Home › Guides › What Is a Backlink?
Last updated: October 29, 2026
TechCurato is reader-supported. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
What Is a Backlink? (2027) Types, Value and How to Earn Them
A backlink is a link from another website to yours. Search engines treat backlinks as votes of confidence: when relevant, trusted sites link to a page, it's a sign the page is useful, which helps it rank. Not all links are equal. One link from a respected site in your field can be worth more than hundreds from low-quality directories, and links that are bought or manipulated can hurt you. Small sites earn good backlinks by creating content worth citing and building real relationships.
- Backlink = a link from another site to yours (also called inbound or incoming link).
- Quality and relevance matter more than quantity.
- "Nofollow", "sponsored" and "ugc" attributes tell Google not to pass ranking credit, or to treat it as a hint.
- Buying links to manipulate rankings breaks Google's spam policies.
- Free checks: Google Search Console (Links report), Ahrefs Free (for sites you verify), Semrush free plan.
How backlinks work
When site A links to a page on site B, site B gets a backlink. Search engines discover pages by following links and use them as one of many signals of importance and trust. The words in the link (anchor text) also tell search engines what the target page is about.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Backlink | A link from another site to yours |
| Referring domain | A unique website linking to you; ten links from one site count as one referring domain |
| Anchor text | The clickable words of the link |
| Internal link | A link between pages on your own site |
| Outbound link | A link from your site to another site |
What makes a backlink valuable
- Relevance: the linking site covers topics related to yours.
- Authority: the site is trusted and gets real traffic.
- Placement: a link inside the main content beats one in a footer or sidebar.
- Editorial choice: the author chose to link because your page helps their readers.
- Anchor text: descriptive and natural, not stuffed with keywords.
- Uniqueness: a link from a new domain usually adds more than another link from a site that already links to you.
Follow, nofollow, sponsored and UGC
| Attribute | Used for | SEO effect |
|---|---|---|
| No attribute (follow) | Normal editorial links | Can pass ranking signals |
| rel="nofollow" | Links the site doesn't vouch for | Treated as a hint, usually little or no credit |
| rel="sponsored" | Paid or affiliate links | Should not pass ranking credit |
| rel="ugc" | User-generated content, such as comments | Treated as a hint |
Nofollow links still bring visitors and visibility, so they're worth having when they come from relevant places.
Good links vs harmful links
| Helpful | Risky or harmful |
|---|---|
| A mention in a respected industry article | Links bought from link sellers |
| Listing in a relevant, curated directory | Mass directory submissions |
| A partner or supplier page linking to you | Private blog networks |
| A resource page citing your guide | Excessive link swaps ("link to me and I'll link to you") |
| Local news or association pages | Spammy comment and forum links |
Google's spam policies target link schemes. You don't need to worry about random spammy links pointing at you; Google ignores most of them. Focus on earning good ones.
How to check your backlinks
- Google Search Console: Links report shows top linking sites and pages for free.
- Ahrefs Free (for sites you verify): free backlink data for sites you verify.
- Semrush: Backlink Analytics with limits on the free plan.
- Moz Link Explorer: limited free queries.
Check monthly to see new links, lost links and which pages attract the most.
10 ways small sites can earn backlinks
- Publish original data, such as a survey, a pricing analysis or benchmarks from your own work.
- Create free tools, calculators or templates people want to share.
- Write the clearest guide on a narrow topic in your field.
- Get listed in relevant directories and association pages.
- Ask partners, suppliers and clients to link to you where it makes sense.
- Find unlinked mentions of your brand and ask for a link.
- Offer expert quotes to journalists and bloggers who request sources.
- Write guest articles for respected sites, focusing on useful content.
- Fix broken links: find dead links on other sites that pointed to content like yours, and suggest your page.
- Build relationships in your community: speak at events, sponsor local causes, join podcasts.
Backlink tools compared
| Tool | Free option | Entry paid price | Strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ahrefs | Ahrefs Free for your own verified site | Starter $29/month, Lite $129/month | Large, fresh backlink index |
| Semrush | Free plan with daily limits | SEO Toolkit $117.33/month (annual), $139 monthly | Backlink Gap and outreach tools |
| SE Ranking | Trial | Core $103.20/month (annual), $129 monthly | Backlink checker plus audits and tracking |
| Moz Pro | Limited Link Explorer queries | Standard $99/month, $79 on annual billing | Domain Authority and spam score |
Ahrefs is the reference for backlink research. Semrush adds gap reports and outreach. SE Ranking is the budget option that covers most needs. See Ahrefs vs Semrush and domain authority.
Check your backlinks with Ahrefs → Free Webmaster Tools for your own site · Affiliate link
How many backlinks do you need?
There's no fixed number. Look at the pages ranking for your keyword and how many referring domains they have. If the top results have a handful, strong content plus a few relevant links may be enough. If they have hundreds, target more specific keywords first. See keyword difficulty and SEO competitor analysis.
Common mistakes
- Buying links or joining link networks.
- Chasing quantity over relevance.
- Using exact-match keyword anchors everywhere.
- Ignoring internal links, which you fully control.
- Building links to weak pages that don't deserve them.
Disavowing links
Google's disavow tool lets you ask Google to ignore specific links. Most sites never need it; use it only if you have a manual action for unnatural links or know of a large number of paid or spammy links you built in the past.
Backlinks and AI search
AI answer engines often cite pages that other sites already reference and trust. Earning links from respected sources in your field can therefore help both traditional rankings and visibility in AI answers. Original research and clear, well-sourced guides are especially likely to be cited.
Our verdict
Backlinks remain one of the strongest signals of trust on the web, but only good ones help. Earn links from relevant sites by publishing content worth citing and building real relationships, check your profile in Search Console or Ahrefs Free (for sites you verify), and avoid anything that looks like buying rankings.
How we compiled this guide
Definitions follow Google Search Central documentation on links and spam policies. Tool details come from official pricing pages checked October 30, 2026.
FAQ
What is a backlink in simple terms?
A link on another website that points to your website.
Are backlinks still important for SEO?
Yes, they remain an important signal, alongside content quality and relevance.
What is a referring domain?
A unique website that links to you, no matter how many links it contains.
Are nofollow links useless?
No. They can bring traffic and visibility, and Google treats them as hints.
Is it okay to buy backlinks?
No. Buying links to manipulate rankings breaks Google's spam policies.
How do I find who links to my site?
Use Google Search Console's Links report or Ahrefs Free (for sites you verify) for free.
Do internal links count as backlinks?
No, backlinks come from other sites, but internal links still help SEO.
How long does it take for a backlink to help?
Search engines need to discover and process it; effects usually show over weeks or months.
Do social media links count as backlinks?
Most are nofollow and carry little ranking value, but they can bring visitors who later link to you.
What is anchor text?
The clickable words of a link, which help search engines understand the target page.
Should I link to other websites?
Yes, when it helps readers. Linking to useful sources builds trust and is part of a healthy web; it doesn't hurt your rankings.
Are directory links worth it?
Relevant, curated directories in your industry or area can help; mass submissions to low-quality directories don't.
Sources
Google Search Central documentation on links and spam policies; official pricing pages of Ahrefs, Semrush, SE Ranking and Moz, checked October 30, 2026.