By Abdul Haddi – SEO Expert in Lahore
You’ve optimized your website perfectly. Your content is great. Your on-page SEO is strong. But you’re still not ranking on Google. What’s missing? Off-page SEO!
Many Pakistani business owners focus only on their website and forget about off-page SEO. But the truth is, off-page SEO is just as important as on-page SEO.
I’m Abdul Haddi, an SEO expert based in Lahore with 3+ years of experience. I’ve helped 50+ businesses improve their off-page SEO and climb Google rankings. In this guide, I’ll share off-page SEO strategies that actually work in Pakistan.
What is Off-Page SEO?
Off-page SEO is everything you do OUTSIDE your website to improve your rankings. The main focus is getting other websites to link to your site (backlinks).
Think of it like this:
- On-page SEO = Making your house beautiful inside
- Off-page SEO = Getting people to talk about your house and recommend it
According to Moz, backlinks are one of the top 3 ranking factors for Google. You can have the best website, but without backlinks, you’ll struggle to rank.
Why Off-Page SEO Matters in Pakistan
Off-page SEO is especially important in Pakistan because:
- Competition is increasing every day
- Google trusts websites with quality backlinks
- It builds your brand authority
- It brings traffic even without rankings
- It helps you compete with established businesses
Simple rule: More quality backlinks = higher rankings
15 Off-Page SEO Strategies for Pakistan
1. Guest Blogging on Pakistani Websites
Guest blogging means writing articles for other websites in exchange for a backlink.
How to do it:
- Find Pakistani blogs in your industry
- Check if they accept guest posts
- Pitch them a topic idea
- Write a high-quality article
- Include a link back to your website
Where to find opportunities:
- Search “your industry + guest post Pakistan”
- Search “write for us Pakistan”
- Check your competitors’ backlinks
Example: If you run a travel agency, write a guest post for Pakistani travel blogs about “Best Places to Visit in Pakistan 2025.”
2. Local Business Directories and Citations
List your business on Pakistani directories. These are easy backlinks that also help with local SEO.
Important Pakistani directories:
- Pakistanpages.com
- OLX.com.pk
- Zameen.com (real estate)
- PakWheels.com (automotive)
- Foodpanda.pk (restaurants)
- Daraz.pk (e-commerce)
- Facebook Business Page
- Google My Business
- LinkedIn Company Page
Make sure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is consistent everywhere!
3. Social Media Marketing
Social media signals help with SEO. According to Hootsuite, social media activity can indirectly impact search rankings.
Focus on these platforms in Pakistan:
- Facebook: Most popular in Pakistan
- Instagram: Great for visual businesses
- LinkedIn: For B2B businesses
- Twitter: For news and updates
- YouTube: Video marketing is huge
- TikTok: Growing fast in Pakistan
What to do:
- Post regularly (at least 3-4 times per week)
- Share your blog posts and website content
- Engage with your audience
- Join Pakistani groups related to your industry
- Use relevant hashtags
Tip: WhatsApp Business is also very important in Pakistan for customer communication!
4. Content Marketing and Link Building
Create content that people want to link to naturally.
Types of linkable content:
- Ultimate guides (Complete Guide to X in Pakistan)
- Statistics and research (State of X Industry in Pakistan 2025)
- Infographics (Visual data that people share)
- Case studies (How you helped clients)
- Tools and calculators (Loan calculator, ROI calculator)
- Videos (Tutorial videos, explainer videos)
Example: If you’re in real estate, create “Complete Property Buying Guide for Pakistanis” – other websites will link to this useful resource.
5. Build Relationships with Pakistani Bloggers
Building real relationships leads to natural backlinks.
How to build relationships:
- Follow Pakistani bloggers in your industry
- Comment on their posts genuinely
- Share their content
- Connect on LinkedIn
- Reach out via email or WhatsApp
- Offer to collaborate
Don’t: Just ask for a backlink immediately. Build a real relationship first.
6. Create Shareable Infographics
Pakistanis love visual content. Infographics get shared a lot on Facebook and WhatsApp.
Good infographic topics:
- Statistics about your industry in Pakistan
- Step-by-step processes
- Comparison charts
- Timeline of events
- “Did you know?” facts
How to create infographics:
- Use Canva (easy and free)
- Use Piktochart
- Hire a designer on Fiverr.com
After creating: Share on social media, send to bloggers, embed on your website with a sharing button.
7. Pakistani Forum Participation
Pakistani forums and online communities can give you backlinks and brand awareness.
Popular Pakistani forums:
- PakWheels Forums (automotive)
- Zameen Forums (real estate)
- r/Pakistan on Reddit
- Pakistani groups on Facebook
- LinkedIn Groups for Pakistani professionals
How to participate:
- Answer questions genuinely
- Provide value, don’t spam
- Add your website link in your signature
- Share helpful resources
Important: Don’t just drop links. Be helpful first!
8. Video Marketing on YouTube
YouTube is the second largest search engine. It’s huge in Pakistan.
What to create:
- How-to videos in your industry
- Product demonstrations
- Customer testimonials
- Behind-the-scenes
- Tips and tricks
SEO for YouTube:
- Use Pakistani keywords in title and description
- Add your website link in description
- Add end screens with links
- Engage with comments
Tip: Create videos in Urdu and English for maximum reach in Pakistan.
9. Influencer Collaborations
Pakistani influencers can give you exposure and backlinks.
How to work with influencers:
- Find micro-influencers in your niche (5K-50K followers)
- Reach out with a collaboration idea
- Offer free products/services for review
- Ask for a website mention in their bio
- Collaborate on content
Platforms: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok
Tip: Micro-influencers are more affordable and often have better engagement than big influencers.
10. Press Releases and Media Coverage
Getting featured in Pakistani news sites gives you high-authority backlinks.
When to send press releases:
- Launching a new product
- Opening a new branch
- Achieving a milestone
- Hosting an event
- Partnership announcements
Pakistani news sites:
- Dawn.com
- Tribune.com.pk
- Geo.tv
- ARY News
- Dunya News
- Business Recorder
How to send: Write a newsworthy press release and email it to their news desk.
11. Broken Link Building
Find broken links on Pakistani websites and offer your content as a replacement.
How it works:
- Find relevant Pakistani websites in your industry
- Use tools to find broken links on their site
- Check if you have content that could replace the broken link
- Email them: “Hi, I found a broken link on your page. I have similar content that could replace it.”
Tools to find broken links:
- Check My Links (Chrome extension)
- Ahrefs (paid)
- Screaming Frog (free version available)
12. Testimonials and Reviews
Give testimonials for products/services you use and get a backlink in return.
How to do it:
- Think of tools and services you use for your business
- Write a genuine testimonial
- Ask if they can feature it on their website with a link to your site
- Many companies feature testimonials on their homepage!
Example: If you use accounting software, write them a testimonial. They might feature it with a link to your website.
13. Resource Page Link Building
Many Pakistani websites have resource pages that list helpful links.
How to find resource pages:
- Search “your industry + resources Pakistan”
- Search “your industry + useful links”
- Check Pakistani university websites (they often have resource sections)
How to get listed:
- Find relevant resource pages
- Check if your content fits
- Email them asking to be included
- Explain why your resource is valuable
14. Competitor Backlink Analysis
Find out where your competitors are getting backlinks and do the same.
How to do it:
- Use Ahrefs or SEMrush
- Enter your competitor’s website
- Check their backlinks
- Make a list of opportunities
- Reach out to those websites
Example: If your competitor has a backlink from a Pakistani blog, you can pitch a guest post to the same blog.
15. Local Sponsorships and Events
Sponsor local events in Lahore or Pakistan to get brand exposure and backlinks.
What to sponsor:
- University events
- Sports events
- Business conferences
- Charity events
- Community programs
Benefits:
- Backlink from event website
- Brand awareness
- Local media coverage
- Community goodwill
After the event: Ask organizers to link to your website from their event page.
Quality vs. Quantity of Backlinks
Important lesson: One high-quality backlink from Dawn.com is better than 100 low-quality links from spam sites.
What makes a quality backlink:
- From a relevant website
- From a high-authority site
- Natural and editorial
- Dofollow link (passes SEO value)
- From Pakistani websites (for local businesses)
What to avoid:
- Buying backlinks from Fiverr
- Link farms
- Spam blog comments
- Automated link building
- Irrelevant websites
According to Google, quality over quantity always wins.
Off-Page SEO Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Buying Cheap Backlinks
Many Pakistani businesses buy backlinks from Fiverr for 500 PKR. These are spam links that can get you penalized by Google.
Mistake #2: Only Focusing on Backlinks
Off-page SEO includes social media, brand building, and reputation management too. Don’t just chase backlinks.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Brand Mentions
Even if websites mention your brand without a link, it helps SEO. Monitor your brand mentions.
Mistake #4: Getting All Links Too Quickly
If you get 100 backlinks in one week, Google will think it’s spam. Build links gradually over time.
Mistake #5: Same Anchor Text
Don’t use the same anchor text for all backlinks. Vary your anchor text naturally.
Example variations:
- Your brand name (Abdul Haddi)
- Your URL (abdulhaddi.com)
- Generic text (click here, learn more)
- Keyword (SEO expert Lahore)
Mistake #6: Forgetting No-Follow Links
Even nofollow links (that don’t pass SEO value) are important for:
- Brand exposure
- Traffic
- Natural link profile
Mistake #7: Not Tracking Results
You need to track your backlinks and see what’s working.
Track these metrics:
- Number of backlinks
- Domain authority of linking sites
- Referral traffic from backlinks
- Ranking improvements
Tools: Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush
How Long Does Off-Page SEO Take?
Off-page SEO takes time. Don’t expect results overnight.
Timeline:
- Month 1-2: Build foundation, start getting first backlinks
- Month 3-4: See initial ranking improvements
- Month 5-6: Noticeable increase in rankings and authority
- Month 7+: Continued growth with consistent effort
Patience is key!
How Many Backlinks Do You Need?
It depends on your competition.
For low-competition keywords:
- 10-20 quality backlinks may be enough
For medium-competition keywords:
- 30-50 quality backlinks
For high-competition keywords:
- 100+ quality backlinks
Remember: Quality matters more than quantity!
Off-Page SEO Checklist
Use this checklist every month:
Monthly Tasks:
- [ ] Publish 1-2 guest posts
- [ ] Update business listings (check NAP)
- [ ] Post on social media 12-15 times
- [ ] Reach out to 5 websites for backlinks
- [ ] Create 1 shareable piece of content
- [ ] Engage in Pakistani forums/groups
- [ ] Monitor brand mentions
- [ ] Check competitor backlinks
- [ ] Track your backlink growth
- [ ] Remove any bad backlinks
Quarterly Tasks:
- [ ] Create an infographic
- [ ] Reach out to influencers
- [ ] Update old guest posts
- [ ] Analyze what’s working
- [ ] Plan next quarter’s strategy
Off-Page SEO vs. On-Page SEO
Both are important! You can’t do one without the other.
On-page SEO: Foundation (your house) Off-page SEO: Promotion (telling people about your house)
Think of it like a restaurant:
- On-page SEO = Good food and ambiance
- Off-page SEO = Marketing and word-of-mouth
You need both to succeed!
How I Help with Off-Page SEO
I’m Abdul Haddi, and I provide complete off-page SEO services for Pakistani businesses.
What I do:
- Build high-quality backlinks from Pakistani websites
- Create linkable content (infographics, guides)
- Guest post outreach and writing
- Social media strategy
- Local citations and directory submissions
- Competitor backlink analysis
- Monthly progress reports
Industries I’ve worked with:
- Real estate
- E-commerce
- Car rental
- Interior design
- Service businesses
- And many more
I focus on white hat link building that follows Google’s guidelines. No spam, no shortcuts, just real results.
Final Thoughts
Off-page SEO is crucial for ranking on Google in Pakistan. It takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. Start with these strategies and be consistent.
My top 3 recommendations:
- Focus on guest blogging on Pakistani sites
- Build relationships with bloggers and influencers
- Create shareable content that naturally attracts links
Don’t try to do everything at once. Pick 2-3 strategies and do them well.
Need help building quality backlinks for your website? I’d love to help you improve your off-page SEO and climb Google rankings. Contact me today for a free consultation.
About the Author: Abdul Haddi is an Off-Page SEO Expert in Lahore with 3+ years of experience. He specializes in white hat link building and has helped 50+ businesses improve their Google rankings.
