What is a backlink? A backlink is simply a connection between two websites. A backlink is a link to any website from another website. A backlink can be a reciprocal link – in which case the backlinking happens both ways, and in which case one site gives the other a backlink instead of simply displaying the other’s link on their own site.
Backlinks are also sometimes called “inbound links.” They are important because they help drive relevant traffic to both sites, which increases search engine rankings. Also, backlinks can help establish domain authority, which means the reputation of the website (in a niche market) that has the backlinks. Domain authority can translate into high search engine rankings and, in turn, more customers and sales.
The purpose of backlinks is to improve search engine rankings by getting more people to visit your website. In general, it’s a good idea to build up the number of links you have coming to your site. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, if you are an affiliate marketer and you want to increase your own ranking among affiliate products, you won’t want to jeopardize your standing as an independent affiliate marketer by putting affiliate links on your own websites.
Many people wonder about how many backlinks they should have come to their sites. The simple answer is: As many as possible! Of course, don’t go over the top with your backlinks – too many will just confuse people. Too many backlinks can also get your websites banned from search engines, which is never pleasant. You don’t want that. One thing you do want to do is get a steady stream of quality backlinks, though.
What is a black hat backlink, then? It’s an inbound link that isn’t natural, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. These backlinks are often used by spammers and phishers, who use them to try to fool search engines. An inbound link from a scam or spam site does nothing but hurt your ranking.
So what is a quality backlink, then? It’s a backlink that was produced by a respected web directory or blog owner, which has permission to post the link on their website. You’ll know a quality backlink when you see it: it will be hyperlinked within the text of the article itself, or in the resource box of the page being referenced. If the website owner has chosen to include a hyperlink within the article itself, the link should be visible only to readers who are actually following the article. A backlink from such a source is usually considered an authentic, quality backlink, and can help establish a new website or blog in its niche.
Another factor in backlinks, which is not often thought of by marketers, is the quality of the actual page being linked to. For a backlink to be considered quality, it needs to be relevant to the topic of the article or website it leads to. For example, a backlink to a dog lover’s website could technically be OK, but wouldn’t necessarily deliver the desired results if that person was looking at information on how to train a dog to sit. The same principle applies to guest posting websites. If the guest was clueless about the topic or hadn’t done his or her research appropriately, it wouldn’t be of any use to you.
There are different methods of backlinking, but the main goal is to get as many backlinks as possible. It takes time to build backlinks, and time is money in Internet marketing, so it’s to your advantage to learn as much as you can about them. You want to build backlinks to your sites that are high quality, well written, and of some value to your visitors. It may take some time to figure out what is a backlink, but learning the basics will make the process much easier in the long run. Go Now to Link-building strategies, tips, and tricks, and be well-informed.