SEO Glossary · Off-Page SEO

What Is Backlink?

A backlink is a hyperlink from another website that points to a page on your site. Backlinks act as votes of confidence and are one of Google's strongest ranking factors - pages with more high-quality backlinks tend to rank higher.

What makes a good backlink

Quality beats quantity. A good backlink comes from a relevant, authoritative site, sits within editorial content, and uses natural anchor text. One link from a respected industry site is worth more than dozens from low-quality directories. Links from spammy or irrelevant sites can even hurt you.

Pro tip
One editorial link from a respected, relevant site outweighs dozens of directory links. Chase relevance and authority, not volume.
Key takeaways
A backlink is a link from another website to yours.
Backlinks are one of Google's strongest ranking factors.
Quality and relevance beat raw quantity.
Links from spammy or irrelevant sites can hurt you.

Put it into practice with Soro

Understanding backlink is one thing - applying it across every page is another. Soro automates SEO content end to end, researching keywords and publishing optimised articles so your site ranks on Google and gets cited by AI. See how Soro works.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a backlink and an internal link?

A backlink comes from a different website; an internal link connects two pages on your own site. Both matter, but backlinks are an external vote of confidence.

How many backlinks do I need to rank?

There is no fixed number - it depends on the competition for your keyword. A few high-quality, relevant links often outperform many weak ones.

Keep learning

Browse the full SEO glossary