Backlink Building for Beginners: Complete Step-By-Step Guide to Building Your First 50 Backlinks

Backlinks (also called inbound links or external links) are hyperlinks from external websites that point to your site. In essence, they're votes of confidence—when another website links to you, they're telling search engines that your content is valuable, relevant, and trustworthy. Think of backlinks as endorsements from other websites to yours.

Why do backlinks matter so much? According to extensive research by Backlinko analyzing over 4 million Google search results, backlinks are one of the top ranking factors. The data is clear:

• Pages with more backlinks rank significantly higher in search results
• The #1 ranking result has an average of 3.8x more backlinks than pages ranking 2-10
• Domain authority (a measure of link strength) directly correlates with rankings
• Sites without backlinks struggle to rank for competitive keywords

For beginners, this means that backlink building for beginners should be a core part of your SEO strategy. Without backlinks, even excellent content will struggle to rank and get discovered by your target audience.

Beginner guide to backlink building (Source: Backlinkoo)

Not all backlinks are created equal. Understanding the two main types is critical for backlink building for beginners:

• Dofollow Links: These pass "link juice" (SEO authority) to your site. They're what you want to focus on initially. When Google crawls the link, it follows it and counts it as a vote for your site.
• Nofollow Links: These include a rel="nofollow" tag that tells search engines not to follow the link or pass authority. While they don't directly boost rankings, they can drive referral traffic and contribute to natural link profile diversity.

As a beginner, focus 80% of your effort on acquiring dofollow links from relevant, authoritative sites. Nofollow links will come naturally as you build your presence.

Let's explore proven, beginner-friendly strategies for backlink building for beginners that you can implement right now, even if you have limited budget or experience.

Guest posting is writing articles for other websites in exchange for a backlink. It's one of the most effective and beginner-friendly approaches to link building. Here's exactly how to do it:

Step-by-step process:

• 1. Identify websites in your niche that accept guest posts (search "[your niche] write for us")
• 2. Create a list of 20-30 target websites
• 3. Read their guidelines carefully (each site has different requirements)
• 4. Pitch 3-5 valuable topic ideas that solve problems for their readers
• 5. Write a 2,000-word article providing genuine value
• 6. Include 1-2 contextual links back to your site within the article
• 7. Submit your article and follow up if you don't hear back in 2 weeks

Pro tip: The key is providing genuine value. Don't write thin, promotional content. Write something so good that their readers benefit and remember your site.

Timeline: 2-4 weeks per link Cost: Your time only Expected result: 1 dofollow link per published guest post

Broken link building finds dead links on websites and offers your content as a replacement. It's one of the easiest methods for beginners because you're solving a problem for the website owner.

How to execute:

• 1. Find websites in your niche using Google (e.g., "best SEO tools," "top marketing blogs")
• 2. Use the Check My Links Chrome extension to scan pages for 404 errors
• 3. Identify broken links to pages similar to your content
• 4. Create or find content on your site that's a better replacement
• 5. Email the website owner politely, mentioning the broken link
• 6. Suggest your content as a helpful replacement
• 7. If they're interested, they'll link to you

Why this works: You're helping the website owner fix their site. They benefit from having better links, and you benefit from getting a dofollow link.

Timeline: 1-2 weeks per link Cost: Free (tools are free/cheap) Expected result: 1 in 10 outreach emails converts to a link

HARO connects journalists with expert sources. When you provide helpful responses to journalist queries, they often mention and link to your site in published articles.

Getting started with HARO:

• 1. Sign up at HelpAReporter.com (free)
• 2. Receive 3 daily emails with journalist queries seeking expert sources
• 3. Respond to queries relevant to your expertise with valuable insights (within 1-2 hours)
• 4. If selected, they'll quote you and link to your site in published articles

Benefits: Links from major publications (Forbes, Huffington Post, TechCrunch, etc.) Timeline: Very fast (sometimes 1-2 days from response to published article) Cost: Free

Resource pages curate lists of helpful links on specific topics. Getting featured is easier than most think for beginners.

Process:

• 1. Search "[your niche] resources" or "[topic] link list"
• 2. Compile a list of 50-100 relevant pages
• 3. Email the owner, mentioning you found their resource page
• 4. Suggest your content/tool as a valuable addition
• 5. Explain briefly why it would benefit their readers

Success rate: 10-15% for beginners who pitch relevantly Timeline: 1-3 weeks Cost: Free

• Chasing quantity over quality: 1 link from DA 50 site > 100 links from spammy sites
• Buying cheap backlinks: $50 spent on spam links can cost $10,000+ in penalties
• Only using exact-match anchor text: Vary your anchors; looks unnatural otherwise
• Not monitoring results: Track links monthly in Google Search Console
• Giving up too early: Link building is long-term; expect 3-6 months for results
• Ignoring mobile optimization: Ensure your content loads fast on mobile

As a beginner, track these metrics monthly:

• Total backlinks: Increasing over time indicates progress
• Referring domains: Links from different websites (more valuable than multiple links from one site)
• Domain Authority: Should increase gradually (every 2-3 months)
• Referral traffic: Check Google Analytics for traffic from backlinks
• Keyword rankings: Track 5-10 target keywords; rankings should improve over 3-6 months

SEO fundamentals learning (Source: Backlinkoo)

For less competitive niches, 10-20 quality links from relevant DA 30+ sites can rank for your primary keywords. For competitive niches, 50-100+ links may be needed.

Expect 2-3 months to see rankings improvements, 3-6 months for noticeable traffic increases. Patience is crucial with backlink building for beginners.

Not recommended initially. Focus on organic methods to build solid foundations. If you must buy, only from reputable providers offering high-quality links (DA 40+).

No, if you follow white-hat methods (guest posting, HARO, broken link building, etc.). Only manipulative tactics like buying low-quality links or link schemes trigger penalties.

Backlink building for beginners doesn't have to be complicated. By focusing on proven strategies like guest posting, broken link building, and HARO, you can build a solid backlink foundation that drives real, sustainable traffic to your website.

Remember: Start with quality over quantity, monitor your progress consistently, and be patient. Within 6-12 months of consistent effort, you'll see meaningful improvements in your search rankings and organic traffic.

Ready to take your link building to the next level? Contact Backlinkoo for a free consultation and personalized guidance on your specific industry and goals.