Backlinks (links from other websites pointing to yours) remain one of the strongest signals search engines use to evaluate authority and relevance. But not all links help, and the fastest way to lose momentum is to chase low-quality shortcuts. This guide breaks down practical, sustainable ways to increase backlinks—the kind that improve rankings, send referral traffic, and strengthen your brand over time.

What Backlinks Are (and Why They Matter)

A backlink is a clickable link on another website that leads to a page on your site. Search engines treat quality backlinks like “votes of confidence.” When reputable sites reference your content, it suggests your page is useful and trustworthy.

How Backlinks Help SEO and Traffic

  • Higher rankings: Strong backlinks can improve a page’s ability to rank for competitive keywords.
  • Faster discovery: Links help search engines find and crawl new pages.
  • Referral traffic: Readers click through, bringing highly relevant visitors.
  • Brand credibility: Mentions from respected publications build authority beyond SEO.

Quality vs. Quantity: What “Good” Backlinks Look Like

To increase backlinks effectively, focus on link quality. A few links from relevant, trusted sites are often worth more than dozens from low-quality pages.

  • Relevance: The linking site/page relates to your topic or industry.
  • Authority: The site has a solid reputation and earns organic traffic.
  • Editorial context: The link is placed naturally within content (not a footer spam list).
  • Healthy link profile: A mix of branded anchors, URLs, and natural phrasing.

Prepare Your Site to Earn More Backlinks

Before outreach or promotion, make sure your site is “link-worthy.” People rarely link to thin content, slow pages, or unclear resources.

Create Linkable Assets (the Foundation)

Linkable assets are pages designed to be referenced. Examples include:

  • Original research: Surveys, industry benchmarks, or data studies.
  • Ultimate guides: In-depth tutorials that become the go-to resource.
  • Tools and calculators: Simple utilities that solve a specific problem.
  • Templates: Checklists, scripts, SOPs, or downloadable frameworks.
  • Resource hubs: Curated lists of best tools, examples, or learning materials.

Improve Technical and On-Page Signals

  • Speed and UX: If the page is slow or hard to read, others hesitate to recommend it.
  • Clear positioning: A strong headline and intro help editors quickly understand value.
  • Shareable visuals: Charts and diagrams increase citations (and natural links).
  • Internal linking: Guide authority from linked pages to your key money pages.

12 Practical Ways to Increase Backlinks (Sustainably)

Use the methods below as a system. The best results come from combining great content with smart promotion.

1) Publish Original Data People Want to Cite

Original research attracts backlinks because writers need credible sources. Even a small dataset can earn links if it answers a question your industry cares about.

Ideas: customer trends, pricing studies, time-to-complete benchmarks, annual “state of the industry” reports, or anonymized usage stats.

Tip: Include a short “Key findings” section at the top so journalists can quickly pull stats.

2) Build “Skyscraper” Content (Then Make It Truly Better)

Skyscraper content improves on an already popular piece. The trick is to add meaningful upgrades rather than simply writing more words.

  • Add updated screenshots, steps, and examples.
  • Cover missing subtopics (based on “People also ask” and competitor outlines).
  • Include expert quotes or mini case studies.

3) Guest Post on Relevant Sites (Quality-First)

Guest posting still works when done thoughtfully. Aim for publications read by your target audience, not generic sites that publish anything.

  • Pitch a specific topic aligned with their content.
  • Link naturally to a highly relevant resource on your site (not your homepage every time).
  • Prioritize editorial standards and real readership over “easy acceptance.”

4) Use Digital PR to Earn Editorial Mentions

Digital PR is one of the best ways to increase backlinks from authoritative sites. Create a story angle (data, expert insight, trends) and pitch it to journalists and bloggers.

Simple approach: turn your research into a press-friendly summary, then email 20–50 writers who cover the topic.

5) Reclaim Unlinked Brand Mentions

Many sites mention brands without linking. Reclaiming these is a fast win because the writer already knows you.

  1. Find mentions using tools like Google Alerts or a backlink/mention monitor.
  2. Email a friendly request: thank them and ask if they can add a link for readers.
  3. Offer the best URL to link to (a helpful resource page is often better than the homepage).

6) Fix Broken Backlinks Pointing to Your Site

If other sites link to a page on your site that no longer exists, you’re losing link equity. Restore it by:

  • Recreating the missing page, or
  • 301 redirecting to the most relevant alternative (not always the homepage).

This is one of the highest-ROI tasks because the backlink already exists—you just need it to resolve properly.

7) Try Broken Link Building (Ethically)

Broken link building means finding broken outbound links on other sites and suggesting your page as a replacement.

  • Find resource pages in your niche (e.g., “keyword + resources”).
  • Check for broken links.
  • Reach out with the exact broken URL and your suggested replacement.

Key: Your suggested page must genuinely match what the broken link used to provide.

8) Get Listed on Resource Pages and “Best of” Lists

Resource pages can be excellent backlink sources when they’re curated and relevant. Look for:

  • Industry associations
  • Local business directories (quality, not spam)
  • Tool roundups and “best software” pages
  • Educational resource hubs

When you pitch, explain why your resource helps their readers and where it fits within their existing list.

9) Offer Expert Quotes and Commentary

Writers constantly need credible input. You can earn backlinks by providing short, actionable quotes for articles in your niche.

  • Create a simple “Press” page with your bio, headshot, and topics.
  • Respond quickly and make your quote ready-to-publish.
  • Share data, examples, or a clear stance—generic quotes get ignored.

10) Partner with Complementary Brands

Co-marketing can produce natural backlinks without cold outreach. Consider:

  • Co-written guides
  • Webinars
  • Case studies
  • Joint research

Each partner promotes the asset, creating multiple backlink opportunities through announcements, recaps, and references.

11) Turn Visuals Into Link Magnets

Charts, infographics, and diagrams get embedded and referenced. To maximize links:

  • Publish visuals with a short explanation and data sources.
  • Add an embed code (optional) that includes a link back.
  • Pitch the visual to writers who cover the topic.

12) Promote Content Where Linkers Hang Out

Not everyone links—focus on communities where creators, editors, and site owners spend time.

  • Industry newsletters
  • Professional communities and forums
  • LinkedIn posts aimed at practitioners
  • Podcasts (often include show-note links)

Promotion isn’t spamming. Share the most useful takeaway, then offer the resource for those who want the full details.

Outreach That Gets Responses (Without Being Pushy)

To increase backlinks through outreach, keep emails short, specific, and reader-focused.

A Simple Outreach Email Framework

  • Personalize: Mention the exact article and why you liked it.
  • Value first: Point out a gap, broken link, or a helpful addition.
  • One clear ask: Suggest one URL and where it fits.
  • Make it easy: Provide the anchor suggestion and relevant snippet.

Follow-Up Without Annoying People

One follow-up is usually enough. Wait 3–5 business days, keep it friendly, and restate the benefit to their readers. If there’s no reply after that, move on.

What to Avoid When Trying to Increase Backlinks

Shortcuts can backfire. Focus on long-term trust.

  • Buying links at scale: Often leads to low-quality placements and risk.
  • Irrelevant directories: Many are ignored by users and search engines.
  • Exact-match anchor overuse: Keep anchors natural and varied.
  • Mass templated outreach: Low response rates and reputation damage.

How to Track Backlink Growth and Results

Backlinks are only useful if they improve visibility, traffic, or conversions.

Metrics to Monitor

  • New referring domains: A better indicator than total links.
  • Link quality: Relevance, traffic, and editorial context.
  • Organic traffic to linked pages: Are rankings improving?
  • Referral traffic and conversions: Are visitors taking action?

Build a Simple Monthly Backlink Routine

  1. Publish or refresh one linkable asset.
  2. Promote it to a targeted list of potential linkers.
  3. Reclaim unlinked mentions and fix broken backlinks.
  4. Review what earned links and repeat the winning pattern.

Conclusion

To increase backlinks consistently, combine strong linkable assets with focused promotion and relationship-building. Skip risky shortcuts, prioritize relevance and editorial value, and measure what drives real traffic and rankings. With a steady monthly routine, your backlink profile—and your organic growth—will compound over time.

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