The Importance of Backlinks for Outdoor Industry SEO (and How to Earn Them)

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, it's essential to have SEO or search engine optimization for outdoor brands. Whether you’re selling climbing gear, leading backcountry tours, or running a surfboard rental shop, your online presence needs to be discoverable by adventure-seekers and nature lovers alike. One of the most powerful (and often overlooked) SEO tools? Backlinks.

In this guide, we’ll break down what backlinks are, why they’re essential for the outdoor industry, and how to earn them authentically without spamming the internet.

What Are Backlinks, and Why Do They Matter for Outdoor Industry SEO?

A backlink is simply a link from one website to another. When another site links to yours, Google sees this as a vote of confidence, an indication that your content is trustworthy, relevant, and worth referencing. The more high-quality backlinks you earn, the more likely you are to climb the search engine rankings.

Think of backlinks as the trail signs of the internet. The more signs pointing to your brand, the easier it is for people (and search engines) to find you.

Why This Matters for Outdoor Brands

The outdoor industry is highly competitive and extremely niche. You’re not just battling other companies, you’re competing for visibility with blogs, YouTube channels, influencers, REI’s massive content library, and more. Quality backlinks help you carve out your space in this crowded digital wilderness.

Backlinks help:

• Improve search rankings so outdoor enthusiasts can find your site organically.

• Build credibility by associating your brand with other authoritative sources.

• Drive referral traffic from like-minded sites and audiences.

• Increase brand visibility across the adventure ecosystem.

  
  

Backlinks for Outdoor Industry: Authority Through Association

One key SEO principle that applies across all industries, but especially in outdoor and niche markets is authority. Google's algorithm rewards authoritative websites with higher rankings. But how do you build authority?

Backlinks are a major piece of that puzzle.

When a well-known outdoor publication, gear review blog, or trail organization links to your site, it signals to Google that you’re trusted within your community. This is especially important for local outdoor brands who depend on regional traffic. For example, if your mountain guiding service gets a backlink from a state tourism board, your SEO rankings will likely get a significant boost.

That’s the power of backlinks for outdoor industry SEO: they help small and mid-sized brands compete with the giants.

Not All Backlinks Are Created Equal

Before you rush to trade links with every adventure blog you can find, it’s crucial to understand that quality trumps quantity. In fact, low-quality backlinks from spammy or irrelevant sites can actually hurt your SEO.

Here’s what makes a backlink valuable:

• Relevance: The linking site should relate to your niche (e.g., hiking, paddling, gear reviews).

• Authority: Sites with high domain authority, such as Outside Online or National Geographic carry more SEO weight.

• Placement: Links embedded in useful, high-traffic content (like blog posts or guides) are more valuable than links buried in footers.

• Anchor text: The clickable text should be relevant (e.g., “backpacking checklist” instead of “click here”).

When building backlinks for outdoor industry SEO, focus on strategic partnerships and authentic connections over shortcuts or bulk backlinks (yikes!)

How to Earn Backlinks for Outdoor Industry SEO

Now that you understand why backlinks matter, the real question becomes: how do you actually get them? Here are several tried-and-true strategies tailored specifically for the outdoor industry SEO best practices:

1. Create Link-Worthy Content

According to both SEO experts and Forbes Agency Council, high quality SEO blogs and content is the foundation of any strong backlink strategy. If your content is valuable, insightful, or entertaining, others will naturally want to share it.

Great examples include:

• Seasonal gear guides

• Local trail reports or route guides

• How-to articles (e.g., “How to Prepare for Your First Kayaking Trip”)

• Infographics on outdoor safety or sustainability

Pro tip: Publish data-driven content or expert interviews, these tend to attract backlinks from journalists, bloggers, and educators.

2. Partner with Outdoor Influencers & Brands

The outdoor industry thrives on community and collaboration. Reach out to gear manufacturers, local outfitters, national park foundations, and influencers to see how you can collaborate on content.

Options include:

• Guest posting on their blog

• Swapping resource links

• Co-creating gear roundups or location guides

These partnerships don’t just earn backlinks, they build valuable industry relationships, trust and expand your reach!

3. Leverage Local SEO and Tourism Sites

Many outdoor businesses are location-based. Take advantage of that by:

• Getting listed on local tourism websites

• Joining outdoor directories and associations

• Collaborating with lodging or travel partners

For example, a rock climbing guide service in Utah might earn backlinks from Visit Utah, local hotels, or travel bloggers covering Moab.

4. Pitch the Press

If your brand is doing something newsworthy, such as launching an eco-friendly product, hosting a conservation event, or expanding to a new location, let the media know about it. Press releases and journalist outreach can lead to mentions (and backlinks) in reputable outdoor publications, general news outlets, or environmental blogs.

Use tools like Help a Reporter Out (HARO) to find journalists looking for sources in the outdoor space.

5. Offer Expert Insight

Position yourself or your team as subject matter experts. Contribute quotes to articles, answer questions on platforms like Quora or Reddit, or appear on podcasts focused on outdoor adventure. When people quote your expertise, they’ll often link back to your website.

Keep It Natural (And Don’t Buy Backlinks)

Backlink schemes, like paying for links or joining shady link farms are a major red flag for Google. While the temptation to take shortcuts is real, these practices can lead to penalties, tank your rankings, and damage your reputation.Instead, focus on long-term, sustainable backlink strategies rooted in quality content and meaningful partnerships.

Final Thoughts: Climb Higher with Backlinks

Backlinks are the lifeblood of SEO, and in the outdoor industry, they’re your lifeline to higher visibility, greater trust, and more conversions. By creating valuable content, forming authentic partnerships, and focusing on quality over quantity, you can build a backlink profile that helps your brand stand out in the wild.

At From the Waves, we specialize in helping outdoor brands navigate the complex SEO landscape. Whether you're looking to increase organic traffic, improve your link profile, or dominate your niche, our team can help you rise above. Check out our packages and rates to learn what kind of SEO packages we offer to make your life easier!