Introduction — Based on a Reddit discussion
This guide explains what are backlinks using the common questions, answers, and tips shared in a recent Reddit thread on r/SEO. I summarized the consensus, noted where people disagreed, and added expert-level context and actionable steps so you get a practical, reliable roadmap instead of scattered comments.
What are backlinks?
At the simplest level, a backlink is a hyperlink from one website to another. If Site A links to Site B, Site B has received a backlink. In SEO terms, backlinks are votes of confidence — they tell search engines and users that the linked content is useful or authoritative.
Key terms to know
- Referring domain: The website that links to you (counted once per domain).
- Anchor text: The clickable words used in the link. Anchor text signals context to search engines.
- Dofollow vs nofollow: Dofollow links pass standard link signals; nofollow historically did not, though search engines now treat them as hints in many cases.
- Authority/Trust metrics: Metrics like Domain Rating (DR), Domain Authority (DA), Trust Flow, and organic traffic estimate the perceived strength of a domain.
Why backlinks matter (what Reddit users agreed on)
- Backlinks are a major ranking factor: Most experienced SEO contributors agreed backlinks remain important because they help search engines evaluate relevance and authority.
- Quality beats quantity: A few links from authoritative, relevant sites are better than thousands of low-quality links.
- Referring domains matter more than raw link count: Many Redditors emphasized that unique domains signal broader endorsement.
- Anchor text and topical relevance help: Links from pages on the same subject with relevant anchor text carry stronger contextual signals.
Where Redditors disagreed
- Are links the single most important ranking factor? Some said historically yes; others argued that today content relevance, user intent, and on-page SEO are equally critical.
- Nofollow value: A few users dismissed nofollow links entirely, while others pointed out they can drive referral traffic and sometimes pass value indirectly.
- Guest posting: Opinions varied — some see it as a still-useful tactic when done legitimately; others warned against low-quality or spammy guest posting.
- Buying links: Nearly everyone warned about the risk, but some acknowledged it might work short-term while carrying long-term penalties if discovered.
Practical tips from the Reddit thread
Here are the most frequently shared, practical tactics Redditors recommended:
- Create linkable assets: Data studies, unique tools, comprehensive guides, and original research earn organic editorial links.
- Outreach and relationship building: Reach out to bloggers, journalists, and webmasters with personalized pitches rather than mass templates.
- Broken link building: Find broken links on relevant sites and suggest your content as a replacement.
- Skyscraper technique: Find popular content, create something better, and pitch those linking pages.
- HARO and journalist outreach: Use Help a Reporter Out to win mentions and authoritative placements.
- Local citations and niche directories: Useful for local businesses, but stay selective to avoid spammy directories.
- Guest posts and partnerships: Acceptable when the content is valuable and on-topic, not just a link farm.
- Monitor with tools: Use Ahrefs, Moz, SEMrush, Majestic, and Google Search Console to track referring domains, anchor text, and link lost/gained.
- Prioritize referring domains, not link count: Focus outreach on quality domains in your niche.
How search engines use backlinks (concise explanation)
Search engines use backlinks to evaluate:
- Authority: Links from trusted domains raise a page’s perceived trust.
- Relevance: Topically related links tell search engines the page matches search intent for those topics.
- Anchor text signals: Anchor text helps indicate what a page is about, but over-optimized anchors can trigger spam filters.
- Link velocity and diversity: Natural link growth and diverse sources are healthier than sudden spikes from dubious places.
Common mistakes beginners make (and how to avoid them)
- Chasing raw link counts: Avoid low-quality link farms or paid link networks. Instead, target authoritative sites.
- Ignoring anchor text balance: Use natural, branded, and long-tail anchors rather than exact-match anchors exclusively.
- Neglecting content quality: Outreach with weak content wastes time — create something genuinely useful first.
- Overusing disavow: Disavow only if you have a manual penalty or a clear toxic link problem causing ranking drops.
Beginner’s 8-step backlink strategy
- Audit your current profile: Use Google Search Console and one paid tool (Ahrefs/Moz/SEMrush) to list referring domains and anchor texts.
- Set measurable goals: Aim for a mix of high-quality referring domains rather than an arbitrary link count.
- Create linkable content: Produce original research, tools, or in-depth guides aimed at your niche audience.
- Identify targets: Find websites that link to similar content using backlink tools and competitor analysis.
- Outreach with value: Personalize emails, mention existing content you liked on their site, and explain how your piece helps their audience.
- Use quick wins: Pursue broken link replacements, unlinked brand mentions, and HARO pitches.
- Monitor and adapt: Track links earned, referral traffic, and changes in rankings. Iterate on what works.
- Protect your profile: Keep an eye out for spammy links; use disavow only with a clear reason.
Expert Insight: Measuring link quality beyond DA/DR
Many beginners focus on Domain Authority or Domain Rating as the definitive metric. Expert SEO practice looks deeper:
- Topical relevance: A link from a smaller, directly relevant site is often more valuable than one from an unrelated high-DA domain.
- Organic traffic and engagement: Check if the linking page gets traffic — a link that sends visitors can indirectly improve behavior signals for SEO.
- Link placement and context: Links within the main content editorially placed are stronger than footer/sidebar links.
- Dofollow vs nofollow: Don’t discard nofollow links — they can drive traffic and visibility that later yields dofollow editorial links.
- Position and frequency: A single link from the homepage or a resource page may carry more weight than multiple links buried in comment sections.
Expert Insight: Building a scalable white-hat link program
Think of link building as PR + product improvement:
- Produce high-utility assets: Tools, templates, original datasets, and evergreen guides create natural link opportunities.
- Repurpose and widen reach: Turn research into visual assets, slides, or infographics that other sites want to embed and link to.
- Establish relationships: Build a network of bloggers, journalists, and niche sites through constant value exchanges (not just link requests).
- Leverage journalists and HARO: Become a reliable source for journalists, which yields high-authority, contextual backlinks.
- Measure ROI: Track referral traffic, leads, and rankings by acquired link — not only the link count.
When to use the disavow tool
Reddit consensus: disavow is a last resort. Consider it when:
- You have a manual action from Google for unnatural links.
- You have a clear set of toxic, spammy links causing a measurable ranking drop.
- You can’t get low-quality links removed manually and they’re concentrated enough to be harmful.
Tools recommended by Reddit users
- Ahrefs — backlink explorer and referring domains.
- Moz — domain authority and link research.
- SEMrush — tracking links and outreach opportunities.
- Majestic — Trust Flow and topical citation flow.
- Google Search Console — free source for links Google sees.
- HARO — for building media backlinks.
Final takeaway
In short: what are backlinks? They are endorsements from other websites that help search engines assess authority and relevance. Reddit users agreed quality and relevance are more important than volume, and legitimate outreach and valuable content are the sustainable ways to earn links. Avoid shortcuts like buying links or spammy networks — they may work short-term but risk penalties.
Start with an audit, create genuinely useful content for your audience, and use targeted outreach and PR to build a diverse set of authoritative referring domains. Track results, iterate on what works, and use disavow only when necessary.
Read the full Reddit discussion here.