- Category
- Links and authority
- Level
- Beginner
- Also called
- Inbound link
- Quality over quantity
- One relevant, trusted link beats many weak ones
- Tracked with
- Search Console's Links report and third-party tools
- Check it free
- Broken Link Checker
What is a backlink?
When a news site, blog or directory links to your page, that link is a backlink. Since Google's original PageRank algorithm, links have been used to judge which pages are important and trustworthy.
What makes a good backlink
- Relevance: the linking site and page relate to your topic.
- Trust: the site is reputable and has its own quality links.
- Placement: a link within the content, not in a footer or a paid list.
- Editorial: it was given because your page is worth linking to.
How to earn them
- Publish things people want to reference: original data, tools, guides.
- Get featured in industry media, podcasts and roundups.
- Reclaim unlinked mentions and broken links to your site.
- Build relationships with sites in your field.