How Many Backlinks Do You Need to Rank on Page 1? 

The most highly debated question is How many backlinks do You need to rank? It’s a simple question with a not-so-simple answer, and it’s not just about the numbers. It’s more about quality than quantity, and getting backlinks from authoritative places. 

This blog will break it down so you can fine-tune your backlink strategy, and figure out how many backlinks your website needs to rank without falling into the trap of just chasing large numbers of backlinks.

Are Backlinks a Ranking Factor in 2025?

Gone are the days when having thousands of backlinks from random sites could shoot you up Google’s search rankings. Everyone knows that Google Search Quality Rater’s Guidelines likewise heavily emphasize links. Undoubtedly, search engines are effective at identifying spam, this is an aspect that poor-quality link builders frequently overlook. 

Relevant links can be added through the outreach of reputable link builders, however, they are also able to draw in naturally through excellent content. Google has become smarter, and its algorithm places more emphasis on quality, relevance, and natural link-building.

The Backlink Quantity Myth: Quality Over Quantity

The overstuffing of links was highly preferred, but it’s not the case anymore. Think of backlinks as building relationships. Do you want a lot of superficial connections, or would you prefer a few strong, valuable ones that can actually benefit you in the long run? 

Confusing links that make no sense appear unacceptable to web crawlers and probably won’t help you if the websites linked back to you have nothing to do with the topic. Google has a similar stance on backlinks. It prioritizes obtaining links from reputable websites that are relevant to your niche, rather than from a random website. 

What Does a High-Quality Backlink Look Like?

In 2024, Google’s algorithm puts a lot of attention on backlink quality. So, here are some elements that make a backlink high-quality:

1. Relevance

A backlink is more valuable when it comes from a website that’s relevant to your industry. For example, if you run a tech startup, getting backlinks from tech blogs or industry publications is much more effective than from random unrelated sites. It tells Google that your content is credible within your industry.

2. Domain Authority

This is one of the most debated metrics. Domain authority (DA) measures the overall strength and credibility of a website. Don’t obsess over DA alone. Relevance takes priority over DA. A backlink from a small, niche site that’s hyper-relevant to your industry or local area could be more powerful than a high-DA but unrelated site.

3. Natural Placement

Google can detect whether it is a “natural backlink” or is forced/ coming from a suspicious link-building technique. Natural backlinks are those that fit seamlessly into the content and aren’t part of paid schemes or link farms. For businesses, especially those focused on local SEO, natural backlinks often come from partnerships, collaborations, or PR efforts. 

For example, sponsoring a local event or partnering with another business can help you earn high-quality, natural backlinks from locally relevant websites.

How to Find the Ideal Backlink Count for Your Company

Marketers have built 68% of backlinks through content marketing. To find the ideal number of backlinks for your website or a specific keyword, you’ll need to do some competitive analysis, and an extensive review of your industry and follow these tips: 

1. Evaluate Your Competitor

Start by researching your competitors, especially those ranking in the top spots for your target keywords. Using tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz, you can analyze their backlink profiles.

Here’s what to look for:

• The number of backlinks they have pointing to the page.
• Quality of linking sites (Are they reputable? Do they have high domain authority?)
• Diversity of backlinks (Are they all from the same few sites or spread across many unique domains?)

If you have a local business. You’ll want to focus more on local competitors rather than national ones. For example, if you’re a local restaurant, don’t waste time analyzing the backlink profile of a national food chain. Instead, focus on businesses ranking well in local search results.

2. Compare Your Site’s Backlink Profile

Once you know how many backlinks your competitors have, compare it to your own site. If you have significantly fewer links, it might indicate that you need to start building more. But don’t just focus on catching up in numbers. Rather, focus on building better links.

3. Factor in Keyword Difficulty

Keyword difficulty tools can help you analyze how competitive a particular keyword is. Highly competitive keywords typically require more backlinks to rank. However, if your keyword has low competition, a few well-placed, high-quality backlinks might be enough to rank you at the top.

4. Determine the Number for Your Target Keyword

After evaluating your competitors, you’ll have a ballpark figure. If the top 3 competitors for your target keyword have an average of 50 backlinks, that’s a good starting point. But don’t stop there.

Focus on how many high-quality backlinks they have. If most of their backlinks are coming from authoritative, relevant sites, that’s your clue. Aim to match or exceed their backlink profile, rather than just getting the same quantity of backlinks. You could outperform your competitor with fewer backlinks, as long as yours are more authoritative and relevant.

The Power of Locally Relevant Backlinks (Less Can Be More)

Focus on locally relevant backlinks if your business is targeting a local audience. These links will remarkably improve your ranking in local searches, like “best cafés in [city]” or “top real estate agents near me.”

Locally relevant backlinks come from websites that operate in the same or nearby geographic area as your business. This could include:

• Local news outlets
• Local directories and listings (Yelp or Google My Business)
• Community blogs or regional publications
• Local influencers or businesses you collaborate with

These backlinks help you rank higher in local search results by alerting Google that your company is reputable and relevant in your local area. Plus, local backlinks are often easier to earn because they don’t require you to compete with national brands.

Smart Backlinking Strategies for Businesses in 2025

Prioritize smart, focused backlink tactics rather than an extensive, time and resource-wasting strategy.

1. Start with Industry-Relevant Content

The best way to attract high-quality backlinks is to create original content that’s valuable and relevant to your industry/ niche. 

Consider the products and services you provide. What details would the reader require? Long-form blog posts, case studies, high-quality keywords and data reports can position your brand as an authority, encouraging others to link to you. 

2. Leverage PR and Local Partnerships

Don’t underestimate the power of local PR, 67.3% of marketers employ PR link-building. By getting your brand featured in local news outlets or collaborating with other businesses or influencers, you can earn natural backlinks from authoritative local sources.

For example, sponsoring a local event or participating in community initiatives can earn you backlinks from local websites, which are powerful for local SEO. 

3. Outreach to Niche Blogs

38.9% of marketers write blogs or guest posts for link building. A targeted outreach campaign is one of the most effective ways to earn backlinks. Focus on reaching out to niche blogs or publications that cover topics relevant to your business. Offer to provide guest posts, collaborate on research, or simply introduce them to your content. 

Final Thoughts: Quality + Relevance = Authority

A few strategically earned backlinks from local and niche sites can be far more impactful than hundreds of low-quality ones. Even with an excellent link-building plan, success requires patience and commitment. For this reason, a lot of business owners use trustworthy link-building services to handle their link-building requirements.

At OutreachMani, we help brands and businesses build smart, effective backlink strategies that cater to their requirements. We focus on creating valuable content, building relationships with authoritative sites, and earning natural, relevant backlinks.

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