What are Backlinks? All You Need to Know

What are Backlinks?

Backlinks, also known as inbound or incoming links, are a critical component of SEO (Search Engine Optimization). They refer to the links that direct internet users from one website to another.

When a webpage creates a link to any of your articles or the main page of your website, it transfers “link juice”. This link juice helps with the ranking of your article and also improves the domain authority of the site.

Backlinks are considered as a vote of confidence from one site to another. If numerous sites link to the same webpage or website, search engines infer that content is worth linking to, and therefore also worth surfacing on a SERP (Search Engine Results Page).

The more high-value backlinks a site has, the higher its likelihood of ranking highly in search engine results.

There are two types of backlinks:

1. Dofollow backlinks: These allow search engine bots to follow them and reach your website, resulting in better ranking.
2. Nofollow backlinks: These links tell search engine bots not to follow the links, so they won’t affect your ranking on the SERP.

Good backlinks come from web pages that are relevant to your page’s content and have a high domain authority. Bad backlinks, on the other hand, can harm your SEO efforts, making it essential to monitor and manage them effectively.

Are backlinks bad for SEO?

Why Are Backlinks Important?

Backlinks play an essential role in the domain of SEO. They are a critical tool in boosting a website’s prominence and visibility online. Here’s why:

• Enhanced SEO Rankings: Consider backlinks as a vote of confidence from one website to another. Search engines such as Google interpret high-quality backlinks as a sign that the website provides valuable content.
• Improved Online Visibility: The presence of backlinks on other reputable websites increases the visibility of a webpage. Consequently, the likelihood of attracting more visitors to the site is high.
• Increases Website Authority: Quality backlinks, especially from trusted sites, boost the authority of a website. High site authority is often associated with higher search rankings.
• Faster Indexing: Backlinks from well-established websites help search engine bots discover and index new webpages faster.

What makes a good backlink?

not all backlinks are created equal; certain qualities separate an effective backlink from the rest:

• Relevance: A good backlink is one that comes from a website or content closely related to the target site’s subject matter. It should be contextually appropriate and add to the overall value of the content wherein it is found. Search engines are likely to perceive such backlinks as more reliable, enhancing their positive impact.
• Authority of the source site: High-value backlinks often come from trusted, authoritative websites. These websites may include well-established and respected news sites, academic journals, or industry leaders. The more authoritative the source is, the more valuable the link will be in improving SERPs ranking.
• Do-follow Tags: A do-follow tag signals to search engines that the backlink should influence the target site’s ranking. While no-follow links are still valuable in driving traffic, good backlinks typically carry do-follow tags for maximum SEO impact.
• Targeted Anchor text: Good backlinks will often include targeted anchor text, which is relevant to the content of the linked page. This further boosts the link’s perceived value and enhances the SEO effect.
• Placement of the backlink: Lastly, the position of the backlink in the content also determines its effectiveness. A backlink positioned within the main content is typically more valuable than one placed in the comments or footer.

To summarize:

How to check backlinks

Have you ever wondered how to check the backlinks of your website? Don’t worry! It’s a breeze with the following steps.

• Step 1: Choose the right tool: There are a multitude of tools available online, both free and paid, to help you monitor your backlinks. Some notable names are Semrush, Ahrefs, and Moz. Choose the one that suits your needs!
• Step 2: Enter your URL: Once you’ve picked your tool, all you need to do is enter your website’s URL in the search bar, press enter & voila – behold the list of domains that link to your website!
• Step 3: Analyze the results: Often, the value of quality surpasses that of quantity. Make sure to check the domain authority (DA) of every backlink. This is a measure of a website’s credibility. The higher the DA, the more valuable the backlink.
• Step 4: Check the relevance: The relevance of the link to your work greatly matters. Make sure the content of the linking website aligns with your offerings.
• Step 5: Monitor frequently: Backlinks aren’t a one-time thing! Ensure to monitor your backlinks frequently to note any changes.

Now you’re ready to check backlinks in no time. Good luck!

What Makes a Good Backlink?

A good backlink, in regard to search engine optimization (SEO), plays a critical role in improving a website’s visibility, credibility, and ranking on popular search engines like Google. There are several key criteria that define the quality and effectiveness of a backlink:

• Relevance: The relevance of a backlink stands paramount among all other factors. The website from which the backlink originates should have content that is contextually related to the linked site. Irrelevant backlinks can be parsed as spam by search engines, potentially lowering the site’s ranking.
• Authority: High-authority websites are viewed as trustworthy sources by search engines. Hence, backlinks from such sites carry more weight. These websites frequently have a significant number of quality backlinks themselves.
• Diversity: Search engines prefer a variety of backlinks from different domains over multiple backlinks from a single domain. The diversity of backlinks indicates the widespread recognition and endorsement of the linked site.
• Placement: The placement of the backlink also matters. If the backlink is embedded within the content or on an important portion of the webpage, it is considered more relevant compared to a backlink placed in the footer or sidebar.
• Dofollow vs Nofollow: By default, all links are dofollow, meaning they pass on ‘link juice’ or SEO benefits. However, a nofollow link, despite not passing on SEO benefits, is still beneficial as it can drive traffic to the website, proving its utility beyond just SEO.

How can I get free backlinks?

Securing free backlinks is a crucial strategy for improving website rankings and online visibility. With thoughtfulness and patience, anyone can obtain these valuable online endorsements.

To get free backlinks, these are some of the tactics one may consider using:

Content Creation and Promotion:

• The creation of high-quality, unique, and informative content is paramount.
• Upon completion, the promotion of content via social media channels helps amplify its visibility.

Guest Blogging

A powerful way to reach more people and gain backlinks is guest blogging. Write up a blog post for other websites and include a backlink to your site.

Public Relations and Influencer Outreach

Building relationships with influencers and PR representatives in your industry can have a dual benefit: not only can you gain free backlinks, but you can also improve your brand’s reputation.

Competitor Analysis

Monitor your competitors’ backlinks and attempt to replicate them. Free tools like Moz’s Link Explorer can aid in this process.

Testimonials:

Providing businesses with testimonials in exchange for a link back to your site can be an effective method for gaining free backlinks.

Free Backlink Sites List