Why are website Backlinks important? Search engines use links to discover webpages and as one of many signals when assessing their relevance and usefulness. Back to Making the Most of Your Membership Share Tweet LinkedIn Pin Why are website backlinks important? A backlink is a link from one website to a page on another website. Search engines use links to discover webpages and as one of many signals when assessing their relevance and usefulness. A genuine link from an established, relevant website can therefore contribute to the wider visibility and credibility of your online presence. However, backlinks are not simply about search rankings. A link between your website and your ANLP member profile can also help potential clients: confirm that you are a current ANLP member view your professional membership level learn more about your certifications and specialist skills read your case studies and client reviews feel more confident about contacting you Your ANLP profile provides independent professional verification alongside the information presented on your own website. What is a website backlink? Your ANLP profile can include a link to your own website. You can then place a link on your website that takes visitors back to your public profile in the ANLP Member Directory. This creates a useful connection between the two websites. For example, you might include a statement such as: I am a current member of ANLP, the Gold Standard Independent Professional Body for NLP. View my ANLP member profile. The words View my ANLP member profile can then link directly to your public profile. You could place this link: on your About page alongside your professional qualifications on a memberships or accreditations page in the footer of your website beside your ANLP member logo, where appropriate The link should be easy for visitors to find and should lead directly to your profile rather than to the general ANLP homepage. How do I create the link? First, make sure your website address has been added to your ANLP profile. Visitors will then be able to move directly from your profile to your website. Next, find your public profile in the ANLP Member Directory and copy its web address (URL). If you manage your own website, add this address as a link from an appropriate page. Use clear wording that explains where the link will take the visitor, such as: View my ANLP member profile Verify my ANLP membership Find me in the ANLP Member Directory If your website is managed by a web designer or another third party, ask them to add the link for you. Send them the address of your ANLP profile and tell them where you would like it displayed. Once the link has been added, test it to make sure it opens the correct public profile. Links should always be relevant and useful to visitors. Avoid adding excessive, unrelated or artificial links purely in an attempt to influence search rankings. What difference will a backlink make? Linking your website and ANLP profile creates a clearer professional pathway for potential clients. Someone visiting your website can independently verify your membership, while someone discovering you through the ANLP directory can move easily to your website to explore your services in more detail. This can: strengthen your professional credibility make membership verification easier direct relevant visitors to your website connect your different online profiles support the discoverability of your webpages help potential clients complete their due diligence A backlink cannot guarantee a particular position in search results. Search engines consider many different factors, including the relevance, quality and usefulness of your website content. It is nevertheless a simple and worthwhile step towards creating a connected, credible and easy-to-navigate professional presence. Act Now - Connect your website and profile Check that your current website address is displayed on your ANLP profile. Then add a clear link from your website back to your public profile in the ANLP Member Directory. Make it easy for potential clients to move between your website and your independently verified professional profile.
