SEO Backlinks: Beginner Strategies to Get Quality Links

Introduction — based on Reddit discussions

This article synthesizes a recent Reddit thread on how beginners can get backlinks for SEO. I read the full discussion and distilled the consensus, major disagreements, practical tips shared by users, and added expert-level guidance to make the tactics actionable. If you’re starting out with seo backlinks, this guide will give you a clear, step-by-step approach and what to avoid.

What Redditors Generally Agreed On

Quality over quantity: Links from relevant, authoritative sites outperform a bulk of low-quality links.
Content-first approach: You need something link-worthy—original research, useful tools, or comprehensive guides.
Start small and local: For beginners, local citations, niche directories, and partnerships are realistic early wins.
Use free tools to research: Google Search Console, free trials of Ahrefs/SEMrush, and backlink-checking browser extensions were commonly recommended.

Where Redditors Disagreed

Guest posting value: Some said guest posts are still a reliable way to build topical links; others warned that low-quality guest posts are a waste and can be risky if done at scale.
PBNs and paid networks: A few tried to defend private blog networks for fast results, but most users strongly advised against them due to risk and sustainability concerns.
The role of domain metrics: People debated how much to rely on domain authority (DA/DR). Consensus: metrics help prioritize outreach, but relevance and traffic matter more.

Beginner-Friendly Strategies That Redditors Recommended

Below are the practical tactics the community repeatedly endorsed, grouped from easiest to more advanced.

1. Audit and prioritize

Run a baseline backlink check with Google Search Console and a free trial of Ahrefs/SEMrush. Export what you have today.
Identify low-hanging opportunities: broken links pointing to similar content, resource pages listing competitors, and unlinked brand mentions.
Make a priority list: relevant sites with traffic and reasonable authority first; low-quality directories later or not at all.

2. Build linkable content (before outreach)

Create long-form guides, original data studies, tools/calculators, and downloadable resources. Redditors emphasized unique value.
Consider repurposed formats: infographics, cheat sheets, or short videos that are easy to embed.

3. HARO and expert roundups

Help A Reporter Out (HARO) was a top recommendation; respond quickly and add real data or quotes. It’s low-cost but competitive.
Participate in or create expert roundup posts to get natural links from contributors who will share and link back.

4. Broken link building

Find broken pages on relevant sites (check resource pages or old blog posts), offer your functional content as a replacement, and politely ask the webmaster to swap the link.
Redditors noted success when the replacement closely matched the original topic and made the webmaster’s job easy.

5. Resource pages & link reclamation

Search for “resources” + your niche and pitch your guide or tool.
Claim unlinked mentions: use alerts and outreach to turn brand mentions into links.

6. Guest posts and contributor pieces

Guest posting remains viable when you target relevant, authoritative sites and write unique, helpful content.
Avoid low-quality guest blogs or networks; focus on building relationships with editors and pitching specific, useful ideas.

7. Local and niche partnerships

Local sponsorships, event pages, testimonials, and chambers of commerce listings can provide solid, legitimate links.
Co-marketing with complementary businesses (co-authored content, case studies) was highlighted as a win-win tactic.

Practical Outreach Tips from Redditors

Personalize the first sentence to reference the recipient’s site or a recent article. Generic templates get ignored.
Keep outreach emails short, make the value explicit, and include the exact URL you’re asking to replace or add.
Follow up 1-2 times if there’s no response; many users reported link wins on follow-ups.
Track outreach with a simple spreadsheet: site, contact, outreach dates, response, outcome.

Common Beginner Mistakes (and how to avoid them)

Chasing metrics blindly: Don’t pick a target just because it has high DA. Check topical relevance and traffic.
Buying links or using shady networks: Short-term gains can lead to penalties and lost rankings.
Duplicative guest posts: Don’t repost the same content to multiple sites; unique content per placement is critical.
Ignoring anchor diversity: Over-optimized anchors look spammy. Keep anchor text natural and varied.

Sample beginner outreach lines (short and adaptable)

Broken link pitch: “Hi [Name], I noticed this page (link) has a broken link to [topic]. I built an up-to-date guide that matches the original and could replace it: [your link]. Happy to send a short summary.”
Resource page pitch: “Hi [Name], I run [site]. I think our guide on [topic] would be a helpful addition to your resources page (link). Quick preview: [one-sentence benefit].”

How to Measure Success

Track new referring domains and the quality of those domains (traffic, relevance) using Search Console and a backlink tool.
Monitor organic traffic and keyword rankings for target pages; links should lead to measurable uplift over a few months.
Watch link velocity and anchor patterns to ensure natural growth and avoid suspicious spikes.

Expert Insight: Prioritize Topical Relevance Over Raw Authority

Many beginners fixate on domain authority scores. As an expert recommendation, put greater weight on topical relevance and referral traffic. A link from a niche blog with engaged readers in your space can produce conversions and ranking signals more effectively than a generic high-DA site that rarely gets visitors interested in your topic. When evaluating targets, look at:

Topical fit: Is the site covering your exact industry or audience?
Referral traffic potential: Does the site drive meaningful visitors?
Content permanence: Is the placement likely to stay (not a short-term widget or footer link)?

Expert Insight: Scale Outreach with Systems, Not Spam

To scale link building safely, create repeatable systems: a prospecting routine, outreach templates with personalization tokens, and a 2-3 step follow-up sequence. Test subject lines and opening sentences with small batches and iterate on what gets replies. Use metrics to optimize outreach: reply rate, conversion (links secured), and time-to-link. Also, document what pitch types (broken link, resource, guest post) work best for different site tiers.

Quick Checklist for Your First 30 Days

Day 1-5: Run backlink audit and competitor analysis; list 20 target sites.
Day 6-14: Produce or update a linkable asset (guide, tool, data).
Day 15-30: Conduct outreach: 10 HARO responses, 20 resource/broken-link pitches, 5 guest post pitches. Track everything.

When to Consider Paid Help

If outreach takes too much time, hiring a vetted freelancer for outreach research or a white-hat link builder can be justified. Avoid agencies promising huge quantities of links quickly. Ask for case studies, processes (how they qualify targets), and reporting cadence.

Final Takeaway

Getting quality seo backlinks as a beginner is about consistent, targeted effort: audit what you have, build something worth linking to, and use proven outreach tactics like HARO, broken link building, and resource outreach. Prioritize relevance and traffic potential over raw metrics and scale with systems rather than shortcuts. With a few months of disciplined work and measurement, you’ll see sustainable gains in authority and organic rankings.

Read the full Reddit discussion here.