What is the Importance of Backlinks for SEO?
Why Are Backlinks So Important?
We often liken Google to a popularity contest – millions of websites battling for top positions, influenced by dozens of factors. Within the noise of competition, backlinks are a “vote of confidence” from one website to another, a compelling indication of value to Google.
Many business owners and marketers with a basic comprehension of search engine optimization recognize the gravity of link building to some degree. Below, we explore the true importance of backlinks from SEO and discuss whether they're still important in 2024!
Backlinks are important for SEO, because they signal to Google that another resource finds your content valuable enough to link to it within their own content. As a website earns additional backlinks, search engines infer that the website possesses valuable content worth ranking well on the SERPs.
What is a Backlink?
Also known as “inbound” or “incoming” links, backlinks are created when one website hyperlinks to another website. For example, if a mountain climbing site (Website A) introduces a link to a blog post comparing the best hiking gear (Website B). The hiking gear website receives a vote of confidence – or backlink – from the mountain climbing site.
How Do Websites Acquire New Backlinks?
Gaining backlinks is an essential component to off-site SEO. In fact, backlinks are the most significant off-site ranking factor! Backlinks are earned in two primary ways:
Earn Links Naturally
In Google's perfect world, this is the only way websites would earn authority and trust! A world where every website gains backlinks solely through their content being found and shared by other websites. Picturesque, isn't it?
Link Building
Link building is the practice of intentionally acquiring links from other websites.
5 Strategies For Earning Backlinks in 2024.
1.Link Outreach
Just like it sounds, good old cold outreach. Contact your desired website owner/manager and ask for a link to your content.
2.Manual Linking
Those with access to the back end of multiple websites have the ability to create backlinks at will! Watch out, this tactic should be used sparingly and depending on the number of websites you link together can get you in trouble with Google. See the 2022 link spam update.
3.Link Swaps
Trade a link for a link! Webmasters are much more receptive to backlinking if you offer them something in return.
4.Paid Backlinks
Two major forms exist. Many site managers know their website is valuable and will ask for money in return for a backlink. Link building services exist, where you can buy links and have someone else procure them for you. (usually they use similar tactics to this list)
5.Guest Posts/Blogging
The ultimate give/get scenario! Write a great article for your target website and offer it for free! Of course, you'll need to add a backlink to your website within the article.
How to Know if A Backlink is Actually Helping.
While backlinks are generally desirable, not all backlinks are as valuable as others. Some are inherently more advantageous to earn – others should be avoided whenever possible. The best backlinks come from reputable websites in your industry or related to your company in some way. Understanding the influencers of backlink value is crucial for link building and evaluating the health of your backlink profile.
1. Follow vs. No-Follow Backlinks
Site owners can specify if an individual link passes link equity or not. A no follow link does not pass link equity – colloquially called “link juice” – to the linking domain, while a follow link does. While followed backlinks are much more desirable, no follow links from high-quality websites can still be beneficial to enhance your brand.
(Interestingly, local SEO strategy views follow and no follow links from relevant, localized websites as equally valuable.)
2. Authority of the Linking Domain
Backlinks obtained from linking domains of high authority usually offer more value (link equity) than links from low-quality, new, or spammy websites. Backlinks from spammy websites should be avoided whenever possible.
3. Link Relevancy
Google knows if a backlink is irrelevant to your website's content. If a gluten-free bakery in California links to your brick-and-mortar hiking gear shop in Colorado, the backlink is not extremely relevant and will likely not pass as much link juice as a backlink received from a mountain climbing site.
4. Link Location
Website architecture is significant to Google, as is the positioning of a link on the page. For example, a backlink tucked in the footer of a page may not pass as much equity as one added toward the top of a relevant blog post.
5. Anchor Text
Anchor text is the visible characters or words that display a hyperlink within content, often underlined and uniquely colored. In the previous sentence, “anchor text” is the anchor text for an outbound link. Certain anchor text is deemed SEO-friendly, passing more equity than others. Succinct, relevant, and non-generic text is preferable.
For example, linking to this blog post with the anchor “importance of backlinks for SEO” is preferable to linking with the generic text “click here.”
RivalMind: Customized SEO Services and Link Building
At RivalMind, our SEO services are uniquely personal and unequivocally genuine. We leverage decades of experience working alongside brands of all sizes and industries, dedicated to advancing organizations with profitable results.
Learn more about our transparent, comprehensive process today by giving us a call at
331.228.9636 or completing our online form.
Meet the Author
Harley Helmer
Director of Search Marketing
Harley Helmer is a digital marketing professional with nearly a decade of experience in the industry. Today, he's the head of search marketing strategy at RivalMind, responsible for developing and executing comprehensive SEO campaigns that improve online visibility and boost organic traffic. His pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to marketing – paired with a robust knowledge base – helps him deliver innovative solutions to technical challenges and deliver real client success.
Specialties: SEO Strategy, Google Ads, and Search Marketing Opinions
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