Backlink Basics
Practical guides on backlinks, tiered link building, on-page and technical SEO, keyword research and more.
Backlink Glossary: 40+ Link Building Terms in Plain English
Short, clear definitions for the link building jargon you'll see in SEO tools, reports and seller listings, all in one place.
Backlink BasicsLost Backlinks and Link Rot: Why Links Disappear and What to Do
Every site loses links over time. Some losses are worth chasing and many aren't. Here is how to tell which is which and how to win the good ones back.
Backlink BasicsBacklink Velocity: How Fast Should You Build Links?
The speed you gain links can look natural or manufactured. Here is how to think about pace, and why context matters more than any fixed number.
Backlink BasicsInternal vs External Links: What Each Does for SEO
You control your internal links completely, and most sites underuse them. Here is how internal and external links differ and how to use each.
Backlink BasicsLink Equity Explained: How Ranking Value Flows Between Pages
Links pass value from page to page, but not evenly. Understanding how that value moves helps you get more from the links you already have.
Backlink BasicsSponsored and UGC Link Attributes: When to Use rel="sponsored" and rel="ugc"
Two small HTML attributes tell Google whether a link was paid for or added by a user. Here is how to use them on your site and what they mean for links you get.
Backlink BasicsHow Long Do Backlinks Take to Work? A Realistic Timeline
A new link has to be found, crawled, counted and weighed before rankings move. Here is roughly how long each stage tends to take.
Backlink BasicsHow Many Backlinks Do I Need to Rank? How to Work Out Your Own Number
Nobody can give you a universal number, but you can estimate a realistic target for your own keyword in about half an hour.
Backlink BasicsGood vs Bad Backlinks: How to Tell Them Apart in Five Minutes
Most backlinks are neither great nor dangerous, they're just ignored. Here is a quick way to sort the useful ones from the ones worth worrying about.
Backlink BasicsContextual Backlinks: Why Links Inside Content Carry More Weight
A link inside a relevant paragraph tells Google far more than one in a footer. Here is what makes a link contextual and how to get them.
Backlink BasicsReferring Domains vs Backlinks: Which Number Should You Track?
A site can have 40,000 backlinks from just 12 websites. That is why referring domains are usually the more honest number to watch.
Backlink BasicsAnchor Text Explained: Types, Examples and a Safe Mix
The clickable words in a link tell Google what your page is about. Use the same keyword too often and those words start working against you.
Frequently asked questions
Where should a beginner start?
Read what a backlink is, then the guides on dofollow vs nofollow and anchor text. Those three cover most of the terms you'll see in any link report.
Do I need backlinks if my content is good?
Good content helps you earn links, but in competitive searches most pages that rank well also have links from other sites. Content and links work together.