How to Build Backlinks: 9 Practical Ways to Get Quality Links

Building backlinks is an important part of SEO, but getting started can be confusing.

You may be wondering:

• How do I get backlinks?
• What is the best way to build backlinks?
• How can I create backlinks for SEO?
• Can I build backlinks without paying?
• Which websites should I contact?
• How many backlinks do I need?
• Are all backlinks valuable?

The basic idea is simple: get other websites to link to your website because your content is useful and relevant to their readers.

This guide covers nine practical ways to build backlinks, how to find good opportunities, how to contact website owners, and what to avoid.

What Is Backlink Building?

Backlink building is the process of getting links from other websites to your website.

For example, imagine you publish a detailed guide about SEO. Another website writes an article about SEO and links to your guide because it helps explain a topic to its readers.

That link is a backlink.

If you are new to backlinks, read our complete guide on what is a backlink to understand how backlinks work and why they matter.

Backlink Building vs. Backlink Creation

You may hear people use the terms building backlinks and creating backlinks. They usually mean similar things, but the way you approach them matters.

You cannot simply place a valuable backlink anywhere you want.

Some links are earned naturally when people discover and reference your content. Others come from activities such as outreach, guest posting, digital PR, or resource promotion.

A good link-building strategy focuses on earning or acquiring useful links for a genuine reason, rather than creating hundreds of links just to increase the number of backlinks.

If you want to understand the broader role of links in search engine optimization, see our guide to link building in SEO.

What Makes a Backlink Worth Building?

Not every backlink is worth pursuing.

Before you start contacting websites, look at the quality of the opportunity.

1. Relevance

The website should be related to your industry, topic, or audience.

For example, a link to an SEO guide from a digital marketing website makes more sense than a link from a website about an unrelated subject.

Relevance should be one of the first things you check.

For a deeper look at how topical relevance affects backlink quality, read our guide to relevant backlinks.

2. Relevant Linking Page

Don’t look only at the website. Look at the actual page where your link would appear.

A website can cover many different topics. A good domain does not mean every page on that domain is a good backlink opportunity.

The linking page should be related to the page you are trying to promote.

3. Natural Context

The link should fit naturally into the content.

If the link helps readers understand something or find more information, there is a clear reason for it to be there.

A link that looks forced or out of place is usually a poor opportunity.

4. Useful Destination

The page receiving the backlink should be useful.

If someone clicks your link, they should find information that matches what they expected from the original article.

For example, if the link says “how to build backlinks,” it should lead to a page that actually explains how to build backlinks.

5. Relevant Audience

A website can provide value beyond SEO.

If the website has the right audience, people may click your link, visit your website, learn about your business, and potentially become customers.

This is one reason relevant traffic can matter more than a high SEO metric.

6. Trustworthy Website

Look for websites that publish useful content and have a real audience.

SEO metrics such as Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA) can help with research, but they should not be the only things you consider.

A relevant DR 40 website can be a better opportunity than an unrelated DR 80 website.

9 Ways to Build Backlinks

There are many link-building methods, but these nine are practical starting points for most websites.

1. Create Content People Want to Link To

One of the best ways to earn backlinks is to publish something worth referencing.

This could be:

• Original research
• Industry statistics
• Detailed guides
• Case studies
• Original data
• Free tools
• Templates
• Checklists
• Reports
• Useful resources

For example, imagine you publish original research about SaaS marketing.

You collect data, explain your findings, and publish the results on your website.

A marketing website writing about SaaS may use one of your statistics in its article and link to your research as the source.

Before publishing a piece of content, ask yourself:

Why would another website want to link to this?

If you don’t have a good answer, the content may need something more.

Content that simply repeats information found on hundreds of other websites gives publishers fewer reasons to reference it.

2. Guest Posting

Guest posting means writing an article for another website.

For example, if you work in SEO, you could write an article about SaaS SEO for a website that covers SaaS, marketing, or search engine optimization.

If the publisher includes a relevant link to your website, you may earn a backlink.

But guest posting should not be about publishing as many articles as possible.

Focus on websites that have:

• Relevant topics
• A real audience
• Good content
• Reasonable editorial standards
• Natural places where a link can be useful

The article should be worth publishing even without the backlink.

If the only reason for writing the article is to get a link, the quality usually suffers.

3. Digital PR

Digital PR is another way to earn mentions and backlinks from publishers and industry websites.

Instead of directly asking for a link, you create something interesting enough for people to talk about.

This can include:

• Original research
• Surveys
• Industry reports
• New data
• Expert opinions
• Interesting statistics
• Original studies
• Newsworthy stories

For example, a SaaS company could survey 500 businesses about how they use AI tools.

If the results are interesting, websites writing about AI or SaaS may reference the research and link back to the original study.

Digital PR can help you earn backlinks while also getting your brand in front of a larger audience.

4. Link Insertions

A link insertion means adding a link to an existing article or page.

For example, imagine a website already has an article about SEO tools.

You have a detailed guide explaining how to choose the right SEO tool for different businesses.

If your guide adds information that the existing article does not fully explain, the publisher may decide to reference it.

The important part is relevance.

Don’t try to place your link in an unrelated article just because the website has a high DR or lots of traffic.

Ask a simple question:

Would this link actually help someone reading the article?

If the answer is yes, you may have a good opportunity.

5. Get Listed on Relevant Resource Pages

Some websites create resource pages that collect useful guides, tools, websites, or educational materials.

For example:

Best SEO Resources for Beginners

If you have a useful SEO guide that fits the page, you can contact the website owner and suggest your resource.

But don’t send a message that only says:

“Please add my website.”

Instead, explain what your resource offers and why it could be useful to their readers.

The better the resource fits the page, the stronger your request will be.

6. Turn Unlinked Brand Mentions Into Links

Sometimes a website mentions your company but does not link to it.

For example:

TheLinkee provides link-building services for SEO agencies.

The company is mentioned, but there is no link.

You can contact the website and politely ask whether they would consider linking the mention to a relevant page.

This works best when:

• The mention is positive
• The website is relevant
• Your website provides useful information
• The link would help readers

You won’t get every mention converted into a backlink, but existing mentions can be easier opportunities than starting from zero.

7. Publish Original Research and Statistics

Original research can attract backlinks because writers often need reliable information to support their articles.

For example, you could publish:

SaaS Link Building Statistics: What 500 SEO Campaigns Show

A writer preparing an article about SaaS SEO may use one of your statistics and link to your research as the source.

When publishing research, make the information easy to understand.

Include:

• A clear methodology
• Key findings
• Useful statistics
• Charts where helpful
• Sources
• Publication date

If people can easily understand and reference your data, you give them a stronger reason to link to your page.

8. Contribute Expert Insights

Another way to earn backlinks is by sharing useful expertise.

Websites, newsletters, podcasts, and industry publications often look for people who can provide opinions or insights on specific topics.

You might be asked about:

• SEO
• Link building
• SaaS marketing
• Content marketing
• AI
• Digital marketing

If your contribution is published and the publisher includes a link to your website, you may earn a backlink.

The important part is the quality of your contribution.

Don’t send a short, generic answer just because you want a link.

Give the publisher something they can actually use.

9. Build Relationships With Relevant Websites

Link building becomes easier when you know people in your industry.

Instead of contacting a website only when you need a backlink, build genuine relationships over time.

You can:

• Share useful resources
• Engage with their content
• Mention their work when relevant
• Collaborate on research
• Share expert insights
• Exchange useful ideas
• Work on industry projects together

These relationships can lead to backlinks, partnerships, referrals, and other opportunities.

You don’t need to ask for a link every time you talk to someone.

Sometimes the best link opportunities come from relationships you built before you ever needed a backlink.

How to Build Backlinks Step by Step

Now let’s turn these methods into a simple process.

Step 1: Choose the Page You Want to Promote

Start with a page that is actually worth linking to.

It could be:

• A detailed guide
• Original research
• A case study
• A useful tool
• A report
• A resource page
• A product page
• A service page

You don’t always need to build backlinks to your homepage.

A useful page deeper inside your website can be a much better link target.

Step 2: Make the Page Worth Linking To

Before starting outreach, review the page.

Ask:

• Does it answer the topic properly?
• Is the information useful?
• Is it easy to read?
• Does it offer something different?
• Is the information accurate?
• Would I personally link to this page?

If the answer is no, improve the page first.

Outreach cannot fix a page that does not give people a good reason to link to it.

Step 3: Find Relevant Websites

Next, build a list of websites that publish content related to your topic.

Look for:

• Industry blogs
• Niche websites
• Publications
• Resource pages
• Relevant companies
• Industry communities
• Websites linking to similar content

You can also research competitor backlinks to find websites that already link to similar resources.

Step 4: Check the Website and Linking Page

Don’t contact every website you find.

Review the actual opportunity.

Look at:

• Website relevance
• Page relevance
• Content quality
• Organic traffic
• Audience
• Website reputation
• Existing outbound links
• Potential link placement

SEO metrics are useful for comparing websites, but they should be part of your evaluation, not the whole evaluation.

Step 5: Find a Genuine Reason for the Link

This is one of the most important parts of link building.

Before sending an email, ask:

Why would this website want to link to my page?

Maybe your page:

• Contains original research
• Provides useful statistics
• Explains a topic in more detail
• Includes a free tool
• Provides a useful template
• Supports a claim
• Adds information missing from their article

If you cannot find a genuine reason, you probably should not send the outreach yet.

Step 6: Choose the Right Outreach Approach

Your message should match the opportunity.

For a resource page, explain why your resource belongs there.

For an unlinked mention, point out the existing mention and suggest the relevant page.

For guest posting, suggest topics that fit the website.

For an existing article, explain how your resource adds something useful.

Avoid sending the same generic email to hundreds of websites.

Step 7: Contact the Right Person

Try to reach someone who can actually make the decision.

Depending on the website, this might be:

• An editor
• Content manager
• Website owner
• Marketing manager
• Founder
• SEO manager

Keep your message short and get to the point.

Step 8: Provide Value

Make the publisher’s job easier.

If you’re suggesting a resource, make sure it is genuinely useful.

If you’re offering a guest post, suggest a topic that fits their audience.

If you’re sharing research, explain the most useful findings.

The easier it is for someone to understand the value of your suggestion, the better your chances of getting a positive response.

Step 9: Track Your Results

Keep a simple record of your outreach and acquired links.

Track things such as:

• Website
• Linking page
• Target page
• Anchor text
• Date contacted
• Date acquired
• Link status
• Relevance
• Referral traffic

Over time, this data can show you which link-building methods are actually working.

How to Find Backlink Opportunities

Finding good opportunities is just as important as sending outreach.

Research Competitor Backlinks

Look at websites that link to your competitors.

If a website links to similar content, it may also be interested in your resource.

But don’t copy every competitor backlink blindly.

A competitor may have links that are irrelevant, low quality, or no longer useful.

Always review the website, page, and context before adding it to your prospect list.

Use Google Search

Google can help you find relevant websites and resource pages.

Try searches such as:

• "SEO resources"
• "link building resources"
• "SaaS marketing resources"
• "best SEO guides"

You can also search for websites that regularly publish content about your topic.

The goal is not to find the biggest websites. The goal is to find websites where your content makes sense.

Find Industry Websites

Create a list of websites that cover your industry.

For example, if you work in SaaS SEO, you could look for websites covering:

• SaaS
• SEO
• Digital marketing
• Content marketing
• Software
• Business growth
• Productivity

A smaller website with the right audience can sometimes be a better opportunity than a huge website that has nothing to do with your topic.

Look at Existing Relationships

Don’t overlook people you already know.

Clients, partners, suppliers, professional contacts, and other industry connections may create genuine opportunities for mentions and collaborations.

Start with your existing network before trying to contact hundreds of strangers.

How to Score a Backlink Opportunity

You can use a simple checklist to compare backlink opportunities.

Score each factor from 0 to 2:

Score Guide

8–10: Strong opportunity

5–7: Review carefully

0–4: Usually skip

This is not a Google ranking formula.

It is simply a practical way to compare opportunities and avoid judging backlinks by DR or DA alone.

Free vs. Paid Backlink Building

Not every backlink requires payment.

Free or Earned Methods

These methods usually require more time and effort:

• Original research
• Useful content
• Expert contributions
• Unlinked brand mentions
• Resource pages
• Relationship building
• Organic outreach

Paid Methods

Paid opportunities can include advertising, sponsorships, and other promotional arrangements.

However, paying for links specifically to manipulate search rankings is different from legitimate advertising or sponsorship.

If a link is paid or sponsored, use the appropriate link attributes when required.

Google explains its guidance on paid and sponsored links in its spam policies.

The important thing is to be clear about the relationship and avoid using paid links to manipulate search rankings.

How to Build Backlinks Without Paying

You can build backlinks without a large budget.

Start with methods that mainly require time, research, and useful content.

Create Link-Worthy Resources

Publish research, statistics, tools, templates, and detailed guides.

Find Unlinked Mentions

Look for websites that already mention your brand but don’t link to you.

Contribute Expert Insights

Share useful knowledge with relevant publications and websites.

Promote Useful Resources

Contact websites where your content genuinely adds value.

Build Industry Relationships

Connect with people in your niche and look for opportunities to collaborate.

Remember that free does not mean effortless.

You may not pay for the link, but you are still investing time, knowledge, research, or content.

Where Should a Backlink Point?

A backlink does not always need to point to your homepage.

It can point to:

• Blog posts
• Detailed guides
• Original research
• Tools
• Case studies
• Resources
• Product pages
• Service pages

For example, if another website is writing about link building and wants to explain backlinks in more detail, linking directly to your What Is a Backlink? guide may be more useful than sending readers to your homepage.

This type of link is often called a deep link because it points to a specific page within a website.

The most important thing is that the destination matches the context of the link.

What Anchor Text Should You Use?

Anchor text is the clickable text in a hyperlink.

For example:

Learn more about building backlinks.

Here, building backlinks is the anchor text.

Some common types include:

Branded Anchor

TheLinkee

URL Anchor

thelinkee.com

Natural Phrase

learn more about backlinks

Partial-Match Anchor

backlink building guide

Exact-Match Anchor

building backlinks

You don’t need to force an exact-match keyword into every backlink.

Anchor text should make sense in the sentence and accurately describe the page being linked to.

A natural backlink profile can contain different types of anchor text.

Backlink Outreach Example

Finding a good opportunity is only half the job. You also need to approach the website in the right way.

Weak Outreach

Subject: Backlink Request

Hi,

I have a website about SEO. Can you please add my link to your article?

Thanks.

This message gives the website owner very little reason to add your link.

Better Outreach

Subject: Resource for your SEO guide

Hi [Name],

I was reading your guide on [Topic] and noticed the section about [specific topic].

We recently published a detailed resource covering [specific subject], including [specific useful information].

I thought it could be useful for readers who want to learn more about [topic].

If you think it would improve the article, feel free to take a look: [URL]

Thanks,
[Name]

The second message is better because it explains why the resource may be useful.

You can also change your approach depending on the opportunity.

Resource Page Outreach

Explain why your resource belongs on their resource page.

Unlinked Mention Outreach

Point out the existing mention and suggest the relevant page.

Link Insertion Outreach

Explain how your resource adds information that the existing article doesn’t fully cover.

Guest Post Outreach

Suggest useful article topics that fit their audience instead of immediately asking for a backlink.

The best outreach feels like a useful recommendation, not a mass email sent to anyone who owns a website.

How to Build Backlinks for SEO Without Spam

Good backlink building focuses on useful content and genuine opportunities.

Avoid trying to create hundreds of backlinks automatically.

Google’s spam policies cover manipulative link practices, including buying or selling links for ranking purposes, excessive link exchanges, automated link creation, and other forms of link spam.

The goal should be to earn links because your content is useful, not simply because you want a larger backlink count.

How Many Backlinks Should You Build?

There is no fixed number of backlinks that guarantees higher rankings.

The number you need can vary depending on:

• Your industry
• Your competitors
• Your website
• Your content
• The search query
• The quality of competing pages
• The quality and relevance of your links

Instead of saying:

“I need 1,000 backlinks.”

focus on finding good opportunities.

One relevant backlink can be more useful than hundreds of low-quality links.

Should You Build Backlinks for Every Page?

No.

You don’t need to build backlinks to every page on your website.

Start with pages that are genuinely useful and worth referencing.

These could include:

• Detailed guides
• Original research
• Reports
• Tools
• Case studies
• Educational resources

You also don’t need to build links only to your homepage.

A healthy website can naturally earn backlinks to different pages.

How Long Does Backlink Building Take?

There is no fixed timeline.

Some backlinks can be earned quickly, while others can take weeks or even months.

The timeline depends on:

• Content quality
• Outreach
• Website selection
• Industry
• Relationships
• Link-building method
• Publisher response time

For example, converting an existing brand mention into a link may be faster than earning a new editorial mention from a major publication.

Backlink building is usually an ongoing process rather than something you do once and forget.

How to Track Your Backlink Building

Tracking your backlinks helps you understand what is working.

Keep an eye on:

New Backlinks

How many new links have you earned?

Referring Domains

How many different websites link to your website?

Linking Pages

Which pages are linking to you?

Anchor Text

What words are websites using when they link to your pages?

Referral Traffic

Are people actually clicking your backlinks?

Lost Backlinks

Have important links disappeared?

Google Search Console can help you review links pointing to your website. SEO tools can provide additional backlink data and analysis.

Common Backlink Building Mistakes

1. Focusing Only on Domain Rating

DR and similar metrics can help you research websites, but they should not be your only criteria.

Check relevance, content quality, audience, and link placement too.

2. Buying Cheap Bulk Backlinks

Packages promising hundreds or thousands of backlinks may look attractive, but they often focus on quantity instead of quality.

3. Ignoring Relevance

A backlink from an unrelated website is not automatically valuable because the domain has a high metric.

4. Using the Same Anchor Text Everywhere

Don’t force the same keyword-rich anchor text into every backlink.

Use anchor text that naturally fits the content.

5. Building Links Only to the Homepage

Useful pages inside your website can also earn backlinks.

6. Using Automated Link Building

Automatically generating large numbers of links can create spam and low-quality links.

7. Chasing Quantity

More backlinks do not automatically mean better SEO.

Focus on relevant opportunities instead.

8. Creating Content Only to Get Links

Content should first help the reader.

If a page exists only because you want backlinks, it may not provide enough value for other websites to reference it.

A Simple Backlink Building Workflow

If you’re new to link building, start with this process:

1. Choose a valuable page
2. Improve the content
3. Find relevant websites
4. Check the website and linking page
5. Find a genuine reason for the link
6. Contact the right person
7. Provide value
8. Earn the backlink
9. Track the result

Then repeat the process.

You don’t need to build hundreds of backlinks at once.

A consistent process focused on good opportunities is a better place to start.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best way to build backlinks?

The best approach is to create useful content and earn links from relevant websites. Guest posting, digital PR, original research, resource pages, link insertions, expert contributions, unlinked mentions, and relevant outreach can all be useful methods.

How do beginners build backlinks?

Start by creating useful content, finding relevant websites, researching competitor backlinks, contacting website owners, contributing useful content, and promoting resources that deserve to be referenced.

How can I get backlinks for free?

You can earn backlinks without paying for placement by creating original research, useful guides, statistics, tools, templates, and other resources. Outreach, expert contributions, resource pages, and unlinked brand mentions can also create opportunities.

How do I create backlinks for SEO?

Instead of creating large numbers of backlinks manually, focus on earning relevant links through useful content, digital PR, guest posting, resource pages, expert contributions, and genuine outreach.

Can I buy backlinks?

Paying specifically for links to manipulate search rankings can violate search engine spam policies. Paid advertising and sponsorships are different, but paid links should use the appropriate link attributes when required.

How many backlinks do I need?

There is no fixed number of backlinks that guarantees rankings. The quality, relevance, and context of backlinks matter more than reaching an arbitrary number.

How long does backlink building take?

It depends on the method, website, content, outreach, industry, and relationships involved. Some opportunities can take days, while others can take weeks or months.

Are backlinks still important for SEO?

Backlinks can still be useful for SEO, but they are only one part of a successful SEO strategy. Content quality, relevance, technical SEO, user experience, and other factors also matter.

Can I build backlinks without a blog?

Yes. You can earn backlinks to useful resources, tools, research, case studies, product pages, service pages, and other valuable pages. A blog is not required for every backlink strategy.

Final Thoughts

Building backlinks is not about getting the biggest number of links.

A better approach is to build relevant, useful, and trustworthy links that have a clear reason to exist.

Start with a page worth linking to. Then find relevant websites, review the actual opportunity, and give the website owner a good reason to reference your content.

You can use guest posting, digital PR, original research, link insertions, resource pages, unlinked mentions, expert contributions, and outreach.

But the basic principle stays the same:

Create something useful first. Then give relevant websites a good reason to link to it.

That’s a more sustainable way to build backlinks and support your overall SEO strategy.