Imagine you’re throwing a party. You spend weeks preparing, inviting all the right people, and making sure everything is perfect. But on the day of the party, a few unwelcome guests show up and ruin the atmosphere. This is exactly what happens when you get bad backlinks for your website. They might seem harmless at first, but they can seriously damage your SEO efforts.
Let’s be honest, navigating the world of SEO can be overwhelming. With so many strategies and techniques out there, it’s easy to make mistakes—especially when it comes to backlinks. Not all backlinks are created equal, and some can do more harm than good. But don’t worry! We’re here to help you avoid these pitfalls.
Run this checklist when you consider getting or buying a backlink, and you’ll avoid 90% of mistakes for that part of SEO. Let’s dive into the 27 reasons why some backlinks are just plain bad.
Spammy or Irrelevant Domain Names for Backlinks
Backlinks from domains with spammy or irrelevant names can hurt your SEO. They signal to Google that your website is associated with low-quality or unrelated content, which can lead to lower rankings and decreased visibility.
Check for High Spam Scores before Accepting Backlinks
A high spam score indicates that the website is considered spammy by search engines. Backlinks from such sites can damage your site’s credibility and ranking, making it harder for your audience to find you. Always check the spam score before considering a backlink.
Prioritize High Domain Authority Websites for Backlinks
Domain authority (DA) measures the strength of a website. Backlinks from sites with low DA (below 15) provide little to no SEO benefit. Instead, focus on earning links from high-authority sites to boost your own site’s credibility and ranking.
Avoid Backlinks from Penalized or Unindexed Websites
If a site has been penalized and is not indexed by Google, any backlinks from it are worthless. Google won’t recognize these links, making them useless for SEO. Avoid sites with penalties to keep your SEO strategy clean and effective.
Prefer Original, Non-Spammy Content in Backlinks
Duplicate or spammy content on the backlinking site can hurt your SEO. Google penalizes sites associated with low-quality content, which can drag your site down if you’re linked to them. Prioritize backlinks from sites with original, valuable content.
Build a Diverse Backlink Profile for Better SEO
A diverse backlink profile is crucial for SEO. If a site only has backlinks from a single type of source, it appears unnatural and can raise red flags with search engines. Aim for a mix of links from various reputable sources to strengthen your backlink profile.
Seek Backlinks from Websites with Real Traffic
Backlinks from sites with no real traffic offer no value. These sites are often considered low-quality by Google, meaning links from them won’t help your SEO. Seek backlinks from sites with genuine, engaged visitors to enhance your site’s authority.
Verify ‘About Us’ Page Quality for Backlinks
An unprofessional or nonexistent About Us page can indicate a low-quality site. Trustworthy sites usually have a detailed and professional About Us section. This adds credibility, so ensure the sites you get backlinks from have a solid About Us page.
Avoid Websites Overloaded with Ads for Backlinks
Avoid obtaining backlinks from websites that have 8+ ads loading on each page, as Google views such sites as spammy, potentially harming your SEO. Instead, prioritize sites that maintain a balanced mix of content and advertisements to safeguard your site’s reputation.
Ensure Backlinks Are from Sites with Identified Authors
Anonymity can be a red flag. Trustworthy sites typically have clear author attribution, indicating transparency and credibility. Backlinks from sites without identifiable authors might not be reliable or valuable for your SEO.
Choose Relevant Language and Country for Backlinks
Backlinks from sites in different languages or countries might not be relevant to your audience, reducing their SEO value. Ensure your backlinks come from sites that match your target market’s language and location for better relevance and impact.
Prefer Niche-Specific Websites for Quality Backlinks
Sites with content on a wide range of unrelated topics can seem unfocused and less credible, offering little SEO benefit. Backlinks from niche-specific sites that align with your content are more valuable and can boost your site’s authority in your field.
Look for Backlinks from Websites with Active Social Media
A lack of social media presence can indicate a low-quality or inactive site. Backlinks from such sites might not be valuable. Look for sites with active social media profiles, as they are often more credible and engaged with their audience.
Prioritize Backlinks from Socially Active Websites
If a site has social media accounts but no activity, it might not be a reliable source for backlinks. Active engagement is a sign of a credible site. Ensure the sites you get backlinks from are active and engaging on social media for better SEO value.
The website has No SSL Certificate
Sites without SSL certificates are not secure and are flagged by Google. Backlinks from unsecured sites can hurt your SEO. Prioritize backlinks from sites with SSL certificates to ensure your site’s credibility and security.
Check for Natural Traffic Patterns in Backlinks
Unnatural traffic patterns can indicate manipulation or spam. Backlinks from such sites might not be trustworthy. Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and Google Analytics to check for traffic spikes, analyze traffic sources, and ensure the sites you link to have steady, organic traffic. Look for consistent visitor behavior, low bounce rates, and high engagement metrics to verify the credibility of potential backlink sources.
Value User Engagement on Websites Offering Backlinks
User engagement is a strong indicator of a site’s credibility and authority. Low engagement, such as minimal comments, likes, shares or other interactions, can signal that a site may not be trustworthy or authoritative. For valuable backlinks, look for sites with high user interaction metrics. Analyze the site’s bounce rate, average session duration, and pages per session using tools like Google Analytics. Prioritizing backlinks from highly engaged sites can enhance your own site’s SEO and trustworthiness.
Diversify Content Types in Backlink Sources
Sites that only offer one type of content, like “How-Tos,” can appear less authoritative. Search engines prefer sites with diverse content, indicating broader expertise. When seeking backlinks, aim for sites that feature a range of content types, including blog posts, articles, infographics, videos, case studies, and whitepapers. Check metrics like content variety, publication frequency, and user interaction levels. Sites with a rich mix of content types are more likely to provide valuable backlinks that enhance your SEO and contribute to a stronger and credible backlink profile.
The Text is Fully AI-Written (Uses ‘delve’, ‘navigate’)
AI-written content often lacks the nuance and quality of human-written content. Google’s algorithms can detect AI-generated text, which can reduce the value of backlinks from such sites. When evaluating backlink sources, use tools like Copyscape to check for originality and analyze the site’s content quality. Opt for sites with authentic, high-quality content created by real authors, as these are more likely to provide valuable backlinks that enhance your SEO efforts. Look for author bios, consistent publishing patterns, and engagement metrics to ensure the credibility of the content.
The Site Has Poor Design and User Experience
Poor design and UX can indicate a low-quality site. Backlinks from such sites are less valuable for SEO. Ensure the sites you get backlinks from are well-designed and offer a good user experience to enhance your site’s reputation.
Avoid Websites with Sudden Backlink Spikes for SEO
A sudden increase in backlinks can indicate manipulation. Google may penalize sites involved in such practices. Look for sites with a natural, steady growth in backlinks to avoid negative SEO impacts.
Ensure Relevant Anchor Texts in Backlinks for SEO
Relevant anchor texts are crucial for SEO. Irrelevant or spammy anchor texts can harm your site’s credibility. Make sure the anchor texts in the backlinks you get are relevant and add value to your content.
Its Backlinks Come from Shady Niches (e.g., XXX, Drugs)
Backlinks from disreputable niches can negatively impact your site’s reputation and SEO. Avoid links from shady niches and focus on getting backlinks from reputable, relevant sites.
The Website Does Not Drive Any Referral Traffic
Backlinks should ideally bring in referral traffic. If a site fails to do so, its backlinks might not be valuable. Check if the site drives referral traffic to ensure the backlinks you get are beneficial for your SEO.
Verify Analytics Availability for Credible Backlinks
Transparency is key when evaluating backlink sources. If a site owner can’t provide analytics, it might not be a credible source for backlinks. Look for sites that offer clear analytics data, such as traffic stats, engagement rates, and audience demographics. Use tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush to verify these metrics. By choosing backlinks from sites with verifiable analytics, you can ensure they contribute positively to your SEO strategy and enhance your site’s credibility.
The Site Has Too Many Outbound Links
Sites with too many outbound links can appear spammy. Backlinks from such sites are often less valuable. Ensure the sites you get backlinks from have a balanced number of outbound links to maintain their credibility.
It Has 2x More Linked Domains than Referring Domains
A high ratio of linked to referring domains can indicate a manipulative backlink profile. Google might penalize sites engaged in such practices. Look for sites with a healthy balance of linked and referring domains to avoid SEO penalties.
