Backlinks are key to search engine optimization (SEO). They are votes of confidence, telling search engines like Google that your website is trustworthy and authoritative. Building backlinks is essential because it boosts your rankings and organic traffic to your site.
However, building backlinks too quickly can trigger search engine penalties, so you need to know the safe number of backlinks you can build daily.
So how many backlinks per day is safe?
In our very first resource for theLinkLadder (with many more actionable topics coming your way soon!) for the Link Ladder, we will cover how many backlinks per day are safe, factors that affect link-building safety and best practices for natural link-building.
Backlinks in the Context of Search Engine Optimization
Backlinks are a fairly central part of search engine optimization (SEO). They are links from one website to another and play a big role in determining a website’s ranking on search engines like Google. Search engines use backlinks as a ranking signal to evaluate the quality and relevance of a website’s content.
The more high-quality backlinks a website has, the higher it will rank on search engines. High-quality backlinks are endorsements, saying your content is valuable and trustworthy.
So it follows that focusing on getting quality backlinks can (and does, if done correctly) boost your search engine optimization efforts and help your site appear at the top for keywords that matter to your business.
How Many Backlinks Per Day Is Safe?
No fixed number of backlinks are ‘safe’ to build per day. Instead, the safety of your link-building strategy depends on several factors, including your website’s age, authority, and industry competition.
Domain rating also plays a role. A higher domain rating means a stronger and more credible site, which can lead to more safe backlinks per day.
But here are some general guidelines:
- New Websites: If your website is new, getting more than 5-10 backlinks daily might look unnatural.
- Established Websites: Websites with an established presence and high domain authority can get 20-50 backlinks per day.
- Viral Content: If your content goes viral, you can get hundreds of backlinks, naturally, in a single day.
- Sudden Spikes: A sudden increase from 5 to 500 backlinks overnight can raise red flags unless it’s due to organic sharing or referrals from sources like social media.
Factors Affecting Backlink Safety
Several factors determine if the backlinks you get daily will be safe or spammy:
1. Link Quality vs. Quantity
Not all links are created equal. High-quality backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites are more valuable than thousands of spammy links from low-quality sources. Focus on getting natural, high-authority links rather than a number.
2. Anchor Text Diversity
Over-optimized anchor texts can trigger Google’s Penguin algorithm. A mix of branded, generic, and keyword-rich anchor texts is important for a natural profile.
3. Referral Domains
Getting multiple backlinks from different domains looks more natural than getting dozens from the same source. Aim for diversity in your backlink sources.
4. Link Velocity
Link velocity is the rate at which you get backlinks over time. Building backlinks gradually is key, as getting them too quickly or unnaturally can trigger penalties from search engines. A steady increase is better than a sudden spike followed by inactivity.
5. DoFollow vs. NoFollow Links
A natural link profile has both DoFollow and NoFollow backlinks. If all your links are DoFollow it might look manipulative to search engines.
How Search Engines Evaluate Backlinks
Search engines evaluate backlinks based on several factors including the quality of the linking website, the relevance of the content, and the anchor text used. High-quality backlinks come from authoritative websites that are relevant to the content they are linking to.
Search engines also look for diversity in the types of backlinks a website has, including external links, internal links, and social media links.
A well-rounded backlink profile with a mix of these link types tells search engines your website is credible and well-regarded across various platforms. This diversity helps in building a robust and natural backlink profile that can withstand algorithm updates.
Determining a Safe Backlink Acquisition Rate
Determining a safe backlink acquisition rate is crucial to avoid over-optimization and penalties from search engines. There’s no specific number of backlinks that’s considered safe, but generally, it’s recommended to focus on quality over quantity.
Building high-quality backlinks at a natural rate is more effective than getting a large number of low-quality backlinks quickly. A safe backlink acquisition rate varies depending on the website’s niche, industry, and current link profile.
For example, a new website should start slow, while an established site with high domain authority can handle a higher rate of backlink acquisition without raising red flags.
Avoiding Over-Optimization
Over-optimization occurs when a website has too many backlinks from low-quality sources or uses manipulative tactics to get backlinks. This can lead to penalties from search engines including a drop in ranking or even removal from the search engine index.
To avoid over-optimization it’s essential to focus on building high-quality backlinks from authoritative sources and natural link-building methods. Avoid tactics like buying links or using automated tools as these can result in a backlink profile that looks unnatural to search engines. Instead aim for a steady, organic growth in backlinks that aligns with your overall SEO strategy.
Best Practices for Safe Link Building
To stay within Google’s guidelines follow these best practices:
1. Focus on High-Quality Content
High-quality content naturally attracts backlinks. Blog posts, infographics, case studies and in-depth guides are great linkable assets that can help you get a quality backlink.
2. Use White-Hat Link Building Techniques
Avoid black-hat techniques like buying links, link farms and automated link-building tools. Instead focus on guest posting, outreach and broken link building.
3. Build Links Gradually
If your website is new, start slow and gradually increase your link acquisition. Avoid unnatural spikes especially in competitive niches.
4. Diversify Your Link Sources
Relevant backlinks from a mix of sources like blogs, forums, directories and news websites contributes to a more organic-looking backlink profile.
5. Monitor Your Backlinks Regularly
Use tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs or SEMrush to track your backlinks and focus on getting quality links. Identify and disavow toxic backlinks that might harm your rankings.
How to Measure Your Link Building Efforts
Measuring the success of your link building is key to knowing how well your SEO is going. There are tools to track backlinks including Google Search Console, Ahrefs and Moz. These tools can help you see how many backlinks your website has, the quality of those backlinks and the impact they have on your website’s ranking.
By tracking your backlinks and adjusting your link-building strategy accordingly you can improve your SEO and drive more traffic to your website. Regular monitoring allows you to spot and address issues quickly so your link-building efforts contribute positively to your search engine rankings.
Related Topics
Identifying and Disavowing Spammy Links
Spammy links can hurt your SEO and even get you penalized by search engines. These toxic backlinks usually come from low-quality or irrelevant sites. It’s important to regularly audit your backlink profile to identify these harmful links.
Using Google Search Console can help you spot these links. Once identified you can use Google’s Disavow Tool to tell search engines you don’t want these links to be counted in your site’s ranking and clean up your backlink profile. We would caution you, however, to do so with caution and only if an extremely low-quality set of links is pointing at your site.
Google’s Algorithm and Backlinks
Backlinks play a big role in Google’s algorithm and are one of the factors in determining a website’s authority and relevance. Google evaluates the quality of backlinks to make sure they come from reputable and relevant sources.
High-quality backlinks are more beneficial than a large number of low-quality links as they signal trust and authority. That’s why it’s important to focus on getting quality backlinks that align with your content and industry.
Natural vs Artificial Link Building
Link building can be approached in two ways: naturally or artificially. Natural link building is earning links through valuable content and genuine relationships while artificial link building is buying links or using automated tools. Natural link building is sustainable and follows search engine guidelines while artificial methods can get you penalized. Knowing the difference is key to developing a long-term SEO strategy.
Characteristics of a Good Backlink Profile
A good backlink profile has diversity, quality, and relevance. It has a mix of DoFollow and NoFollow links from various authoritative domains. Anchor texts should be varied to avoid over-optimization.
Regularly monitoring your backlink profile allows you to spot issues and address them right away. A well-maintained backlink profile contributes positively to your site’s ranking and credibility.
What is the Future of Link Building?
Link building is evolving and the trends are shifting towards a more ethical and quality-focused approach. As search engines get smarter the emphasis is more on genuine high-quality content that naturally attracts links. Stay informed about these trends and adapt your strategy accordingly to make your site thrive.
Focus on Volume Alongside Quality and Relevance
The number of backlinks you can acquire per day depends on your website’s authority, link-building strategy, and industry norms.
Instead of focusing on quantity focus on high-quality, relevant links that add to your website’s credibility.
By following ethical SEO practices you can build a sustainable backlink profile that improves your search rankings without getting penalized.
Keep a bookmark to the Link Ladder in your toolbar or top sites today, and get a front-row seat for expert blogs and resources that can help your site succeed.