To get backlinks to a new website, create a few pages worth citing (a free tool, original data or a genuinely better guide), then promote them to people who already link to similar resources. Add journalist requests, podcasts, partner pages and unlinked mentions on top. Skip paid links and PBNs; Google treats both as link spam.
Key takeaways
- New sites don't struggle because outreach is hard. They struggle because they have nothing yet that another site gains by linking to.
- Free tools and original data are the two link magnets r/SEO recommends most, and they work without a budget.
- Journalist request platforms, podcasts, partner pages and brand mentions are the fastest early wins.
- Buying links or using PBNs breaks Google's spam policies. The risk is highest for a new site that has no other links to fall back on.
Why new sites struggle to get backlinks
"How do I get backlinks?" is probably the most repeated question on r/SEO. The answers usually split into two camps: "just make great content" (true but vague) and "buy guest posts" (fast but risky). Neither helps much on day one.
Here's the real problem. A link is a favour to the linker's readers. When a new site emails a stranger asking for a link, the stranger asks one question: what does my audience get from this? If the honest answer is "another version of an article you've read ten times", you get ignored.
New sites also face a few structural issues:
- No track record. Editors and journalists check who you are. A two-month-old domain with no About page and no author bio doesn't pass that check.
- Nothing ranks yet. Many links come passively, from writers who search Google for a source and cite whatever they find. If you're not on page one, you don't get those. (If your pages aren't even indexed, fix that first: see why your website is not showing on Google.)
- Cold outreach fatigue. Site owners get so many generic link requests that most go straight to spam.
So learning how to get backlinks on a new site starts before outreach. You need one or two assets that make saying yes easy, and content planned around what people in your niche actually cite. My content writing strategy covers how to pick those topics.
How to get backlinks: 12 tactics that work in 2026
These are ordered roughly from "build the asset" to "promote it". None of them needs a budget, only time. If you're working out how to get backlinks from zero, start with one asset (tactic 1 or 2) and the quick wins (tactics 4, 6 and 8).
1. Build a free tool
This is the tactic Reddit threads recommend most, and for good reason. A small calculator, checker or generator solves a problem every time someone uses it, so bloggers, teachers and forum users link to it without being asked.
It doesn't need to be clever. Word counters, meta tag previews, ROI calculators, schema generators and unit converters all attract links in their niches. Pick a task your audience repeats weekly and build the simplest version that works.
2. Publish original data
Journalists and bloggers need numbers to quote. If you're the source of the number, you get the link.
You don't need a big budget. Options that cost nothing but time:
- Survey your email list or a relevant community (with permission).
- Analyse public data sets and publish what you find.
- Run a small test (for example, 50 pages with and without a change) and share the full results, including what didn't work.
Make the key findings quotable: one sentence per stat, a chart per finding and a clear methodology section. Well-sourced data pages also tend to get cited in AI answers, which I cover in GEO vs SEO.
3. Digital PR and reactive commentary
When your industry has news (a Google update, a new law, a price change), journalists need expert quotes fast. Publish a quick, well-sourced reaction piece and send a short comment to reporters covering the story. Being early and useful matters more than being famous.
4. Journalist request platforms (HARO alternatives)
HARO, the original "Help a Reporter Out" service, was closed by Cision in late 2024 and then bought by Featured.com, which announced the acquisition in 2025. Several services now fill the same gap: Featured.com, Qwoted, Source of Sources (from HARO's original founder, Peter Shankman), Help a B2B Writer and SourceBottle.
The workflow is the same on each. Reporters post questions, you answer the relevant ones quickly and specifically, and some of those answers get quoted with a link. Pricing and free tiers change often, so check each platform's current plans before you sign up. At the time of writing, Qwoted's free plan allows two pitches a month (new requests appear after a two-hour delay), Featured.com's free plan caps daily usage, and Source of Sources is free.
5. Podcast guesting
Podcast hosts need a steady supply of guests, and most episode pages link to the guest's site. Niche podcasts with small audiences are easier to get on and often more relevant. Pitch one specific topic you can speak on, not your life story.
6. Partner, supplier and integration pages
Every business has relationships that can turn into links: software you integrate with, suppliers you buy from, agencies you work with, associations you belong to, events you speak at. Many of them have "partners", "customers" or "members" pages. Ask to be listed.
A note on Google's policies: normal business relationships are fine. What Google calls out is "partner pages exclusively for the sake of cross-linking."
7. Guest posts on real sites
Guest posting still works when it's editorial: you write something useful for a site whose audience overlaps with yours, and the link comes from a relevant author bio or in-content reference. It stops working (and becomes a policy problem) when it's a paid scheme with keyword-stuffed anchors. My full process is in the guest post strategy guide.
8. Unlinked brand mentions
Once people start talking about you, some will mention your name without a link. Set up Google Alerts for your brand and your name, then send a friendly note asking them to add the link. It's the easiest outreach there is, because they already chose to mention you.
9. Broken link building
Find pages in your niche that link to a resource that's now dead (a 404 or an expired domain). If you have a page that covers the same thing, let the site owner know about the broken link and suggest yours as a replacement. You're fixing their page, so the pitch is helpful rather than self-serving.
10. Resource and "useful links" pages
Many sites keep curated lists: universities, libraries, local councils, industry associations and bloggers who maintain "best resources" pages. Search for "your topic" + "useful resources" or "your topic" + inurl:links. Only pitch when your page genuinely belongs on the list.
11. Testimonials and case studies
Write a short, honest testimonial for a tool or service you actually use. Many companies publish testimonials with a link to the customer's site. Even better, offer to be a case study. Keep it genuine; a fake review for a link is exactly the kind of thing that backfires.
12. Community participation (for visibility, not links)
Reddit, Quora, niche forums, Slack and Discord groups rarely give followed links; most platforms mark them with rel="ugc" or nofollow. But answering questions well gets your name in front of the writers and site owners who do link. Treat communities as a visibility channel that feeds every other tactic here.
Comparison: which backlink tactics suit a new site
| Tactic | Cost | Effort | Speed to first link | Typical link quality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free tool | Time or small dev cost | High upfront, low ongoing | Slow start, then steady | High, often passive | Any niche with repeat tasks |
| Original data study | Time | High | Medium | High, press-worthy | B2B, marketing, finance |
| Digital PR / reactive | Time | Medium | Fast when news breaks | High | Sites with clear expertise |
| Journalist request platforms | Free tiers or paid plans | Medium, daily | Fast | Varies widely | Experts with a clear niche |
| Podcast guesting | Free | Medium | Medium | Medium, relevant | Founders, consultants |
| Partner and supplier pages | Free | Low | Fast | Medium, relevant | Any business with partners |
| Guest posts (editorial) | Free | High per link | Medium | Medium to high | Building topical relevance |
| Unlinked mentions | Free | Low | Fast | Medium | Brands with some buzz |
| Broken link building | Free | High research | Medium | Medium | Sites with strong resource pages |
| Resource pages | Free | Medium | Medium | Medium | Education, local, how-to sites |
| Testimonials | Free | Low | Fast | Low to medium | SaaS users |
| Communities | Free | Ongoing | Indirect | Usually nofollow/ugc | Brand awareness |
The speed and quality columns are my rough judgement, not measured data. Your niche will change them.
What to avoid: PBNs, paid links and link schemes
Some shortcuts get sold hard to anyone searching how to get backlinks fast. Here's what they are and why I don't use them.
PBNs
A PBN (private blog network) is a group of websites controlled by one person or seller, often built on expired domains that still have old backlinks. The sites exist mainly to link to "money" sites and pass ranking value. They're cheap to join and can show short-term movement, which is why they're still sold everywhere.
They're also exactly what Google's spam policies target. Google's link spam examples include buying links, excessive link exchanges and "using automated programs or services to create links to your site." When a network gets detected, the links can stop counting, and manual actions are possible.
Paid links that pass ranking credit
Paying for a link isn't illegal, and sponsorships and ads are normal. The rule is that paid links must be marked. Google says it's "not a violation of our policies to have such links as long as they are qualified with a rel="nofollow" or rel="sponsored" attribute value." Google's guide to qualifying outbound links explains when to use each.
The catch: a sponsored link won't pass ranking value, so most "guest post packages" sell unmarked links. That's the part that breaks the policy.
Other things to skip
- Link exchanges at scale ("I'll link to you if you link to me" with dozens of sites)
- Automated directory and comment blasts
- Widget or theme footer links with keyword-rich anchors
- Sites that exist only to sell guest posts, with every article carrying outbound links
For a new site, the risk is lopsided. An established site with thousands of good links can absorb some bad ones. A site with a dozen links built mostly on a PBN has nothing to fall back on.
Outreach templates that don't sound like spam
Good outreach is short, personal and about the recipient. Use these as starting points and rewrite them in your own words every time.
Template 1: Broken link
Subject: Broken link on your [topic] page
Hi [Name], I was reading your [page title] and noticed the link to [dead resource] returns a 404. I've written a guide that covers the same thing, updated for 2026: [URL]. Might be a useful replacement. Either way, thanks for the list, I found [specific item] helpful.
[Your name]
Template 2: Unlinked mention
Subject: Thanks for mentioning [brand]
Hi [Name], thanks for including [brand] in [article title]. Would you be open to linking the mention to [URL] so readers can find it? No worries if not. Appreciate you featuring us.
Template 3: Journalist or podcast pitch
Subject: Expert angle on [news or topic]
Hi [Name], I saw you cover [beat]. I'm [name], I [one line of relevant experience]. On [topic], most coverage says [common view], but [your specific, evidence-backed angle]. Happy to send a 100-word quote or join as a guest. Background: [link to your best related page].
Template 4: Partner or supplier page
Subject: Listing on your partners page
Hi [Name], we've been using [product] since [time] for [use case]. I noticed your [partners/customers] page and wondered if you'd list us. Happy to send a short testimonial or case study too.
Follow up once after about a week. If there's no reply after that, move on.
Your 90-day plan for link building for new sites
Here's how I'd spend the first three months on a new site with no budget. It's the practical answer to how to get backlinks without shortcuts, and it slots into a wider SEO strategy template if you use one.
- Days 1–7: fix the basics. Add a real About page, author bios and contact details. Make sure the site is indexed and loads reliably. Editors check these before linking.
- Days 1–14: pick one link asset. Choose either a free tool or an original data piece based on what your audience needs. Scope it so you can ship in two to three weeks.
- Days 7–14: collect easy links. List every partner, supplier, association, event and tool you use. Send the partner-page and testimonial templates.
- Days 7–90: answer journalist requests. Sign up for two platforms and spend 20 to 30 minutes a day replying only to queries where you have real expertise.
- Days 15–35: build and launch the asset. Publish it with a clear title, a methodology or how-it-works section and an easy embed or citation line.
- Days 30–60: promote the asset. Find pages that link to similar tools or data (use a free backlink checker on competitor assets) and send personal outreach.
- Days 30–60: pitch three to five podcasts and guest posts. Choose sites and shows whose audience matches yours. Link back to the asset where it genuinely helps.
- Days 45–90: run broken link and resource page outreach. Work through 10 to 20 prospects a week.
- Days 60–90: set up a reactive PR routine. When industry news breaks, publish a fast reaction and pitch it the same day.
- Day 90: review. Count referring domains won per tactic, then double down on the two tactics that worked and drop the rest. Track links alongside the other SEO KPIs so you can see whether they're moving rankings.
Expect slow early numbers. Link building for new sites compounds: the first links make the site credible enough to earn the next ones. I explain realistic timelines in how long SEO takes. For how links fit into the rest of your plan, see my step-by-step guide to ranking a website.
Frequently asked questions
How to create backlinks to your site?
Create something worth citing, such as a free tool, original data or a clearly better guide. Then earn links through journalist requests, podcasts, partner pages, guest posts, broken link outreach and unlinked brand mentions. Avoid buying links or joining networks, since Google treats those as link spam.
How to get good quality backlinks?
Target sites that are relevant to your topic, have real readers and link editorially. Earn those links by offering something their audience needs: expert quotes, data, a useful tool or a replacement for a broken resource. One relevant editorial link usually beats many links from unrelated or low-quality sites.
What are PBN links?
PBN links come from a private blog network: a group of sites, often built on expired domains, controlled by one owner to pass ranking value to other sites. Google's spam policies treat this kind of manipulative linking as link spam, and detected links can be ignored or trigger manual actions.
How many backlinks does a new website need?
There's no fixed number. It depends on how competitive your keywords are and how strong the ranking pages' link profiles are. Check the referring domains of the pages currently ranking for your target terms, and focus on relevance and quality rather than hitting a count.
Are nofollow backlinks useful?
Yes, indirectly. Google treats nofollow, sponsored and ugc as hints, so they usually pass little ranking value. But they can send referral traffic, get your brand seen by writers who later link normally, and make your link profile look natural.
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Driven by advanced SEO expertise, deep marketing analytics, high-impact content strategy
With 5+ years of hands-on experience, I specialize in holistic search strategies that don’t just rank—they drive real, measurable business growth. I’ve worked across industries including healthcare, hospitality, legal, e-commerce, and professional services, helping brands dominate their target markets. My approach bridges the gap between raw data and creative execution. Every strategy I build is rooted in rigorous market analysis, structured SEO frameworks, and tailored content ecosystems—no templates, no shortcuts. Whether you’re a single-location brand or scaling across multiple cities, I create data-driven marketing systems designed to compound results and grow with you.
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