Get Backlinks: The Only 5 Tactics That Still Work in 2025

You've probably heard it a thousand times: "backlinks are dead" or "Google doesn't care about links anymore."

Both are wrong.

A Backlinko study of 11.8 million search results found that a site's overall link authority strongly correlates with higher rankings, and the #1 result in Google has an average of 3.8x more backlinks than positions #2-#10. The truth? More than 90% of websites receive no organic traffic, according to Ahrefs, frequently as a result of having no backlinks at all.

Links aren't dead. Bad link building is.

The spam tactics from 2015 won't just fail—they'll get you penalized. But there are five strategies that actually work in 2025, and this guide shows you exactly how to use them.

Why Most Link Building Advice Fails You

Here's the problem: most link building guides tell you to "create great content and links will come naturally."

That's like saying "make a great product and customers will find you." It sounds nice, but it's not how the real world works.

66.31% of pages don't have even a single backlink, and 94% of all blog posts have zero external links. The "build it and they will come" mentality doesn't work. You need to actively earn links.

The good news? There are proven tactics that work—if you do them right.

1. Respond to Journalist Requests (The HARO Method)

What it is: Answer questions from journalists who need expert sources, and get featured in their articles with a backlink.

Why it works: Journalists and bloggers need sources for their stories, and they're tasked with producing content with technical accuracy, key insights, and credibility. By providing value first, you're solving their problem while earning high-authority links.

How to do it:

• Sign up as a source on platforms like Connectively (formerly HARO), Featured, or Qwoted
• Check your email 3x daily for relevant journalist queries
• Respond within hours with specific, detailed answers (not generic pitches)
• Include your credentials and a brief bio

The catch: These days, using tools like HARO to score high-authority backlinks is hard work. You'll compete with dozens or hundreds of other experts. Your pitch must be original, copy-paste ready, and valuable.

Pro tip: Don't talk about your product or service—just share genuine expertise. If the journalist asks about the best project management tools and you say "mine," you won't get published.

2. Fix Broken Links (The Helper's Advantage)

What it is: Find broken links on other websites, then offer your content as a replacement.

Why it works: You're offering help first, then asking for a link—flipping the script from link begging to providing value. Website owners want to fix broken links because they hurt user experience and SEO.

How to do it:

• Use tools like Ahrefs or Check My Links to find broken external links on competitor sites
• Verify the broken link actually returns a 404 error
• Create content that matches or improves on what the dead page offered
• Email the site owner with a friendly heads-up about the broken link and suggest your content as a replacement

The reality: At least 66.5% of links to sites in the last nine years are dead, so opportunities exist. But broken link building is only considered effective by about 18% of SEOs because most people do it wrong.

Focus on broken links from high-authority pages with traffic. A link from a buried page no one visits won't help your rankings.

3. Create Link-Worthy Research or Data

What it is: Publish original research, statistics, or data that others naturally want to cite.

Why it works: People love to link to stats, especially if you package them well. When you become the original source for data in your niche, other content creators will link to you without you asking.

How to do it:

• Survey your customers or industry professionals
• Analyze existing data to find new insights
• Publish your findings in a clear, visual format
• Reach out to sites that cover your topic and mention the research

Example: A study on Google click-through rates or blog content performance can earn hundreds of backlinks because writers need credible sources to back up their claims.

The investment: This requires time and sometimes money to gather data. But one solid research piece can generate backlinks for years.

4. Guest Post (But Only the Right Way)

What it is: Write articles for other websites in your industry, including a link back to your site.

Why it (sometimes) works: Guest posting got a bad reputation for a reason, but it still works when done correctly. The key is contributing genuinely valuable content to sites where your ideal audience already hangs out.

How to do it right:

• Target sites with real traffic and engaged readers (not guest post farms)
• Pitch unique, specific article ideas—never generic topics
• Write your absolute best content (better than what you publish on your own site)
• Include 1-2 natural, contextual links (not forced anchor text)

What to avoid: Mass outreach emails, low-quality content, or sites that accept anything. Publishers are increasingly wary of guest-post requests, seeing them as spammy or low-quality content farms.

Directory opportunity: Submit your tool or product to quality directories like Awesome Tools. These curated listings provide targeted backlinks from relevant audiences actively looking for solutions. Browse tools by category to see if your niche is covered.

5. Turn Brand Mentions into Links

What it is: Find places where people mention your brand without linking, then ask them to add a link.

Why it works: They already know and trust you enough to mention you. Adding a link is a small ask that usually gets approved.

How to do it:

• Set up Google Alerts for your brand name
• Use tools like BuzzSumo or Semrush Media Monitoring to find unlinked mentions
• Reach out politely: "Hey, thanks for mentioning us! Would you mind adding a link so readers can find us?"

The advantage: This is low-effort, high-success outreach. People rarely say no because they've already endorsed you.

What About Directory Submissions?

Directory submissions get a bad rap, but quality matters more than quantity.

Spammy, low-authority directories won't help (and might hurt). But getting listed on industry-specific, curated directories like Awesome Tools can drive targeted traffic and provide a relevant backlink.

Look for directories that:

• Actually review submissions (not auto-approve everything)
• Have real traffic and engaged users
• Focus on your specific niche or industry
• Require domain authority of 20+ for listings

Awesome Tools vets every submission and only lists tools with proven authority, ensuring you're building links from a credible source. Submit your tool here if you have a DR of 20 or higher.

The Biggest Mistake You're Making

You're not following up.

Most outreach gets ignored—not because your pitch is bad, but because people are busy. You need to gently nudge the person without being pushy.

The follow-up formula:

• Wait 5-7 days after your initial email
• Send a brief, friendly reminder
• Reference your original email
• Make it easy for them to say yes (include the link, suggested anchor text, etc.)

Bottom Line: Quality Over Everything

The goal is to get backlinks from QUALITY sites—reread that ten times. One link from a high-authority, relevant site beats 100 links from random blogs.

Focus on:

• Relevance to your niche
• Site authority (DR 30+ is a good baseline)
• Real traffic and engagement
• Natural link placement

Avoid:

• Buying links
• Link exchanges or schemes
• Comment spam
• Low-quality guest post sites

The tactics in this guide work because they provide genuine value. You're not gaming the system—you're becoming part of the conversation in your industry.

Start with one tactic. Master it. Then add another. That's how you build a backlink profile that actually moves the needle.