How Much Will Backlinks Matter in 2024?

Backlinks have been a matter of controversy for years. 

In 2014, Matt Cutts declared link building dead, as guest posting became extremely spammy.

However, as the years went on, SEOs saw the importance of backlinks, not only for SEO but also for user experience. 

Whether people buy backlinks, earn them organically, or earn them some other way (hopefully not through black hat tactics), links are known as a vital aspect of ranking. 

At Page One Power, link building remains a cornerstone of effective SEO strategies. In this article, we'll explore why backlinks will continue to matter in 2024 and how they contribute to the overall success of a website in search engine results.

1. Authority and Trustworthiness

Google places a great emphasis on website authority and trustworthiness. One of the key ways that search engines determine a website's authority is through backlinks. Backlinks serve as virtual endorsements, indicating to search engines that other reputable sites vouch for the content and credibility of your site. The more high-quality backlinks a website has, the more likely it is to be seen as a trustworthy and authoritative source of information. 

As we look ahead to 2024, the role of backlinks in establishing authority and trust will likely become even more pronounced. Search algorithms are becoming more sophisticated, and search engines are placing an even greater emphasis on the quality and relevance of backlinks. This means that website owners will need to focus on building high-quality backlinks from reputable sources to establish their authority and credibility in the eyes of search engines.

Remember to look at relevancy and human value first to find authoritative backlinks. Be sure the page linking to your page is relevant to your website and your audience. To incorporate human value into your link building process, keep these three best practices in mind when pursuing links:

• Connect with the webmaster
• Show that you understand their audience
• Show them how your piece provides unique value 

By adding human value and relevancy to your link building strategy, you can obtain authoritative backlinks that help boost your website. 

2. Quality Over Quantity

In the early days of SEO, the quantity of backlinks a website had was the most critical factor in determining its ranking. However, as search algorithms have become more sophisticated, the emphasis has shifted to the quality of those links. In 2024, building a diverse and high-quality backlink profile will be more critical than ever. This means that links from authoritative, relevant, and reputable sources will carry more weight than many low-quality links.

What does a high-quality link look like? The characteristics of a high-quality link include:

• Relevancy
• Authority
• Naturally-obtained origins
• Anchor text optimization
• Dofollow attributes 

To achieve a high-quality backlink profile, SEO professionals must focus on building relationships with industry influencers and thought leaders. These individuals can provide valuable links to a website and help increase its visibility and authority within its particular industry. In addition, social media can also be a useful tool for building relationships and securing backlinks. By engaging with followers and sharing high-quality content, a website can attract attention from potential link partners and increase its chances of securing high-quality backlinks.

3. Enhanced User Experience

User experience is more important than ever for SEO, especially for backlinks. When a searcher clicks on a relevant backlink, they are directed to additional valuable content, which enhances their overall experience and increases the time spent on the website. This, in turn, signals to search engines that the website is providing high-quality content that satisfies user intent. 

Imagine the internet as a vast library of different topics, and each book wants popularity so that it can be recommended. That’s where backlinks come in:

Backlinks as Recommendations

Backlinks are like recommendations or votes of confidence. When someone recommends a book they like, it holds significant influence. The same is true when a website links to another website. Search engines, like Google, see these recommendations and think, "Hmm, if many people are recommending this one, it must be important and useful."

Building Trust and Credibility:

In the library, some books are more trustworthy and reliable than others. If a well-respected book cites another book, people are more likely to trust it. Similarly, if a reputable website links to another website, it adds credibility. Search engines notice this and think, "This website must be reliable if these other trustworthy sites are pointing to it."

Connecting the Library's Content:

Backlinks act like connections between books. If you're reading about dinosaurs in one book and there's a link to another book about fossils, it helps you learn more without searching the whole library. Similarly, on the internet, if you're reading about a topic on one website and there's a link to another site with related information, it makes your online journey smoother.

Helping You Find What You Need:

Think of backlinks as arrows guiding you through the library. If you're looking for a specific topic and there's a link pointing you in the right direction, it saves you time and effort. Search engines use these arrows to understand which websites are most helpful and relevant to what people are searching for.

As search engines continue to prioritize user satisfaction, websites with a strong backlink profile that leads to high-quality content are likely to see improved rankings in 2024 and beyond. Therefore, website owners must build a solid backlink profile by creating valuable content that other websites would want to link to.

4. Social Proof and Visibility

In the digital age, where social media and networking rule the roost, backlinks have emerged as a vital tool to establish social proof. Although social media posts don’t technically count as backlinks, they still offer an array of benefits, including:

• Increasing online visibility;
• Highlighting social content in the SERPs
• Increasing reach and engagement;
• Establishing your brand as a thought leader;
• Distinguishing your content as high quality;

When credible websites link to your social media content, it enhances your credibility with your target audience and amplifies your visibility. You can make the most out of your social media efforts by:

• Connecting your social media profiles to your website via schema markup. This will allow your social media profiles to appear in the knowledge panel of the SERPs when someone searches for your company. 
• Encouraging readers to engage with your content by adding a call-to-action that prompts them to share snippets of your article.
• Boosting your social media posts by engaging with followers to increase algorithmic visibility, resulting in greater engagement.

5. Adaptability to Algorithm Changes

As search algorithms evolve, websites must stay up-to-date with the latest changes to maintain or improve their rankings. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through ethical and sustainable link building practices. By diversifying the anchor text and focusing on natural link-building strategies, websites can establish a strong foundation for their SEO efforts. 

It is important to note that obtaining backlinks through unethical or spammy practices can actually harm a website's ranking in the long run. Therefore, it is essential to stay abreast of algorithm updates and ensure that all link building efforts align with current search engine criteria. By doing so, websites can ensure that their backlink profile remains resilient and effective in driving traffic and improving search engine rankings.

In conclusion, as we venture into 2024, the role of backlinks in SEO remains as crucial as ever. Backlinks contribute to a website's authority, trustworthiness, and overall user experience. By prioritizing quality over quantity, adapting to algorithm changes, and recognizing the broader benefits of backlinks, SEO professionals can position their websites for sustained success in the dynamic digital landscape. As the SEO landscape continues to evolve, the strategic acquisition of backlinks will remain a cornerstone of adequate online visibility and search engine rankings.