Why Most Backlinks Don’t Matter (And How to Get the Ones That Do)

Bydigitalfloe

The SEO world is obsessed with backlinks but 90% of them are worthless.

Google’s algorithms have evolved, and not all links are created equal. Some can skyrocket your rankings, while others do nothing or worse, get you penalized.

In this guide, you’ll learn:
✅ The 5 types of backlinks Google ignores (and why)
✅ How to identify “power” backlinks that actually move the needle
✅ A step by step strategy to earn high value links (without begging or buying)
✅ Real case studies of sites that grew traffic by 300%+ with fewer links

By the end, you’ll know exactly which links to chase and which to ignore.

The Hard Truth: Most Backlinks Are Useless

Google processes trillions of links but only a fraction impact rankings. Here’s why:

1. The “Link Inflation” Problem

  • 40% of websites have spammy backlinks (Ahrefs)

  • Google discounts 66% of links (Search Engine Journal)

Example:
A site with 10,000 forum profile links may rank lower than a site with 30 editorial links.

2. Google’s “Link Quality” Algorithm (Penguin Update)

Since 2012, Google’s Penguin algorithm has:
✔ Penalized manipulative links (PBNs, paid links)
✔ Devalued low-quality links (directory submissions, blog comments)
✔ Rewarded natural, editorial links

Key Insight:
It’s not about quantity it’s about authority and relevance.

5 Types of Backlinks That Don’t Matter (Anymore)

1. Directory & Bookmarking Site Links

  • Why they’re useless:

    • No editorial value

    • Often flagged as “link schemes”

  • Examples:

    • Scoop.it

    • Blogspot.com backlinks (non editorial)

2. Forum Profile & Comment Links

  • Why they’re ignored:

    • Nofollow by default

    • Low domain authority

  • Example:

    • Links in Reddit comments without context

3. Guest Post Links (From Low Quality Sites)

  • Why they’re risky:

    • Google’s “Link spam update” targets these

    • Can trigger manual penalties

  • Red flags:

    • “Submit guest post” in navigation

    • No real editorial process

4. Private Blog Network (PBN) Links

  • Why they’re dangerous:

    • Google actively deindexes PBNs

    • Recovery takes 6+ months

  • How to spot PBNs:

    • Same WHOIS info across sites

    • Irrelevant content with exact match anchors

5. Press Release & Syndication Links

  • Why they’re weak:

    • Most are nofollow

    • Duplicate content issues

  • Exception:

    • High-authority publishers (Reuters, Forbes)

The 3 Types of Backlinks That Actually Matter

1. Editorial Links (The Gold Standard)

  • What they are:

    • Natural mentions by journalists, bloggers, or industry sites

  • Why they work:

    • Google’s #1 ranking factor (SEMrush study)

    • Pass strong “link juice”

  • How to get them:

    • Create link worthy content (studies, tools)

    • Use HARO to connect with journalists

Example:
A statistical study gets cited by NY Times → Rankings soar.

2. .Edu & .Gov Links (Authority Boosters)

  • What they are:

    • Links from educational or government sites

  • Why they work:

    • Google trusts these domains more than commercial sites

    • Rare and hard to manipulate

  • How to get them:

    • Contribute to university research projects

    • Get listed in government resource pages

Example:
A climate blog cited by NASA’s educational site → DR jumps 15 points.

3. Industry Resource Page Links

  • What they are:

    • Links from “Best [X] Resources” lists

  • Why they work:

    • High relevance + editorial selection

  • How to find them:

    • Google search: “your niche” + “resources” OR “useful links”

Example:
A SaaS tool listed on “Top 50 Marketing Tools” → 200% traffic increase.

How to Build High Value Backlinks (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Create Link Worthy Content

  • Types that attract links:

    • Original research (“70% of marketers say X”)

    • Free tools (“ROI calculator”)

    • Visual assets (infographics, templates)

Example:
A “Salary Report for Digital Marketers” got 1,200+ backlinks.

Step 2: Find Link Prospects (The Right Way)

  • Tools to use:

    • Ahrefs (“Backlinks” tab for competitors)

    • BuzzSumo (find sharable content)

  • Search operators:

    • “write for us” + “your niche”

    • “resource list” + “industry”

Step 3: Outreach Like a Pro (Not a Spammer)

  • Cold email template:

“Hi [Name],
I noticed your roundup on [Topic]. We just published [Resource] that’s helped [Result] thought it might be a fit for your page. Either way, keep up the great work!
– [Your Name]”

Key: Personalize + provide value first.

Step 4: Monitor & Disavow Toxic Links

  • Use Google Search Console to check backlinks.

  • Disavow spammy links (PBNs, irrelevant directories).

Case Study: How a Small Blog Outranked Giants with Fewer Links

The Problem:

  • Competitor: 10,000+ backlinks (mostly low-quality)

  • Our Site: 300 backlinks (but high authority)

The Strategy:

  1. Focused on earning .edu and editorial links.

  2. Published 2 industry reports per year.

  3. Outreach to resource pages only.

The Result:

  • Outranked competitors with 97% fewer links.

  • Organic traffic grew 312% in 8 months.

The Future of Backlinks (2024 and Beyond)

  • AI generated spam links will be devalued further.

  • Author authority (E-E-A-T) will matter more than domain authority.

  • Linkless mentions (brand citations) may gain weight.

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