In the vast world of SEO, backlinks are considered one of the most critical off-page ranking factors. But what exactly are backlinks? Why do they matter? And how can you start building them effectively? This guide breaks it all down for beginners and professionals alike—covering everything from basic terms like hyperlinks and hypertext to hands-on steps for guest posting and building backlinks for free.
What Are Backlinks?
Backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are links from one website that lead to another. If another site links to yours, you have a backlink from them. Similarly, if you link to another website, they gain a backlink from you.
Example:
If a blog post on exampleblog.com links to your website like this:
Check out these SEO strategies for 2025 → linking to your site
Then your page has earned a backlink from exampleblog.com.
Why Backlinks Matter:
- Trust and authority: Google treats backlinks as “votes of confidence.” The more quality backlinks a page has, the more credible and relevant it appears.
- Improved ranking: Pages with strong backlinks tend to rank higher in SERPs.
- Faster indexing: Backlinks help search engine bots find and index your content more quickly.
- Referral traffic: A backlink on a high-traffic website can bring in direct visitors to your site.
Understanding Hyperlinks and Hypertext
What is a Hyperlink?
A hyperlink is a clickable element—often text or an image—that allows users to jump from one page to another.
Example: A text that says “Visit Example Site” and links to https://example.com is a hyperlink.
What is Hypertext?
Hypertext refers to text that contains hyperlinks. It allows for non-linear navigation between topics, unlike traditional printed text.
Example: A sentence like “Check out our climate impact article” where the words “climate impact article” link to another page is hypertext.
Best Techniques to Build High-Quality Backlinks
Backlink building is about creating valuable content and building relationships. Here are the best strategies used by top-ranking sites:
1. Guest Posting
Writing articles for reputable blogs in your niche allows you to naturally include backlinks to your own site. It builds authority and drives traffic.
2. Broken Link Building
- Find broken (dead) links on websites.
- Reach out to the webmaster and suggest replacing the dead link with a link to similar content on your site.
Tools: Ahrefs, Broken Link Checker, Check My Links (Chrome extension)
3. Create Share-Worthy Content
- Write in-depth guides, infographics, statistics, or case studies.
- Promote them to journalists, bloggers, and influencers.
- Valuable content earns backlinks naturally.
4. Use Business Directories
Submit your business details to online directories and citation sites. Choose platforms with good reputation to avoid spammy links.
Examples: Crunchbase, Hotfrog, Yelp
5. Forum Participation and Q&A Sites
Be active on platforms like Quora, Reddit, and niche forums. Answer questions and share insights, linking to your content only when it adds real value.
Step-by-Step Guide: Creating Backlinks via Guest Posts on Medium.com
Medium is a powerful platform for publishing thought leadership and SEO content. Here’s how to use it for backlinking:
Step 1: Create a Medium Account
Go to medium.com, sign up with your Google, Twitter, or email account.
Step 2: Understand the Medium Audience
Before writing, explore Medium to see what types of articles perform well. Focus on your niche and read top-performing stories.
Step 3: Write Valuable Content
- Keep your writing clear, useful, and engaging.
- Use proper formatting (headings, lists, images) for readability.
- Add value—don’t just write to get a backlink.
Step 4: Add Relevant Backlinks
In the body of the article, add hyperlinks to your own website only where it makes sense. Don’t stuff links or overdo it.
Example: “To get a full list of SEO tools, check out this SEO toolkit guide” with a link to your site.
Step 5: Publish and Share
Once published, share your Medium post on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and via email. Promote your content to increase its reach and backlink potential.
Top 5 Free Backlink Sites (2025)
Here are five legit platforms where you can build free backlinks:
- Medium.com – Write articles and include backlinks in the content.
- WordPress.com – Create a blog and write posts linking back to your site.
- Blogger.com – Create a blog and add posts with backlinks.
- Tumblr.com – Share short posts with backlinks to your main content.
- Weebly.com – Build a free site or blog and link to your pages.
Final Thoughts
Backlinks remain one of the strongest SEO signals to Google and other search engines. A well-rounded strategy that includes guest posting, helpful content, and smart link placement can elevate your visibility significantly.
Don’t forget:
- Quality over quantity
- Relevance matters
- Build relationships, not just links
Start small—maybe with a Medium article this week—and scale your backlinking efforts over time. SEO is a long game, but every backlink brings you one step closer to higher rankings and more organic traffic.
