Looking to boost your website’s SEO and gain an edge over competitors?
One of the most effective link-building strategies is to secure high-quality backlinks from authoritative .gov domains. Government backlinks are the holy grail of SEO – they provide a massive boost to your site’s domain authority, search engine rankings, and organic traffic.
At VH Info, we specialize in helping SaaS companies implement proven link-building tactics to improve their online presence.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about .gov backlinks and share actionable tips to help you land these valuable links. Let’s dive in!
What Are Gov Backlinks?
Gov backlinks are links from websites with a .gov domain extension. These domains are reserved exclusively for U.S. government entities at the federal, state, and local levels.
Some examples include:
- Federal agencies like NASA (nasa.gov) or the FBI (fbi.gov)
- State government sites like California (ca.gov) or Texas (texas.gov)
- County and city government websites (kingcounty.gov, nyc.gov)
Getting a link from any of these official government websites acts as a strong vote of confidence in the eyes of search engines. Google views .gov sites as extremely trustworthy and authoritative, so a single gov backlink can skyrocket your SEO.
Why Build .Gov Backlinks?
There are numerous benefits to making .gov link building a core part of your SEO strategy:
- Boost Domain Authority: Government sites have some of the highest domain authority scores. When they link to you, it passes significant “link juice” and increases your own site’s authority.
- Improve Search Rankings: The extra domain authority from .gov backlinks can help your content rank higher in search results for your target keywords. Outranking competitors becomes much easier.
- Drive Referral Traffic: Government websites receive heavy traffic from people looking for official info. A backlink can funnel some of that valuable traffic directly to your site.
- Build Trust & Credibility: Searchers trust government websites. When they see you’re referenced and linked to by an official .gov site, it lends instant credibility to your brand.
The bottom line is that .gov backlinks are an essential piece of any effective link building strategy. Even a few can make a huge impact on your SEO.
Why .Gov Backlinks Are Essential For SEO?
Let’s dig deeper into the specific reasons why government backlinks are so powerful for search engine optimization:
Reason #1: Highest Trusted
Google’s #1 priority is providing searchers with accurate, trustworthy information. And no sites are more trusted than official government domains. Google knows .gov content is credible and reliable.
So when a .gov site links to you, it sends a strong trust signal. Google takes notice and is more likely to view your site as a legitimate, high-quality resource worthy of ranking well.
Reason #2: Extremely High Quality
Gov websites are held to the highest standards of quality. Content goes through rigorous editing and fact-checking before being published.
Google rewards this attention to quality by giving .gov sites high PageRank scores. A single link from a PR5+ gov site is more impactful than dozens of links from low-quality PR1-2 sites.
Reason #3: The Most Authoritative Backlinks
On the internet, the U.S. government is the ultimate authority. No entity is seen as more official or influential.
So it’s no surprise that .gov sites have the highest domain authority. A DR90+ gov backlink is exponentially more powerful than a link from a DR30-40 site. It’s by far the fastest way to increase your site’s authority.
Types Of Sites With .Gov Domains
Government websites exist at multiple levels, from nationwide down to local municipalities.
Understanding the different types can help you find the best link opportunities.
Federal Government Sites
These are the official websites of national U.S. government agencies, departments, and programs.
Examples include:
- whitehouse.gov
- irs.gov
- fda.gov
- energy.gov
Federal .gov sites have the highest authority but are also the hardest to get links from. They’re usually very selective about external linking.
State Government Sites
Each state has its own network of official .gov sites for state-level agencies and offices.
For example:
- ny.gov for New York
- florida.gov for Florida
- ca.gov for California
State .gov links are highly authoritative and can be easier to acquire than federal ones, especially if you have a local presence in that state.
Local Government Sites
Even counties, cities and towns have their own .gov sites. These typically have a lower domain authority than federal or state sites but are the easiest .gov links to get.
Examples include:
- kingcounty.gov for King County, WA
- phoenix.gov for Phoenix, AZ
- miamidade.gov for Miami-Dade County, FL
Don’t overlook opportunities to get backlinks from local .gov sites relevant to your business and location.
How to Find Government Websites Relevant to Your Niche?
The key to effective .gov link building is finding the right link opportunities – government websites that are topically related to your industry, content, and target audience.
Here are some tips to find relevant .gov sites to reach out to:
- Google searches: Use search operators to find gov sites in your niche. Try searches like:site:.gov “your keyword”
- site:.gov “your location” “your industry“
- site:.gov inurl:links “your topic“
- Competitor research: See what .gov sites are linking to your top competitors. Tools like Ahrefs, Moz, and SEMrush can show you their gov backlinks so you can reverse-engineer their strategy.
- Industry associations: Look for .gov sites of government agencies or offices related to your industry. They often link out to helpful resources for their audience.
- Location-specific: Find the official .gov sites for your city, county, or state. See if they have any relevant directories, resource pages, or local business listings you could be added to.
The goal is to build a targeted list of .gov sites that would have a reason to link to you, based on your niche expertise and value to their audience.
How to Get Gov Backlinks?
Now that you know how to find .gov link prospects, let’s look at some effective tactics to actually secure these backlinks:
1. Comment On Government Blogs
Some government websites have blogs that allow comments. Leaving a thoughtful comment with a link back to a relevant resource on your site can land you a .gov backlink.
For example, the U.S. Department of Energy has an active blog at energy.gov/blog. If they publish a post about renewable energy, and you have an in-depth guide on the topic, leave a comment sharing your insights and linking to your guide.
2. Write About A Government Agency
Publish a piece of content on your site about a specific government agency. Cover what they do, highlight their initiatives, and explain why their work matters.
Then reach out and let them know about your post. If they like it, they may link to it from their newsroom or media page.
3. Write About A Social Issue That Concerns A Government Agency (Or A Politician)
Many government agencies focus on addressing specific social issues, like healthcare, education, or renewable energy.
Write an in-depth, data-driven post about the issue, offering unique insights and solutions. Then contact the relevant agency, share your post, and suggest they link to it as a helpful resource for their audience.
4. Write About A Politician
Government officials and politicians often have their own .gov sites. Publishing a positive blog post about their work and accomplishments can be a great way to get on their radar.
If your post makes them look good, they may link to it from their official site or even share it on social media.
5. Interview A Government Agency Official
Reach out to officials at relevant government agencies and request an interview. Ask them about their work, current initiatives, and how their agency is making an impact.
Publish the interview on your site, positioning your brand as an authority. Then let the agency know – they’ll likely link to the interview from their media or press page.
6. Try To Partner With A Government Agency
If you can find a way to work together with a government agency on a project or initiative, you’ll almost certainly earn a .gov backlink.
For example, maybe you can:
- Sponsor or participate in an event they’re hosting
- Collaborate on a research study or white paper
- Provide free resources or tools their audience would find helpful
Think creatively about how you can partner with agencies in a mutually beneficial way.
7. Get Listed On A Resource Page
Many .gov sites have resource pages that link out to helpful sites on specific topics. If you have an in-depth, authoritative piece of content, reach out and suggest they add it to their page.
For example, usa.gov has a page on Starting a Business that links to resources from the Small Business Administration and SCORE. If you have a great guide on registering a business entity, you could reach out and ask to be included.
8. Find Broken Links In Gov Resource Pages
Use a tool like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog to find broken links on .gov resource pages in your niche. Then create similar content that could replace those dead links.
Reach out to the site, let them know about the broken link, and suggest your content as a replacement. This can be an easy win since you’re actually helping them out.
9. Flatter A Gov Website
Publish a post praising a specific government website. Explain what they’re doing well, how they’re helping people, and why others should use their resources.
Government agencies love positive PR. Reach out and let them know about your flattering post. They may link to it as a “testimonial” or even share it on social media.
10. Guest Post
Some government websites accept guest posts from outside experts. If you can land a guest posting opportunity, you’ll get a high-authority .gov backlink in your author bio.
Start by finding .gov sites in your niche that have a blog. Check their guest post guidelines, and pitch them a relevant topic you could write about.
Considerations to Keep in Mind While Getting Gov Links
Before you dive into federal government websites and local government websites for making links, there are a few important things to keep in mind:
Make Sure To Find A Gov Domain That’s Worth It
Don’t waste time pursuing low-quality .gov backlinks. Focus on high domain authority sites that are relevant to your niche.
A single DA80+ gov link will move the needle more than 5 DA20-30 links. Prioritize the backlink opportunities that will have the biggest impact.
Don’t Try To Build ONLY Gov Backlinks
Yes, .gov links are incredibly powerful. But they shouldn’t be the only type of backlinks you build.
Aim for a diverse link profile that includes a mix of .gov, .edu, and high-quality .com links. This will help your link building look natural to Google.
Build A Diverse Backlink Profile
In addition to mixing up your link types, you also want a diverse anchor text profile. Don’t use the same exact keyword phrase in every .gov link.
Include a mix of branded, partial-match, generic, and naked URL anchors. Again, this helps your links appear natural and avoid triggering spam detectors.
How To Tell If You’ve Found A Good .Gov Site?
When evaluating potential .gov sites to get backlinks from, look for these positive signs:
- High domain authority: The closer to DA100, the better. Use Moz’s free Domain Authority Checker to see a site’s DA score.
- Topical relevance: The site should be related to your industry or niche in some way. A relevant link is more impactful than a random one.
- Existing external links: See if the site links out to other non-gov sites. If so, that’s a good sign they’re open to linking to you as well.
- Regular updates: An actively updated .gov site is better than a stagnant one. It means your link will be seen by more people over time.
- Strong organic traffic: High traffic .gov sites will send more referral traffic your way. Check their estimated monthly search traffic in a tool like Ahrefs.
The more of these boxes a .gov site checks, the higher-priority it should be in your link building campaign.
.Edu Vs .Gov Backlinks: What’s The Difference?
Both .edu and .gov backlinks are considered the most powerful and sought-after links you can get.
But there are some key differences:
- .edu sites are associated with educational institutions like colleges and universities. They’re not as tightly regulated or selective as .gov sites.
- .gov sites are exclusively for U.S. government entities. They have stricter standards for linking and are generally seen as more authoritative.
All else being equal, a .gov link is typically more impactful than an .edu link. But both are highly valuable to your SEO.
Example Of Gov Backlinks
Here are a few real-world examples of companies that have successfully acquired valuable .gov backlinks:
- Idealist.org received a backlink from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts website
- LogistiCare Solutions earned a link from the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
- Salary.com was linked to by Wisconsin’s Department of Workforce Development
- The American Egg Board got a backlink from the State of Colorado’s site
- Cedar Park Youth League secured a link from the City of Leander, Texas website
As you can see, both large brands and smaller local organizations have been able to land .gov links relevant to their industry or location. The common thread is that the linked-to content provides value to the government website’s audience in some way.
FAQ’s:
Can Anyone Get Gov Backlinks?
Technically yes, any website can earn a link from a .gov site. But it requires creating truly outstanding, relevant content that a government agency sees value in linking to. Most sites will need to put in significant effort.
How Long Does It Take to Get Gov Backlinks?
Acquiring a .gov link often involves building real relationships with government representatives. This outreach and trust-building process can take weeks or months. Don’t expect overnight results.
Can Small Businesses Secure Gov Backlinks?
Absolutely! Local businesses can often find good opportunities with their city, county, or state websites. The key is providing a resource or service that benefits their local community.
Are Gov Backlinks Better Than Edu Backlinks?
Both are considered highly authoritative, but .gov links are generally seen as slightly more valuable and trustworthy than .edu links. That said, the relevance and quality of the linking page matters most.
How Often Should I Check My Gov Backlink Profile?
Monitoring your backlink profile at least once a month is a good best practice. Since .gov links are relatively rare, you likely won’t see new ones appear too frequently. But it’s still important to keep an eye on your progress.
Conclusion
There’s no doubt that .gov backlinks are immensely powerful for SEO. A single link from a trusted government website can boost your rankings and send positive trust signals to both search engines and human visitors.
However, acquiring these sought-after links isn’t a walk in the park. It requires publishing truly exceptional content, conducting smart outreach, and patiently building relationships with the right government representatives. Use them with other good link strategies for better SEO.
Quality matters more than quantity. Aim for few top .gov links instead of many poor ones. Be persistent and creative for SEO success. Good content is key. Invest time and effort for great results.