Backlinks are like online votes. When another website links to yours, it tells search engines that your content is valuable. The more quality backlinks you get, the more likely you are to rank higher on Google.
But many people do not know how to get backlinks. How do you find websites that will link to you? What should you say when asking for a backlink? Do you need to pay for backlinks? This blog will answer all these questions and more.
In this simple guide, you will learn what backlinks are, why they matter, and step-by-step ways to get them for free or with some budget. Whether you are new to SEO or want better results, this blog will help you understand backlinks in the easiest way. Let us begin!
What Is a Backlink?
A backlink is a link from one website to another. If a food blog links to your recipe page, that is a backlink for you. It helps people find your site and tells Google that others trust your content.
Not all backlinks are the same. Some help your site a lot. Others may not help at all or might even hurt.
Why Backlinks Matter
Before we jump into how to get them, here is why they are so important:
- They improve your Google ranking
- They bring in more visitors
- They build trust and authority
- They help you compete with bigger sites
Without backlinks, it is hard to grow. With backlinks, your site can get more attention, faster.
Types of Backlinks
You will hear about many kinds of backlinks. Let us make it simple:
- Natural backlinks – Someone links to you because they like your content
- Manual backlinks – You ask for a link (and someone agrees)
- Self-created backlinks – You add links to your site in places like forums or directories (but these are usually weak)
You want natural and manual links from strong, trustworthy sites.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Backlinks
Let us go through the best ways to earn backlinks. You do not need to do all of them at once. Pick a few and start from there.
1. Create Content Worth Linking To
This is the foundation. No one will link to a weak blog post. You need to create something helpful, interesting, or unique.
Here are some ideas:
- List posts – Like “Top 10 Tools for Small Businesses”
- How-to guides – Like this blog
- Free tools – A calculator, template, or generator
- Original research – Run a survey and share the results
The better your content, the easier it is to get backlinks.
2. Reach Out and Ask
This works well if your content really helps their readers.
How to do it:
- Find websites in your niche
- Look for posts where your content fits
- Write a short, polite email to suggest your link
Keep it friendly. Do not push. If they like it, they might add your link.
3. Use HARO and Qwoted
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and Qwoted are free platforms. Journalists post questions. You answer. If they like your answer, they quote you and link back to your site.
How it works:
- Sign up as a source
- Pick your niche (like marketing or health)
- Get emails with questions
- Reply with short, clear answers
You can get featured on big sites this way.
4. Write Guest Posts
Guest posting is when you write a blog post for someone else’s site. In return, they usually give you a backlink.
Steps to follow:
- Find blogs in your niche
- Check if they accept guest posts
- Pitch a topic they have not covered yet
- Write a helpful article
- Include a link to your site in the content or author bio
Tip: Do not make it all about you. Focus on value for their readers.
5. Share Content on Reddit, Quora, and Forums
But wait. This is not about spamming your link everywhere.
Instead:
- Find threads where people ask questions
- Give a useful reply
- Add a link to your content only if it helps
You are helping first. The link is just a bonus.
6. List Your Site in Resource Pages
Some sites list helpful tools, guides, or companies.
Find those pages.
- Use Google with searches like:
- “Your topic + useful links”
- “Your topic + resources”
- “Your topic + recommended tools”
Then reach out. Tell them why your content or tool fits their list.
7. Fix Broken Links on Other Sites
This one is smart.
Here is how:
- Use a tool like Ahrefs (or even a free Chrome plugin)
- Find broken links on blogs in your niche
- If you have a similar piece of content, email the site owner
- Suggest they replace the broken link with your working one
They fix their site. You get a backlink. Win-win.
8. Create Visual Content
Infographics, charts, and visual explainers work well.
Why?
Because people love sharing them. They can also use them in their blogs.
Make sure you:
- Include your logo or URL on the graphic
- Ask for credit (and a link) when they share it
9. Turn Mentions Into Backlinks
Sometimes, people mention your brand or name but forget to link back.
Here is what you can do:
- Use tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs Mention Tracker
- Find unlinked mentions
- Reach out and politely ask them to add your link
If they already mentioned you, chances are they will not mind linking too.
10. Offer Testimonials
Many tools, software sites, or service providers love customer reviews.
Use that:
- Pick a tool you use
- Write a short testimonial
- Send it to them with your name and site link
If they publish it, you get a backlink. Easy and clean.
11. Do Link Exchanges (Carefully)
This means: I link to you, you link to me.
It can work if:
- It feels natural
- You do not overdo it
- You only exchange with trusted sites
Avoid huge link swap groups. Those can harm your site if overdone.
12. Join Industry Roundups
Many blogs do “weekly roundups” or “top articles of the month” in their niche.
You can:
- Find roundup posts in your topic
- Reach out to the blog owner
- Suggest your content for their next roundup
If your post fits, they might include it with a backlink.
13. Get on Podcasts
Many podcast hosts look for guests. If you have something to share, pitch yourself.
At the end of the episode, they usually add your site link in the show notes.
More exposure + a backlink = a good deal.
14. Spy on Your Competitors
Your competitors have backlinks. Some of those could be yours too.
Follow these steps:
- Use a backlink checker (like Ahrefs, Ubersuggest, or Semrush)
- Enter your competitor’s site
- See who links to them
- Visit those sites and understand why they gave the link
- Try to earn one for your site with similar or better content
You do not copy. You take inspiration and go one step better.
15. Publish a Case Study or Success Story
People love results. If you helped a client or used a tool and got great results, write about it.
Then:
- Let the client or tool provider know
- Ask if they can share it on their site or blog
They might feature your story and link back.
16. Use Local SEO Listings
If you have a business, local backlinks help a lot.
Here is how:
- Add your site to Google My Business
- List your business in trusted local directories
- Find local blogs or news sites to feature you
These links may not be from big sites, but they bring trust and traffic.
17. Add Internal Links First
This is not a backlink from others, but it is important.
Internal linking means linking from one of your own blog posts to another.
Why it helps:
- Google finds and understands your pages better
- Readers stay on your site longer
- You build a strong site structure
Always do this before chasing external links.
18. Update Old Content (Then Promote It Again)
If you have blog posts that are a bit old, give them new life:
- Update stats, facts, and links
- Add fresh images
- Improve the intro and conclusion
- Share it again on social or through email
- Reach out to new sites who might be interested
Fresh content is more likely to get backlinks.
Real-Life Example: How James Got 20 Links in 1 Week
James runs a blog about productivity tools. He wrote a post comparing 5 free project management apps.
Here is what he did:
- Found 50 blogs that talked about time management and tools
- Sent a short email like:
“Hi, I saw your post on staying productive. I made a comparison guide for top free tools. Thought it might be useful for your readers.” - 20 of them replied. 12 added the link. 8 said no, but nicely.
That is how real link building works. You help others, and some help you back.
Bonus Tips to Get Even More Backlinks
- Answer questions on Quora or Reddit (but be helpful first)
- Run a survey in your niche and publish the results
- Make a free tool or calculator (people love sharing these)
- Host a giveaway or contest (ask people to share and link)
- Create a list of stats on a topic (other bloggers love linking to stats)
- Create a comparison post between two tools or services
- Build a glossary or FAQ page on a niche topic
Every one of these has backlink potential.
What to Avoid When Getting Backlinks
Not all backlinks are good. Some can hurt your site. Be careful of these:
- Buying links from shady sites
- Joining link farms (groups that only swap links)
- Using automated link building tools
- Spamming comments or forums with your link
- Submitting your site to hundreds of random directories
These tricks may work for a short time but can get your site penalized in the long run.
Google is smart. It knows when a link is earned and when it is fake.
Free and Paid Tools to Help You
If you want to build backlinks faster, there are some great tools that can help you. Some are free, while others are paid, but powerful.
Free Tools
These tools are simple but effective:
- Google Alerts – Sends you an alert when someone mentions your name or brand.
- Ubersuggest (Free Plan) – Lets you check some basic backlink information.
- Hunter.io – Helps you find email addresses for reaching out to website owners.
- HARO (Help A Reporter Out) – Connects you with journalists looking for sources. You can earn high-quality media backlinks.
- MozBar – A browser extension that shows link strength and other quick metrics about a site.
Paid Tools
If you have a budget, these tools can speed up your backlink strategy:
- Ahrefs – One of the best tools for checking backlinks and doing full SEO analysis.
- Semrush – Great for tracking keyword rankings and checking backlinks.
- BuzzSumo – Helps you find trending and shareable content ideas.
- NinjaOutreach – Makes email outreach easier by managing your contacts and messages.
- Link Whisper – Suggests internal links to boost your on-site SEO.
You do not need to use every tool. Start with one or two based on your goals and budget. These tools can save time and improve your backlink strategy.
Common Questions About Backlinks
Q1. How long does it take to see results?
Ans. Sometimes days. Often weeks or months. Link building is not instant. But it works over time.
Q2. Do all backlinks help?
Ans. No. Only quality backlinks from trusted sites matter. A link from a strong site is better than 100 weak ones.
Q3. Can I just buy backlinks?
Ans. Avoid this. Many sites that sell links are low quality. If Google finds out, your site can drop in rankings or even get removed.
Q4. How many backlinks do I need?
Ans. There is no fixed number. It depends on your niche and your competition. Focus on quality, not quantity.
Q5. Should I link out to others?
Ans. Yes. Linking to other trusted sites can actually help your content. It shows that you are adding value and not just hoarding traffic.
Final Thoughts
Backlinks are not magic. But they are powerful.
If you want your site to grow, you need backlinks. And the best way to get them is to earn them.
- Make great content
- Reach out to others
- Help first, ask second
- Keep going even when you get a few no’s
This is a long game. But every link you earn moves you closer to better traffic, more trust, and higher rankings.
