So, you’ve optimized the on-page elements of your site, invested in paid marketing, and hired a team of SEO specialists, only to see your site so low in Google Search Engine Results. We get it—it’s frustrating.
If this sounds relatable, acquiring backlinks might be the missing piece in your SEO strategy. Backlinks are like votes of confidence. They tell search engines like Google that your site holds authority and offers valuable content for the audience.
Here’s a comprehensive guide for beginners, explaining what SEO backlinks are, why they matter, and how you can leverage them:
Why Backlinks Matter
Despite constant changes in Google’s algorithms and customer behavior, backlinks matter in 2025. They are still one of the most reliable and effective ways to boost your site’s rankings in traditional search. But the reason why backlinks matter has changed.
Entrepreneurs and website owners are interested in building a long-term and sustainable SEO strategy, which is why backlinks are being used for more than just optimizing for Google PageRank. Businesses want to become a source of authoritative content and establish a strong brand reputation.
Being part of the conversation matters. And backlinks help you do just that.
Understanding Inbound and Outbound Backlinks
Before we delve deeper into strategies for building backlinks, let’s differentiate between inbound and outbound backlinks.
Inbound backlinks are links from other websites to your own. When you acquire an inbound backlink, you become the authority site. On the other hand, outbound backlinks are links from your website to other websites. In this case, your site becomes the origin and shares a portion of the destination website’s authority.
The main difference between inbound and outbound links lies in the flow of authority. That being said, both are important for boosting SEO rankings.
Strategies to Build Backlinks
So, how can you build a backlinking strategy? There are numerous ways to increase your site’s authority and visitors using backlinks. Here are some examples:
Create Linkable Content
One of the best ways to acquire backlinks is to create high-quality content that websites would naturally want to link to. It should be based on original thoughts, research, statistics, and expert opinion. It’s not about recycling the same couple of phrases found on multiple sites, but backing up every claim with an original source.
Focus on creating evergreen content, such as foundational articles and historical overviews, to ensure your content remains relevant and valuable over time. Understand the pain points of your audience and create customer-centric content that addresses their needs. Do in-depth keyword research and incorporate them naturally in your text. Here, you can also leverage internal linking.
Create Link-Worthy Visual Assets
In addition to content, you can also create link-worthy visual assets that websites would naturally want to link to in their articles and guides. This includes flow charts and infographics. The aim is to break down complex information into easily digestible graphics.
Avail Guest Posting Opportunities
A popular way to acquire inbound backlinks is to send guest articles to established websites, attaching a hyperlink to your site. Although it requires considerable time and effort to write articles, find relevant sites, and negotiate a price, the benefits of guest posting can outweigh the cost.
Follow these steps to get high-authority backlinks:
- Identify relevant sites in your niche and make sure they have a high domain authority, preferably 80+.
- Write engaging and SEO optimized content tailored to the target site’s audience.
- Thoroughly understand the writing guidelines of the target site.
- Pitch and communicate with blog owners or editors.
- Ensure correct anchor text placement.
- Avoid keyword stuffing.
Utilize Broken Links
Another common way to acquire inbound backlinks is to mend broken backlinks. It involves finding broken links on other websites and suggesting your own relevant content as a replacement. You can use free or paid tools to identify all the broken links on a site. Once you find one that fits your niche, reach out to the site owner with a polite message and offer your content as a substitute. This is a win-win for both parties.
Create Local Citations
Want to boost your local SEO efforts? Acquiring backlinks from local directories and online listings can be helpful. These are online mentions of a business’s Name, Address, and Phone (NAP). Popular local directories include:
- Google Business Profile
- Yelp
- LinkedIn Business Profile
Leverage Link Roundups
This is one of the least traditional ways to acquire backlinks. Link roundups are curated collections of the industry’s best or most valuable creators. They are periodically created, such as on a monthly or weekly basis. Get mentioned in a link roundup by creating valuable content for your audience.
Leverage Social Media
You can also get links to your website through social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Social media backlinks are typically part of a business’s long-term SEO strategy, where they wish to build positive brand perception.
Rightfully so, link building doesn’t follow a one-size-fits-all approach. Consider your long-term business goals and use multiple strategies to acquire backlinks before continuing with what works.
Expert Backlink Strategies
So, you’ve decided to acquire backlinks for your site. Why not take some extra steps to ensure favorable results? Here’s what experts recommend:
Follow the Skyscraper Technique
Identify popular topics in your niche and write foundational content. This will increase your chances of acquiring outbound backlinks.
Analyze Competitor’s Backlinks
Take a closer look at your competitors and how they are acquiring backlinks. This will give you a baseline to work with.
Nurture Long-Term Relationships with Relevant Sites
The best way to acquire repeated backlinks from authority sites is to build long-term relationships. Leverage email marketing or other marketing strategies.
Use Free Tools
Analyze how backlinks impact click-through rates using free tools. This will help you make timely decisions.
Final Thoughts
Backlinks are an effective way to boost engagement rates and earn authority. Consider working with a reliable digital marketing agency to create a tailored approach for your business. SEO experts will help you avoid costly mistakes and get things right the first time!
