How Many Backlinks Does a Site Have?

Table of Contents

How Many Backlinks Does a Site Have?

If you’re trying to improve your website’s SEO, you’ve probably heard that backlinks play a crucial role in ranking higher on Google. But how do you find out how many backlinks a site has? And more importantly, how many backlinks does your site need to rank well?

In this guide, we’ll answer these questions and walk you through the best tools and techniques to check your backlinks. We’ll also discuss how quality matters more than quantity and share practical tips to build high-authority backlinks for your site.

Why Are Backlinks Important?

Before we dive into counting backlinks, let’s understand why they matter in SEO.

🔗 What are backlinks?
A backlink (or inbound link) is when one website links to another. For example, if a popular blog links to your website, that’s a backlink for you.

📈 Why do backlinks matter?
✅ Higher Rankings: Google sees backlinks as a “vote of confidence.” More high-quality backlinks = higher rankings.
✅ Increased Traffic: A backlink from a high-traffic site can bring referral visitors to your site.
✅ Authority Building: More backlinks from trusted sources improve your domain authority.

💡 Fun Fact:
Google’s algorithm was originally built around backlinks with PageRank, and backlinks are still one of the top-ranking factors today!

How Many Backlinks Does a Site Have? (Checking Your Backlinks)

If you want to know how many backlinks your site has, you need SEO tools that track backlinks. Let’s go through the best methods to check.

1. Use Google Search Console (Free Method)

Google Search Console gives you free access to your backlink data directly from Google.

🔹 How to check backlinks in Google Search Console:
1️⃣ Go to Google Search Console.
2️⃣ Click on “Links” in the left menu.
3️⃣ Look at the “Top Linking Sites” (this shows the domains linking to you).
4️⃣ Click “More” to see the total number of backlinks to your site.

Pros: Free, data comes directly from Google.
Cons: Limited insights, doesn’t show competitor backlinks.

2. Use Ahrefs (Most Accurate Paid Tool)

Ahrefs is one of the best SEO tools for backlink analysis.

🔹 How to check backlinks in Ahrefs:
1️⃣ Go to Ahrefs Site Explorer.
2️⃣ Enter your website URL.
3️⃣ Click on “Backlinks” in the left menu.
4️⃣ Ahrefs will show the exact number of backlinks, linking domains, and their authority.

Pros: Highly accurate, shows competitor backlinks.
Cons: Paid tool, requires a subscription.

3. Use SEMrush (All-in-One SEO Tool)

SEMrush is another powerful SEO tool that tracks backlinks.

🔹 How to check backlinks in SEMrush:
1️⃣ Go to SEMrush Backlink Analytics.
2️⃣ Enter your website URL.
3️⃣ Click on “Backlinks” to see a detailed backlink report.

Pros: Comprehensive insights, shows spammy backlinks.
Cons: Paid tool, may not be as detailed as Ahrefs.

4. Use Moz Link Explorer (Alternative Free Option)

Moz Link Explorer is a free tool that lets you check backlinks (with some limitations).

🔹 How to check backlinks in Moz:
1️⃣ Go to Moz Link Explorer.
2️⃣ Enter your website URL.
3️⃣ Click “Analyze” to see your backlink profile.

Pros: Free for basic use.
Cons: Limited data compared to Ahrefs/SEMrush.

How Many Backlinks Do You Need to Rank?

Now that you know how many backlinks your site has, you might be wondering: How many backlinks do I need to rank #1?

📌 The answer? It depends!

✅ Keyword Competition: Low-competition keywords may only need a few backlinks, while competitive ones may require hundreds.
✅ Domain Authority: If your site has high authority, you may need fewer backlinks.
✅ Quality Over Quantity: 10 high-quality backlinks are better than 100 low-quality ones.

How to Get High-Quality Backlinks (Step-by-Step Guide)

If you want to increase your backlinks, follow these proven strategies:

1. Guest Blogging (Best for Authority Backlinks)

✅ Find reputable blogs in your niche.
✅ Offer to write a high-quality guest post with a link back to your site.
✅ Example: If you run an SEO blog, write for marketing websites like HubSpot or SEMrush.

2. Broken Link Building (Easy Win Strategy)

✅ Use Ahrefs or Check My Links Chrome Extension to find broken links.
✅ Reach out to the website owner and suggest your content as a replacement.
✅ They get a fixed link, and you get a free backlink!

3. HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

✅ Sign up for HARO.
✅ Respond to journalist requests with expert quotes.
✅ Get backlinks from high-authority sites like Forbes, Business Insider, etc.

4. Create Shareable Infographics

✅ Design useful infographics with Canva or Adobe Illustrator.
✅ Reach out to bloggers and offer them your infographic in exchange for a link.

Case Study: How a Small Business Got 300+ Backlinks in 6 Months

Talha Siddiq, a seasoned SEO expert with 7 years of experience in digital marketing, worked with a small tech startup struggling with backlinks.

The Problem:

🚨 Low domain authority
🚨 Stagnant rankings
🚨 No organic backlinks

The Strategy:

✅ Created valuable blog content targeting niche-specific keywords.
✅ Used HARO to secure high-authority links.
✅ Partnered with bloggers for guest posts.

📈 The Results?

300+ new backlinks from high-quality domains
Organic traffic increased by 120%
Ranked on Page 1 for multiple keywords

🚀 Backlink building works—if done strategically!

FAQs About Backlinks & SEO

1. What is a good number of backlinks?

There’s no perfect number, but sites with 100+ quality backlinks tend to rank higher.

2. Do backlinks from social media count?

Social media links are “no-follow”, meaning they don’t pass SEO value, but they can drive traffic and brand visibility.

3. How long does it take to see results from backlinks?

Backlink impact varies, but most sites see improvements within 2-6 months.

4. Are paid backlinks worth it?

No! Google penalizes sites using paid backlinks. Focus on organic link-building instead.

Final Thoughts: Why Backlinks Matter for SEO

Backlinks are a game-changer in SEO. If you want to outrank competitors, boost traffic, and build authority, focus on high-quality backlink strategies.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

✅ Check your backlinks regularly using Google Search Console or Ahrefs.
✅ Quality matters more than quantity—focus on high-authority links.
✅ Use guest blogging, HARO, and broken link building to gain links.

🚀 Want more backlinks? Get expert SEO help today!