A-to-Z Guide to Link-Building: A Practical Handbook for Beginners

You’ve probably heard a thousand times by now that backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors for search engines. Sure, Google keeps rolling out update after update, trying to put the spotlight on high-quality content—and don’t get me wrong, that matters. But here’s the thing: in my experience, those high-quality backlinks? They still pack the biggest punch, driving more than 60% of your overall SEO success. That’s not just a guess—that’s years of watching the numbers speak louder than the headlines.

In this guide, we’re diving deep—real examples, actionable advice, and insights you won’t find on just any similar blog. I’ll be pulling back the curtain on what goes on behind the scenes and showing you exactly how to craft a link-building strategy that gets you to rank #1.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start implementing strategies that actually move the needle, stick around. This is where your journey to mastering link-building begins. Let’s get to work!

What Are Backlinks? (In Simple Words)

Backlinks or inbound links occur when other websites link to your site by adding your website’s URL (any page of your website) to their content.

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Other websites may link to your website for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your content stands out for its unique, valuable, or insightful information that connects with their audience. Maybe you offer free tools, templates, or resources that add actual value. Your site might be recognized as an authoritative source in your field, earning trust and credibility. Or, it could be your compelling visuals—images, videos, or infographics—that make your website a go-to reference. Whatever the reason, the key is delivering something truly worthwhile that others naturally want to share.

Here is an example of a backlink

Here’s an example of a backlink pointing to Hubspot’s homepage. See the anchor text? That’s the clickable part, highlighted in blue. Simple, right?

Why Are Backlinks Important?

Imagine, you’ve built an incredible website. It’s sleek, it’s functional, it’s packed with killer content, but… it’s a ghost town. No organic visitors. Why? Because Google doesn’t trust you yet.

Backlinks build trust, credibility, and authority for your website. Think of them as a nod from one website to another, saying, “Hey, this content is worth your time.” And in the eyes of search engines, especially Google, that kind of recognition carries weight.

You see, the internet is vast—endlessly vast—and search engines need ways to figure out which content deserves to be seen. But it’s not just about numbers—it’s about the quality of those connections.

A link from a well-established, relevant site? That’s gold. It signals that your content holds value, enough for someone else to recommend it to their audience. And over time, as these links stack up, they create a reputation that search engines can’t ignore. Your site starts to rise—not just in rankings, but in the trust of the people who find you.

So yeah, backlinks are important. They’re not just links. They’re relationships. Trust signals. Pathways to success. And if you’re serious about making your site stand out, they’re not optional. They’re essential.

What is Link-Building?

In simple terms, link-building is the process of acquiring (or earning) backlinks through various proven link-building strategies and techniques to improve organic SERP rankings and traffic.

But, let’s take a moment to ask the big question: Why should I build backlinks if my content is already top-notch? I mean, shouldn’t great content just naturally attract links? Well, sure, that’s the dream. But in reality? Things don’t always work out that way. Let me break it down for you.

Imagine you’ve crafted an amazing article, something you’re genuinely proud of. It’s the kind of content that could earn links, but here’s the thing:

Can You Rank Without Backlinks?

In short, yes, it’s possible to rank in top organic positions without backlinks, especially in low-competition markets. For instance, in regions like Armenia or industries with minimal competition, well-optimized content targeting specific, low-difficulty keywords can achieve notable rankings even without a strong backlink profile. Search engines prioritize relevance and quality, so exceptional content combined with solid on-page SEO (like proper keyword targeting, meta tags, and fast page speed) can sometimes do the trick.

However, in competitive markets or for high-value keywords, backlinks are essential. Without them, dominating the top positions is nearly impossible. Even in rare cases where you achieve rankings without links, it’s often a temporary win. Competitors with robust backlink profiles will eventually surpass you because backlinks signal trust, authority, and relevance to search engines.

Dofollow vs. Nofollow Backlinks

Dofollow tags are the default setting for links in HTML. They prompt search engines to pass on link equity or link juice to the linked page, thereby enhancing the authority and relevance of your website. Each site you seek to get backlinks from has its domain authority. When other websites link out using dofollow links, they pass a small percentage of their authority to your website.

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On the other hand, nofollow tags instruct search engines to ignore a link, meaning that they should not pass on link juice to the linked site. Websites use this nofollow tag when they do not want to vouch for the authority of the page it’s linking to, such as in the case of sponsored links or user-generated content.

Types of Backlinks

Your website can receive backlinks through various channels and platforms, but of course, not all backlinks are beneficial for SEO. Below are the most common backlink types you should be aware of before starting your link-building journey.

Bio Backlinks

Bio links are found in the author bio section of an article or blog post. If you want to build a personal brand or demonstrate your expertise as a content writer, this can be a great approach. However, bio links generally have little SEO value, and based on your objectives, sometimes it’s not worth investing your time and resources in securing them.

For example, in some cases, when you attempt to get backlinks through guest posting but the editor does not allow in-content links, they may offer bio links as an alternative.

Now, don’t make the mistake of spamming your bio links everywhere. That’s like handing out business cards at a funeral—awkward and off-putting. Instead, be strategic. A well-placed bio backlink on a respected site or a thoughtfully crafted guest post? Yep, it’s worth it!

Editorial Backlinks

Editorial links are typically included within editorial content such as articles or blog posts, where the writer references another website as a source of information, as a point of further discussion, or as a recommendation for readers. Editorial backlinks are highly valuable for SEO especially if they come from reputable sources and seem very natural.

In the example above, our SEO agency received an editorial backlink to the homepage from a branded anchor text.

Backlinks from Forums

Backlinks from forums are links that originate from discussions within forum threads. The most popular forum websites are Quora and Reddit where users share opinions, ask questions, and exchange information on various topics. The SEO impact of forum backlinks can vary. Historically, these links were highly valued for SEO, but due to spammy practices, many forums now implement “nofollow” attributes on their links, which instruct search engines not to pass on link equity.

I would not recommend building forum links to boost your SEO rankings as the results will be disappointing. However, if the forums are reputable and the links are contextually relevant to the content, they can still drive targeted traffic to your site and help build community engagement.

Sponsored or Paid Links

Sponsored links are essentially paid placements on websites, articles, or other platforms where a link to your site is included as part of an advertisement or content that you’ve financed.

Sponsored links must be clearly marked as such by using the rel=”sponsored” attribute to comply with search engine guidelines, particularly Google’s. It’s worth knowing that tagging prevents these links from passing PageRank or influencing search engine rankings directly.

If a publisher does not tag the sponsored link properly, it can be considered a violation of search engine policies and may lead to penalties such as lowered rankings or manual actions against the site.

Other

You can also get links from directory websites (Yelp, Bing, etc), social media, images, business profiles, testimonials, and other similar places that can certainly enhance your online visibility and drive traffic to your website. However, it’s important to understand that such links have almost no SEO value.

Do I Need a Budget to Start?

Whether you need a budget to kick off your first link-building campaigns depends on several factors, such as the speed of the results, your personal SEO skills, and the quality of the backlinks you seek. To clarify further, let’s continue reading.

Free vs. Paid Opportunities

Alright, imagine this: you’re a writer, and not just any writer. You’ve got skills that make people sit up and take notice. You’ve also established a niche for yourself—let’s say, something like the medical field. Now, here’s where things get interesting. Instead of sitting around waiting for opportunities, you take the leap. You reach out to journalists or editors, people who are constantly hungry for credible sources.

But—and this is the key—you’re not just pitching another generic piece of content. You’re offering them an expertly crafted article, backed by your experience and authority in the industry.

Think about it: why would they say no? They get high-quality content from someone who actually knows what they’re talking about. And you? Well, you might score a backlink to your website from the bio or body section (in-content).

Now, before you get too excited, let’s keep it real. This isn’t a sure-shot thing. Even when they publish your piece and link back to you, the backlink might be nofollow. Or, you might get a branded anchor text instead of a keyword-rich one. That’s just how it goes in this game—there’s no hard and fast rule.

The thing is, this kind of success doesn’t happen by accident. It takes strong writing—like, the kind that makes people stop scrolling. And it takes knowing your stuff—being in tune with what the industry needs and how you can fill that gap.

You can also earn free PR backlinks from major outlets like Forbes or BBC. Just imagine it—a mention in one of those big names. And the best part? There are ways to make it happen without shelling out for the links themselves.

But it’s not as simple as it sounds. Sure, the process itself doesn’t involve buying the links, but it does require skill, time, and effort. So, let’s say you’re not already a whiz at HARO or digital PR, chances are, you’ll need to invest in someone who is.

It’s not exactly “free” when you think about it, right? The service, the expertise, that’s where the cost comes in. But trust me, if done right, the payoff is worth every penny.

In contrast, if you want to promote your landing pages, such as collection, product, or service pages, it would be nearly impossible to find free backlink opportunities, especially with dofollow attributes and without sponsored tags.

For such scenarios, you would need to pay publishers to get dofollow backlinks with your preferred anchor text and target URL through link-building strategies, such as link exchange or niche edits.

Curious about the costs of link-building? Dive into my comprehensive guide for valuable insights.

Link Building for Beginners: The Step-by-Step Process

I put in a lot of effort to gather everything you need to perform your first link-building campaigns right away. Everything in this article comes straight from the wisdom I’ve gained through years of experience. I made sure to explain it all in detail, so you can get started without having to think twice.

Step #1: Optimize On-Page SEO

Lots of companies and folks pour a ton of money into link-building services but skimp on solid on-page SEO. The truth is, that’s not the smartest way to handle SEO and you won’t get very far with such a strategy.

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Let me explain:

People are not visiting your website because of your backlinks. They’re looking for answers, products, or services. If your web pages do not target keywords with the right intent, if you don’t have high-quality content, or if your website is slow and has poor navigation, it does not matter how many backlinks your website has.

Certainly, great backlinks will solve half of your problems, but before focusing on links, make sure your website is optimized for users and search engines from different angles.

Step #2: Define the Ideal Link-Building Strategy

There’s a whole slew of link-building strategies you can tap into, like guest blogging, niche edits (link insertion), using the skyscraper method, and beyond. They all need a unique game plan and a lot of moving parts to think about.

Before moving ahead, I recommend expanding your knowledge with my ‘Proven Link-Building Strategies’ guide, which is just a click away.

Then, based on your objectives, budget, and current SEO metrics ( keyword positions, backlink profile diversity, target pages, etc) you can define the ideal strategy for your website.

Step #3: Pick the Right Link-Building Tools

On the surface, link building seems pretty straightforward, but it’s actually filled with complex steps that need to be fast-tracked to tap into its full potential. There’s a whole array of online tools out there for link building, but it’s super important to use them responsibly and with a bit of caution.

You might be wondering if you really need these tools to kick off your initial link-building campaign. Opinions vary, but I’m convinced that some are absolutely essential, while others are just good to have.

Here is my favorite list for beginners

These are just a handful of tools to get you started—kind of like dipping your toes into the world of link-building. But if you’re ready to dive deeper and explore the full arsenal of tools I recommend, check out my complete guide. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Step #4: Find Backlink Opportunities (Prospecting + Vetting)

Backlink prospecting and vetting—it’s like diving into a treasure hunt, except the treasure is credibility, authority, and growth for your website. So, backlink prospecting is where it all starts. You’re basically on a mission, scouting the digital landscape for websites that feel like they belong in your circle. Not just any website, though—ones that make sense for your brand. You’re looking for those spots on the internet that share the same vibe, the same audience, or the same values as you.

You have several ways to uncover relevant backlink opportunities. For beginners, I would recommend two tactics:

Tip #1. Spy Out Your Competitor’s Backlink Profile

Your competitors are like a treasure map that’s been right under your nose. You look at what your competitors are doing, and where they’re getting their links, and suddenly, you have a roadmap of opportunities waiting for you.

It’s quick. It’s effective. And honestly? It just makes sense.

All you have to do is dig in, sort through the data, and find the ones that align with your objectives. The best part? You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting from a place of strategy, knowing that these links are already connecting to businesses like yours.

Now, here’s where vetting comes in. This is the part where you don’t just grab any shiny thing you see; you pause. You assess. You ask questions. Is this website legit? Does it have a good reputation? Are people actually visiting it? Or is it one of those sketchy, out-in-the-wild places that might drag your brand down instead of lifting it up?

You’re checking things like domain authority, relevance to your niche, organic traffic, and even how spammy their existing links feel.

Tip #2. Analyze Websites Within Your Niche

It’s all about looking at the bigger picture of your industry and finding opportunities that naturally align with what you offer. Let me explain.

Another great technique is to scope out websites relevant to your niche and review their backlink profiles, even if they’re not direct competitors. Imagine you run an eCommerce store selling hiking gear. Your direct competitors might be other hiking gear websites.

But think for a moment: who else is talking to your potential customers? Outdoor blogs, travel websites, fitness influencers, and even environmental nonprofits might be creating content that ties into your niche.

So, grabbing niche-relevant backlinks isn’t about competition—it’s about collaboration. Find the overlap, offer something worthwhile, and approach it like you’re building a relationship.

Step #5: (+ Find Contacts and Send Follow Up Emails)

Let’s be real for a second—backlink outreach can feel like shouting into a void if you don’t get it right. You craft a killer pitch, hit send, and… crickets. But here’s the truth: the key to standing out starts before you ever write a single word of your email. It begins with finding the right contact.

if you’re emailing a generic “info@” address, what are the odds your email gets to someone who cares? Slim. That’s why finding the right contact info is non-negotiable. Use tools like ZeroBounce or Hunter.io to verify email addresses and make sure they’re valid. Nothing screams unprofessional like bounced emails clogging your sender score.

So, who should you aim for? Ideally, editors, content managers, or website owners—the people with decision-making power. Reaching out to the wrong person is a waste of time and effort, and let’s be honest, we’ve all got enough on our plates without sending emails into the ether.

Oh, and don’t sleep on email warm-up. If you’re using a new account, you can’t just dive into outreach mode. Services like Mailwarm or Warmbox can help gradually build your sender reputation so your emails land in inboxes—not spam folders. Trust me, this step is the unsung hero of successful outreach.

Personalize Emails

Send personalized emails to these contacts, explaining why your content is valuable and how it could benefit their audience. Be clear, concise, and respectful in your pitch, and avoid generic, spammy messages.

Don’t despair if you see that almost every publisher asks for a fee because they invest significant effort into building a reputable platform with a dedicated audience.

Publishers charge for guest posts or link insertions as a way to monetize the value they provide through access to their audience and the SEO advantages their platform offers. Plus, charging a fee can act as a filter to ensure that only serious and committed contributors who value the opportunity will submit content.

Filter the Responses

Remember, not all responses to your outreach will be equally beneficial. It’s crucial to thoroughly review their offers before you settle on any final choices. Here are some typical replies you’d do well to avoid:

Don’t be disappointed if you secure only 3-5 links out of 50 outreach attempts. It’s quite normal when you prioritize quality over quantity. Additionally, the success rate (or response rate) can fluctuate due to factors like the industry or holiday seasons.

Send Follow-Up Emails

Finally, remember: outreach isn’t a one-and-done deal. Following up is where the magic often happens. Keep it polite, short, and professional. You’re building connections here, not chasing people down.

Sending link-building outreach emails without further follow-ups is a big mistake. People are swamped, receiving hundreds of emails daily, so the chances of your initial outreach email being overlooked or buried in a busy recipient’s inbox are high.

Follow-up emails serve as gentle reminders to recipients who may have missed or forgotten to reply to the first email. It’s common for the majority of positive responses to come after a follow-up, as it shows persistence and reinforces the importance of your request. Believe me, in many cases, follow-up emails are where the deal is made.

Final review

Alright, let me paint you a clearer picture of what happens after you secure a live backlink. Think of it as receiving a gift—it’s exciting, but you need to unwrap it carefully and make sure everything’s as it should be.

The first thing you should always do is double-check the link. Open the live URL and confirm it’s pointing to the right place. Mistakes can happen—maybe there’s a typo, or the link doesn’t work as intended. You want to catch that early.

Once you’ve confirmed the link is live and functional, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Look at the link itself. Is it a “dofollow” link that passes SEO value, or is it a “nofollow” link that might not directly impact rankings but still adds credibility and traffic potential? Each has its role, so understanding what you’ve got is crucial.

Finally, and this step is often overlooked—record everything. Create a detailed log in your link-building records. Note the URL of the backlink, the date it went live, the type of link (dofollow or nofollow), the anchor text used, and any other relevant details.

White-Hat vs. Black hat Link Building

Honestly, every time I hear someone compare white hat and black hat link-building, I can’t help but chuckle. The term ‘link-building’ itself often feels like a bit of a challenge to Google’s guidelines, which caution against manipulative link practices. It’s important to remember, though, that not all link-building is frowned upon—Google supports techniques that involve creating high-quality content that naturally attracts links. Let’s dive into the distinctions between practices that Google endorses and those it penalizes.

For honesty, I would say that even today, some black hat link-building techniques, such as private blog networks (PBNs) or link farms, still work, providing short- or long-term results depending on the industry.

Even if you engage in guest posting or link insertions that don’t appear natural, there’s a considerable risk that search engines will penalize you. Therefore, it’s essential to understand all the hidden details of link-building best practices before moving forward.

Buying vs. Earning Links

If you search ‘Is it safe to buy backlinks?’ on Google, you will find that most experts strongly advise against buying links. Instead, they recommend techniques such as developing exclusive content, link stealing, and similar. However, I would argue, ‘Even if you have great content, if your website lacks authority and your content is not visible, earning links to your money pages will be nearly impossible.

But, if you build links that seem very natural and organic is a different approach entirely. So, before buying links, make sure you understand the link-building game from all angles, master it, do it yourself, or trust a reliable SEO agency with a proven track record.

Which Links Have the Most Impact?

Essentially, there is no way to measure the impact of a specific link. In my opinion, the most impactful links are those that are relevant, dofollow, and in-content (editorial links). Here’s a breakdown of the factors to consider most.

Backlink Relevance

When your website receives backlinks from other reputable sites within the same industry or niche, it signals to search engines that your content is valuable and relevant to that particular topic.

I’m not only talking about website relevance but also topic relevance. But let’s consider a few scenarios for more clarity.

Remember!
Obtaining backlinks from the same industry is ideal, but it’s not always realistic to earn links from the same industry. Sometimes, it is practical and beneficial to expand your backlink strategy to include related or complementary niches.

For example, a travel agency benefits most from links received from travel blogs, tourism boards, and other travel-related websites. However, over time, these opportunities may become scarce due to outreach exhaustion or competitive barriers.

In this case, you can also focus on lifestyle, food, fashion and culture, photography, or similar niches and that is very great.

Anchor Text

Anchor text—the clickable text in a hyperlink—is another critical component of link building. Google confirms that good anchor text is descriptive, reasonably concise, and relevant to both the page it appears on and the page it links to. It provides context for the link and sets the expectation for your readers. The better your anchor text, the easier it is for people to navigate your site and for Google to understand what the page you’re linking to is about.

Anchor texts come in various types:

Keep in mind that maintaining diversity in your anchor text profile is essential; a varied mix of exact match, partial match, branded, generic phrases like “click here,” and even naked URLs creates a more organic and balanced backlink profile.

Organic Traffic

The best backlinks come from websites with high-quality organic traffic and a strong history of consistent traffic. If a website lacks organic traffic, it suggests that the website is not perceived as valuable by search engines. As a result, such websites cannot pass link juice because they do not have enough authority to rank.

I didn’t mention the term ‘quality traffic’ by accident. Yes, you heard that correctly—traffic and quality organic traffic are not the same. A website might rank for broad or unrelated keywords that bring in visitors who aren’t interested in its actual content or a site might have used black-hat SEO techniques in the past to rank for certain keywords, attracting traffic that isn’t aligned with its current content.

One common question is: How much organic traffic should a website have to make the backlink worthwhile? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, websites with steady, consistent traffic are generally more trustworthy than those with sudden spikes or drops.

For niche industries, websites with 1,000 to 5,000 monthly organic visitors can be valuable, especially if they’re highly relevant. In more competitive industries, aiming for sites with 10,000+ monthly organic visitors might be more appropriate.

Always remember, a site with 50,000 monthly visitors isn’t automatically better than one with 5,000 visitors. The smaller site might have a more engaged audience that’s highly relevant to your niche.

Destination

Before moving forward, take a deep breath because choosing the right target page is a strategic decision that requires careful consideration of your objectives, strategy, and SEO best practices. Here is my advice:

❶ If your website is new, start by targeting the homepage to build website authority, as the homepage distributes backlink equity across other pages. Gradually, shift your focus to landing pages.

➋ Target low-competition landing pages with a high-profit margin. Then, adjust your strategy based on performance.

➌ If you’re doing link-building for an eCommerce store, prioritize the homepage and collection (category) pages rather than targeting specific product pages.

Always diversify your backlinks and anchor texts to avoid penalties and improve long-term SEO performance. Monitor the impact of your link-building efforts and be prepared to adjust your strategy as needed.

Top Link Building Mistakes

At first glance, link-building seems like a simple process of building relationships with bloggers, publishers, and influencers to secure backlinks on other websites. In reality, it’s a bit more complex—you need to master a variety of skills before diving into the actual process to make sure your links are relevant, high-quality, and safe.

In the final section of my guide, I will share the top mistakes to avoid—mistakes I made when starting SEO, but I don’t want you to repeat.

Always Have a Reason to Receive Links

You cannot build links indefinitely, whether or not you have a budget. You need to give others a reason to link to you. I understand that not every company can afford to develop a lot of high-quality content while also investing heavily in link-building. Instead, gain domain authority (and I’m not referring to MOZ DA). Then, with small, consistent efforts, start developing and executing a killer content strategy.

Don’t start link-building if your website is not user-friendly, or if your pages aren’t optimized for keywords, titles, and other on-page elements.

Avoid Spammy Techniques

As the CEO and founder of a reliable SEO agency, I can confidently affirm that over 70% of our SEO clients have experienced spammy tactics from their previous link-building providers before partnering with us. But where does this all stem from? It’s often due to a lack of knowledge. Without a basic understanding of link-building or SEO in general, it becomes difficult to measure link-building success and assess link quality.

First and foremost, link-building techniques like private blog networks (PBNs), link farms, or forum links don’t guarantee long-term success. It is advisable to avoid such tactics.

If you’ve already built or acquired spammy links, act fast—disavow them now to protect your website’s rankings and reputation!

Diversify the Anchor Text

I’ve already covered a small section dedicated to anchor text types and a few important nuances to understand before launching your first campaigns. But again, never target the same anchor text repeatedly. Always monitor it to make sure the anchor texts appear natural. Avoid using phrases like ‘Buy [product]’ or other obvious anchors that indicate you’re doing link-building. For a more natural approach, you can also occasionally link to your most comprehensive blog posts.

Prioritize Quality Over Quantity

I’m not reinventing the wheel by saying that quality is always more important, not just in SEO but everywhere. Indeed, nobody knows exactly how Google measures backlink quality, but based on my experience, it’s always 10x better to have a backlink from one reputable website than from three general ones.

Don’t be fooled by competitors whose sites have thousands of links, but after applying a few filters you realize that only one or two quality links remain.

Execute Diverse Link-Building Techniques

Many businesses often rely on just one or two link-building techniques, such as link insertions or guest posting. However, there are actually more opportunities available, including PR link-building campaigns, using podcasts to get backlinks,, product reviews, and more.

Definitely, the industry you’re in matters. For example, if you’re in a gray niche (Cannabis, casino, etc.), securing backlinks through digital PR or HARO on authoritative publications may be nearly impossible.

Utilizing a variety of link-building techniques can help you reach a broader audience and create a more natural link profile. It also allows you to maintain a balanced anchor text profile.

Don’t Ignore the Importance of Internal Linking

You’re not rich enough to build backlinks for every webpage you own. The good news is, you don’t need thousands of links to rank high in search results. Instead, focus on enhancing your internal linking structure, creating topic clusters, and interlinking them with relevant anchor texts that clearly describe what’s ahead.

The benefits? Internal links help distribute authority and PageRank across your website.

To clarify further, when you build backlinks to specific pages on your site, and those pages are connected to other important pages via internal links, the link juice (or link value) flows, boosting the rankings of those interconnected pages even if they don’t have direct backlinks.

How Many Links Do I Need to Rank?

The number of backlinks you need to see results in your SEO efforts isn’t a fixed figure—it varies widely based on several factors unique to your website and industry. If you’re operating in a competitive niche, you’ll likely need more high-quality backlinks to outrank established competitors who have robust backlink profiles.

In less competitive spaces, even a handful of authoritative backlinks can significantly impact your rankings. If your site is new with little existing authority, it may take more time and backlinks to see noticeable results. On the other hand, sites with an existing foundation may experience quicker improvements with fewer additional backlinks due to their established credibility.

Should I Focus on Ahrefs DR?

Ahrefs’ Domain Rating (DR) is a popular metric experts consider to assess the strength of a website’s backlink profile. But, I know many websites with high DR scores that generate zero traffic or have been penalized. In my opinion, Ahrefs DR can provide valuable insights, but it should not be the sole factor in determining whether it’s beneficial to acquire a backlink from a particular website because DR is based solely on backlink quantity and quality as measured by Ahrefs’ database. It doesn’t account for other crucial factors like website relevance, content quality, or traffic.

Backlinks from websites relevant to your industry or niche carry more weight than those from unrelated sites, even if the unrelated site has a higher DR.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Generally, you can expect to notice some changes within 3 to 6 months. The time it takes to see tangible results from link-building efforts can vary widely based on several factors. After acquiring new backlinks, it can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for search engine bots to crawl the linking pages and recognize the new links.

If you’re working with clients or team members, set clear expectations about the timeline for results. Be wary of strategies that promise immediate results, as they may involve unethical practices that can lead to penalties.

Can I Get Referral Traffic Through Backlinks?

Yes, you can receive referral traffic through backlinks but always set realistic expectations regarding referral traffic. In most cases, the primary objective of link building is to improve your website’s SEO performance rather than to drive significant referral traffic. Not all backlinks are placed in high-visibility areas where users are likely to click. Many backlinks exist within content that doesn’t receive substantial direct traffic.

Does Building Links to One Page Help Other Pages Rank?

Yes, building backlinks to one page on your website can indirectly help other pages rank better in organic results. There are many pages with no backlinks that still rank higher than those with numerous links. But for instance, this effect largely depends on how your website’s internal linking structure is set up. Poorly organized internal linking can prevent the transfer of authority from one page to another. Also, if the pages you want to boost are not closely related to the cornerstone page, the transfer of link equity might be less effective.

Referring Domain Vs. Backlinks: Are They the Same?

No, referring domains and backlinks are related but not the same. Backlinks are individual hyperlinks from one webpage to another while referring domains refer to the unique domains (websites) that contain at least one backlink to your website.

You can have multiple backlinks from a single referring domain. For example, if a blog writes several articles that each link to your site, each link is a separate backlink. No matter how many backlinks you have from a single domain, it counts as one referring domain.

Each backlink contributes to your site’s link equity (also known as “link juice”), but multiple backlinks from the same domain may have diminishing returns. Generally, having backlinks from a larger number of unique referring domains is more beneficial for SEO than having many backlinks from the same domain.

Are .gov and .edu Backlinks Valuable for SEO?

Yes, backlinks from .gov and .edu websites are indeed valuable for SEO. These domains are typically associated with high authority and trustworthiness. However, it’s important to set the right expectations regarding the impact of these backlinks as such links don’t provide the results or value that some agencies or link-building experts promise. Moreover, obtaining .gov and .edu backlinks is often more challenging and time-consuming.

DA Vs. DR: Which One to Consider?

The short answer is none of them. The widespread use of DA and DR by link builders has led to a big issue: these metrics are often prioritized above other important factors. Your considerations can result in overlooking the true quality of a website. DA and DR focus primarily on the quantity and quality of backlinks a website has. They assess how many other sites link to your website and evaluate the authority of those linking sites. These metrics do not take into account several other important factors such as a website’s content quality, relevance, organic traffic, or user engagement.

What is Link Juice?

Link juice (also known as link equity) is a term in SEO to describe the value or authority that a hyperlink passes from one website to another. The flow of value helps the linked website improve its organic rankings on SERPs. Links from websites that are relevant to your industry or niche carry more link juice. For example, a link from a health-related website is more valuable to a medical blog than a link from an unrelated site like a cooking blog.

Another example is that links placed within the main content of a page (contextual links)generally pass more link juice than those in sidebars or footers. Finally, if a page has too many links, the link juice is divided among all of them, reducing the amount each link passes. Fewer links on a page mean more link juice per link.

How to Find Who Links to Your Website

To find out who links to your website, you can use various tools and techniques. Start with Google Search Console, a free tool that shows you a list of websites linking to your site. Log in, navigate to the Links section, and review the Top Linking Sites and Top Linked Pages reports to identify the domains and pages that are driving backlinks.

For a more detailed analysis, tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz Link Explorer provide comprehensive insights. Simply enter your website URL in their backlink analysis tool to get a list of linking domains, anchor texts, and metrics like Domain Authority (DA) or Domain Rating (DR). You can also export the data for further evaluation.