How Many Backlinks Do I Need to Rank in Google?

The million-dollar question, “How many backlinks do I need to rank on Google?” has driven marketers and business owners to focus heavily on numbers. But here’s the truth: it’s not about sheer numbers – it’s about quality, relevance, your keywords difficulties and competition.

Yes, backlinks remain one of Google’s most critical ranking factors.

And while the notion that “more backlinks equal better rankings” feels intuitive, it’s a common misconception that can derail your SEO strategy.

Here’s a clear breakdown of what really matters.

More Backlinks Won’t Necessarily Mean Better Rankings

It’s tempting to think that stacking up backlinks will boost your rankings. But to make backlinks truly impactful, they need to be high-quality and relevant to your site’s niche.

Here’s how to focus on quality over quantity:

Prioritize Relevance: Google pays close attention to where your links come from. A link from a high-authority site in your industry—think tech news sites for a software product—is far more valuable than dozens of links from unrelated sites.
Check the Source: Avoid backlinks from spammy blogs, or low-quality sites. Regularly audit your backlinks using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to spot any low-quality links and disavow them.
Aim for Editorial Links: These are natural, contextually placed links from credible sites. Write guest posts or offer expert insights in your niche to earn these powerful links.

Relying on a Backlink Count Is a Dangerous Game

Chasing after high link counts can lead to tactics that Google’s algorithm penalizes, like link farms or automated link-building.

Instead, focus on sustainable, strategic backlink-building methods:

Use Competitor Analysis as a Guide, Not a Rule: Research the backlink profiles of top competitors to understand the link-building landscape, but don’t copy their strategies. Instead, look for unique backlink opportunities where your site can stand out.
Diversify Your Link Sources: Aim for backlinks from different types of sites: blogs, news outlets and industry forums, and social media profiles.
Set Realistic Goals: Avoid trying to build hundreds of links quickly. Set monthly targets, according to your competition and budget and stick to a sustainable plan. The goal is to create a profile that grows organically over time.

Understanding Keyword Difficulty and Competition Is Key

Keyword difficulty (KD) is a core factor in determining how challenging it will be for your website to rank for specific terms.

In short, the higher the keyword difficulty, the more competitive and resource-intensive it becomes to rank for that keyword.

How to Use Keyword Difficulty in Your SEO Strategy

Here’s a structured approach to tackling keyword difficulty effectively:

Evaluate Competitor Backlinks with Ahrefs
For any high-difficulty keyword, examine the backlink profiles of top-ranking pages. Use Ahrefs to see how many backlinks and referring domains each page has.Identify the most common link sources, and consider targeting similar sites for your own link-building efforts. If competitors have dozens of high-authority backlinks, make a realistic assessment of whether you can achieve a comparable level.
Target Long-Tail Variations
Instead of diving directly into high-KD keywords, consider targeting long-tail keywords that are often easier to rank for and can still bring in highly targeted traffic. Long-tail keywords typically have lower keyword difficulty scores but can collectively drive substantial organic traffic.Use Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer to find long-tail variations. Enter your main keyword, then check the “Questions” or “Phrase Match” sections to discover long-tail keywords related to your main term. Prioritize those with lower KD and a healthy search volume in the very beginning.
Leverage Content Clusters and Internal Linking
For competitive keywords, building content clusters around the primary term can help you rank more effectively.Content clusters involve creating a series of related articles (cluster content) that link back to a comprehensive, authoritative page (pillar content) focused on the main keyword.
Example: If “content marketing” is your high-difficulty keyword, create cluster pages on topics like “content marketing strategies,” “how to create a content calendar,” and “measuring content marketing ROI.” Link these pages back to your pillar page on content marketing, strengthening its authority in Google’s eyes.
Improve On-Page Optimization and Technical SEOFor high-difficulty keywords, every detail counts. Beyond content quality, you’ll need to fine-tune your on-page SEO and optimize your technical SEO to stand out.
– Optimize Headers and Meta Tags: Include your target keyword in your title tag, H1, and at least one H2 tag, naturally integrating keywords.
– Image Optimization and Alt Text: Use keyword-rich alt text for images related to your content to enhance SEO and drive traffic from Google Images.
– Technical SEO Factors: Ensure your page loads quickly, is mobile-friendly, and has a logical URL structure to improve user experience and ranking chances for competitive keywords.
Monitor and Adjust Based on Performance

High-KD keywords are not “set it and forget it.” Regularly monitor your rankings and backlink profile to understand how your page is performing. If you’re not seeing improvement after significant efforts, consider adjusting your approach.Use Ahrefs Rank Tracker to monitor trends in visibility, position, and traffic. If rankings fluctuate, it could indicate that competitors are updating content or building more links. Adjust your strategy accordingly by refreshing content or building additional backlinks.

Domain Rating Alone Isn’t Enough

Domain Rating (DR) provides insight into a site’s backlink strength, but it’s not the sole factor for ranking.

Here’s how to effectively leverage DR and avoid common pitfalls:

Balance Domain Rating with Page Relevance: A link from a high-DR site that’s relevant to your content is excellent. But a link from a lower-DR site that’s hyper-relevant to your niche can still pack a punch.
Use DR as a Benchmark, Not a Goal: Set minimum DR benchmarks (e.g., DR 50+) to focus on quality, but don’t disregard lower DR sites if they are highly relevant. A few mid-DR links can diversify your profile and drive traffic.
Focus on Page Authority: A link from a high-authority page within a high-DR site is more valuable than a link from a low-authority page. Use tools like Moz to check page authority and prioritize links from authoritative pages.

Quality Content Is the Most Powerful SEO Magnet

Quality content not only attracts backlinks naturally but also engages users, keeps them on your page, and signals to Google that your site is valuable.

Here’s how to make your content more link-worthy:

Create Evergreen Content: Content that remains relevant over time – like “how-to” guides, checklists, or comprehensive resources—tends to attract more backlinks. Regularly update these pieces to keep them fresh.
Use Data-Driven Insights: Content backed by original research or data is highly shareable. Conduct surveys, compile case studies, or analyze industry trends to create content that stands out and earns authoritative links.
Add Unique Visuals: Infographics, videos, and diagrams add value to content, making it more shareable. Original visuals often get linked back to by other sites, so consider adding unique graphics to enhance your articles.

So, How Many Backlinks Should a Website Have?

The short answer: it depends on your competition.

The number of backlinks your website needs varies based on how competitive your niche is and the authority of your top competitors.

In some industries, a handful of high-quality links might be enough to rank on Google, while in others, you may need hundreds to compete.

To figure out the ideal number of backlinks for your site, you need to analyze your competitors’ backlink profiles to see what you’re up against.

Here’s where Ahrefs can be a game-changer.

How to Use Ahrefs to Analyze Competitor Backlinks in Detail

Ahrefs is a powerful tool for uncovering your competitors’ backlink strategies. By analyzing the number, quality, and types of backlinks your competitors have, you can set realistic goals and identify the kinds of backlinks that will be most effective for your SEO strategy.

Identify Your Top Competitors
Enter your target keyword in Google to see who ranks in the top positions. Alternatively, use Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer: Enter your target keyword, and Ahrefs will provide a list of top-ranking pages for that keyword. This will help you see who’s performing well and set the benchmark for your efforts.
Enter Competitors’ URLs in Ahrefs’ Site Explorer
Once you have a list of competitors, start analyzing their backlink profiles in Ahrefs’ Site Explorer:
– Open Ahrefs’ Site Explorer and enter a competitor’s URL. Look for key metrics like Domain Rating (DR) and the number of referring domains.
Check Referring Domains and Total Backlinks
In the Referring Domains section, identify high DR websites linking to your competitor and assess niche relevance. Use the filter to only show “Dofollow” links, as these links pass authority to your competitor’s site (while “Nofollow” links do not).
Analyze the Types of Pages Earning Backlinks
Click on “Best by Links” in the left sidebar to see the pages on your competitor’s site with the most backlinks. Use this information to identify content ideas and anchor text insights.
Identify High-Quality Backlink Opportunities
In Ahrefs’ “Backlinks” tab, assess each link’s Domain Rating and relevance, and target sites for guest posting or outreach.
Use Ahrefs’ Content Gap Tool for More Ideas
Enter up to three competitor URLs to see keywords they rank for that your site does not. These are keyword opportunities where you can create optimized content and potentially attract similar backlinks.
Set Your Backlink Goals
Based on your findings, set realistic goals. Focus on steady growth with high-quality links, aiming for 10-20 quality backlinks per month from niche-relevant, high-authority sites.

The Bottom Line: Stop Counting, Start Qualifying

To make your backlink strategy truly impactful:

Prioritize Relevance and Quality: Seek links that make sense for your content and target audience. These high-relevance links will drive both traffic and authority.
Measure Impact Over Quantity: Track the impact of your backlinks on organic traffic and ranking improvements, rather than just building as many links as possible.
Focus on Sustainable Link-Building: Approach link-building as a long-term investment. Aim to create lasting relationships with reputable sites in your industry.

By focusing on quality, relevance, and smart strategies, you can build a backlink profile that brings long-term SEO success.

If you’re looking to improve your SEO and get real results, we’re here to help make it happen!