What Are Backlinks in SEO? A Simple Guide for Beginners
Competitors with thinner content still outrank you because search engines trust them more. That trust is earned with links — which is why understanding what are backlinks in SEO and how to build them sustainably is the fastest path to stronger rankings and revenue.
If you want a tailored plan that maps links to business outcomes (not vanity metrics), Single Grain can audit your current profile and outline a realistic acquisition strategy. Get a FREE consultation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
What Are Backlinks in SEO — And Why They Still Matter in 2025
A backlink is a hyperlink on another website that points to your page. When the linking page is relevant and trustworthy, that mention acts like a vote of confidence. Search engines use these off-site signals — alongside content quality, technical health, user experience, and entity understanding — to decide which pages deserve prominent visibility.
In 2025, authoritative backlinks still correlate with organic growth. The American Marketing Association’s 2025 strategy guide highlights disciplined link acquisition as a high-impact lever, referencing 2024 benchmarks where structured programs drove up to a 40% year-over-year lift in organic visibility; see the AMA’s 2025 strategy guide for their framework. For a deeper dive into why links continue to move rankings, we break down the nuances of why backlinks still move the needle across modern search.
What are backlinks in SEO, exactly — and how do they pass value?
Backlinks typically pass value through three lenses: authority (how trusted the referring domain is), relevance (how closely the linking page’s topic matches yours), and context (anchor text, on-page placement, and surrounding copy). “Followed” editorial links from relevant content tend to carry the most weight. Attributes like rel=”nofollow”, rel=”sponsored”, and rel=”ugc” tell search engines how to interpret a link, and traffic or engagement from a link can still be valuable even when it’s marked as a hint rather than a ranking signal.
Within a holistic SEVO (Search Everywhere Optimization) strategy, backlinks do more than help Google rankings — they amplify discovery across YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, and even AI summaries (AEO/GEO), where authoritative citations boost brand visibility. Don’t confuse backlinks with internal links or outbound links on your own site; each serves a purpose. If you’re clarifying the difference, review how external links and how they support SEO fit into your overall link strategy.
Evaluate Link Quality Like a Pro (Signals, Risks, and Quick Checks)
Beginners often chase volume, but quality, relevance, and organic placement matter far more. Ask: Would a real human find this link useful in context? Is the referring page indexed, topical, and engaged? Are there red flags like sitewide footer links, spun content, irrelevant forums, or paid link footprints?
Dofollow vs Nofollow vs Sponsored vs UGC (and when each helps)
| Link attribute | Passes ranking signals | Typical uses | Value to SEO | Cautions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Default “follow” link | Usually yes | Editorial in-content citations, references | Strong when topical and editorial | Avoid manipulative patterns or over-optimized anchors |
| rel=”nofollow” | Treated as a hint | Untrusted links, large UGC platforms, some press | Great for referral traffic, brand signals, discovery | Don’t buy links to “make them followed” — risky |
| rel=”sponsored” | Treated as a hint | Paid placements, sponsorships, affiliate mentions | Transparent for partnerships; minor direct ranking value | Mislabeling paid links can create risk |
| rel=”ugc” | Treated as a hint | Comments, forum posts, community content | Occasional discovery value; low direct impact | Watch for spam; moderate user-generated links |
Bottom line: prioritize relevant, editorial, in-content “follow” links, but don’t ignore high-quality nofollow/UGC links that reliably drive referral traffic, brand mentions, and discovery.
Quick-quality checklist you can use today
- Topical fit: The linking page discusses your subject, not a random directory or off-topic forum.
- Editorial context: The link sits inside body copy that adds value, not a sidebar, footer, or junk widget.
- Healthy site metrics: Real traffic signals, indexing, and a clean link profile (avoid obvious link schemes).
- Natural anchor text: Use descriptive, human-first anchors; avoid exact-match stuffing.
- Diversity and relevance: Earn links from multiple credible domains within your niche (not one network).
If you want to plan long-term, map niches, formats, and targets to build a resilient backlink portfolio that compounds over time.
See how a strategic SEVO approach blends technical SEO, content, and outreach to earn durable links and ROI. Get a FREE consultation.
A Beginner’s 3-Step Plan to Earn High-Quality Backlinks
You don’t need complex tools or black-box tactics to get started. Follow this simple, repeatable process to build authority while protecting your brand.
- Audit and clean up: Benchmark your current backlink profile and remove risky patterns.
- Create linkable assets: Publish content people genuinely want to reference.
- Outreach with value: Offer a clear reason for publishers to link (not just “please link to me”).
Step 1 — Audit and clean up. Start with Google Search Console’s link report to review top linking sites, anchors, and pages. Flag irrelevant, spammy, or manipulative patterns (e.g., sitewide boilerplate links, spun content, or paid footprints). If you uncover a serious risk, plan outreach to remove links you control and consider disavowing for stubborn, clearly manipulative ones.
Step 2 — Create linkable assets. Build “link magnets” that solve problems or synthesize knowledge: original data, concise industry explainers, calculators/templates, updated statistics, or visual assets. Map topics to your product/service moat and topical authority. Consistency matters — repurpose assets across channels (Single Grain’s Content Sprout mindset) to earn mentions from blogs, newsletters, communities, and podcasts.
Step 3 — Outreach with value. Offer something useful to specific publishers, like missing data, a clearer definition, a supporting graphic, or a case example. For a white-hat play that beginners love, run a simple broken link building workflow on resource pages and cited lists in your niche. Also pursue unlinked brand mentions, byline articles on real publications, and collaborative content with partners. If time or network is your constraint, an experienced team can operate outreach at scale without risking your domain — consider an outsourced link-building program that aligns with your brand safeguards.
Throughout this process, track progress at the domain and page levels: referring domains earned, anchor text distribution, link velocity, and the pages that are winning visibility. Tie everything back to revenue-driving metrics (pipeline, qualified demos, or assisted conversions), and evolve your targets with a diversified plan designed to build a resilient backlink portfolio instead of chasing one-off wins.
Turn backlinks into revenue, not just rankings. If you’re ready to align link building with business outcomes, get your FREE consultation with Single Grain.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is a backlink in SEO?
A backlink is a hyperlink from another website to your page. When it’s editorial, relevant, and trustworthy, it can signal to search engines that your content is a credible resource on the topic.
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Do backlinks still matter with E-E-A-T and AI overviews?
Yes. While high-quality content and experience signals are mandatory, authoritative mentions remain a core off-page signal. Links also support discovery across social search and AI summaries when your brand is cited as a source.
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How many backlinks do I need to rank?
There’s no fixed number. It depends on search intent, keyword competition, and the quality and relevance of referring domains. A few strong editorial links can outperform dozens of weak ones. Analyze the link profiles of pages already ranking for your target term to estimate the bar, then prioritize quality over volume.
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What’s the difference between dofollow and nofollow?
A “follow” link (the default) usually passes ranking signals when it’s editorial and relevant. “Nofollow,” “sponsored,” and “ugc” are attributes used as hints; they’re still valuable for traffic, discovery, and credibility — they just aren’t treated the same way as editorial, followed links for ranking.
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Should I disavow bad backlinks?
Use caution. Disavow is typically reserved for clear patterns of manipulative links you can’t remove. Start with an audit in Google Search Console and remove or neutralize obvious spam where possible. Systematic audits, removal requests, and focused acquisition can turn a risky link profile into a growth asset.
