a little goes a long way. The key is to do something, to get the ball rolling. 

On the podcast, I emphasized that you don’t always need to chase the biggest sites or try to outsmart the system. For most acupuncturists and wellness practitioners, the best place to start is right where you are – your own neighborhood.

Focus on the connections you can make locally: community groups, nearby studios, local publications. During a work week – who do you actually talk to? Is there a way you can leverage these relationships?

Again, it’s about people and not tricks.

Plant small seeds and harvest a bit later 🙂