Backlinks are the currency of authority in the labels and stickers space, and they directly signal to search engines that your business knows what it's doing. Without them, even a well-optimized website struggles to rank above competitors who've built real credibility. Here's how to build a backlink strategy that actually works for your label and sticker business.
Why Backlinks Matter for Labels & Stickers Businesses
Search engines treat backlinks like endorsements. When a reputable packaging blog, a printing industry publication, or a logistics provider links to your site, Google sees it as proof that your products or expertise are worth recommending. For labels and stickers specifically, backlinks from relevant domains can be the difference between ranking on page one for searches like "custom thermal shipping labels" or "barcode label supplier" versus getting buried on page five.
The label industry is competitive but not oversaturated online. That means a focused backlink strategy can move the needle fast—sometimes within 2–3 months of sustained effort.
Target High-Intent Backlink Sources
Focus on websites where your actual customers hang out, not generic directories.
- Printing and packaging publications (PrintWeek, Packaging Dive, Labels & Labeling magazine) – reach out with a story angle: "How Custom Labels Cut Returns by 30%" or a technical innovation you've implemented
- Logistics and supply chain blogs – these readers ship products and need labels; offer guest content on labeling for e-commerce fulfillment
- Industry associations (Printing Industries of America, Label Manufacturers Association) – membership often includes directory listings and partnership links
- Local business directories and chambers of commerce – geographic backlinks matter when you serve regional clients
- Niche software review sites (if you use label design software, look for reviews where you can be mentioned as a resource)
Skip generic sites offering "free backlinks" or directory submissions costing $10–50. Those don't move the needle and can sometimes hurt credibility.
Build Relationships with Suppliers and Partners
Your manufacturers, material vendors, and complementary service providers are natural backlink partners.
If you source specialty materials from a thermal label distributor or work with a fulfillment center, ask if they feature client case studies. A single link from a domain with real authority (DA 40+) is worth more than ten links from low-authority sites. Expect to allocate 2–4 weeks to build and pitch these relationships.
Create a simple one-pager showing what you offer—product range, turnaround times, certifications like FDA compliance or ISO standards—and suggest angles (e.g., "How Our Label Solutions Improved Pharmacy Compliance").
Create Linkable Content
Your website needs reasons for people to link to it. Generic product pages don't earn links; original research and tools do.
Write a detailed guide like:
- "Label Materials Comparison: Matte vs. Gloss vs. Metallic Finishes for Product Packaging" (include durability data, cost-per-unit ranges, real-world use cases)
- "Custom Label Turnaround Times by Quantity: What's Actually Possible" (be transparent—1,000 units in 5 days, 50,000 in 10 days, etc.)
- "The Ultimate Checklist for Shipping Label Compliance (FedEx, UPS, USPS, International)"
These get natural links from logistics blogs, small business sites, and niche communities. Aim for 1,500–2,500 words, include images or diagrams, and optimize for real questions people search for.
Leverage Mercoly for Visibility and Authority
Listing your labels and stickers business on Mercoly gets you in front of buyers actively searching for suppliers and can funnel those leads directly to you while building your online presence across trusted platforms—the kind of third-party association that search engines notice.
Monitor and Measure Progress
Use free tools to track your backlinks monthly:
- Google Search Console – shows links Google has found (basic but accurate)
- Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker – limited to top 100 backlinks, but useful for quick audits
- Moz Link Explorer – similar to Ahrefs; gives you spam score estimates
You're looking for 8–15 new quality backlinks per quarter as a realistic target for a label business. After 6–9 months of consistent effort, you should see ranking movement on 3–5 high-value keywords.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I pitch a printing magazine for a backlink? Research their recent articles, find the editor's email, and pitch an original angle tied to labels (e.g., "Thermal vs. Laser Labels for Hazmat Shipping"). Keep it brief—2–3 sentences. Expect a 10–15% response rate from cold outreach.
Q: Are directory backlinks worth the time for label suppliers? Only industry-specific directories like the LMA's member directory or PrintFind. Avoid generic "business directories"—they carry low authority and add little value.
Q: How long before backlinks help my rankings? Quality backlinks typically show impact within 4–8 weeks, but Google recrawls and updates its algorithms monthly, so give a campaign 3 months before assessing results.
Start building your backlink strategy this week by identifying three partner sites worth pitching to.