What’s a Backlink? (And Why Your Website Needs Them — Now More Than Ever)
If you’ve ever heard SEO gurus throw around the word “backlink,” but you’re not 100% sure what that means, you’re in the right place. Let’s break down how backlinks really work… and why they matters if you want your small business website to show up in Google.
What Is a Backlink, Exactly?
A backlink (also called an inbound link) is simply a link on another website that points to your website. Imagine someone else saying, “Hey — check out this site. They know what they’re talking about.” That’s what a backlink is: a vote of confidence.
In SEO-terms: when one web page links to another, search engines treat that as a “citation.” Over time, the more good “citations” you get from trusted, relevant websites the more search engines believe your site deserves to be shown higher in search results.
But not all backlinks are created equal. The strength of each backlink depends heavily on where it comes from, how it’s placed, and how relevant it is to your business or industry. woorank.com+2Finch LLC+2
Why Backlinks Still Matter (Heading into 2026)
You might have seen blog posts claiming “Backlinks are dead.” That’s not quite accurate. While search engines (and SEO) have evolved, backlinks continue to play a major role when done right.
Here’s why backlinks remain essential:
- Backlinks remain one of the top 3 ranking factors for search engines. Rankability+2Backlinko+2
- Quality backlinks from authoritative, relevant sites help build domain authority and signal to Google that your site is trustworthy.
- Independent data suggests that top-ranking pages have multiple times more backlinks than those ranking slightly below them. Seomator+1
- The majority of SEO professionals believe link building still significantly impacts search engine rankings. The frank Agency+1
That said, backlinks alone won’t guarantee high rankings. Today’s search engines look at far more: content quality, user experience, technical SEO, page speed, topical relevance, on-page optimization, and more.
Backlinks are one powerful tool, part of a larger toolkit that we use in our SEO services.
What Makes a “Good” Backlink (vs a Bad One)
When you build backlinks, quality matters more than quantity. Here are the criteria we use at My Business Blitz to evaluate whether a backlink is “worth it”:
Key Qualities of a High-Value Backlink
- Relevance: The linking site should be in your niche or at least related enough that the link makes sense. A handcrafted furniture site linking to your roofing business? Probably not helpful.
- Authority of the linking domain: Backlinks from trusted, established sites carry more weight.
- Natural editorial placement: Links embedded in the content (not buried in footers or sidebars) carry more SEO value.
- Diverse and natural anchor text: A mix of branded anchors, keyword-rich anchors, and generic phrases tends to look more natural and less spammy.
- Topical relevance and context: If the linking page’s content is relevant and high-quality, the backlink is much more beneficial.
What to Avoid: Low-Quality / Risky Backlinks
- Links from spammy, low-authority sites (link farms, PBNs, “bulk backlink” sellers). These often do more harm than good if the sources are irrelevant and domain quality is low.
- Links with unnatural anchor-text patterns or over-optimized keyword anchors only. They look manipulative or at the very least connect you to the wrong niche
- Links placed in footers, sidebars, or comment spam. Placement matters.
Example of a Backlink
For example, Cali Coast Shutters & Shades earned a backlink from the OC Register after winning Best Blind Company in Orange County 2025.
That single editorial link boosted their authority, credibility, and rankings far more than bulk-backlink agencies could ever deliver.
One trusted link > 50 junk links.
(And they earned this backlink fair and square by being voted BEST in OC. That’s an organic backlink we had nothing to do with, but it’s a great example and we’re so proud of them.)
How We Build Quality Backlinks at My Business Blitz (Our Strategy)
From working with small business clients (like Above Aerosol), here’s how I approach backlink building:
- Focus on local directories with high authority — especially those with strong reputations (e.g. regional “best of” lists)
- Guest posts or industry features on relevant, authoritative sites — ideally within the same niche or local area
- Strategic partnerships / cross-promotions — link sharing with partners, suppliers, or complementary businesses
- Ensuring consistent URL formatting everywhere (same domain format, no mixed “www” vs “non-www”, avoid duplicate URLs)
- Use tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush to audit potential backlinks and monitor link profiles
We treat backlink building not as a one-off slog, but as part of a long-term, diversified SEO strategy — because Google is watching everything.
Real-World Results: Backlinks in Action
Take the example of our client, Above Aerosol. By earning a handful of backlinks with Domain Authority (DA) 20+, their homepage began ranking high for nearly all their main keywords.
It didn’t happen overnight, but within months those backlinks (combined with good content, clean site structure, and consistent SEO fundamentals) helped them rise to top placements in search results.
That case underscores two truths:
- Backlinks still move the needle when done right.
- They work best as part of a holistic, multi-signal SEO strategy, not as a standalone tactic.
How Long Before You See Backlink Results?
It varies, but here’s a realistic timeline, based on what I tell clients and what industry data suggests:
- For low-competition keywords or local niches: you might see movement in a few weeks to a couple months.
- For moderate competition: 2–3 months is common.
- For competitive or national-level keywords: several months to 6+ months, and it’s often a marathon, not a sprint.
Industry data supports this: many SEOs report seeing backlink impact within 1–6 months after a campaign begins. DWS+1
Results depend heavily on the strength of the backlinks, the competitiveness of the niche, and the overall quality of the website.
If You’re Just Starting: Your First Backlink Moves
Here’s a simple plan for small businesses that are new to backlink building:
- Claim and optimize local business listings/directories (with consistent NAP — Name/Address/Phone + same domain URL).
- Reach out to complementary local businesses or vendors and propose cross-promotions or link exchanges.
- Pitch guest posts to local or niche-relevant blogs/publications — especially ones with some domain authority.
- Write content worth linking to: guides, resources, “why X matters” pages — those become natural link magnets.
- Avoid bulk link-buying schemes, unvetted directories, or spammy outreach.
Small, consistent, high-quality moves win over time.
⚠️ Common Backlink Myths (and Why They’re Wrong)
| Myth | Reality (What You Should Know) |
|---|---|
| “Backlinks don’t matter anymore.” | False — backlinks remain a top-3 ranking factor for most search engines. Rankability+2Backlinko+2 |
| “I need hundreds of backlinks to rank.” | No — quality over quantity. A few strong backlinks beat 100 junk ones. |
| “DA (Domain Authority) = Google’s ranking signal.” | Not exactly. DA is a third-party metric (from tools like Moz), not a direct Google ranking factor — but it’s a useful proxy for link strength. |
| “I can just buy backlinks and call it a day.” | Risky. Bulk-bought, low-quality links can penalize your site, not help it. smithdigital.io+2BacklinkManager+2 |
Final Thoughts: Backlinks = Digital Word-of-Mouth
At the end of the day, backlinks are digital referrals, someone else vouching for you.
When those referrals come from reputable, relevant sites, they tell search engines: “Hey, this site is legit, people trust it, and it’s worth showing.”
But backlinks aren’t magic. They don’t replace good content, clean site structure, or a customer-friendly website.
Think of backlinks as part of your credibility toolkit, not the whole tool.
If you want to build smart backlinks, avoid spammy tactics, and grow your online visibility the right way — that’s what we do best at My Business Blitz. Contact us today to get started.