The “build it and they will come” approach doesn’t work in SEO. You need to be proactive in link building, but it gets easier over time as your website grows in authority.
Backlinks remain a cornerstone for SEO success because they form the basis of Google’s original PageRank algorithm. Numerous independent studies in the SEO field have consistently demonstrated the significant influence of backlinks on organic search performance.
Evidence That Backlinks Still Matter
We’ve compiled all these industry studies in one place for you. Let’s explore the details.
1. High-Authority Sites = Better SEO Performance
A review of any Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) reveals a common trend: search engines favor authoritative sites. Authority in this context is defined by having numerous links from reputable sites. Substantial data supports this notion.
Backlinko’s analysis of 11.8 million Google search results found that a site’s overall link authority strongly correlates with higher search engine rankings.
SEMRush’s study also confirmed that the more backlinks a domain has, the higher its position on the SERP.
Rankings.io’s study in the personal injury sector further solidified this point by showing that the overall number of referring domains is a top indicator of domain traffic.
“While the number of referring domains per page appears not to influence rankings, the overall number of referring domains for the domain was a top indicator of overall domain traffic.” – Rankings.io
It’s important to note that “Domain Rating” (DR) is a third-party metric created by Ahrefs, not a metric used by search engines, but it serves as a useful gauge for SEO efforts.
Similarly, Moz’s Domain Authority (DA) and Majestic SEO’s Trust Flow metrics are also used to measure site strength. The goal is to increase these metrics to improve search engine rankings.
Your objective should be to improve these metrics. A stronger website will achieve higher rankings in search engines. By now, the data underscores the necessity of diligently obtaining more links to your site to build its authority. Additionally, it’s essential to secure links specifically for the pages you want to rank well on search engines like Google.
2. Strong Pages = Better SEO Performance
Pages can rank without a large number of direct backlinks if the site has established authority. For instance, Forbes often ranks on the first page without direct links. However, this is an exception. Most sites need direct links to SEO-driven pages to rank well.
Ahrefs’ data supports this by showing that the more backlinks a page has, the more organic traffic it receives from Google. It’s crucial to focus on obtaining quality backlinks, as low-quality links can harm search engine performance.
3. Better SEO Performance = More Backlinks
SEO success tends to build upon itself, a phenomenon known as “The Snowball Effect.” Backlinko’s study showed that the top result in Google search has significantly more backlinks than positions two to ten. Ahrefs and SEMRush found similar results, indicating that top-ranking pages acquire more backlinks at a faster rate. However, maintaining high rankings for competitive keywords requires continuous link growth and fresh content updates.
4. Diverse Backlink Profiles = Stronger SEO Performance
Having a diverse range of backlinks from different trustworthy sites in your industry is crucial. Many votes (backlinks) from various sources are more valuable than numerous votes from a single source.
Consider this comparison: The Washington Post has 730,000 referring domains. On the other hand, a DR 24 blog like Retailbound.com has 80 referring domains. If we assume that most DR 20 sites have around 100 referring domains, 15 DR 20 sites would collectively have 1,500 referring domains.
Comparing 730,000 to 1,500, even with a 50% reduction in strength for an additional link from The Washington Post, that single link still outweighs 15 links from lower-DR sites.
Therefore, while getting multiple links from authoritative sites like The Washington Post is highly beneficial, it’s important to strive for links from a variety of reputable sites to maximize SEO performance.
5. Most Pages Lack Backlinks
Ahrefs found that a significant percentage of pages don’t have any backlinks, and Backlinko discovered that most blog posts lack external links. This highlights the importance of active link-building campaigns. The “build it, and they will come” mentality doesn’t work well in SEO. Successful SEO requires both creating valuable content and dedicating substantial effort to link-building.
Start Building More Backlinks
Understanding the importance of backlinks is just the beginning. The next step is to actively pursue strategies to acquire more high-quality backlinks to enhance your SEO performance. Check out these resources to get started and elevate your SEO game in 2024.
But how do you get those high-quality backlinks? That’s where 42Works comes in.
42Works: Your Backlink-Building Partner
Building a strong backlink profile takes time and effort. At 42Works, we understand the importance of strategic link building and offer a range of services to help you achieve your SEO goals:
- Content Marketing: We create high-value content that naturally attracts backlinks from other websites.
- Guest Posting:. We secure guest blogging opportunities on relevant, high-authority websites to place backlinks to your targeted pages.
- Link Outreach: Our team identifies and reaches out to website owners in your industry, building relationships and opportunities for backlinks.
- Broken Link Building: We find broken links on relevant websites and suggest your high-quality content as a replacement, earning you a valuable backlink.
Don’t just take our word for it. Here are some of the benefits of working with 42Works for your backlink strategy:
- Increased Website Traffic: Higher search engine rankings lead to more organic traffic, driving potential customers to your website.
- Improved Brand Awareness: Backlinks from reputable sites increase brand visibility and establish you as an authority in your field.
- Long-Term SEO Success: A strong backlink profile is an investment that pays off with sustained improvement in search engine rankings.
Still have questions? Check out our FAQ below!
FAQ
Q: How long will it take to see results from your backlink-building services?
A: The timeframe for seeing results can vary depending on the competitiveness of your industry and the current state of your website. However, you can expect to see a gradual improvement in search engine rankings and organic traffic within a few months.
Q: Do you guarantee results from your link-building services?
A: While we can’t guarantee specific results due to the ever-changing nature of SEO algorithms, we focus on white-hat techniques and building high-quality backlinks that are sustainable and effective in the long run.
Q: What kind of content do you create for backlink building?
A: We create a variety of content formats tailored to your specific needs, including blog posts, infographics, case studies, and white papers. All content is informative, engaging, and optimized for search engines.
Q: How many backlinks do I need?
A: There’s no magic number. It depends on your industry and competition. However, focusing on high-quality backlinks from relevant websites is more impactful than sheer quantity.
Q: How can 42Works help me build backlinks?
A: We offer a comprehensive range of services tailored to your specific needs. From content creation to outreach campaigns, we take care of everything for you.
Q: What if I get penalized for bad backlinks?
A: Don’t worry! 42Works focuses on acquiring high-quality, white-hat backlinks to avoid any penalties from search engines.
Ready to take your website to the next level?
Contact 42Works today for a consultation and discuss your backlink-building strategy! We’ll help you achieve long-term SEO success and dominate search engine results.
