What You Need to Know Before Building Backlinks

Introduction

Backlinks are an important aspect of any successful SEO strategy; yet, not all links are made equal. If you’re just starting out, diving headfirst into backlink building without a plan can do more harm than good. In this guide, we’ll break down what backlinks are, why they matter, the types to look out for, and the smartest (and safest) ways to build them in 2025.

Whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or digital marketer, here’s what you need to know before building backlinks.

Table of Contents

• What Are Backlinks?
• Why Backlinks Matter for SEO
• Types of Backlinks You’ll Encounter
• What Makes a Backlink Good (or Bad)?
• Common Mistakes Beginners Make
• Safe Ways to Start Building Backlinks
• Final Tips Before You Begin
• Conclusion

What Are Backlinks?

A backlink, to put it simply, is a link that connects two websites. You earn a backlink when an external website adds a link that directs users to your page or blog. Think of it like a trust signal—if trusted websites are linking to your content, search engines are more likely to see it as valuable.

Example: If a popular marketing blog links to your article about SEO basics, that’s a strong backlink.

Why Backlinks Matter for SEO

Backlinks are used by search engines such as Google to determine importance and authority. When authoritative websites link to you, it boosts your domain authority and improves your chances of ranking higher in search results.

Google’s EEAT (experience, expertise, authoritarianism, and trustworthiness) standards will be far more important in 2025. High-quality backlinks support these signals by proving your content is trustworthy and worth referencing.

Types of Backlinks You’ll Encounter

Not all backlinks are the same. Here are some common types:

• Dofollow Backlinks – These are the most valuable and pass on SEO authority.
• Nofollow Backlinks – These don’t pass authority but can still drive traffic.
• Editorial Links – Earned naturally when someone references your content.
• Guest Post Links – Links placed within articles you contribute to other sites.
• Forum/Comment Links – Usually less valuable and often flagged as spam if overused.

Knowing the type of backlink helps you build a balanced and safe link profile.

What Makes a Backlink Good (or Bad)?

Good Backlink Qualities:

• Comes from a relevant site in your niche
• From a high-authority domain (like HubSpot, Forbes, etc.)
• Uses natural, descriptive anchor text
• Earned through valuable content

Bad Backlink Warning Signs:

• From low-quality or unrelated websites
• Over-optimized anchor text (e.g., exact keyword every time)
• Paid or spammy links from link farms
• Irrelevant directories or link exchanges

One toxic link may not kill your rankings, but a pattern of them can trigger penalties or manual actions from Google.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

Here are some common link building errors to avoid:

• Buying backlinks from shady services
• Overusing exact-match keywords in anchor text
• Focusing on quantity instead of quality
• Ignoring link relevance—getting links from sites unrelated to your niche
• Neglecting internal links, which also matter for SEO

Many of these mistakes come from trying to take shortcuts. But shortcuts in SEO rarely end well.

Safe Ways to Start Building Backlinks

If you’re just getting started, here are proven, safe techniques to try:

• Write guest posts on relevant, high-quality blogs
• Create helpful content (guides, tools, infographics) that others want to reference
• This is called “broken link building.” You find links on other sites that don’t work and offer your own material as a good replacement.
• Share your content in communities like Reddit, Quora, or niche forums
• Reach out to writers and ask (politely) if they’d consider linking to your guide

These methods take time, but they’re sustainable and trusted by SEO professionals.

Final Tips Before You Begin

Before you jump into backlink building:

• Make sure your content is worth linking to
• Start with a few high-quality links, not a hundred low-value ones
• Use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Google Search Console to monitor your backlinks
• Focus on building relationships, not just links

Stay updated with SEO best practices—Google’s rules evolve often

Conclusion

Backlinks are one of the most powerful tools in SEO, but only when done the right way. Before you start building links, understand what makes them valuable, what risks to avoid, and which strategies are proven to work in 2025. Build with purpose, focus on quality, and always keep the user experience in mind.