January 23, 2025

What are back links and why do they matter in SEO?

Confused about backlinks? You’re not alone. As a small business owner, you’ve probably heard you need them for your website – but might be wondering if they’re worth the effort. Let’s cut through the jargon and explain backlinks in plain English, so you can decide if they make sense for your business.

What are backlinks?

Backlinks are simply links from other websites to your website—they are like digital recommendations. Think of them as referrals from one business to another. When a reputable website links to yours, they’re essentially telling their visitors “hey, this site has good information about this topic.” Google tends to trust websites more when they get links from other established sites. This means it ranks them higher in search results, making them more visible to potential customers.

Why are backlinks important?

Backlinks are one of the main ways Google decides if your website is trustworthy and worth showing to people. The logic is pretty simple: if other respected websites are willing to link to your site, you’re probably offering something valuable. It’s like getting positive reviews for your business. But backlinks do more than just make Google happy – they also bring new visitors to your site when people click those links. The key is getting genuine backlinks from relevant websites in your industry or local area.

The more backlinks I have, the better?

Not exactly – quality beats quantity every time when it comes to backlinks. Having hundreds of links from random, low-quality websites won’t help your business and could actually harm your rankings. What you want are backlinks from legitimate websites that are relevant to your industry or location. A single link from a respected local business organization or industry publication is worth more than dozens of links from irrelevant or spammy sites.

Are all backlinks the same?

No, backlinks vary greatly in value based on where they come from. A link from a trusted industry website or local news outlet carries more weight than one from an unknown blog. Think of it like business referrals—a recommendation from a respected local business leader means more than one from a random stranger. The best backlinks come from websites that are relevant to your business, have a good reputation themselves, and link to you naturally within their content rather than in paid listings or directories.

What is domain authority?

Domain authority (DA) is a scoring system that predicts how likely a website is to rank in search results. Created by Moz, it scores websites from 1 to 100 – the higher the score, the more trustworthy the site. But don’t get too hung up on this number. While it’s a useful general indicator, it’s just one of many factors Google considers. Focus instead on getting genuine backlinks from real, relevant businesses and organizations in your industry or local area.

How can I get backlinks?

The best way to get backlinks is by creating valuable content and building real relationships in your industry. Start locally—join your chamber of commerce, sponsor local events, or collaborate with complementary businesses. Share your expertise through guest posts on industry blogs or local news sites. Create helpful resources that others will want to link to. All this can take time, so there web design agencies and SEO specialists, like All-in-1 Websites, offer services to help

What are DR and DA backlinks?

DR (Domain Rating) and DA (Domain Authority) are different tools that measure a website’s strength and credibility. DR is created by Ahrefs, while DA comes from Moz. Both work on a scale of 1-100, where higher numbers suggest more authoritative sites. But don’t get caught up in these metrics. Instead, focus on getting backlinks from genuine, relevant websites that your potential customers actually visit. Quality and relevance matter more than any numerical score.

Do backlinks really matter?

Yes, backlinks still matter in 2024, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle. While they help show Google your site is trustworthy, you also need good content, a user-friendly website, and a solid local presence. Think of backlinks as business referrals – they’re valuable, but they work best when combined with quality service and positive customer experiences. Focus on building genuine relationships and creating content worth linking to, rather than chasing backlinks for their own sake.
All-in-1 Websites offers SEO services for small businesses and can help you start building backlinks to your business.

Related articles

Get your small business website built, written and found.

Contact us today for a free no obligation quote.