Introduction
When it comes to boosting your site’s presence in search engines, you might hear two terms tossed around: on-page SEO and off-page SEO. While on-page SEO focuses on optimising content, headings and meta tags, off-page SEO is all about building your site’s authority and trust through external signals. For businesses in the UAE’s competitive digital landscape, mastering off-page tactics can be the difference between page one rankings and obscurity.
Partner with Bird, your trusted WordPress SEO Agency in UAE, to ensure your off-page strategy is both effective and tailored to local nuances. In this guide, we’ll walk you through How To Do Off Page SEO In WordPress step by step, so you can elevate your site’s reputation and attract more visitors.
Building High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks remain the cornerstone of off-page SEO. The more reputable sites that link to yours, the more search engines view your content as valuable.
Guest Posting Ideas for UAE Blogs
- Industry Publications: Reach out to leading marketing, finance or tech blogs based in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
- Local Lifestyle Blogs: If you offer B2C services, collaborate on topics like “Top Web Design Trends in the UAE”.
- Tourism & Hospitality Sites: Even if you’re not in tourism, sharing tips on digital engagement for hotels can be a fresh angle.
Reaching Out to Local Directories
Listings in reputable UAE directories signal to search engines that you’re a legitimate local business.
- Dubai Chamber Directory
- UAE Yellow Pages
- Local government or municipality business registries
When submitting, ensure your Business Name, Address and Phone Number (NAP) are consistent across all listings.
Social Signals
A robust social media presence doesn’t just engage customers—it also contributes to your off-page SEO efforts.
How Social Media Activity Supports Off-Page SEO
- Increased content sharing creates more linking opportunities.
- Higher engagement rates indicate content relevance.
- Profiles with quality backlinks enhance overall domain authority.
Platforms Popular in UAE
- LinkedIn: Ideal for B2B outreach and professional networking.
- Instagram: Visual storytelling for brands, especially retail and hospitality.
- Snapchat: Engaging a younger demographic with short-lived but memorable content.
Local SEO Listings
Local citations and business listings cement your presence in Emirati search results.
Creating and Optimising Google Business Profile
- Verify your address and phone number promptly.
- Add high-quality images of your office, team and projects.
- Regularly update posts, offers and client reviews.
Additional UAE Business Listing Sites
- YallaBanana
- Connect.ae
- Buraq.ae
Consistency is key: always replicate your NAP details exactly as they appear in Google Business Profile.
Influencer Outreach in UAE
Collaborating with local influencers can drive targeted traffic and valuable backlinks.
Working with Local Bloggers and Influencers
- Identify influencers in your niche using tools like BuzzSumo or local social listening platforms.
- Offer them expert insights, free services or co-created content in exchange for honest reviews and mentions.
- Negotiate clear deliverables: blog mentions, social posts and link placements.
Best Practices for Ethical Link Building
- Always disclose paid or gifted collaborations to maintain transparency.
- Focus on relevance—choose influencers whose audience aligns with your target market.
- Prioritise genuine reviews over generic promotional content.
Brand Mentions and Citations
Even when your site isn’t directly linked, unlinked brand mentions can be converted into valuable citations.
Unlinked Mentions Monitoring
- Set up alerts for your brand name and key products.
- Reach out politely to the author or webmaster asking for a link.
- Offer to provide additional resources or updated information to support the mention.
Tools for Tracking Mentions
- Brand24
- Ahrefs Alerts
- Mention
Participating in Forums and Communities
Active involvement in niche forums and online communities showcases expertise and creates subtle link opportunities.
UAE-Focused Forums and Reddit Threads
- ExpatWoman Forum (Business & Marketing section)
- Reddit r/dubai and r/uae for local insights
- Digital marketing groups on Facebook like “UAE Startups”
Answering Questions with Backlinks
Share concise, valuable answers. Where appropriate, link to your WordPress SEO resources or case studies without appearing overly promotional.
Analysing Off-Page SEO Results
Regular analysis ensures your off-page efforts pay off and helps you fine-tune strategies.
Essential Tools
- Ahrefs – for backlink profiles and domain authority trends
- Moz – to monitor spam score and page authority
- Google Search Console – to track referral traffic and manual actions
Key Metrics to Track
- Domain Authority (DA): Gauge overall website strength.
- Referral Traffic: Measure visitors coming from backlinks.
- Link Growth Rate: Ensure a steady and natural increase in backlinks.
Conclusion
Off-page SEO in WordPress is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and strategic outreach. By building authoritative backlinks, leveraging social signals, and engaging with the local UAE community, you’ll steadily climb search engine rankings.
Remember to conduct regular off-page audits and align your tactics with on-page SEO best practices. When you combine both sides of the SEO equation, you’ll create a powerful, sustainable online presence that attracts more traffic, leads and conversions.
