What is offpage?

Offpage refers to all the actions taken outside of your own website that affect its ranking in search engines. It mainly includes things like getting other sites to link to yours, social media mentions, and online reviews. Think of it as the reputation and popularity your site earns from the wider internet.

Let's break it down

  • Backlinks: When another website includes a link that points to your site. The more quality backlinks you have, the more trustworthy your site looks to search engines.
  • Social signals: Likes, shares, and comments on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram that can drive traffic and show interest.
  • Online citations: Listings of your business name, address, and phone number on directories (Google My Business, Yelp, etc.).
  • Guest posts & mentions: Writing articles for other blogs or being mentioned in news sites, podcasts, or forums.

Why does it matter?

Search engines can’t read your site’s content in isolation; they look at how other sites treat yours. Offpage factors tell search engines that people find your content valuable, which can boost your rankings, bring more organic traffic, and increase brand credibility.

Where is it used?

  • SEO campaigns: Professionals build backlinks and manage citations to improve rankings.
  • Content marketing: Bloggers and brands share articles to earn natural links and social buzz.
  • Local business listings: Restaurants, shops, and service providers use citations to appear in local search results.
  • Influencer outreach: Companies collaborate with influencers to get mentions and drive traffic.

Good things about it

  • Higher rankings: Quality offpage signals can move your site up in search results.
  • Increased traffic: Links and social shares bring visitors from other sites.
  • Brand authority: Being referenced by reputable sources builds trust with users.
  • Long‑term benefits: Good backlinks can keep working for months or years.

Not-so-good things

  • Risk of spammy links: Low‑quality or paid links can get your site penalized by Google.
  • Time‑consuming: Earning genuine backlinks and citations takes effort and patience.
  • Uncontrolled: You can’t fully control how others talk about you; negative mentions can appear.
  • Algorithm changes: Search engines may adjust how they weigh offpage factors, affecting results.