Backlinks: What are they?

Imagine you just build your first website, and now you want it to rank higher on Google. You do your research and sooner or later you will stumble across the word Backlinks. Here you are and start to wonder: "What exactly is a Backlink?" In this blog post you will learn about the history of backlinks, what they are, and what impact they have on your ranking on e.g. Google.

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What are Backlinks?

Generally speaking, a backlink is a reference of a different website linking to a URL that is outside the website. For whatever new site the link is referring, this link is seen as a backlink. However, for the site where the link is coming from, it is called an outbound link. For you they are inbound links, as they bring traffic to your site. Backlinks are always seen from a specific perspective. If you want other pages - outside your site - to link to your site, you want to gain backlinks. And believe me, you want to gain Backlinks. There are several ways to gain backlinks. We will go through several of them in a different blog post. For now, you just need to know that having high quality content on your site will bring you Backlinks organically over time.

dofollow vs nofollow Backlinks

dofollow Backlinks

These are standard backlinks that pass "link juice" or authority from the referring website to the linked page. When a search engine crawls a page and encounters a dofollow link, it follows the link to the target page and considers it a vote of trust, which can positively influence the target page’s search engine rankings. Essentially, dofollow links help improve the visibility and authority of the linked site.

nofollow Backlinks

A nofollow backlink includes a special HTML tag (rel="nofollow") that tells search engines not to pass authority to the linked page. While these links do not contribute directly to improving search rankings, they are still valuable. Nofollow links can generate traffic, increase brand visibility, and create opportunities for further engagement. Additionally, some experts believe they can contribute indirectly to SEO by driving organic traffic and fostering brand trust.

In summary, while dofollow links boost a site's SEO through authority and rankings, nofollow links mainly serve as a traffic-driving and brand-building tool without directly impacting search engine rankings. Both types play a crucial role in a well-rounded link-building strategy.

Relevance of Backlinks in SEO

Backlinks are a fundamental aspect of SEO, acting as endorsements from one website to another. When a website links to your content, it signals to search engines like Google that your site is credible and valuable. This plays a crucial role in determining how high your site ranks in search engine results pages (SERPs).

Authority and Trustworthiness

Backlinks from high-quality, authoritative websites indicate trust and expertise. Search engines view these as positive signals, increasing your site’s domain authority and improving its chances of ranking higher. A site with numerous quality backlinks is perceived as more trustworthy and relevant in its niche or industry.

Ranking Factor

Backlinks are one of the top ranking factors in SEO. Search engines use them to evaluate the popularity and relevance of a webpage. In simple terms, the more high-quality backlinks a page has, the more likely it is to rank well for relevant search queries.

Referral Traffic

Beyond just improving rankings, backlinks can drive direct referral traffic. When users click on a link from another website, they are funneled to your site, potentially leading to increased engagement and conversions. This traffic is highly targeted, especially when the referring site shares a similar audience to yours.

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History of Backlinks

Backlinks, also known as "inbound links," have been a fundamental part of the internet's structure since its early days. The concept of a backlink was originally introduced as a way to measure the popularity and authority of websites. In the 1990s, when search engines like Yahoo! and AltaVista dominated, search results were primarily ranked by keyword frequency, but backlinks soon emerged as a key factor in improving a website’s visibility.

In 1996, the launch of Google revolutionized how backlinks were viewed. Google's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, developed the PageRank algorithm, which ranked websites based on the quality and quantity of backlinks. The more reputable sites that linked to a page, the higher it would rank in search results. This shifted the focus of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) from keyword stuffing to building valuable links.

Over time, backlinks became a cornerstone of SEO strategy, but the rapid rise of link manipulation (e.g., link farms and paid links) forced search engines to evolve. Google, in particular, began rolling out updates like Penguin in 2012, which penalized sites using spammy or irrelevant backlinks. This led to a new era of quality over quantity, where authoritative, relevant backlinks became crucial for sustainable SEO success.

Today, backlinks remain a critical ranking factor, serving as a digital endorsement of a site's trustworthiness and relevance. They are now part of a more complex SEO ecosystem, but their core role—signaling authority and improving search engine rankings—has remained unchanged since their inception.