Paint yourself this picture: you’ve got a dazzling website, but without those crucial backlinks, it’s like having a sports car with an empty gas tank – going nowhere fast.
Sure, you can play the search engine optimization (SEO) game without prioritizing link building.
Is it possible? Yes.
Is it recommended? No.
In today’s digital marketing world, where Google calls the shots, links are your passport to prominence and can elevate your website above the noise and into the spotlight.
Yet, amidst the whirlwind of the SaaS scene, understanding the value of backlinks in your link-building campaigns can be tough.
In this article, we’re diving headfirst into practical techniques that will shed light on the true impact of your high quality backlinks.
So, strap in and get ready to turbocharge your link juice with the right backlinking approach.
The Importance of Measuring Backlink Value
Measuring the value of your own backlinks isn’t all about crunching numbers. You might already be investing time and effort into building those backlinks, but are they actually paying off?
Measuring their value gives you the inside scoop on the Return on Investment (ROI). It’s like having a GPS for your link building efforts, showing you which routes are leading to treasure and which ones are just dead ends.
From sniffing out niche opportunities to creating content built for more backlinks, this data-driven approach puts you in the driver’s seat of your SEO journey and will make your site stand out from the low quality sites out there.
Finally, backlink value analysis can guide you to the high-impact opportunities that other site owners might miss. You can sniff out the most influential players in your industry to link from (and sometimes even to, in a partnership).
With this intel, you can forge alliances and partnerships that pack a serious punch, propelling your website to new heights of authority and visibility.
Evaluating Link Quality
When it comes to backlinks, quality beats quantity every time. Knowing the different types of backlinks and how they impact your site is key to a successful link-building strategy.
- Editorial Backlinks: These are the gold standard—naturally embedded links placed by a website owner or editor because they value your content. Editorial links are highly trusted and can bring real benefits to your SEO efforts.
- Guest Posting Backlinks: Created through guest posts you write for other websites, these links provide targeted exposure and are often a great way to reach new audiences while building authority.
- Do-Follow Backlinks: Do follow links actively pass SEO value, or “link equity,” from one site to another, boosting your page’s rankings and credibility in the eyes of search engines.
- No-Follow Backlinks: A nofollow link doesn’t pass SEO value but it can play a valuable role in diversifying your link profile and can drive referral traffic. Often used to manage spam, nofollow links still have their place in a balanced link-building strategy.
Understanding these distinctions in external links helps you focus on quality, build credibility, and create a link profile that delivers real SEO impact.
Strategies to Measure Value of Backlinks
Here are the top strategies you can use to measure high quality links and ascertain backlink value like a pro.
1. Assessing domain quality
Assessing the quality of the domains linking back to your site is ground zero for understanding the value of your backlinks.
We’re talking about two heavy hitters here: Domain Authority (DA) and Domain Rating (DR).
DA predicts how well a website ranks on search engines, while DR measures the value of a domain’s backlinks. Both are rated on a scale from 1 to 100, with 100 being the crème de la crème.
Now, here’s the kicker: you need both on your side. You can check the DR of your backlinks using and calculate the DA of each domain.
To truly size up a domain, you need to dig deeper by looking into Trust Flow and Spam Score. Trust Flow measures the quality of a site’s backlinks based on their trustworthiness, while Spam Score flags potential spammy behavior.
Pro-tip: Don’t forget to arm yourself with the right tools. Ahrefs and Moz can be your trusty sidekicks here. With features to export backlinks and filter by DR, you can slice and dice your data like a pro.
Keep in mind the golden rule: one relevant link from a high-quality domain trumps a thousand links from sketchy ones any day of the week.
So, if your backlink profile is looking a bit lopsided with low-quality domains, it’s time to pivot. Focus on nurturing relationships with high-ranking websites to score those top-notch links.
Variety is the spice of life—and link-building. Aim for a healthy mix of domains in your portfolio. That means cozying up to both high-DA giants and smaller, niche-specific sites.
2. Dive into and beyond the page
Domain Rating (DR) and Domain Authority (DA) may seem like the superheroes of the backlink world, but they’re not the whole story.
People aren’t just clicking on any old link these days. They want quality content that delivers the goods. That’s where SEO score swoops in like a silent hero.
The better an article’s SEO score, the higher it’s likely to rank in search engine results—meaning more eyeballs on your link.
So, how do you size up a web page’s SEO score? It’s all about cracking the keyword code. Start by dissecting the article to find its primary keyword—the holy grail that unlocks its ranking potential. Look for clues in the title, introduction, and sprinkled throughout the text like digital breadcrumbs.
Then, leverage SEO tools like Clearscope, MarketMuse, or SurferSEO that analyze the article’s performance against its primary keyword, giving you the inside scoop on its SEO score.
After all, one of the easiest ways to boost an article’s SEO score? Optimize it, baby. Reach out to the publisher and propose a makeover. Get a professional copywriter to sprinkle some SEO magic on the content, then collaborate until you’ve got a masterpiece on your hands.
Don’t forget to look into traffic and engagement metrics too. Ask questions like:
- Are people clicking on the link?
- Are they sticking around to explore the page?
- Are they engaging with the content in meaningful ways?
Tools like Google Analytics can help, giving you the lowdown on traffic sources, bounce rates, and engagement metrics.
Patryk Wawok, an expert SEO advisor, has two different areas he looks into when establishing backlink worth: topical relevancy and site’s SEO state.
“I recommend gathering links from domains that contain content that is topically relevant to your website and your niche. Build topical connections with links and your authority within your niche. Topically relevant links are worth more for your site,” he recommends.
“I also check how the domain I want to get a backlink from is doing in organic search,” he adds. “If they are on a good trajectory and positive ranking state the backlink from them can be even more valuable. If they were hit by many Google updates and are losing traffic, it’s not a good sign and the backlink signal sent from their domain can be weaker and worth less.”
By tapping into the human element of link-building, you’ll uncover insights that go beyond the numbers, helping you craft a strategy that resonates with real people and drives genuine results.
3. Using anchor texts right
Imagine you’re reading an article about the best vegan restaurants in town, and suddenly you come across a link with the anchor text “best meat lovers’ pizza.”
Talk about a disconnect, right?
When it comes to anchor text relevance, context is king. Your anchor texts should seamlessly blend into the surrounding content, providing additional value and context to the reader.
Stick to anchor texts that are relevant to the topic at hand, and you’ll build a bridge of trust between your content and your audience.
Gone are the days of stuffing your anchor texts with the same keyword over and over again.
Today, it’s all about mixing things up to create a natural and organic link profile. Sprinkle in a dash of branded anchor texts, toss in some long-tail variations, and don’t forget to use a pinch of naked URLs for good measure.
By diversifying your anchor texts, you not only fly under Google’s radar but also provide a richer user experience for your audience.
Last but not least, let’s talk about distribution. Just like a well-balanced diet, your anchor texts should be spread out evenly across your link profile.
Avoid over-optimizing for a single keyword and instead aim for a healthy mix of anchor texts that reflect the natural language of the web. By distributing your anchor texts strategically, you not only avoid raising red flags with search engines but also ensure a smoother user experience for your audience.
4. Stick to relevance and intent
First things first: topic relevance.
When it comes to backlinks, relevance is key. Your link should seamlessly fit into the narrative of the content, providing additional value and context to the reader.
“We need to think critically about the goals behind link building,” Garrett Sussman, Demand Generation Manager at iPullRank says. “Link metrics can help guide your strategy, but remember that building links is all about establishing relationships within your niche. You want Google to consider your website an authority for your targeted topic.”
He recommends asking yourself the following questions:
- Who are the other most authoritative brands that lead in your topic?
- Are there opportunities to earn links from them?
Stick to topics that are closely related to the content at hand, and you’ll build a bridge of trust between your website and your audience.
Then, there’s user intent.
Put yourself in the shoes of your audience: what are they looking for when they stumble upon your content? Are they seeking information, inspiration, or a solution to a problem?
Understanding user intent is crucial for crafting backlinks that resonate with your audience’s needs and desires. Your link should serve as a gateway to valuable resources, guiding users on their journey through the digital landscape.
By aligning your backlinks with user intent, you not only provide a better experience for your audience but also increase the likelihood of engagement and conversion.
Finally, there’s contextual alignment. Just like a puzzle piece that fits snugly into place, your backlink should seamlessly integrate into the surrounding content.
Pay attention to the tone, style, and format of the content, and tailor your link accordingly. Whether it’s a blog post, article, or infographic, your link should feel like a natural extension of the content, adding depth and dimension to the reader’s experience.
Key Metrics for Measuring Backlink Effectiveness
Here are the key indicators that will not only help you track the effectiveness of your strategy but also pave the way for continuous improvement and optimization.
Organic traffic growth
Organic traffic growth is the bread and butter of any successful link-building campaign.
Keep a close eye on your organic traffic metrics to gauge the impact of your backlinks on your website’s visibility and reach.
By monitoring changes in organic traffic over time, you’ll be able to pinpoint which backlinks are delivering the goods and which ones may need a little extra TLC.
Keyword rankings
Keyword rankings are the currency of the digital world, serving as a barometer for your website’s relevance and authority within your niche.
Track the performance of your target keywords to see how they stack up against the competition. Are you climbing the search engine results pages (SERPs) or getting lost in the shuffle?
By monitoring keyword rankings, you’ll be able to identify trends and opportunities for optimization, ensuring that your website remains visible and competitive in the ever-changing landscape of search.
Conversion rates
Keep a close eye on your conversion rates to see how effectively your backlinks are driving action and engagement on your website.
Are visitors taking the desired actions, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a contact form?
By analyzing conversion rates, you’ll be able to identify bottlenecks in your funnel and optimize your strategy for maximum impact.
Referral traffic
Referral traffic is like the gift that keeps on giving. It’s the indirect result of your backlinks, as visitors click through from other websites to yours.
Keep tabs on your referral traffic metrics to see which sources are sending the most visitors your way. Are certain backlinks driving a steady stream of traffic, while others are falling flat?
This will help you to nurture relationships with high-performing sources and amplify their impact on your website’s visibility and reach.
Brand visibility
Your backlinks aren’t just conduits for traffic—they’re also powerful brand ambassadors, spreading the word about your website far and wide.
Monitor your brand mentions and citations across the web to see how effectively your backlinks are raising awareness and building credibility for your brand so you’re making a splash and not just a drop in the ocean.
Red Flags for Low-Quality Backlinks
Not all backlinks are beneficial. Some can harm your site’s SEO if they come from low-quality sources.
Here’s how to spot the warning signs:
- Low-Quality or Irrelevant Content: If the linking site is filled with thin or unrelated content, search engines may view these links as irrelevant, which can hurt your credibility.
- Excessive Ads or Pop-Ups: Sites cluttered with ads or disruptive pop-ups often prioritize revenue over quality, making their links less valuable and potentially harmful.
- High Spam Scores or Suspicious Link Profiles: Sites with high spammy links or unnatural link patterns can signal trouble. Links from these sources may drag your site down in search rankings.
- Toxicity Score: A site’s toxicity score measures its risk of being penalized by search engines. Links from high-toxicity sites can be a red flag, putting your own site’s search engine rankings at risk.
Working with link building services agencies like GrowthOG can prevent you from the risks of being associated to such sites. If you’re looking to build as many backlinks without compromising on high quality content and higher rankings, partnering with link builders to build you paid links might be the best move for your SEO strategy.
Over to You
Why are backlinks important?
In the world of SEO, standing still is not an option. Relying solely on content creation, even if you have high content quality, will not suffice.
As you work with high quality websites for earning backlinks, remember, the quest for backlink ROI is not a destination but a journey and not all backlinks are created equal.
Keep at it to carve your path to digital greatness.
