Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to analyze competitor backlinks, search for relevant websites in your niche, monitor social media, participate in industry forums, and leverage influencer relationships.
You can start link building as soon as you have valuable content to offer. However, it's essential to focus on creating quality content first before actively pursuing link building.
The quality of backlinks matters more than the quantity. Having 1000 low-quality backlinks can be detrimental to your SEO, while a few high-quality backlinks can have a more significant impact.
Common link building mistakes include focusing on quantity over quality, neglecting relevancy, using manipulative tactics, and ignoring the importance of diversified anchor texts.