Not only increasing traffic, quality backlinks also enhance brand reputation. According to research, 75% of top-ranking websites have a large backlink network.
At DPS.MEDIAWe have supported hundreds of SMEs to optimize backlinks and effectively elevate their digital brand.
The importance of backlinks in modern SEO strategy
Backlink is a “vote of confidence” from other websites
Backlinks, also known as inbound links, are considered reliable signals used by search engines – especially Google – to evaluate the credibility of a website. A quality backlink from high DA sites can significantly boost search rankings.
According to Ahrefs report (2023), 91% of websites without backlinks will never appear in the top 10 Google search results.
Key role in overall SEO strategy
Backlinks not only help improve search result positions but also:
- Increase referral traffic from linked sites
- Enhance domain trustworthiness and reputation
- Accelerate indexing speed of new content
- Support building personal/business brand
Real example: An SME in the cosmetics industry increased organic traffic by 68% within 4 months after collaborating on a backlink campaign from beauty blogs with DA > 40 (according to Google Analytics Q4/2022).
Checklist for building effective backlinks
- ✅ Analyze current backlink profile using Ahrefs/SEMrush
- ✅ Select quality link sources (avoid spam forums, low-reputation PBNs)
- ✅ Create content that can be cited (case studies, infographics, internal research)
- ✅ Reach out and build relationships with industry sites
- ✅ Regularly monitor DR/UR metrics and anchor texts
Warnings and challenges to note
Not all backlinks are good. Using low-quality backlink services can lead to Google penalties (Manual Action). Especially, backlinks from uncontrolled PBN systems or irrelevant content can have long-term negative effects.
Table distinguishing quality backlinks and spam backlinks
| Criteria | Quality Backlinks | Spam Backlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Reputable Domain (DA/DR) | > 40 (same field) | < 20 or irrelevant |
| Link placement | Within main content | Footer, sidebar |
| Natural anchor text | Clear contextual words | Keyword stuffing |
Quick takeaway
A smart backlink building strategy that is selective and sustainable will be a solid foundation for long-term SEO. Instead of chasing quantity, focus on quality and relevance to create real value for the website.
Classification of quality backlinks and how to identify harmful backlinks
What is a quality backlink?
To increase website credibility, you need to choose the right type of backlinks. Below are some criteria to classify quality backlinks:
- Backlinks from domains with high DA/DR: For example, from sites like VnExpress, Wikipedia, or Forbes (DA > 70, according to Ahrefs 2023).
- Links in the same field: If you work in interior design, backlinks from architecture blogs are more valuable than from movie sites.
- Natural and user-shared: Backlink in the article content (in-context), instead of just placing it in the footer or sidebar.
How to identify harmful backlinks
Unhealthy backlinks can cause a website to be penalized by Google. Common signs:
- Backlinks from hacked, spammed, or low-trust sites (easily identified through tools like Ahrefs, Moz).
- Over-optimized anchor text such as repeating "cheap sofa purchase", "best casino 2024" many times.
- backlinks from unrelated sites or from PBNs (spam network of fake sites).
Example: A customer in the cosmetics industry lost 40% traffic in 2 weeks due to having >200 backlinks from foreign forums selling drugs (source: DPS.MEDIA case study, 2023).
Checklist: check existing backlinks
- 👉 Use Ahrefs or Google Search Console to audit links
- 👉 Filter domains with DA < 15 or de-indexed by Google
- 👉 Create a disavow list if harmful links are detected
- 👉 Prioritize building manual links through quality guest posts
Comparison table of good and bad backlinks
| Criteria | Good backlinks | Bad backlinks |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Authority (DA) | > 40 | < 20 |
| Contextual linking | Within real article content | Footers, comments, forum spam |
| Relevant field | Yes | No |
Takeaway
Investing in backlinks is not simply about quantity, but about quality and appropriateness.Regularly audit and proactively "clean" your link profile to protect sustainable SEO results.
Strategy for building natural backlinks suitable for SMEs
Quality first instead of quantity
Small and medium businesses do not need to invest huge budgets to buy links. Instead, focus on building high-quality backlinks from reliable sources:
– Local or industry press (e.g., CafeBiz, DoanhnhanSaigon)
– Websites in the same field with good trust (DR > 30 from Ahrefs)
– Professional blogs or niche communities (e.g., webtretho, tinhte.vn)
According to Backlinko (2023), just 10-15 quality backlinks can increase organic traffic by up to 34% within 3 months.
Create valuable content to “attract” links
Create content relevant to customer problems to help SMEs naturally earn backlinks. A real example from a natural cosmetics startup – sharing a case study on ingredient selection process, resulting in 12 backlinks from industry news sites within 2 months.
Action list: where to start?
Checklist for building natural backlinks for SMEs:
- ✅ Create a Google My Business profile and directory listings
- ✅ Write guest posts for industry blogs (including backlinks to homepage or landing pages)
- ✅ Regularly update content and send articles to free online press
- ✅ Monitor anchor text to avoid over-optimization
Comparison table: strategies suitable for SMEs
| Strategy | Cost | Long-term effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Paid backlinks | High (5-10 million/link) | Low – risk of penalty |
| Natural backlinks through content | Low – medium | High – gradually increasing over time |
| Sharing posts on community | Free | Medium – requires persistence |
Notes and warnings
Should not use cheap backlink services that are rampant – according to SEMrush report (2022), 67% of websites dropped rankings due to receiving links from spammy or irrelevant sources.
To ensure sustainability, SMEs should choose reputable units like DPS.MEDIA – which has implemented white-hat backlink strategies for over 200 businesses in the small and medium segment. However, backlinks are only effective when combined with on-page SEO standards and optimized page loading speed.
Takeaway
A natural backlink building strategy focusing on quality content relevant to the industry helps SMEs sustainably improve rankings without needing to invest too much budget.
Optimize content and techniques to support increasing backlink effectiveness
Optimize content to increase link value
A quality backlink is only truly effective when the landing page provides valuable content for users and search engines. Key points to implement include:
- Focus on in-depth content (>1200 words) to increase onsite time.
- Use main and secondary keywords Intent of the searcher.
- Add rich media: illustrative images, infographics, or videos to help retain users.
SEO techniques to support increasing backlink effectiveness
Besides content factors, some simple technical measures can improve backlink performance:
- Ensure page loading speed < 2.5s (according to Web.dev report, Google 2023).
- Use friendly link structure (short URLs with main keywords).
- Implement appropriate schema.org to increase display potential.
- Optimize meta title and description corresponding to the linked anchor text.
Checklist for optimization before implementing backlinks
| Category | Completed? |
|---|---|
| Check landing page content quality | ✅ |
| Optimize page loading speed | ✅ |
| Apply structured data schema | ☐ |
| Ensure natural anchor text | ✅ |
Real examples from traffic increase campaigns
An SME in the online training field improved 42% organic traffic in just 3 months by combining backlinks from 10 reputable domains with landing page optimization (adding FAQ schema, shortening URLs, updating content). Source: DPS.MEDIA campaign report, Q1/2023.
Takeaway
Investing in content and technical optimization before building backlinks helps links not only "exist" but also "have sustainable value."
Measure backlink effectiveness and continuously adjust strategy
Why measure backlink effectiveness?
A quality backlink is not only based on quantity but must be measured by specific metrics such as ranking growth, referral traffic volume, and index level. Measurement helps clearly identify which links truly bring value.
Up to 62% of websites see no ranking improvement because they do not track backlink effectiveness – according to Ahrefs, 2023 report.
Common measurement metrics
- Domain Rating (DR): overall quality of the linking domain
- Referring Domains: number of referring domains
- Organic Traffic from backlinks: number of users coming from those links
- Anchor text metrics: naturalness and diversity of anchors
Checklist: continuous monitoring & optimization
- 📌 Analyze all new backlinks every 30 days
- 📉 Remove or disavow spam links or links from low DR sites
- 🔁 Enhance Offpage SEO for pages with many clicks but high bounce rates
- 📊 Compare backlink traffic quarterly to determine ROI
Backlink effectiveness tracking table
| Landing page | Referring Domains | Backlink traffic (monthly) | Link source DR |
|---|---|---|---|
| /blog/seo-onpage | 12 | 260 | 72 |
| /landing/creative-agency | 5 | 45 | 54 |
Real example
An e-commerce client, after building 20 backlinks from sites with DR >70, increased organic traffic by 381K in 2 months (according to Google Analytics Q2/2023 report). However, 6 links were lost due to partners deleting posts, causing traffic to drop by over 101K – showing the importance of regular monitoring.
Challenges & notes
- Links from high DR sites but irrelevant content => risk of Google rating low naturalness
- Be cautious with sudden backlink growth to avoid falling into Penguin algorithm radar
Takeaway
Measuring backlink effectiveness is essential to sustainably optimize SEO strategy. Always monitor, record, and adjust to maximize value from each link.
Legal and ethical notes when using backlink services
Not violating Google's policies
Buying or exchanging large numbers of backlinks may be considered keyword ranking manipulation – violating Google Search Essentials (2023). If detected, the website may be downgraded or removed from the index.
- Avoid using PBN (Private Blog Network) with unclear origins
- Do not build backlinks from pages de-indexed by Google
- Prioritize backlinks from relevant content pages with transparent DA/DR scores
Comply with intellectual property laws
Some backlink services use copied or copyrighted content to speed SEO. If your site links to violating content, you may also face legal issues.
Tip: Check the content of posts used for backlinks. Ensure no copying or reuse of third-party content without permission.
Ethics in link building strategy
Sustainable backlinks are not just about quantity. Building real relationships with related domains shows transparency in SEO strategy. Example: A travel company lost 401K traffic (Ahrefs, 2022) after Google Penguin penalized spammy blog links.
- Do not build links from pages with harmful, pornographic, or misleading content
- Always clearly disclose sponsored content when necessary
- Avoid "hidden links" using CSS or JavaScript techniques
Checklist: implement backlinks legally and transparently
| Actions | Status |
|---|---|
| Check DA/DR scores of link sources | ✔️ |
| Evaluate the content of posts placing backlinks | ✔️ |
| Avoid keyword stuffing anchors | ✔️ |
| Ensure backlink sources are not de-indexed | ✔️ |
Practical conclusion
Effective backlink use requires more than technique – it demands adherence to rules and ethical values. A transparent strategy won’t get you to the top instantly but ensures long-term sustainability and brand trust.
How to choose reputable and transparent backlink service providers
Evaluate transparency in implementation methods
A reputable provider will openly share backlink building methods, source websites, and quality control. Avoid providers focusing only on "link quantity" without clear plans.
Below are signs of transparency:
- Commitment to provide a list of links (URLs) after each campaign
- allow domain check before linking
- Use audit tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush for reporting
Tip: Directly inquire about DR (Domain Rating), TF (Trust Flow), and actual traffic data from each site before buying backlinks.
First, providers with practical experience
Instead of just promoting SEO theory, choose units that have specific successful projects. For example, an agency that helped a financial niche website increase from 1,200 to 5,800 organic traffic/month (according to Google Analytics 2022) with backlinks from sites with DR > 50.
Quickly check reliability:
- Public or anonymous case study projects with evidence data
- Actual customer feedback (prioritize from competitive industries)
- Ability to replace broken, faulty, or deindexed backlinks
Checklist for selecting backlink placement partners
| Criteria | Request |
|---|---|
| Transparent domain information | Can check DR, TF, traffic |
| Specific strategy | Niche, timeline, and proposed anchor text list |
| Policy for replacing broken links | Yes, free for 1-3 months |
| Regular reports | Complete monthly reports |
Common notes and warnings
Not many companies suggest backlinks from anonymous PBN (Private Blog Network), which can have high risks with Google's Penguin algorithm. According to Moz 2023 report, websites penalized for using PBN lost an average of 471 billion organic traffic after 60 days.
Warning: Cheap backlinks with unclear origins often come with Google sandbox risks. Invest in quality, not quantity.
Brief Takeaway
Choose backlink partners with clear strategies, public data, and complete after-sales policies. A careful choice helps you avoid algorithm risks and achieve truly sustainable SEO results.
Negative balance still remains
Quality backlinks not only help improve rankings but also build trust with search tools. Proper investment will help SEO remain sustainable over time.
Start reassessing your backlink system today. Focus on natural links suitable for your field of activity.
You can learn more about onpage SEO, anchor text, and content building strategies. These factors contribute to optimizing overall search performance.
DPS.MEDIA is always ready to accompany Vietnamese businesses on their digital transformation journey. Leave a comment if you have questions or experiences to share!
