Why “Backlink Strategy” Needs a Rebrand (and What to Call It Instead)

“Online Network Strategy” makes way more sense (and sounds less like a scam)

Let’s be honest — the phrase “backlink strategy” has been through the wringer.

Once a noble part of SEO, now it's become the calling card of cold emails, dodgy link farms, and those mysterious “marketing gurus” who want to sell you a PDF full of hacks.

At Pixelbricks, we believe in doing things properly. No tricks. No weird directories. And definitely no begging strangers for a link like it’s 2011.

So, we’ve rebranded it.

We call it your Online Network Strategy — because that’s what it actually is.

I've written a longer post about this on our Medium Blog. Check it out >

So, what is an Online Network Strategy?

It’s about building a credible, connected presence online — one that search engines (and actual humans) can trust.

It means:

• Getting featured on relevant websites because your content is worth sharing
• Collaborating with others in your niche or industry
• Growing visibility through genuine partnerships, not pay-for-play schemes
• Creating content people naturally want to link to — without being “that guy” in the DMs

Think of it like digital networking, minus the cheap wine and awkward business cards.

Why it matters

Google’s smarter now. It’s not just about how many links you have — it’s about where they come from, who’s vouching for you, and whether or not you actually know what you’re on about.

A strong Online Network Strategy improves:

• Your rankings (the legit way)
• Your reputation (with real humans)
• Your reach (by tapping into other people’s audiences, not just shouting into the void)

The Pixelbricks way

We help our clients create content and strategies that naturally build backlinks through trust, collaboration, and actually being helpful.

No sneaky tactics. No keyword stuffing. Just smart, human-focused digital growth.

It's exactly what we did with Compex IT - The Birmingham IT Support Guru's that now rank position 1 for "IT Support Birmingham"!

Want to talk about building a real online presence?

Get in touch — we’ll leave the buzzwords at the door.