So, you are building a website. Maybe it is for your business, your blog, or even your side hustle. You want people to find it on Google. You have heard that backlinks are super important. But here comes the big question:
How many backlinks should a website have to rank well?
That is what we are going to talk about in this blog. Do not worry, we will keep it simple. No confusing terms. No boring stuff. Just the real deal explained in a fun and friendly way.
Let us get started.
What Are Backlinks?
Before we talk about numbers, let us understand what backlinks really are.
Backlinks are links from one website to another. When another website links to your site, that is a backlink.
Example: If a food blog links to your cake recipe, that is a backlink for you.
Think of backlinks like votes. The more quality votes you get, the more Google trusts your website.
Why Do Backlinks Matter?
Google sees backlinks as signals of trust.
- If other websites link to you, it means your content is helpful.
- Backlinks help Google discover your pages.
- They boost your rankings in search results.
So, the short answer is: more quality backlinks = better rankings.
But wait… how many do you actually need?
How Many Backlinks Should a Website Have?
There Is No Magic Number
Let us be honest. There is no perfect number of backlinks that work for everyone.
Why?
Because every website is different.
- Some keywords are easy to rank for.
- Some industries are more competitive.
- Some websites already have strong authority.
Still, we can give you some real numbers and guidelines to help you figure it out.
First, What Is Your Goal?
Are you trying to:
- Rank a new blog post?
- Boost your homepage?
- Compete with top brands?
The number of backlinks you need depends on your goal.
Let us explore each one.
1. Backlinks for a New Website
If your site is brand new, you need to build a base.
Aim for at least 20 to 50 quality backlinks to your homepage.
- Start slow
- Focus on links from real websites
- Do not buy spammy links
Even if you get 2 to 3 backlinks per week, you will start seeing results in a few months.
2. Backlinks for Blog Posts or Pages
Want to rank a blog post or service page?
Here is what you can do:
- Search for your keyword in Google
- Check the top 3 ranking pages
- Use tools like Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker or Ubersuggest
- Count how many backlinks they have
If the top page has 50 backlinks, you should aim for the same or more.
But remember…
Quality is better than quantity.
If your content is better, even 10 solid backlinks can beat 50 weak ones.
3. Backlinks Based on Competition
Let us say you want to rank for:
- “Best yoga mat” – Very competitive
- “Yoga mat for kids in Delhi” – Less competitive
You will need more backlinks for the first one. Maybe 100 or more.
For the second one, even 5 to 15 backlinks might be enough.
So always check your competitors first.
4. Homepage vs Inner Pages
Your homepage usually gets the most links.
But what about inner pages?
Try this:
- Build 10 to 15 links to your homepage
- Then build 5 to 20 links for each important page
Balance is key. A strong homepage supports the rest of your site.
What Type of Backlinks Should You Get?
Now let us talk about the type of backlinks. Because not all backlinks are equal.
Good Backlinks
- From real websites with traffic
- From your niche or related industry
- With natural anchor text (like your brand or keyword)
- Placed inside content, not footers or sidebars
Bad Backlinks
- From spammy directories
- From websites with no real content
- Hidden in comments or random places
- With anchor text stuffed with keywords
Focus on earning links, not just building them.
How to Check How Many Backlinks You Already Have
Want to know how many backlinks your website has? Use these free tools:
- Google Search Console – Best for beginners
- Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker – Shows top 100 links
- Ubersuggest by Neil Patel – Easy to use, free results
- SEO Review Tools – Offers a free backlink checker
These tools can help you find out:
- Total number of backlinks
- Websites that are linking to you
- Which pages on your site have the most links
Why this matters:
Knowing your backlink count helps you track SEO progress.
You can also see what is working and where to focus your efforts.
Start with Google Search Console if you are new.
Try the other tools to get more data.
Most give enough info to get started for free.
How to Know If You Have Enough Backlinks
Wondering if your website has enough backlinks? Here is how to find out:
- Check Your Rankings
Are your pages showing up on the first page of Google? If they are, your backlink profile is likely strong. - Look at Your Search Traffic
Are you getting consistent visitors from Google search? If yes, your site has some authority. - See If Other Sites Are Sending Traffic
Do people visit your site through links on other websites? That is a great sign your backlinks are working. - Ask Yourself These Simple Questions
- Am I showing up in search for my target keywords?
- Do I get traffic from blogs or websites in my niche?
- Is my overall traffic growing?
If you answered “yes” to most, your backlinks are probably enough.
If you answered “no” to many, you might need to build more high-quality links.
What If You Have Too Many Bad Backlinks?
Sometimes, people try shortcuts. They buy 1000 backlinks for cheap.
Please do not do this.
Bad backlinks can hurt your rankings.
Signs of bad backlinks:
- Sudden drop in traffic
- Manual penalty in Google Search Console
- Links from weird websites
What to do:
- Use Google Disavow Tool (only if you know what you are doing)
- Focus on building good links to push out the bad ones
What Really Affects How Many Backlinks You Need?
Let us break it down.
1. Your Niche
- Tech, finance, health = high competition
- Local, personal blog, or hobbies = low competition
More competition means more backlinks needed.
2. Keyword Difficulty
Some keywords are searched a lot. Everyone wants to rank for them.
Use keyword tools to see how hard your target word is. Higher difficulty = more backlinks.
3. Content Quality
Even with fewer backlinks, great content wins.
If your article solves a problem better than anyone else, it will attract links naturally.
4. Domain Age
Older websites often rank faster. If you are new, you may need more backlinks to catch up.
Real-Life Examples
Let us look at some real sites.
Example 1: Small Business Website
- Local bakery in New York
- Homepage has 15 backlinks
- Blog post has 5 backlinks
- Still ranks on page 1 for “custom birthday cakes New York”
Why? Low competition and local search.
Example 2: Tech Blog
- Wants to rank for “best budget phones 2025”
- Needs 100+ backlinks to compete
- Top sites have 150 to 200 backlinks
This is high competition. Needs serious backlink work.
How to Build Backlinks (The Smart Way)
Let us talk about how to actually get those backlinks.
1. Guest Posting
Write helpful blogs for other websites in your niche. Add your link naturally.
2. Broken Link Building
Find broken links on other sites. Suggest your page as a replacement.
3. Linkable Assets
Create guides, tools, templates, or stats that others will want to link to.
4. HARO (Help a Reporter Out)
Answer questions from journalists. They link to you if they use your quote.
5. Business Listings
Add your site to Google Business Profile, Yelp, and other local listings.
6. Ask for Links
Reach out to people in your industry. Be nice. Share your content. Ask if they can link to it.
How Many Backlinks Per Month Is Safe?
Do not build hundreds of links overnight.
That looks spammy.
Here is a safe pace:
- New site: 5 to 15 links per month
- Medium site: 20 to 50 links per month
- Big site: 50 to 100+ links per month (but only if natural)
The key is to keep it steady and natural.
Can You Rank Without Backlinks?
Yes, for very low competition keywords.
If your content is unique and useful, you might rank without links.
But if you want long-term growth and top rankings, backlinks are needed.
Tips to Remember
Let us wrap up with some quick tips.
- Do not focus only on numbers. Focus on quality.
- Check what your competitors are doing.
- Build backlinks slowly and naturally.
- Mix homepage and inner page links.
- Use free tools to track your backlinks.
- Stay away from shady backlink sellers.
And most importantly…
Do not chase links. Create content worth linking to.
Final Thoughts
So, how many backlinks should a website have?
It depends.
But now you know how to find the answer based on your goals, niche, and competitors.
Here is a quick summary:
- New website: Start with 20 to 50 quality links
- Local business: 10 to 30 may be enough
- Blog post: Check how many links top-ranking pages have
- Competitive industry: You may need 100+ solid backlinks
Backlinks are not just numbers. They are connections. Build real ones.
And if you stay consistent, your site will grow, rank, and shine on Google.
