What is a backlink?
A backlink (also called an inbound link or incoming link) is simply a link from one website to another. When website A links to website B, that's a backlink for website B.
Think of backlinks as votes of confidence. When a reputable website links to your page, it signals to Google that your content is valuable, credible, and useful. The more quality backlinks you have, the more Google trusts your site.
Why do backlinks matter for SEO?
Google's algorithm uses over 200 ranking factors, and backlinks are consistently among the top 3 most important ones. Here's why:
Authority signal
Each backlink acts as a vote for your website. Sites with more quality backlinks are seen as more authoritative and rank higher in search results.
Faster indexing
Google's crawlers discover new pages by following links. Backlinks from already-indexed sites help Google find and index your pages faster.
Referral traffic
Beyond SEO, backlinks bring real visitors. A link on a popular website can drive significant traffic to your page.
Brand visibility
Appearing on other websites increases brand awareness and positions you as an expert in your field.
Dofollow vs. nofollow — what's the difference?
Not all backlinks are created equal. The key distinction is between dofollow and nofollow links:
Dofollow links
These pass "link juice" (PageRank) from the linking site to your site. They tell Google: "I vouch for this content." Dofollow links are the most valuable for SEO.
Nofollow links
These include a rel="nofollow" attribute that tells Google not to pass authority. Social media links, paid links, and some forum links are typically nofollow. They still bring traffic, but don't directly boost rankings.
When Seolyze displays your testimonial on our homepage with a link to your website, we use a dofollow link — meaning your site gets real SEO value from it.
What makes a backlink high-quality?
Not all backlinks help equally. Google evaluates backlink quality based on several factors:
Relevance
A link from a site in your industry or niche is worth more than a random, unrelated link. If you run an e-commerce store, a backlink from an SEO tool like Seolyze is highly relevant.
Authority of the linking site
Links from established, trusted websites carry more weight than links from brand-new or low-quality sites.
Link placement
Links within the main content area are more valuable than those buried in footers or sidebars.
Anchor text
The clickable text of the link provides context. Natural, descriptive anchor text helps Google understand what your page is about.
Uniqueness
Backlinks from diverse domains are better than many links from a single site. Each new domain linking to you is a fresh vote of confidence.
How to earn quality backlinks
Building backlinks takes time, but here are proven strategies:
Create valuable content
High-quality, original content naturally attracts links. Research guides, case studies, and tools are especially link-worthy.
Write testimonials and reviews
Many companies link back to reviewers on their website. At Seolyze, every approved testimonial includes a dofollow backlink to your site — a real SEO boost with minimal effort.
Guest posting
Write articles for other websites in your niche. Most allow a link back to your site in the author bio or content.
Build relationships
Network with other website owners, participate in industry communities, and share others' content. Relationships lead to natural link opportunities.
Get a free backlink from Seolyze
Every Seolyze user who submits a testimonial and includes their website URL gets a dofollow backlink from our homepage. Here's how it works:
- 1 Order an SEO audit on seolyze.me
- 2 After receiving results, fill out the feedback form
- 3 Include your website URL in the form
- 4 Once approved, your testimonial with a dofollow link appears on our homepage
It's a win-win: you help other website owners discover a useful SEO tool, and your site gets a quality backlink from a relevant, SEO-focused website.
Key takeaways
- Backlinks are one of Google's top 3 ranking factors
- Dofollow links pass SEO value, nofollow links don't
- Quality and relevance matter more than quantity
- You can earn a free dofollow backlink by leaving a Seolyze testimonial