How to Get More Backlinks and Boost Rankings

If you’ve been wondering how to get more backlinks to improve your search engine rankings, you’re not alone. Backlinks are one of the most powerful tools in your SEO toolbox—but they’re also one of the trickiest to get. For many companies, especially those seeking SEO services for small business, the backlink game can feel overwhelming. But with the right strategy and some creative thinking, it’s entirely possible to start building a strong backlink profile that drives real results.

At Hospitable Content, we specialize in helping businesses grow their online presence through content strategy, SEO management, and digital PR. Whether you’re new to SEO or have been trying to build authority for a while, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know about getting more backlinks—both paid and free—ethically and effectively.

Backlinks, also known as “inbound links” or “incoming links,” are links from one website to a page on another website. Search engines like Google see backlinks as votes of confidence—if other websites are linking to your content, it must be valuable and trustworthy.

There are many types of backlinks, including dofollow (which pass link equity and are ideal for SEO) and nofollow (which don't pass SEO value but can still drive traffic). Backlinks can come from blog posts, news articles, business directories, social media profiles, and more. The key is not just getting any backlink—but getting the right kind of backlink from reputable, relevant sources.

Backlinks play a vital role in how search engines rank websites. When search engines crawl the web, they follow backlinks to discover new pages and understand the relationship between different pieces of content. Websites with a higher number of high-quality backlinks tend to rank better because they are viewed as more authoritative and relevant.

Some benefits of building a strong backlink profile include:

• Higher search engine rankings

• Increased organic traffic

• Improved domain authority

• More referral traffic from other sites

• Greater trust and credibility in your niche

In short, backlinks are essential if you want your website to be found by more people—and trusted by search engines.

If you're serious about growing your visibility, it's time to implement a few strategic approaches. Below are some paid methods you can use to get backlinks quickly and efficiently.

Partnering with influencers in your industry is a smart way to tap into their audiences and gain high-quality backlinks. Sponsored posts typically involve paying a content creator or industry influencer to publish an article, video, or social media post that includes a link back to your website.

How to do it:

• Identify influencers in your niche using tools like BuzzSumo or Creator.co.

• Reach out directly through email or their media kit.

• Negotiate pricing and provide the content or messaging.

• Ensure the post includes a dofollow link to your target page.

This method helps you access an engaged audience while also gaining valuable links from established platforms.

Press releases are a time-tested way to gain authoritative backlinks. When you publish on platforms like PR Newswire, Business Wire, GlobeNewswire, or PRWeb, your press release can be syndicated across hundreds of media sites.

How to do it:

• Write a well-structured, newsworthy press release.

• Submit it to reputable distribution platforms.

• Pay the required fees for wide distribution and maximum reach.

While these services charge for publication, the ROI can be significant—especially if your release gets picked up by journalists or news outlets.

Broken link building is an effective, often overlooked tactic. The idea is to find broken links on other websites and recommend your content as a replacement.

How to do it:

• Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to search competitor backlinks and filter for broken ones.

• Reach out to the website owner, politely point out the broken link, and suggest your page as a suitable alternative.

• Keep your message concise, helpful, and relevant.

This approach helps webmasters improve their user experience while earning you a backlink in the process.

If you’re not ready to invest in paid placements, there are still plenty of ways to get backlinks at no cost. Below are a few ethical and effective methods to start today.

Believe it or not, linking out to other reputable sites can encourage them to link back to you. It shows respect for their content, opens the door to collaboration, and creates the potential for reciprocal linking.

How to do it:

• Link to authoritative, relevant sources in your content.

• Notify the site owner or tag them on social media.

• Build relationships over time to encourage future backlinks.

Many sites appreciate the shout-out and may link back to your content in return.

Qwoted and HARO (Help a Reporter Out) are platforms that connect journalists with expert sources. If you're featured in a story, you’ll often get a link back to your website.

How to do it:

• Sign up for free on Qwoted.com and HelpAReporter.com.

• Monitor daily queries and respond with thoughtful pitches.

• Be consistent and fast—journalists work on tight deadlines.

This method is excellent for building authority and earning media coverage at no cost.

Online directories and content aggregators can provide valuable backlinks—especially niche directories related to your industry.

How to do it:

• Submit content to websites like EzineArticles, GoArticles, ArticleCity, and Featured.com.

• Follow their editorial guidelines and optimize your bio section with your backlink.

• Focus on writing helpful, non-promotional content to get approved.

While directory links aren’t as powerful as others, they can still diversify your backlink profile.

Guest posting is one of the oldest and most effective ways to build backlinks. Writing valuable content for another site allows you to include a link to your website naturally.

How to do it:

• Search for related brands or blogs in your industry.

• Look for a PR or editorial contact on their website.

• Pitch a unique topic idea and explain how it benefits their audience.

• Include a backlink in your author bio or within the content.

Focus on websites with solid domain authority to maximize the SEO impact.

Don’t overlook free PR platforms—they’re still a great way to get exposure and backlinks. Many also offer both free and paid membership options.

Top free sites include:

• PRLog.org

• PR.com 

• Express-press-release.net

• Send2press.com 

How to do it:

• Write a concise, newsworthy press release.

• Include one or two backlinks to relevant pages on your site.

• Submit to multiple platforms for wider reach.

While free sites have limitations compared to paid ones, they still improve visibility and SEO authority.

The best way to earn organic backlinks? Make content worth linking to. If your blog posts, guides, or landing pages offer real value, people will naturally want to share and reference them.

How to do it:

• Write content that's informative, original, and engaging.

• Create original data from surveys, studies, etc.

• Optimize for search engines with strategic keywords, alt text, and meta descriptions.

• Include visuals like infographics, videos, and charts to increase user experience and shareability.

• Keep your content updated regularly.

When you create content that solves problems, answers questions, or offers insights, other websites will link to it as a resource.

Backlinks remain one of the most powerful ranking signals in SEO, and learning how to get more backlinks—whether paid or free—is essential for improving your website’s visibility. From publishing press releases and paying for influencer posts to leveraging tools like HARO and creating irresistible content, there are countless ways to strengthen your backlink profile.

At Hospitable Content, we help brands develop ethical and strategic backlink strategies that align with their content goals and SEO objectives. Whether you need help with press release writing, content management, or SEO services for small business, our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Contact us today for a free quote and let's start boosting your rankings together.