Definition
Off-page SEO encompasses all optimization techniques performed outside your own website to improve its reputation, authority, and search engine ranking. The main pillar of off-page SEO is link building (acquiring quality backlinks), but it also includes brand mentions (linked or not), social media marketing, online reviews, digital PR, guest posting, and building a strong brand presence on the web. Google uses off-page signals to evaluate a site's popularity, relevance, and trustworthiness. Off-page SEO complements on-page SEO and technical SEO: a well-optimized site internally but without external signals will struggle to rank on competitive queries.
Key Points
- Optimization actions outside the site: link building, mentions, digital PR, social media
- Link building remains the most influential off-page factor
- Complements on-page and technical SEO for comprehensive optimization
Practical Examples
Complete off-page strategy
An effective off-page strategy combines: editorial quality backlink acquisition, digital PR for press mentions, active social media presence, and Google Business Profile review management.
Beyond links
Google also evaluates unlinked brand mentions as an authority signal. Monitor your brand mentions with Google Alerts and contact sites to turn mentions into backlinks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are essential and complementary. On-page SEO is the prerequisite (relevant, optimized content), while off-page SEO (especially backlinks) is often the differentiating factor on competitive queries. Start with on-page, then invest in off-page.
Yes, many legitimately free strategies exist: guest posting, digital PR, creating linkable content (infographics, studies), forum and community presence, and content marketing that naturally attracts links.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07