How to Get Backlinks: 12 Proven Methods That Still Work in 2026

To get backlinks, you earn links from other websites by giving them a reason to link to you — through directory listings, linkable content, digital PR, guest posts, and outreach. The fastest, safest way to start is submitting to relevant, high-authority directories; the most powerful long-term way is creating content and data other sites want to cite. Below are 12 proven methods, ranked roughly from easiest to hardest, plus how to earn high-quality links fast and the mistakes that get sites penalised.

A backlink is a link from another website to yours, and it remains one of Google's strongest ranking signals. But not all links are equal — relevance and authority matter far more than raw quantity. Here's how to get the good ones.

First, what makes a backlink actually work?

Before the methods, it helps to know what you're optimising for — because it changes which tactics are worth your time. When another site links to yours, it passes a signal of trust that Google reads as a vote of confidence. But the strength of that vote depends on three things: how authoritative the linking site is (its domain rating), how relevant it is to your topic, and whether the link is placed naturally within real content. A single relevant, high-authority, editorial link can do more for your rankings than a hundred low-quality ones.

This is why "how to get backlinks" and "how to get good backlinks" are really the same question — chasing links that don't have those three traits is wasted effort at best and a penalty risk at worst. Every method below is worth doing precisely because it tends to produce relevant, authoritative, natural links. (New to the concept entirely? Start with what is directory submission and how many backlinks you need.)

12 proven ways to get backlinks

1. Submit to directories and launch platforms (easiest, fastest)

Listing your site in relevant, high-authority directories is the quickest way to earn your first backlinks — they're mostly free, get indexed fast, and require no outreach. This is the single best starting point for a new site. Sort directories by domain rating and submit to the relevant ones. → Start with the directory submission sites list, or the free directory submission sites if you're on zero budget.

2. Get listed on review sites

For SaaS and B2B, review platforms like G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot give you an authoritative backlink and put you in front of buyers. A free listing is enough to appear in their "best [category]" pages, which rank for years.

3. Claim "X alternative" listings

Sites like AlternativeTo let you get listed as an alternative to established competitors. You earn a link and tap into "[competitor] alternative" search traffic for the long term.

4. Create linkable assets (the most powerful long-term method)

The best backlinks are the ones you earn passively. Publish something genuinely worth citing: original research or data, a free tool or calculator, an in-depth guide, or a template. When your content is the best answer to a question, other sites link to it without you asking. This is how authority compounds — one great data study can earn links for years, while you sleep. Ideas that reliably attract links: a survey of your industry, a free calculator that solves a real problem, or a definitive "state of [niche]" report with original numbers.

5. Guest posting

Write articles for relevant, reputable blogs in your niche in exchange for a contextual link. It's more effort than directories, but the links are editorial and highly valued. Pitch sites where the audience genuinely overlaps with yours — relevance beats reach. Lead your pitch with a specific, useful topic idea rather than a generic "can I write for you," and you'll get far more yeses.

6. Digital PR and journalist requests

Respond to journalist source requests (the modern HARO-style platforms) to land links from major publications. These are some of the highest-authority links you can earn. Be fast, specific, and quotable — reporters work on deadlines, so a concise, ready-to-publish quote with your name and link wins over a long pitch.

7. Resource page link building

Many sites maintain "useful resources" or "tools we recommend" pages. Find ones relevant to your niche and pitch your content or tool as a genuinely useful addition. A natural fit gets the link.

8. Broken link building

Find broken (dead) links on relevant sites, then suggest your working page as the replacement. You're helping the site owner fix a problem while earning a link — a high-conversion outreach tactic.

9. Reclaim unlinked brand mentions

Find places that mention your brand or product without linking to you, and politely ask for the link. Low effort, and the mention already exists — you're just adding the hyperlink.

10. Replicate competitor backlinks

Use an SEO tool to see where competitors get their links (directories, guest posts, resource pages), then pursue the same sources. If they earned a link there, you often can too. → See our guide on finding and using competitor backlinks as part of a full strategy.

11. Engage in communities and forums

Genuine, value-first participation in relevant communities (Reddit, Indie Hackers, niche forums) can earn links and referral traffic. Lead with help, not self-promotion — spammy drops get removed and hurt your reputation.

12. Give testimonials and case studies

Offer a testimonial to tools and services you genuinely use; many publish them with a link back to your site. Similarly, being featured in a partner's case study earns an authoritative, relevant link.

The takeaway: methods 1–3 give you fast wins with no outreach. Method 4 (linkable assets) is your long-term engine. Methods 5–12 are outreach-based and scale as you grow.

How to get high-quality backlinks (not just any links)

Ten great links out-perform a thousand weak ones. A high-quality backlink has three traits:

• Authority — it comes from a site with a strong domain rating. A link from a DR 80 site passes far more ranking power than one from an unknown domain.

• Relevance — it comes from a site related to your topic. A link from a startup directory to a startup is a natural, relevant signal; a link from an unrelated site is worth far less.

• Editorial placement — it sits naturally within content, not stuffed in a footer or paid for. Dofollow, in-content links carry the most weight.

Chase these three traits, not a number. When you evaluate any link opportunity, sort by domain rating and relevance first — everything else is secondary.

How to get backlinks fast (without cutting corners)

If you need links quickly and safely, the answer is almost always directory and launch-platform submissions. They're the only high-quality method that doesn't depend on outreach or waiting for someone else to say yes:

1. Prep your details once (name, descriptions, logo, screenshots).

2. Sort relevant directories by domain rating.

3. Submit top-down in a single focused session.

4. Let the links get indexed and start compounding.
   

Most founders can earn dozens of relevant, high-DR backlinks in a weekend this way — which is exactly why it's the recommended first move. For the startup-specific version of this plan, see our link building for startups playbook.

What you should not do to "get backlinks fast" is buy them or blast spam directories — see the mistakes section below.

How many backlinks do you actually need?

There's no fixed number — it depends on how competitive your target keyword is and how strong the pages already ranking are. What matters most is referring domains (unique sites linking to you), not raw backlink count, and their quality. For a full breakdown, see how many backlinks you need to rank.

What to avoid when building backlinks

• Buying links. Against Google's guidelines and a fast route to a penalty. Earn links; don't buy them.

• Spam directory blasts. Auto-submitting to hundreds of low-quality directories builds the exact profile Google discounts.

• Irrelevant links. A link from an unrelated site does little; relevance is a core quality signal.

• Over-optimised anchor text. Exact-match anchors on every link look manipulative — keep anchors natural and varied.

• Chasing quantity over quality. Twenty relevant, high-DR links beat hundreds of weak ones every time.

• Unnatural velocity. A sudden spike of low-quality links is a classic spam signal — build steadily.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get backlinks for free? 

Submit to relevant, high-authority directories and launch platforms (most are free), get listed on review and "alternative" sites, create linkable content, reclaim unlinked mentions, and give testimonials. These methods build real backlinks at zero cost.

How do I get high-quality backlinks? 

Target links that are authoritative (high domain rating), relevant (from sites related to your topic), and editorially placed (naturally within content). Prioritise relevant, high-DR sources — directories, review sites, guest posts, and digital PR — over any high-volume tactic.

How can I get backlinks fast? 

The fastest safe method is directory and launch-platform submissions: prep your details once, sort relevant directories by domain rating, and submit in a single session. Most sites can earn dozens of quality links in a weekend this way, with no outreach required.

How do I build backlinks for a new website? 

Start with directories and launch platforms for a fast baseline, then create linkable content and pursue guest posts and digital PR as you grow. Target low-competition keywords first so you can rank with fewer links while building authority.

Is it safe to buy backlinks? 

No. Buying links violates Google's guidelines and risks a penalty. Focus on earning links through directories, content, and outreach — the results are safer and last.

Do backlinks still matter in 2026? 

Yes. Backlinks remain one of Google's strongest ranking signals, and they drive referral traffic and discovery. What's changed is that quality and relevance now matter far more than sheer quantity.

Get your first backlinks this weekend

The fastest way to start is directory and launch submissions — no outreach, no waiting. Browse 300+ free directories — no signup — or unlock the full 3,427+ verified, DA-sorted catalog for a $75 one-time payment.

→ Start building backlinks  ·  Read the link building playbook