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You’ve probably heard the expression “content is king.” But when it comes to SEO, there’s another factor that’s almost invisible — and absolutely crucial: backlinks. In short, they’re like votes of confidence that other websites place in your content. And the more trustworthy you appear in Google’s eyes, the greater your chances of appearing at the top of the search results.
Now, here's a truth that few people talk about: there's no point in handing out links like pamphlets at traffic lights. A good backlink is one that comes from a relevant website, in a relevant context, pointing to a page that's really worth visiting.
If you are a marketing manager with a small team and feel the pressure to achieve consistent organic results (without spending a fortune on paid media), this article is for you. We go beyond theory: here you will understand what really works in practice, with validated techniques, mistakes to avoid and even a real case study from Vero Contents.
And before you ask yourself: “Do backlinks still work in 2025?”, I’ll answer — yes. And more than ever.
Let's build real authority? Then keep reading.
Introduction: What are backlinks and why they still matter
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to yours. In practice, it’s as if a web page is saying: “I trust this content, it’s worth visiting”. And yes, they are still one of the most relevant factors for Google to decide who appears at the top of the search results.
So, if you want to improve your domain authority, rank better on Google and generate more organic traffic, you need backlinks. And not just any kind. You need backlinks from quality.
“Backlinks are links from other websites that point to yours, acting as votes of confidence for Google, which improves your ranking in search results.”
The relationship between backlinks and SEO: understand the impact on rankings
The Google algorithm values useful, well-structured and reliable content. And how does the search engine measure trust? Through the quantity and, mainly, the quality of the sites that indicate yours.
Therefore, websites with more quality backlinks tend to appear better positioned for their keywords. The reason? The logic is simple: if a lot of people are pointing to you, it is a sign that your content is relevant.
In a recent study, pages that appear in the top three positions on Google have, on average, 3.8 times more backlinks than those between positions 4 and 10. So, yes: backlinks make a difference – a lot.
What Defines a Quality Backlink (and What to Avoid)
Not all links are created equal. In fact, low-quality backlinks can even hurt your authority if they are interpreted as spam.
Want to know how to recognize a good backlink? Here are the main criteria:
- Domain Authority: a link coming from Exame or Rock Content weighs much more than a generic blog.
- Contextual relevance: a technology site that links to your digital marketing page has more value than a recipe site, for example.
- Link location: Links in the middle of the content (in the body of the text) are more valuable than links in the footer or sidebars.
- Anchor text: should be natural, but also descriptive. “Click here” doesn’t tell Google anything.
Now, what to avoid? Link farms, buying backlinks in bulk, directories with no authority, penalized sites or sites with irrelevant content.
“A quality backlink is one that comes from a reliable website, relevant to your niche and naturally inserted within content related to the theme of your page.”
Practical techniques for gaining high-value backlinks
Building backlinks is part art, part strategy. Here are the most effective methods:
Strategic guest posts
Guest post on other blogs (guest posts) in your niche still works — as long as it’s done wisely. So, choose relevant portals, suggest useful topics, and include links naturally, without forcing the issue.
One powerful tip? Don’t just talk about what you do. Talk about what your audience wants to know — and connect that to your expertise.
Linkable Content: How to Create Digital “Assets”
There are certain types of content that people naturally tend to link to. These are called “linkable assets.” Examples:
- Complete and timeless guides (like this one)
- Studies with original data
- Useful infographics
- Free tools
If you create this type of content and promote it correctly, the backlinks will come almost naturally.
Link building strategy with exclusive data
Want to be cited by other sites, portals and newsletters? Then bring data that no one else has. It could be an internal survey, a survey of your customers or a regional market analysis.
At Vero Contents, for example, we create content with proprietary data that has even been mentioned by major portals. This doesn’t happen by chance — it’s a strategic construction.
Unlinked mentions and link recovery
Often times, your brand has already been mentioned somewhere, but without a link. Use tools like Google Alerts, Ahrefs or Brand24 to find these mentions and reach out to them and kindly ask them to add the link.
Another point: broken links. So, if a relevant site has a link that no longer works, you can suggest your content as a replacement. This is the famous “ethical link building”.
“The most effective way to earn backlinks is by creating highly valuable content — such as guides, research, or tools — and actively promoting those pages so that other sites have a real reason to link to you.”
Where Backlink Strategy Often Goes Wrong — and How to Avoid It
Many people believe that all they have to do is distribute links around. Spoiler: it doesn't work.
See the mistakes that most sabotage results:
- Prioritize quantity, not quality
- Ignore link context
- Forgetting about parallel content strategy
- Repeating the same anchor text in multiple links
- Leaving your own website content unoptimized
It's like trying to put gas in a car with no engine. The link is there, but it doesn't lead anywhere if the target content isn't relevant and well-constructed.
Tools that make the backlink building process easier
You don’t have to do everything manually. After all, there are several tools that help you identify opportunities and monitor backlinks:
- Ahrefs: one of the most complete tools for competition analysis and link building.
- SEMrush: Great for finding referring domains and analyzing anchor text.
- Ubersuggest: accessible and useful for beginners.
- Google Search Console: shows which sites are already linking to you.
But be careful: no tool can replace a good strategy. They are support — not a magic solution.
Case Study: How We Increased Domain Authority for a B2B Client
At Vero Contents, a B2B client in the software industry came to us with a challenge: to increase organic traffic and website authority.
The diagnosis? The content was good, but isolated. No relevant external links.
We created a three-pronged strategy:
- We review the best articles and make them “linkable” with data and studies.
- We offer guest posts with consultative content for specialized portals.
- We created infographics and internal benchmarks that became topics on industry websites.
Result? In 6 months, domain authority went from 21 to 37, and organic traffic more than doubled. This wasn't luck. It was method.
Conclusion: Backlinks as the basis of your organic growth
Backlinks are not just a SEO technique. On the contrary, they are the backbone of a solid digital presence.
But, more than gaining links, the real challenge is in deserve these links. This requires consistency, quality content, strategy and relationships.
Want to see your company at the top of Google? Then build authority with backlinks that really make sense. This is how your brand stops being invisible — and becomes a reference.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions About Backlinks
1. What are backlinks in SEO?
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to yours, helping to improve search engine rankings by signaling relevance and authority.
2. How many backlinks are needed to rank on Google?
It depends on the keyword competition and the quality of the backlinks. Sometimes 10 good links are worth more than 100 generic ones.
3. Can I buy backlinks?
Not recommended. Google penalizes link buying practices and may demote your site in the results if it detects manipulation.
4. What is the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks?
“Dofollow” backlinks convey authority to the target website. “Nofollow” backlinks do not convey this value, but can still generate traffic and visibility.
5. How do I get backlinks for free?
Creating high-value content, participating in guest posts, offering exclusive data and connecting with partners in your niche.
Are we going to build real digital authority?
At Vero Contents, we don’t just deliver content — we deliver presence. Our inbound marketing projects combine SEO, backlink strategy, and advisory content to transform your website into a qualified lead generation machine.
So, if you feel like you're putting out fires every day, that you've already tested campaigns that didn't work and that you need a partner who really understands your challenge... then it's time to talk to someone who delivers results — with predictability and strategy.
Speak to a Vero Contents expert and discover how we can build authority and visibility for your brand with intelligence and consistency.
Image: Freepik
Marcel Castilho is a specialist in digital marketing, neuromarketing, neuroscience, mindfulness and positive psychology. In addition to being an advertiser, he also has a Master's degree in Neurolinguistic Programming. He is the founder, owner and CEO of Vero Contentes and the offline agency VeroCom.
