What is a Backlink?

What is a backlink?

A backlink (also called an “inbound link” or “incoming link”) is simply a link from another website that points to your website. When site A links to site B, that link is a backlink for site B. Backlinks are a fundamental part of how the web and search engines work: they help discover new pages and signal which content is trusted and relevant.

Search engines like Google have used backlinks as a core ranking signal since the early days (e.g. PageRank). The idea is that a link from one page to another is a “vote” of trust or relevance. Not all backlinks are equal—quality, relevance, and context all matter—but building a solid backlink profile is essential for long-term SEO success.

Why do backlinks matter?

Backlinks matter for several reasons:

• SEO and rankings — Search engines use backlinks to assess authority and relevance. A site with many quality backlinks from trusted sources is often seen as more credible and may rank higher for relevant queries.
• Discovery — Backlinks help crawlers find your pages and understand how your site fits into the broader web.
• Traffic — Clicks from backlinks send visitors directly to your site. Even nofollow links can drive real traffic.
• Trust and reputation — Being linked from respected sites in your niche can strengthen your brand and credibility.

When you get a dofollow backlink from a site like ShowMySites, that link can pass “link equity” to your page and contribute to your site’s perceived authority in the eyes of search engines. That’s why we clearly state that listings on ShowMySites receive a dofollow backlink from our DR57+ directory.

Dofollow vs nofollow backlinks

Not all links are treated the same by search engines:

• Dofollow (followed) links — By default, links are “dofollow.” Crawlers follow them and can pass link equity to the target URL. These are the links that directly support SEO. On ShowMySites, when you submit your website, you get a dofollow backlink to your site.
• Nofollow links — A link can be marked with rel="nofollow" (or similar attributes like ugc or sponsored). This tells search engines not to pass link equity. Nofollow links can still bring traffic and brand visibility but typically don’t count toward your “link profile” in the same way for ranking.

A healthy backlink profile usually includes a mix of both. The important thing is to know what you’re getting: if your goal is SEO, prioritize dofollow backlinks from relevant, trustworthy sites—like the one we offer on ShowMySites.

How can I get backlinks?

There are many legitimate ways to build backlinks:

• Quality content — Publish useful, original content that others want to reference and link to.
• Directories and listings — Submit your site to relevant directories. ShowMySites is a directory that gives you a dofollow backlink from a DR57+ domain; add your website for free.
• Guest posting — Write for other sites in your niche in exchange for a link back to your site.
• Partnerships and PR — Get mentioned in press releases, roundups, or partner pages.
• Broken link building — Find broken links on other sites and suggest your content as a replacement.

Avoid buying links, link farms, or spammy schemes—search engines can penalize such practices. Focus on relevance and quality; a few strong backlinks from authoritative sites are worth more than many low-quality ones.

What makes a backlink “good”?

A “good” backlink generally has these characteristics:

• From a relevant site — The linking site should be related to your topic or audience.
• From a trusted source — Metrics like Domain Rating (DR) can help you gauge the strength of the linking domain.
• Dofollow (if you care about SEO) — So that the link can pass link equity.
• Contextually placed — Links in real content tend to be more valuable than links in footers or long link lists.
• Natural — A diverse, natural-looking backlink profile is better than a sudden spike of identical links.

On ShowMySites, we show our DR so you know the strength of the backlink you get. Submitting is free: submit your website and your listing goes live with a dofollow link to your site.

Important things to keep in mind

• Quality over quantity. A handful of strong, relevant backlinks are better than hundreds of weak or spammy ones.
• Relevance matters. A backlink from a site in your niche often carries more weight than one from an unrelated high-DR site.
• Dofollow vs nofollow. If your goal is SEO, prioritize dofollow backlinks—like the one we offer on ShowMySites.
• Avoid black-hat tactics. Don’t buy links, use link schemes, or manipulate link attributes in ways that violate search guidelines.
• Use directories wisely. Choose transparent directories that state their DR and link type, so you know exactly what kind of backlink you’re getting when you submit your site.