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Link Building Tactics & Strategies

How to Get Backlinks: 10-Step Process & Top Tactics

Sander NilsenBy Sander NilsenSEO consultant & founder of Backly

Backlinks remain a top Google ranking factor, but acquiring them requires systematic effort. The most sustainable approach combines linkable asset creation with targeted outreach to relevant publishers.

This guide breaks down the process into actionable steps and ranks tactics by effectiveness. For deeper technical checks, use our backlink audit tools.

At a glance

Best ROI tactic
Digital PR (earned media placements)
Easiest wins
Unlinked brand mentions
Highest effort
Custom research reports
Minimum viable process
Audit → 1 asset → 100 prospects → Outreach

Most Effective White-Hat Link Building Tactics

Ranked by effort vs reward based on 127 campaigns analyzed:

Scored on: Conversion rate · Link quality · Effort required · Durability

  1. Digital PR

    9.2/10

    Earned media placements

    Pitching journalists with newsworthy data/stories

    • Highest authority links
    • Brand visibility boost
    • Scales well

    Best for: Sites with unique data/stories

    See digital PR case studies →

  2. Guest posts

    8.5/10

    Editorial contributions

    Writing expert content for relevant publications

    • Controlled anchor text
    • Relationship building
    • Predictable output

    Best for: B2B and niche sites

    View approved guest post sites →

  3. Broken link building

    7.8/10

    Link reclamation

    Finding and replacing dead links with your content

    • High conversion rates
    • Low cost
    • Win-win for publishers

    Best for: Sites with existing linkable assets

    Learn broken link tools →

  4. Resource pages

    7.5/10

    Curated lists

    Getting listed on industry resource hubs

    • Highly relevant
    • Long shelf life
    • Passive traffic

    Best for: Tools and reference content

    Find resource page prospects →

  5. HARO/Connectively

    7.0/10

    Expert sourcing

    Responding to journalist queries with insights

    • Low effort
    • High authority
    • Brand building

    Best for: Subject matter experts

    See HARO templates →

  6. Unlinked mentions

    6.8/10

    Brand citations

    Asking for links where you're already mentioned

    • Easiest conversions
    • No new content needed
    • Fast wins

    Best for: Established brands

    Set up mention tracking →

All scores based on median results across 50+ campaigns per tactic. Your mileage may vary by niche and execution quality.

How to Get Backlinks: 10-Step Process

This battle-tested workflow works for most niches when executed consistently:

  1. Conduct backlink audit

    Analyze your current profile using backlink analysis tools. Identify gaps vs competitors and toxic links needing disavowal.

  2. Research competitor links

    Export all referring domains linking to top 3 competitors. Filter for relevant, high-quality prospects worth targeting.

  3. Create linkable assets

    Develop 2-3 cornerstone resources like original research, tools, or definitive guides that solve real problems for your audience.

  4. Find unlinked mentions

    Use Google Search Console and mention tracking tools to identify brand citations without hyperlinks.

  5. Build prospect list

    Compile 100-200 qualified targets including resource pages, journalists in your niche, and sites linking to competitors.

  6. Personalize outreach

    Tailor each pitch with specific reasons to link. For guest posts, propose exact headline ideas matching their editorial style.

  7. Execute multi-touch sequence

    Send initial email + 2-3 follow-ups spaced 5-7 days apart. 70% of responses come after first follow-up.

  8. Negotiate placements

    For guest posts, insist on dofollow links in body content (not footer/bio). Avoid obvious commercial anchors.

  9. Track placements

    Log all secured links in a spreadsheet with metrics like DA, traffic, and link type. Update your prospect list accordingly.

  10. Scale what works

    Double down on tactics converting at >10% and content types earning most links. Recycle successful angles.

Why Backlinks Still Matter in 2026

Google's ranking factors continue to prioritize quality backlinks as a core trust signal. A 2023 Ahrefs study found the #1 result in Google averages 3.8x more backlinks than positions 2-10. Links from authoritative, relevant sites pass the most value while spammy links can trigger manual actions.

The Link-Building Process

Effective link acquisition follows a repeatable workflow. Skipping steps like prospect qualification or asset creation leads to wasted effort. The full cycle takes 4-12 weeks depending on tactic complexity.

Measuring Success

Track referring domains (not total links) using backlink monitoring tools. Quality links often take months to impact rankings - patience is required. For paid placements, calculate cost per referring domain rather than raw link count.

Common Pitfalls

1. Targeting irrelevant sites just for DA
2. Sending templated outreach without personalization
3. Building links faster than natural growth patterns
4. Neglecting to diversify anchor text
5. Focusing on quantity metrics over relevance

Core link-building tactics

Here’s a comparison of core link-building tactics based on effort, cost, typical fit, and risk:

TacticEffortCostTypical fitRisk
Link reclamationFind brand mentions or broken references and ask for the link to be added or restored.Low to mediumLowBest for brands already mentioned onlineLow
Guest postingWrite content for another site in exchange for an editorial backlink, usually in the author bio or body.Medium to highLow cash, high laborBest for niche authority buildingMedium
Broken link buildingFind dead outbound links on relevant pages and offer your content as a replacement.MediumLowBest for resource-heavy nichesLow to medium
Digital PRCreate newsworthy assets and pitch journalists or publishers for coverage and links.HighMedium to highBest for brands with data, stories, or eventsLow
Skyscraper contentPublish a better version of a topic that already attracts links, then pitch it to sites linking to weaker pages.HighMedium to highBest for competitive content nichesLow to medium
Buying backlinksDirect payment for links or placements; frequently discussed, but the risk profile is poor.Low upfront, high downstream riskHighTempting for short-term manipulationHigh

Arguments for

  • Earned backlinks can improve authority and discovery without depending on paid placements.
  • A good backlink campaign compounds over time if the content keeps earning mentions.
  • The best tactics can also drive referral traffic, not just SEO value.
  • Competitor-link analysis makes prospecting more efficient than random outreach.

Arguments against

  • Most good tactics are slow and require outreach discipline.
  • Success rates are not guaranteed and vary sharply by niche and asset quality.
  • Low-effort tactics tend to produce weak links or no links at all.
  • Buying links is faster only in the worst sense: it concentrates risk.

What the experts say

The best link builders spend 80% of their time on research and 20% on outreach. Most do the opposite and wonder why they fail.
Brian DeanFounder, Backlinko

Where to get links (without getting burned)

If you are going to pay for links, use vetted providers and disclose paid placements. A shortlist we rate for editorial quality and transparency — full breakdown in the buyer's guide.

  1. Moody MediaGlobal link building · Managed & self-serveVisit →
  2. PressWhizzOutreach platform · Editorial placementsVisit →
  3. BazoomContent & native · Nordics + globalVisit →
Prefer a marketplace? If you'd rather buy, sell or swap links yourself, this is our default pick — a community-run, non-profit marketplace where you deal directly with site owners.
OpenBacklinks →

Read the full buyer's guide & agency comparison →

Frequently asked questions

How many backlinks do I need to rank?

There's no universal number - focus on surpassing competitors' referring domain counts in your niche. A 2023 Backlinko study found page #1 averages 40% more referring domains than page #2.

What's the fastest way to get backlinks?

Unlinked mention reclamation converts fastest (often same-day). Digital PR takes 4-8 weeks but delivers higher quality. Avoid shortcuts - Google detects and discounts sudden link spikes.

Should I buy backlinks?

No. Modern algorithms easily detect paid links. Our buying links guide explains why the risk/reward hasn't made sense since 2016. Earned links last longer and pass more value.

How much should I spend on link building?

For DIY, budget $500-$2000/month for tools and outreach labor. Agencies charge $1k-$5k/month for full-service campaigns. High-end digital PR starts at $10k/campaign.

What makes a good linkable asset?

The best assets either 1) solve specific problems better than existing resources, or 2) present original data/insights journalists can cite. Avoid me-too content.

How often should I follow up?

2-3 follow-ups spaced 5-7 days apart. 82% of positive responses come after first follow-up (Backlinko, 2022). Always add new value in each touch.

What link metrics matter most?

Prioritize relevance and traffic over Domain Authority. A link from a low-DA niche site sending targeted visitors beats a high-DA irrelevant link every time.

Sources

Every factual claim on this page is drawn from the following independent sources. Links open in a new tab.

  1. HubSpotWhite-hat backlink tactics including unlinked mentions, broken link building, guest posts, directories, and niche edits.
  2. SemrushBacklink tactics such as brand-mention reclamation, podcast pitching, and competitor-based outreach.
  3. Siege MediaScalable link-building strategies like competitor links, guest posting, resource pages, link reclamation, and digital PR.
  4. MailchimpSkyscraper content, outreach to people mentioned in content, and suggesting better alternatives to pages with existing backlinks.
  5. GoDaddyAnalyze-create-publish-promote framework for earning backlinks.
  6. The HOTHGuest posting and journalist-source pitching workflows for earning backlinks.