Link Building Strategies That Actually Work in 2025

📖 Introduction

Link building has changed a lot over the years—but it’s never been more important. In 2025, high-quality backlinks remain one of the strongest ranking signals Google uses to assess authority, trust, and relevance.

The catch? Most link building tactics from 2015 are dead, risky, or irrelevant. Today’s strategies are about earning links, not buying them. It’s about building relationships, creating value, and aligning with user intent—not gaming the algorithm.

This guide covers 8 proven link building strategies for 2025 that actually move the needle. Whether you’re a solo blogger, agency, or enterprise SEO, these methods are scalable, sustainable, and white-hat.

🧱 What Makes a Good Backlink in 2025?

• 🔗 Relevance: Is the linking page topically aligned with yours?
• 🌐 Authority: Does the linking domain have strong organic traffic and trust?
• 🧠 Natural placement: Is the link editorial and contextual?
• 🚀 Followed: Is the link dofollow or at least not nofollow?
• 🕵️ Indexability: Is the page crawlable and indexed?

Now let’s dive into the strategies that earn links that actually help.

💼 Strategy #1: Digital PR for SEO

Digital PR is the modern way to earn high-authority links. By pitching expert insights, data, or commentary to journalists, you can earn links from national media, trade publications, and news aggregators.

• 📰 Use platforms like HARO, Qwoted, and Featured.com to respond to journalist queries
• 🎯 Position your founder or team as a subject-matter expert
• 🔔 Set Google Alerts for industry keywords to pitch timely insights

Example: A SaaS cybersecurity brand earns a BBC link by offering real-time stats on cyber threats.

📊 Strategy #2: Original Research & Data Studies

Journalists, bloggers, and content creators love citing original stats. Create your own and become the source everyone links to.

• 📈 Conduct surveys, polls, or case studies in your industry
• 📊 Use Google Forms, Typeform, or even AI tools to analyse trends
• 📌 Create a press kit with charts, infographics, and embed codes

Example: A real estate blog runs a survey on post-COVID home preferences. It earns 40+ backlinks from media and real estate forums.

🎤 Strategy #3: Podcasts & Webinars

Podcast appearances are an underused link building opportunity. You get exposure, networking, and backlinks from episode pages or show notes.

• 🎙️ Pitch yourself as a guest expert to industry podcasts
• 🎥 Host a webinar and collaborate with other speakers
• 📥 Repurpose content into blog posts and embed links to episodes

Pro tip: Use podcast directories or tools like ListenNotes to find shows in your niche.

🛠️ Strategy #4: Linkable Asset Creation

Create content people genuinely want to link to—because it’s useful, interesting, or original.

• 🧮 Tools: ROI calculators, pricing tools, budget estimators
• 📋 Templates: Checklists, SOPs, swipe files
• 🖼️ Visuals: Infographics, charts, timelines

Promote these assets through newsletters, communities (like Indie Hackers or Product Hunt), and outreach to blogs in your space.

📢 Strategy #5: Unlinked Brand Mentions

If your brand is mentioned online but not linked, that’s low-hanging fruit. Simply reach out and ask for a proper link.

• 🔍 Use Ahrefs’ Content Explorer or Google search operators: "your brand" -site:yourdomain.com
• 📩 Contact editors with a polite request to link the mention
• 🔄 Track mentions regularly using tools like Brand24 or BuzzSumo

✍️ Strategy #6: Guest Posting (The Right Way)

Guest posting still works—when done correctly. Skip content farms. Focus on quality, not scale.

• 🔍 Find sites with real traffic and editorial oversight
• 🧑‍💼 Pitch value-driven article ideas that match their audience
• ✒️ Write genuinely useful posts—include one link max to your site

Bonus tip: Use LinkedIn to build relationships before you pitch.

🏆 Strategy #7: Resource Page & Roundup Inclusion

Sites that curate “best tools,” “top blogs,” or “free resources” are link goldmines.

• 🔍 Use Google search to find pages like intitle:resources + your keyword
• 📩 Email the webmaster and explain why your resource is a fit
• 📄 Create your own listicle content and invite others to link back

🤝 Strategy #8: Strategic Partnerships & Collabs

Team up with other brands or creators to produce shared value—and links.

• 🎯 Co-author ebooks or whitepapers
• 🎙️ Run cross-promotional events or webinars
• 🎁 Offer bundled tools, templates, or discounts

These links come naturally from mutual exposure and audience crossover.

🚫 What NOT to Do in 2025

• ❌ Buying links from Fiverr, Facebook groups, or shady marketplaces
• ❌ Using Private Blog Networks (PBNs) or expired domains
• ❌ Over-optimising anchor text (e.g. “best SEO tools free” everywhere)
• ❌ Spamming forums, blog comments, or Reddit with your link

Google’s spam detection is better than ever. Stick to strategies that build authority, not just links.

💬 What the Experts Are Saying

• Brian Dean (Backlinko): “Link building is about relationships and relevance. One link from a great source beats 100 random ones.”

• Deborah Anderson (SEO Content Queen): “PR is the new link building. Get featured, quoted, and cited—it’s SEO gold.”

• Ross Hudgens (Siege Media): “Create linkable assets. Tools, data, and visuals are what attract real, scalable backlinks.”

✅ Final Thoughts

Link building in 2025 is about relationships, value, and reputation. The shortcuts of the past no longer work—but that’s a good thing. SEO today rewards real effort and strategic thinking.

Pick 2–3 of the strategies above. Build systems around them. Focus on link quality, not quantity—and watch your rankings grow steadily, sustainably, and safely.

Remember: You don’t need 1,000 backlinks. You just need the right 50.