If you’re looking to get backlinks fast and strengthen your website’s ranking in search engines, you’re in the right place. Backlinks (links from other websites pointing to yours) remain a key ranking factor. But to do this right — quickly and sustainably — you’ll need strategy, effort, and smart outreach. In this article, I’ll walk you through simple language steps, actionable methods, and tips to build quality backlinks that can boost your SEO.
Why backlinks matter
Backlinks are like recommendations or votes of confidence for your website. When credible sites link to you, search engines (especially Google Search) see your site as more trustworthy and relevant.
However, it’s not just about getting any link. The quality, relevance, and natural placement of links matter hugely.
Also, Backlinks are not just for traditional ranking—they help your brand visibility, authority, and how you show up in “answers” or AI-driven results.
Step 1: Get your foundation ready
Before you jump into building links, take a moment to set up the basics so your efforts pay off faster.
Audit your current link profile
Find out which sites already link to you, which pages get links, and whether there are weak or spammy links. Tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, and Moz can help
Identify your goals
Decide what you want: more traffic? Better ranking for specific keywords? Higher brand mentions? Link-building should align with your SEO goals.
Create “link-worthy” content
You’ll build links faster if you have something worth linking to. For example:
- A detailed guide or “ultimate” resource on a topic
- A data report or survey in your niche
- A useful tool or calculator
- Infographics or visual assets
These work because they give other websites a reason to link to you.
Make sure your site is ready
If your site is slow, mobile-unfriendly, or hard to navigate, you’ll lose the link benefit. Also, when links point to you, ensure the anchor text is relevant, and the link is placed in the body of content (not just in footers/sidebars) for the best value.
Step 2: Quick-win backlink methods
Here are methods you can implement relatively quickly to start gaining backlinks. Some get results fast; others may take a bit of outreach—but they’re all doable.
Method A: Reclaim unlinked mentions
If someone mentions your brand, product, or content but hasn’t linked to your site, this is low-hanging fruit.
- Set up alerts (e.g., with Google Alerts) for your brand name.
- When you find a mention without a link, contact the author politely and ask if they can add the link.
This is one of the fastest ways to gain backlinks.
Method B: Broken link building
Find pages on other websites in your niche that link to dead or broken pages (404s). Then offer your content as a replacement.
- Use tools to find broken links on relevant sites.
- Craft an email: “I noticed your link to X is broken. We have a similar resource here that may fit.”
This is a win-win: you help the other site fix something, and you get a link.
Method C: Guest posting / contribute content
Reach out to blogs, websites, or publications in your industry and offer to write a useful article. Within that article, you can include a link (naturally) back to your site.
Important: Make sure the site is relevant and has real traffic/audience. Don’t just post anywhere.
Method D: Use “best of” / list articles
Sites often publish “Top 10 tools for X” and “Best resources for Y”. If you have a tool/resource, reach out to these list articles, or pitch you be included.
This method helps you gain links from relevant pages.
Method E: Partnering & collaboration
Team up with others in your niche: joint webinars, co-created content, case studies. Each partner can link to the co-content. This gives you links from relevant and trusted sites.
Step 3: That “quick” in “get backlinks quickly” depends on execution
There’s no magic button where you flip and instantly get dozens of high-quality backlinks—but you can speed up the process with smart tactics and constant outreach.
Speed tips:
- Prioritise websites that are relevant and have an audience. Getting a link from a tiny, irrelevant site won’t move the needle much.
- Personalise your outreach. “ Most of the time, people don’t respond to generic ‘Hi, link to me’ emails. Mention something specific about the site; show value.
- Follow up. A gentle reminder after a week or two often helps.
- Track your efforts. Use a sheet to log sites approached, status, and next steps.
- Create content clusters. If you have one strong page, build supporting content and links around it to boost its authority.
- Use multiple methods in parallel (e.g., broken links + guest posts + brand mention reclamation) to increase chances.
Step 4: What to avoid (so you don’t lose ranking instead of gaining)
While trying to get backlinks quickly, you must steer clear of tactics that could backfire.
- Buying links: Paying for links is risky. Google penalises this practice.
- Low-quality or irrelevant links: A link from a spammy site or a site with no relevance can do more harm than good.
- Over-optimised anchor text: If every link to your site uses the same keyword phrase, it appears unnatural. Vary your anchor text.
- Links in footers or sidebars only: A link buried in a footer/sidebar typically carries less weight than one placed in body content.
Step 5: Make sure your link-building continues and improves
Backlink building isn’t a one-time task—it’s an ongoing effort. The faster you act, the quicker you’ll see results, but sustaining and improving is key.
Continuous activities:
- Regular outreach: Set aside time each week to contact sites, propose guest posts, check broken links, etc.
- Monitor your backlink profile: Use analytics to see new links, lost links, and toxic links.
- Create new “link bait” content: Fresh surveys, infographics, how-to guides—anything valuable that others will want to reference.
- Refresh old content: Update older posts to keep them relevant; when you do, you can outreach again for links.
- Leverage your brand mentions: Request one when your brand or content is mentioned without a link.
Example timeline to get moving quickly (first 30 days)
- Days 1-3: Audit your current website, backlink profile, and content.
- Days 4-7: Identify 10–20 sites for outreach (for broken links, guest posts, and list mentions). Draft outreach templates.
- Days 8-14: Create or update “link-worthy” content (e.g., a strong guide, infographic).
- Days 15-21: Send out your first outreach batch: 5 broken link emails, 5 guest post pitches, and 5 mention reclamation notices.
- Days 22-30: Follow up with sites you contacted. Create another small asset (e.g., a list article). Track responses, get links in place. Move to an ongoing weekly schedule.
Final thoughts
Getting backlinks quickly is absolutely possible—but “quick” doesn’t mean “instant and effortless”. It means targeted, smart work over days and weeks rather than months of inactivity.
Focus on quality over quantity, relevance over volume, and always provide value to the sites you’re reaching out to. With the methods above, you’ll build links that not only boost rankings but also strengthen your brand’s authority.
If you like, I can share a ready-to-use outreach email template for broken link building and guest posting. Would you like that?
FAQ’s
How can I get backlinks for free?
You can get free backlinks by creating shareable content, guest posting, fixing broken links, and reaching out to sites that mention your brand. Focus on offering value instead of paying for links — natural, relevant backlinks are more powerful and long-lasting.
How long does it take to see SEO results from backlinks?
Usually, it takes around 2 to 3 months to see visible ranking improvements from new backlinks. The time depends on link quality, domain authority, and competition. High-quality links from trusted websites often deliver faster and more stable SEO results.
Are all backlinks good for SEO?
No. Not all backlinks help your SEO. Links from low-quality or spammy websites can actually harm your ranking. Focus on getting links from relevant, trusted sites in your niche — these are the ones that boost your authority and search visibility.
Can I build backlinks without outreach?
Yes, but it’s slower. You can earn backlinks naturally by publishing unique research, infographics, or useful tools that others cite. However, outreach helps speed things up by directly connecting with sites interested in your content, boosting your backlink growth faster.
How many backlinks do I need to rank higher?
There’s no fixed number — quality matters more than quantity. A few strong backlinks from authoritative websites can outperform dozens of weak ones. Track your top-ranking competitors to estimate how many quality links you might need to compete effectively.