9 Important Features of a High-Quality Backlink
Backlinks, also known simply as “links,” remain an important part of SEO this year. Problem: The “right” backlinks are becoming rarer and harder to get. This situation is partly due to Google’s constant updates and its efforts to identify link networks, which means that tactics that once worked may no longer be effective. So what to do? Stop building links and only generate social signals? That can’t be the solution. Link building is, of course, still important because backlinks remain an important ranking signal. It just has to be “the right backlinks.” But what is “right”? Google ultimately determines what makes a backlink valuable. However, and that’s the good news, there are a few things you can tell about a perfect backlink.
9 Most Important Features Of A Perfect Backlink
1. The Linking Page Is Indexed by Google
With Google increasingly deindexing suspected spam sites, it’s worth checking first: Is the page from which you want a backlink still in the Google index? If not, it is best to avoid the backlink. Such a backlink is unlikely to provide value, especially if Google has deindexed the linking page. For this reason, you must remove backlinks that were built on a de-indexed page.
2. The Linking Site Is Considered an Authority
The counterexample is quite different: If Google considers a page valuable, there may be signs of its authority in search results. Clues can be the presence of sitelinks in search results. A clear sign that Google regards a page as an “authority” and trusts the content provided on it. You want a backlink from such an “authority page.”
3. The Linking Site Has Strong Search Rankings
A look at the search results also reveals whether a page itself has many rankings. What is more important, however, is how valuable these rankings are. The search results can usually reveal a lot. Your preferred SEO tool can also provide useful insights. If visibility is high, there are usually numerous good rankings. Such results can be a clear sign that the page is suitable for earning a backlink.
4. The Linking Site Has Few Outgoing Links
For a backlink to provide value, the linking page should not be associated with manipulative SEO practices. You should avoid manipulative SEO practices. A look at the page’s source code can already provide initial information as to whether the page has been optimized properly or not. Google itself can now recognize many manipulative measures very well, especially in the on-page sector. A backlink from a site that uses such practices may create risks for your website.
5. The Linking Site Offers Unique, High-Quality Content
Good-quality content that is useful and offers real value is best—this should already be well known. Conversely, this means that a linking page with high-quality, relevant content offers an obvious advantage for placing a backlink. You can also recognize a good backlink by whether it is on such a page—or whether it appears on a page that does not maintain high content quality or, in the worst case, even offers copied content.
6. The Linking Site Has High-Quality Backlinks
The same principles that apply to your website also apply to linking sites. A website with many high-quality backlinks can provide a stronger source for your backlinks. On the other hand, a backlink is of little or no value if it comes from a weakly linked site.
7. The Linking Site Has a Strong PageRank
PageRank has become much less important recently. In the past, many considered it one of the most important SEO metrics. Today it is only one factor among many. Nevertheless, if a page appears to be of high quality at first glance, a weak PageRank can indicate a penalty. Especially if there has been a negative change in PageRank in the past, you should monitor the situation and, if in doubt, avoid placing a backlink.
8. Backlinks Use Relevant Anchor Text
High-quality backlinks usually have thematically relevant link text. This makes sense because relevant anchor text helps Google understand the context of the link. Relevant anchor text is not always necessary, but it is preferable. A high-quality backlink can be This can be recognized by the fact that the link text is also chosen appropriately. On the other hand, you can recognize unsuitable backlinks, for example, by their link text, which thematically does not match the page on which it is located.
9. The Backlink Appears Within Relevant Content
Backlinks placed in a website’s footer or sidebar, especially when they appear without relevant surrounding text, can be problematic. The position of a backlink on a page can also indicate its value. In this context, the higher a backlink appears in an HTML document, the better, as Google may assume it has higher relevance. The environment is also important, and a position directly in the content, i.e., in the running text, is preferable. Other positions don’t have to be worse, but a link placed naturally within relevant content is generally preferable.
