How many backlinks do you need to rank on Google?

There is no fixed number. The number of backlinks needed depends on the competition for your target keyword. Low-competition keywords might rank with fewer than 10 backlinks. Highly competitive keywords may require hundreds. Quality matters more than quantity - one backlink from a high-authority site like Forbes or TechCrunch can outweigh hundreds of links from low-quality directories.

What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks?

Dofollow backlinks pass link equity (authority) from the linking site to yours, directly boosting your SEO. Nofollow backlinks include a rel=nofollow attribute that tells search engines not to pass authority. However, Google treats nofollow as a hint rather than a directive, and nofollow links from high-authority sites can still positively influence rankings.

Can backlinks hurt your SEO?

Yes. Low-quality backlinks from spammy, irrelevant, or manipulative sources can trigger Google penalties. Link schemes, paid links without proper disclosure, and links from link farms all carry risk. If you discover harmful backlinks pointing to your site, you can use Google's Disavow Tool to tell Google to ignore them.

What Is a Backlink?

A backlink (also called an inbound link or external link) is a hyperlink from one website to another. When another website links to your site, that is a backlink. Backlinks have been a core ranking factor in Google's algorithm since the search engine's founding - the original PageRank algorithm was essentially a system for counting and weighting backlinks. According to Ahrefs' comprehensive study of ranking factors, the number of referring domains (unique websites linking to a page) is the single strongest correlation with higher Google rankings.

Why Do Backlinks Matter for SEO?

Backlinks function as votes of confidence from one website to another. When a reputable site links to your content, it signals to search engines that your content is trustworthy and valuable enough to reference.

Authority Transfer

Each backlink passes a portion of the linking site's authority to your page. A link from a high-domain authority site like a major publication transfers more authority than a link from a brand-new blog. This authority - often called "link equity" - flows through your site via internal links, boosting the rankings of your other pages as well.

Discovery and Indexing

Search engine crawlers discover new content by following links. Backlinks from well-crawled sites help search engines find and index your pages faster. This is particularly valuable for new websites that have not yet built a strong crawling relationship with Google.

Trust Signals

Backlinks from authoritative sources serve as trust signals for both search engines and AI models. A study from Backlinko found that the top-ranking result on Google has an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than positions two through ten.

What Makes a Backlink Valuable?

Not all backlinks are equal. The value of a backlink depends on several factors:

Relevance: A link from a marketing blog to your social media tool is more valuable than a link from an unrelated cooking website. Search engines evaluate the topical relevance between the linking page and the linked page.

Authority: Links from high-authority domains carry more weight. A single mention in TechCrunch is worth more than dozens of links from unknown blogs.

Placement: Links within the main body content of a page are more valuable than links in footers, sidebars, or author bios. Contextual links carry the strongest signal.

Anchor text: The clickable text of the link helps search engines understand what the linked page is about. Descriptive anchor text ("social media automation tools") is more valuable than generic text ("click here").

Dofollow status: Standard links pass authority. Links with a nofollow, sponsored, or ugc attribute may pass reduced or no authority, though Google treats these as hints rather than strict directives.

How Do You Earn Backlinks?

Create Link-Worthy Content

The most sustainable backlink strategy is creating content that other sites naturally want to reference. Original research, data studies, comprehensive guides, and unique frameworks attract links because they provide value that other content creators want to cite.

Digital PR

Digital PR involves pitching stories, data, and expert commentary to journalists and publications. Getting quoted in an industry article or having your research cited in a news story generates high-authority backlinks that are difficult to replicate through other methods.

Guest Content

Writing articles for other websites in your industry - with a link back to your site in the author bio or content body - is a proven link building approach. Focus on publications your target audience reads rather than sites that exist primarily for link building purposes.

Resource and Community Links

Getting listed in industry directories, resource pages, and community roundups generates relevant backlinks. Participate in industry communities on Reddit, answer questions on Quora, and contribute to industry discussions where linking to your content adds genuine value.

What Backlinks Should You Avoid?

Paid link schemes, link farms, private blog networks (PBNs), and mass directory submissions can trigger Google penalties. Google's Spam Policies explicitly prohibit manipulative link building. The penalty can range from individual page demotions to site-wide ranking drops.

The safest approach is earning links through content quality and relationship building rather than purchasing or manufacturing them. If a backlink opportunity feels too easy or too cheap, it is likely low quality or potentially harmful.

How Do Backlinks Relate to AI Search Visibility?

AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity use many of the same authority signals as Google, including backlink profiles. Websites with strong backlink portfolios are more likely to be cited as sources in AI-generated responses. Building backlinks remains essential not just for traditional SEO but for visibility across the emerging AI search landscape.