Suppose you have started a new coffee shop. It offers the finest latte in the neighborhood, the setting is warm and the prices are ideal. However, there is one major issue: your store is constructed in a back street where no one passes by.
You are not going to get any customers until people begin to discuss your shop and refer their friends saying, Hey, go check this place out. Your coffee shop is your website in the internet world. And those suggestions of other individuals? Those are backlinks.
You are not alone in case you have been having problems getting your site to appear on Google. To begin with, it is hard truths:
- Google indexes 90.63 percent of its total pages with zero organic search traffic. Why? This is due to the fact that most have zero backlinks.
- Backlinks are still among the top 3 ranking factors of Google, with content and RankBrain.
- The top-ranking result on Google has an average of 3.8 times the number of backlinks as compared to the other pages.
In case those figures frighten you, there is nothing to be concerned about. At the conclusion of this guide, you will have the exact steps of how to fix that. Let’s dive in.
What Are Backlinks in SEO?
Let’s keep this super simple. A backlink is merely a linkage between one of the websites.
If Website A links to Website B → Website B gets a backlink.
In my case, I own a food blog and I published a post on the topic of the best pizza recipes. In that post, I added a link to your site. Since you sell fantastic pizza ovens, I have just received a backlink.
A backlink is a form of vote of confidence in the eyes of search engines such as Google. Website A (My Site) is connected to Website B (Your Site).
Google then considers and thinks, “Wow, Website A has put its faith in Website B so much that they are willing to refer their users to them. Website B must be good!”
The higher the number of the votes (backlinks) you possess, the more popular and credible your site appears in Google. And the more reliable you are the better you are.
How Do Backlinks Work?
Backlinks are more than just links — they are signals of credibility, expertise, and trustworthiness in the eyes of search engines. Google’s EEAT (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) framework evaluates content quality and authority, and backlinks play a key role in this evaluation.
In order to comprehend the working of backlinks, it is necessary to think of Google as a huge spider (that is the reason they call their spiders spider or crawlers).
- Discovery: The spider of Google goes through a popular site, say, The New York Times.
- Tracing the Path: As the spider reads an article there, there is a blue clickable link. It is followed as a chain to where it goes.
- Indexing: It is placed on your site. Had the spider not made that connection, it may never have learnt of your new page.
- Passing Authority: This is the most significant one. By having that large site refer you, it transfers some of its power and reputation to your site. This is known as the Link Juice in the SEO world.
Consider Link Juice as water in a water pipe system. When a massive tank (a massive site) links a pipe to your small bucket (your site) you fill up your bucket with authority.
Why Are Backlinks So Important to SEO?
You may be asking yourself, “Is it not possible to write great content and forget about links?
Honestly? probably not. The following is the reason why they are non-negotiable:
1. They Improve Rankings
As we have said, links are treated as a vote by Google. When you and a rival are covering similar articles, however, and you possess 50 of good back links and they possess 5, you win. It’s that simple.
2. They Help Google Find You
Google does not have a magic way of knowing when you have created a new page. It is based on clicking on the links to discover new material. Unless someone links to you, it may take Google weeks (or months) to even be aware of your existence.
3. They Bring Referral Traffic
This is the bonus benefit! When a person is reading a blog post and clicks a link to your site, it is a real human visitor. They did not arrive at Google, but through the referral. Such visitors tend to be very curious about what you do.
4. Help Search Engines Discover Your Content
Search engine crawlers follow backlinks to find and index new pages.
Backlinking (Types and Complete Breakdown) in SEO
Votes are not made equal. The Presidential vote is worth more than a vote by a random man on the street, right? The same applies to links.
The following is a list of the various categories of backlinks you are going to come across.
1. Dofollow Links
This is the standard link. When a site links to you in a normal way then it is a dofollow. This informs Google, “I believe in this site, give them my authority (Link Juice). These are the best for SEO.
2. Nofollow Links
In some cases, a web site would wish to link to you but not to vouch on your behalf. They include a small bit of code (rel=”nofollow) to the link. This informs Google, “I am linking here, however, this is not a vote.
- Do they help rankings? Not directly.
- Are they useless? No! They continue to attract traffic and appear natural.
3. Guest Post Links
It is at this point that you are writing an article in the blog of another individual. The blog owner also allows you to place a link back to your own site in the article or your author bio in exchange of your free content. It is among the most popular methods of linking manually.
4. Editorial Backlinks
These are the Holy Grail of SEO. It occurs when a journalist or blogger refers to your content in a natural manner since it is that good. It was not requested, it was not purchased. They simply refer to you as a source. Google loves these the most.
5. Web 2.0 Backlinks
This is an old-school method. It entails the establishment of free blogs in sites such as Medium, WordPress.com, or Blogger and posting articles there which refer to your own site.
Caution: They are not as powerful as they were before but they are simple to start with.
6. Social Media Backlinks
That is a backlink in case you post your link on Facebook, Twitter (X) or LinkedIn. Nevertheless, nearly all social media links are of the type Nofollow. They will not directly promote your position, but they will put eyes on your work (which can result in actual links in the future).
7. Forum Links
Being a part of a conversation at Reddit or Quora and leaving a link to your site. These are awesome with traffic, but when you spam them you will be banned.
8. Directory Backlinks
Think of the Yellow Pages. Online directories (such as Yelp, Google business profile, or a niche business list) are also online directories where you post your business site. These are the building blocks that assist in proving that you are a real business.
9. Comment Backlinks
This is commenting on a blog post of another person such as, Great article! I had said something like that: [Link]].
- Warning: It is usually perceived as spammy. Do this only when you are making value in the conversation.
10. PBN Links (Private Blog Networks)
Stay away from these. A PBN is a web of fake websites established with the sole purpose of linking to other websites so as to manipulate Google. It’s a “Black Hat” tactic. In case Google notices your PBNs (they tend to do so), they will sanction your site and send you all your traffic.
DO-Follow Vs No-Follow Backlinks
This is a concept that leaves many beginners at cross roads; hence we shall compare it.
| Feature | Do-Follow Backlinks | No-Follow Backlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Standard backlink that passes “link equity” or SEO authority to the linked site. | Backlink with a rel="nofollow" tag that does not pass SEO link equity. |
| Impact on SEO | Boosts your site’s rankings in search engines. | Minimal direct impact on rankings, but still valuable for traffic and visibility. |
| Trust/Authority Signal | Signals to Google that your content is trusted and endorsed. | Signals that the link is not an endorsement, often used for user-generated content or ads. |
| Traffic Potential | High — can bring targeted visitors plus improve rankings. | Still useful — can drive referral traffic, social signals, and brand awareness. |
| Use Cases | Guest posts, editorial links, partnerships, PR mentions. | Blog comments, forums, paid ads, sponsored content, untrusted external links. |
| Quality Considerations | Best from high-authority, relevant websites; avoid spammy links. | Can be high-quality if from relevant, trustworthy sites; adds diversity to link profile. |
| EEAT Relevance | Strongly supports Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness. | Supports traffic and visibility, but limited direct EEAT impact. |
| Example | A news site linking to your article naturally in a story. | A forum signature linking to your site with nofollow attribute. |
Pro Tip: A healthy website profile contains a combination of the two. In case of 100 percent of your links being Dofollow, it appears suspicious to Google. You want a natural blend.
Good Backlinks and Bad Backlinks
It is not sufficient to obtain a link. You need the right links.
What makes a GOOD Backlink?
- Relevance: In case you are a seller of dog food, a connection with a Pet Care Blog is stronger. An association of a “Car Mechanic Site” is perplexing and feeble.
- Authority: A connection by one of such sites as Forbes or a university (.edu) is 1,000 times more valuable than the connection by a brand new blog with 3 readers.
- Traffic: In case the site where you are linked to has real people reading it, then the link is worth it.
The features of a BAD (Toxic) Backlink?
- Spam Sites: Gambling, adult and gibberish text sites.
- Irrelevance: The connections with the sites which do not relate to your topic.
- Link Farms: These are websites that are created just to sell a link. Google hates these.
What Is the 80/20 Rule in SEO?
The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) is applicable in the world of link building. Eighty percent of your results will be given by twenty percent of your links.
There are no need for 10,000 bad-quality directory links. You require 5 or 10 excellent and high authority links in the websites that are in your niche.
Be concentrated on quality but not quantity. A single connection with one of the power brokers in your business will propel your rankings higher than months of leaving comments on some random blogs.
How to Get Backlinks in SEO
And now to the practical part. So what happens about getting these magic links?
Entry-level Techniques (Low Barrier to Entry)
Social Sharing
Set up profiles in all the major social sites. Post your images, articles every time you do. It is easy, free and it will start the ball rolling.
How it helps: Even if social links are mostly no-follow, they drive traffic, increase visibility, and attract attention from sites that may link naturally.
Web 2.0 Article Blogs
Go to Medium.com or LinkedIn Articles. Write a summary of the last blog post and include the link to the original one on your site. This is safe and easy.
How it helps: Provides contextual backlinks while also reaching a broader audience on trusted domains.
Niche Forum Profiles
Locate forum submission sites of people discussing your subject (e.g. a Gardening forum in case you sell seeds). Create a profile. You can normally include your web address in your signature or bio.
How it helps: Builds brand presence in your niche, allows natural backlink placement in signature or profile, and can drive targeted traffic.
Business Directories
In case you are a local business, be listed on Google Business Profile, Yelp, Yellow Pages, and local Chamber of Commerce websites. These are easy wins.
How it helps: These backlinks are highly trusted by search engines and improve local SEO.
Blog Comments (Ethical)
Identify a good blog in your field. Read their posts. Make an intelligent comment to contribute to the conversation, and give your name (not your business name). The majority of the comment forms will require a URL- insert your home page.
How it helps: Provides backlinks and enables you to engage with the community.
High Effort, High Reward This is the method in which the company implements highly advanced tools and technologies to enhance the efficiency of its production processes and operations management.
Advanced Methods (High Effort, High Reward)
This is the approach where the company adopts highly advanced tools and technologies to make its production processes and operations management more efficient.
Guest Posting
Use guest posting sites. Find blogs in your industry that take on guest authors. Sell them a special article concept. In case they say yes, you write the content and they provide you with a backlink. It is a win-win: they have a free content, and you have a link.
Pro Tip: Pitch unique article ideas tailored to the host blog. Ensure the content is original, valuable, and well-researched.
Broken Link Building
This is a clever strategy. You search pages in your niche which contain links to a page that no longer exists (404 errors). You send a letter to the owner of the site and write: “I noticed that you have a broken link on your page. In fact, I do possess an article on the same. You see you may take my place instead of the broken link. It is helpful to them and hence they tend to say yes.
Pro Tip: Use tools like Ahrefs to identify broken links.
HARO (Connectively) PR Outreach.
Such services as HARO (Help A Reporter Out) unite journalists and experts. In case one of the reporters of the Business Insider requires a quote concerning the Coffee trends and you respond to him, he will quote you and refer to your site. That is the way you end up with massive media connections.
How it helps: Getting featured in major publications can generate high-authority backlinks.
Skyscraper Technique
Locate a content in your industry with a high number of back links. Design something 10x better (more up-to-date, better design, more data). Then, contact all those who posted links to the original article and request them to post links to yours instead since it is superior.
Pro Tip: Focus on data, visuals, and UX improvements to make your content undeniably better.
Influencer Partnerships
Team up with influencers. Request them to review one of your products or interview you on their podcast. These normally lead to quality backlinks on their websites or show notes.
Pro Tip: Target micro-influencers with engaged audiences in your niche for cost-effective and high-quality links.
How to Create Backlinks in SEO – Step-by-Step
In case you are willing to launch your campaign today, you can use the following workflow:
Step1: The first step is to produce quality content.
No one associates with uninteresting content. Create “Link-Worthy” assets. This could be:
- Original data or studies.
- Ultimate guides (and this one too!).
- Free tools or calculators.
- Infographics.
Step 2: Find Competitor Pages to get links on.
Identify who links to your competitors with the help of a tool (even free versions of SEO tools). Provided they had an association with your competitor, they have the possibility of having one with you.
Step 3: Reach Out (The Ask)
Send personalized emails. Do not be a robot.
- Bad: “Dear Sir, give me link.”
- Good: [Name], I liked your latest post about [Topic]. I, in fact, have just compiled a comprehensive instructional manual on [Related Topic] that could be useful to your readers. Would you consider borrowing it out?
Step 4: Market Within Communities
Don’t just wait for emails. Post on Reddit, Facebook Groups, and Slack groups that are in your niche.
Step 5: Track Your Backlinks
Also check the tools such as Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free) or Google Search console to get when you are receiving new links. Watch your graph grow!
Common Backlinks Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent Backlink errors.
I do not want you to be penalized by Google. The following are some of the mistakes to be avoided:
- Purchasing Backlinks on Fiverr: When someone promises to sell you 1,000 backlinks at 5 Dollars, flee. These are spam links which will be detrimental to your site.
- Same Anchor Text: Anchor text refers to the words in a link that one can click on. When all the links to your site say Best Cheap Shoes, it is not real. Use options such as click here, brand name or the entire URL.
- Relevance Bashing: Do not accept a link with a gambling site when you have a church site. It looks bad.
- Anticipating the Overnight Results: Building of links is a marathon and not a sprint. Google is slow to identify links and rankings.
Conclusion
The internet is based on backlinks. In their absence, your site will have a lot of content and little authority. The thought of back links may be overwhelming, but put in mind the golden rule: Go after quality and relationships. A backlink is simply a web connection between two websites.
Start small. Establish your initial connections (social, directories), produce one excellent piece of content and attempt to get a single decent guest post this month. Do that regularly and your traffic will increase, your rankings will shoot upwards and the coffee shop in the alley will be seen to have a queue of people waiting to patronize it.
FAQs
What is the number of backlinks that I have to rank?
There is no magic number. It is based on your rivalry. When your competitors have 10, then you may be required to have 12 superior ones. Put more emphasis on quality rather than numbers.
Can I rank without backlinks?
Competitive keywords are very hard to get. You may be ranked very low in the long-tails and obscure searches, but on the major keywords, you must have links.
The question is how long is the backlink work?
It may also require a few days or even 3 months before Google locates the link, re-assess your page and increases your ranking.
Are paid backlinks illegal?
They are not illegal (you will not lose your freedom by going to jail) yet go against the Google Webmaster Guidelines. Your site can be punished by Google in case it is caught.
