Google has confirmed that links and quality content are two of the top three ranking factors for SEO. And trust me, as a content writer, I wish content alone was enough. But it’s not. If you want to rank higher, you need to get backlinks for websites.
In competitive niches, it’s even more critical. You’re not just trying to create great content—you’re competing with other great content that already has authority.
Backlinks build authority, helping you outrank competitors and gain credibility in your industry.
Sure, it’s possible to rank without links, but if two similar articles go head-to-head, the one with stronger, high-quality backlinks is going to win. (Of course, there are a million other ranking factors at play, but you get the idea.)
But What Is The Big Fuss With Link Building
Links have always played a big role in search rankings. In fact, they were one of Google’s first (if not the first) patents.
The idea actually comes from academia—think about how research papers are judged. If a paper gets cited a lot, it’s considered credible.
Google took that same concept and applied it to website link building. Back then, the internet was mostly directories, so they needed a way to determine which pages were actually valuable.
Now, let’s be real. Why should Google automatically trust a website just because the publisher says it’s great? There are millions of results for any given search. Are we really supposed to believe that one of them is objectively “the best” for everyone?
This is where backlinks come in. They’re the only objective way to measure a page’s value because they act like a popularity vote. Nothing in life is truly credible without third-party validation.
Think about it:
- You can’t just give yourself a degree—a university has to award it. And that university itself needs to be accredited.
- Want to be a judge? You need third-party validation.
- Want to be a sheriff? You have to be elected.
So why would Google trust a website without some kind of external confirmation?
When Should You do Link-Building
Before we dig into ways to get white hat seo backlinks(legal backlinks) for your websites, let’s start with the most important question here:
Do you even need backlinks at your current stage?
You should only focus on link-building once you have a solid SEO strategy and a decent amount of blog posts or resources.
Build topical authority in SEO first through content, then work on acquiring links strategically for backlinks to build authority.
If you skip ahead and start to get backlinks for websites too soon, you’ll just be working harder for weaker results.
Best Practices to Get Backlinks for Websites
Get Links from Real and Relevant Websites
SEO legend Eric Ward always advises to build backlinks as if Google might disappear tomorrow.
Why? Because links should be useful for humans, not just search engines.
That is why white hat SEO backlinks work because they get actual and relevant people to visit your site.
Therefore go for quality backlinks that bring in qualified traffic—not just sitting there collecting dust.
For instance, let’s say you run a travel blog. The best websites to get backlinks from would look like this:
- A well-known travel magazine or media site (e.g., Lonely Planet, National Geographic Travel)
- A niche travel blogger who covers off-the-beaten-path destinations
- A website dedicated to budget travel hacks or luxury travel reviews
Basically, if the website publishes content related to yours, it’s a solid link prospect to get backlinks for websites like yours.
That said, media backlinks (like Forbes or Mashable) can still be valuable—even if they’re not directly related to your niche.
How to Spot a Sites to Get backlinks for website
- The site gets 1,000+ monthly visitors from Google
- It publishes genuine, high-quality content
- It doesn’t spam guest posts or sell backlinks in bulk
- It hasn’t been penalized (i.e., no sudden traffic drops)
- It avoids sketchy links from gambling or spammy sites
- It has an “About Us” page with real people behind it
The goal is to secure white hat seo backlinks that actually drive traffic, not just boost your backlink count.
Use Descriptive, Natural Anchor Text
Anchor text is like a little signpost—it tells both Google and real people what your page is about. If a bunch of sites link to your page using similar words or phrases, chances are your page will rank better for those terms.
But keep it natural and relevant. Mix it up. Your anchor text should describe what the page is about, but it shouldn’t look like it was copy-pasted a hundred times across the web.
If too many links use the exact same anchor text, it starts looking sketchy—like you’re trying to game the system to get backlinks for website. Search engines aren’t fans of that.
Earn Links Over Time, Not Overnight
Automated link building or purchasing bulk links might seem like an easy shortcut, but it can do more harm than good. Google values natural growth over time because backlinks build authority cumulatively.
If you suddenly get 500 backlinks in a week and then nothing for months, that’s a red flag. A strong backlink campaign grows steadily as more people discover and link to your content.
Instead of using cheap link building tactics, focus on sustainable strategies like the ones we will discuss below.
How to Build High-quality White Hat SEO Backlinks
Earned (Editorial) Links
Earned or editorial links are the links you don’t have to ask for from other websites. They happen naturally when other websites link to your page because the content is just that good.
But here’s the thing: You need to give people a reason to link to you. If your page is generic and forgettable, no one will bother.
Ever heard of 10X content? It means creating something so undeniably valuable, unique, and insightful that it’s 10 times better than anything else out there.
When you do that, links start coming in naturally. It is by far the best way to get backlinks for websites.
Here are four tactics to achieve that kind of value in your content:
Create Standout Resources
Brainstorm ways to write content that
- Triggers emotion (joy, nostalgia, curiosity—anything that gets people talking)
- Presents something new (or explains an old idea in a fresh way)
- Looks great (visually engaging content gets more shares)
- Solves a timely need (people love content that’s relevant right now)
- Is location-specific (example: the most searched-for Halloween costumes in each state)
Additionally, consider creating a highly targeted piece—content that is written for just a few select sites. Though it won’t scale as quickly as a broad, viral-style resource, you might see a higher success rate. Editors are more likely to find it genuinely relevant, increasing your chances of earning white hat SEO backlinks.
Coming up with stand-out resources takes effort, but the payoff is totally worth it.
When you do this right and promote it well, people will want to share it—whether that’s friends sending it around or bloggers linking to it as a reference.
Publish Statistics
Statistics attract backlinks like magnets. When you have a solid statistic on your site, you create a “hook”—something bloggers, journalists, and content creators want to reference.
If you can go big, consider running a study. Give people in your industry tons of fresh statistics to cite in their articles.
Do this right and that study will keep earning high-quality backlinks for years after it’s published.
Now, let’s be real—pulling off an industry study takes serious effort (we’re talking 5–10x more time than a regular blog post). But if you can swing it, the payoff can be huge.
But here is a lower-effort alternative: Try publishing statistics roundups. Instead of running your own study, curate an updated list of industry statistics.
It’s an easy way to get backlinks for websites free—since people will cite and link to your research.
Blogging
Google engineers personally recommend blogging, because blogs:
- Keep your site fresh with new content
- Spark conversations and engagement across the web
- Naturally attract links from other blogs and websites
It’s one of the best ways to get backlinks for websites while growing your site’s authority.
Give Your Best Content a Second Life
Got content that’s crushing it in traffic, conversions, or engagement? Use it as a website link building asset to get quality backlinks and boost rankings.
Here are two ways to do this:
- Take your top-performing content and repurpose it across platforms like Slideshare, Youtube, Instagram, Quora, or LinkedIn
- Refresh and republish older content. If reputable sites have linked to the older version let them know, so they can link to the refreshed version. It is an excellent way to build backlinks while keeping your content relevant.
Get People Talking
Want to earn white hat SEO backlinks? Be newsworthy.
Journalists, bloggers, and media outlets love covering unique, bold, or trending stories. Sometimes, that means launching a free tool, creating a viral campaign, or even offering an expert opinion on a hot topic.
At the end of the day, SEO reflects your brand. If you want to succeed, focus on building a brand people want to talk about—the best websites to get backlinks are the ones that naturally reference valuable content.
Find Earned Mentions
Sometimes, people talk about your brand but don’t link to you. That’s a missed opportunity.
Do a Google search using:
👉 site: + your brand name in quotes
Find unlinked mentions and reach out to request a link.
This also applies to images. If websites are using your visuals without credit, reach out and ask for a high quality backlink free.
These are the best websites to get backlinks from without extra content creation.
Tap Into Your Network
Got loyal customers or business partners? Use those relationships to build backlinks for free and build domain authority.
For example you can:
- Offer testimonials for their products (with a link back to your site)
- Create partnership badges (logos/icons linking back to your site)
These strategies help in building authority backlinks without aggressive outreach.
Build Backlinks with Broken Link Building
Broken link building allows you to win white hat SEO backlinks free of charge. It is a win-win strategy where you help site owners clean up dead links, and in return, you earn high-quality backlinks to your content.
It doesn’t require any shady tactics or a huge budget. Just research to find the best websites to get backlinks—ideally, ones with broken outbound links in your niche. Combine that with solid research and personalized outreach, and you’ve got a win-win link-building tactic.
Here’s how to do it right in four clear steps:
Step One: Find a Target Page
Look for resource pages, curated roundups, or “Top Tools/Blogs” in your niche. These pages typically link to multiple external sites and are more likely to have outdated or broken links over time.
To help surface these pages quickly, use search operators like:
- intitle:resources + [your topic]
- inurl:links + [your keyword]
Step Two: Scan for Broken Links
Next you want to identify broken (404) links on those pages.
Use tools like Check My Links (Chrome extension), Broken Link Checker and Ahrefs’ Broken Link feature.
Keep a spreadsheet of the broken links, the pages, they are on and any relevant context.
Pro tip: If the broken link points to a well-known piece of content or tool, that’s a great opportunity for broken link building.
Recreating or updating that resource could give your pitch more weight.
Step 3: Create or Match High-Quality Replacement Content
If you already have content that fits that is great.
If not, consider creating a targeted piece that fills the same informational gap the broken link used to cover.
Either way, make sure that the content you are linking to is:
- Is genuinely valuable (not thin or overly salesy)
- Aligned with the original intent on the broken link
- Well-designed and easy to read
This increases your odds of getting the backlink and building long-term credibility through broken link building.
Step Four: Reach Out and Suggest Your Content
Finally you want to let the site owner or editor know about the dead link (they’ll appreciate the heads-up).
Send them a short, personalized email letting them know about the broken link while casually mentioning your piece as a relevant replacement.
Here is an example of how to approach the email:
“Hey [Name], I noticed you’re linking to a page that no longer exists on your [Topic] resource list. I recently published something similar that might be a helpful alternative. Thought I’d pass it along in case you’re updating the page.”
Broken link building works wonders, especially when you pair it with a personalized outreach email. So keep it concise and respectful of their time.
After all, you’re offering help—not begging for a backlink.
Do Guest Posting That Actually Adds Value
Guest posting is a proven way to earn high-quality, white SEO hat backlinks—but only when you approach it with purpose.
The process typically starts with a pitch: you reach out to a relevant website and offer to contribute a valuable piece of content in exchange for a backlink to your site.
But here is the catch: editors are overwhelmed with low-effort, templated pitches every hour. If you don’t stand out by offering true value, your email goes straight to the trash.
To make guest posting worth your time (and theirs), focus on relevance, originality, and relationship-building. Here’s how:
1️⃣ Pitch Value, Not Just a Post
Lead your email with why your idea matters to them. Or something that piques their interest. This could mean:
- Researching their site’s content gaps or identifying a specific keyword they likely want to rank for.
- Pitching a topic that fits their audience, fills that gap, and offers something fresh—not just a rehashing of what’s already out there.
- Briefly explaining your unique angle or experience that makes your content valuable.
👉 Example:
2️⃣ Send Personalized, Thoughtful Pitches
Editors can spot a copy-paste job a mile away.
- Use their name. Reference a recent article you enjoyed.
- Show that you’ve read their guidelines or understand their tone.
- Share writing samples or previous guest posts to build trust.
- Make sure your pitch topic aligns with their readers and isn’t something you’ve already published elsewhere.
Also, while “Write for Us” pages are a good start, many quality blogs don’t advertise guest contributions—but they’ll still say yes to a great pitch. Use search operators like:
- site:[domain] + guest post
- intitle:guest post + [your topic]
- inurl:write-for-us + [your niche]
And don’t overlook podcasts, newsletters, or niche industry sites—they often welcome content from experts but receive far fewer cold pitches.
Use HARO or Terkel
Platforms like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and Terkel connect journalists with expert sources.
This is an easy way to land high-authority backlinks(some homepage backlinks) with minimal outreach.
Build Relationships with Bloggers
Networking works. Follow bloggers in your niche on Twitter, LinkedIn, or even niche forums.
Engage with their content before reaching out. Once you’ve built a connection, suggest backlink collaborations—like guest posts, link swaps, or ABC exchanges.
Yes, this takes time. But if you lack an existing or strong backlink profile, this is how you do it.
Should You Pay for Backlinks?
A common misconception is that paying for backlinks will get you penalized or just won’t work. But here’s the truth: as long as you’re not buying spammy links or doing anything sketchy (like blasting 20 links to the same page overnight), there’s no way for Google to know a link was paid for.
The reality is that some industries—like CBD, forex, and gambling—are pay-to-play. If you’re in one of these spaces, your competitors are buying links, and if you don’t, you’ll likely fall behind.
That said, you have to be smart about it. I recently had a client whose site tanked because they bought cheap links on Fiverr. Bad links will hurt you.
Before You Pay to Get Backlinks for Website, Do This:
- Find relevant referral sites. Look at where your competitors are getting links.
- Get natural, foundational links first. This helps Google understand your site’s authority and gives your SEO efforts a solid base.
- Quality over quantity. It’s not about getting tons of links—it’s about getting the right ones.
At the end of the day, backlinks are still one of Google’s top ranking factors. It’s not about paying for links—it’s about building the right external signals to compete.
Get Backlinks for Website Without Losing Your Mind
Link building can feel intimidating at first, especially when you think of reaching out, personalizing your pitches, finding the best websites to get links from etc.
But it doesn’t have to be. You don’t need a massive PR team or a thousand-dollar budget to get quality backlinks. What you do need is great content, a bit of patience, and a willingness to show up consistently.
I help businesses pick one or two strategies that feel doable and test them out—Whether it’s reaching out for a broken link, repurposing their best blog post, or simply asking a partner for a backlink.
All these add up to build trust, visibility, and long-term SEO growth for their brand.
So are you ready to build backlinks the right way? Don’t wait for “perfect.”
Send me a message and get started today.
The sooner you do, the sooner your website can start earning the authority it deserves.
If you need help with any of the link building steps—whether white hat SEO backlinks, outsource link building, broken link building, or running a successful backlink campaign, please feel free to reach out
Frequently Asked Questions
🕒 How long does it take for backlinks to take effect?
Backlinks build authority gradually and you’ll start seeing the impact of new backlinks within 1–3 months.
This depends on factors like crawl frequency, link authority, and the competitiveness of the keyword you’re targeting.
📈 How can I calculate the ROI of my link-building efforts?
It’s tough to assign a direct dollar value to individual links, which makes precise ROI calculations tricky.
That said, if strong backlinks help move you from page 2 to the top 3 results, the ROI can be massive—especially for high-intent, well-targeted keywords.
📉 Can I rank without backlinks?
It depends on your niche. In low-competition spaces, it’s sometimes possible to rank without links.
But in competitive industries, backlinks build authority and are often the deciding factor between ranking on page 1—or not ranking at all.
They also influence how quickly your pages gain visibility.
🔗 Will I get penalized for exchanging links?
Not necessarily. According to research by Ahrefs, reciprocal linking is common among top-performing websites. Link exchanges that happen naturally or in moderation are generally safe.
However, avoid obvious link schemes—like trading links with hundreds of unrelated sites—as that can raise red flags.
💸 Google says paying for links is against the rules. What now?
Technically, yes—buying links violates Google’s guidelines.
But in practice, it’s extremely common across the industry. The key is to avoid spammy link farms or obvious footprints.
If you’re strategic—working with reputable sites and keeping things natural—you’re unlikely to face issues.
How Many Backlinks Do You Actually Need?
One of the most common questions in SEO: How many backlinks does it take to rank? The answer isn’t one-size-fits-all—but you can get a solid benchmark by analyzing what’s already working.
Tools like Moz’s Keyword Explorer make this easy. Here’s how to use it:
- Enter Your Target Keyword into Keyword Explorer.
- Navigate to the “SERP Analysis” section.
- You’ll see the top-ranking pages for that keyword, along with useful metrics—including the number of backlinks each page has.
This data gives you two major insights:
✅ An estimated backlink range you’ll need to be competitive.
✅ A list of potential link targets—sites that are already linking to similar content in your niche.
It’s not just about matching link count. If your content is stronger, more relevant, or more up-to-date, you may need fewer links. But knowing the competition’s backlink profile gives you a strategic edge.