External links, which are also known as backlinks, have long been considered one of the fundamental pillars for achieving good search engine rankings.
For this reason, when you create a website, be it small, medium or large, the first thing you usually do is to pay for external links pointing to it,
However, it is valid to wonder if they are really necessary, or more specifically if it is possible to position a website without relying exclusively on external links.
What external links provide
External links offer a number of positive aspects that can significantly boost a website’s SEO performance.
As long as they are of quality backlinks, according to the topic and are well worked, they will bring direct visits from other sites, the improvement of the authority of the page thanks to the validation of third parties and the increase of the visibility in the search results.
These aspects translate as contributing greatly to the recognition and relevance of a site among a sea of websites in search engines.
However, they are not always indispensable
Contrary to common belief, there are cases of websites that have successfully positioned themselves without investing in external links.
This phenomenon challenges the notion that backlinks are the only route to good SEO, although there are a number of factors to keep in mind.
Influencing factors for ranking without backlinks
- Relevant content. The creation of valuable and substantial content for users is essential to attract the attention of search engines, because perhaps with it, you will respond better to search intent than other sites.
- Key words. The strategic inclusion of relevant keywords improves visibility in search results, without relying exclusively on external links, as long as they are natural and target keywords with little competition.
- User-friendly interface. Websites with easy navigation and a positive user experience are favored by search engines.
- Charging time. Fast loading speed improves visitor retention and can positively influence positioning, since users wait about 3 seconds on average for a site to load, so it should be optimized.
- On page SEO. Internal optimization, such as URL structure, meta tags and headers, contributes significantly to SEO without relying on external links.
- Correct indexing. Making sure that search engines can easily index your content is crucial for ranking, otherwise you won’t rank even if it were possible due to other factors.
- Share on social networks. The presence and activity in social networks can generate positive social signals that influence positioning, because if this adds up to more visits, then you will be giving good signals to search engines.
- User participation. User interaction with the content, such as comments and shares, will be a sign of relevance.
- Internal link structure. The creation of a coherent internal link structure improves navigation and the distribution of internal authority within the site, and leads visitors from one site to another if they are well related.
- Responsive mobile design. Website adaptability to mobile devices is an increasingly important factor for positioning.
These factors show that while external links are valuable, they are not the sole determinants of SEO success. The combination of these elements can allow a website to achieve a solid positioning without relying exclusively on external backlinks.
Even so, it is ideal to invest in backlinks.
Despite the possibility of ranking without relying entirely on external links, it is crucial to recognize that having a backlink building strategy is still an ideal practice.
Investing in external links with our link building agency not only contributes to maintain and strengthen the current positioning, but also helps to face the constant competition in the digital environment.
Acquiring quality links can be critical to consolidating a website’s position and ensuring its long-term relevance.
