How to Get Backlinks for Your Website in 2026
There is no single trick for earning links. This guide compares the methods that work, what each one costs in time and money, and how to decide where to start.
What Counts as a Good Backlink
A good backlink is a link from a relevant, indexed page on a site that real people visit, placed in context and pointing to a page that deserves the attention. Volume matters far less than relevance and editorial quality.
Before choosing a tactic, check what you already have. Pull your referring domains from Google Search Console or a link tool, note which pages attract links, and look at which sites link to your competitors but not to you. Our backlink audit service does this for you if you prefer.
Five Ways to Earn Backlinks
Digital PR
Pitching a newsworthy angle to journalists and editors. Pros: strong, relevant links from publications. Cons: slow, uncertain, and it needs a real story.
Original research and data
Publishing surveys, benchmarks or analysis others want to cite. Pros: attracts links over time without outreach. Cons: needs real data and promotion effort.
Expert contributions
Offering quotes or articles to sites in your industry. Pros: builds credibility and relevant links. Cons: you need genuine expertise and a steady supply of time.
Resource pages and broken links
Suggesting your content to pages that curate links on your topic, or replacing dead links. Pros: easy to qualify targets. Cons: low reply rates, and your content has to be a true fit.
Relevant outreach and partnerships
Building relationships with suppliers, associations, partners and local organizations. Pros: durable links that make sense. Cons: results build slowly.
What Not to Do
Google's spam policies cover link schemes, including buying links to manipulate rankings. Private blog networks, automated link blasts and mass directory submissions rarely help and can create risk. Paid placements meant as advertising should be marked with rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow".
Anchor text should read naturally. Repeating the same commercial phrase across many links is a pattern worth avoiding.
DIY or Get Help?
Doing it yourself costs time and needs content worth linking to. A managed service can handle planning, content, placements and reporting if you do not have the capacity. Read our comparison of an agency vs DIY link building, or see how a backlink agency approaches the work.
Results depend on competition, content quality, technical SEO and site history. No method, and no provider, can guarantee a particular ranking.
Backlink Packages
Choose from our transparent backlink packages designed to help you get backlinks and build backlinks at scale.
Starter
Perfect for new websites building initial link authority
- 2 Professionally Written Blog Posts
- Submitted to 7,000+ Websites & Resources
- Submitted Over 15 Days
- Web 2.0 Blogs & Wiki Articles
- Directories & Press Releases
Growth
Ideal for businesses serious about growing search rankings
- 6 Professionally Written Blog Posts
- Submitted to 7,000+ Websites & Resources
- Submitted Over 15 Days
- Web 2.0 Blogs & Wiki Articles
- Directories, Press Releases & Profiles
- Social Networks & Bookmarking Sites
Authority
Maximum link building for competitive industries
- 16 Professionally Written Blog Posts
- Submitted to 7,000+ Websites & Resources
- Submitted Over 30 Days
- Web 2.0 Blogs & Wiki Articles
- Directories, Press Releases & Profiles
- Social Networks, Bookmarking & RSS Feeds
- Article Directories & Forum Profiles
Need a custom solution? Contact us for a tailored quote