Backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are links from one website to a page on another website. In the context of SEO (Search Engine Optimization), they are crucial because they act as a “vote of confidence” from one site to another.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Website A links to Website B Website B gets a backlink from Website A.
Why Backlinks Matter
- Search Engine Ranking
- Google and other search engines use backlinks as a signal of authority and trust.
- Pages with more high-quality backlinks tend to rank higher in search results.
- Referral Traffic
- Backlinks from relevant, popular websites can bring targeted visitors to your site.
- Indexing
- Search engines find new content by following links. A page with backlinks may get indexed faster.
Not All Backlinks Are Equal
- High-Quality Backlinks
From authoritative, relevant websites (e.g., Forbes, Wikipedia) and ideally with dofollow tags. - Low-Quality Backlinks
From spammy or irrelevant sites can hurt your SEO (especially if it looks manipulative).
Types of Backlinks
- Dofollow: Pass SEO value (link juice) to the linked site.
- Nofollow: Do not pass SEO value, but can still bring traffic and visibility.