Best Link Building Strategies for New Websites
Building a strong online presence starts with one of the most important SEO elements—link building. For new websites, finding the best link building strategies is not just helpful; it’s essential. Without backlinks, even the most well-designed websites struggle to rank on search engines. In the first 100 days of launching a new website, your focus should be on establishing credibility, visibility, and trust—and that starts with backlinks.
In this article, we’ll explore proven, practical, and beginner-friendly link building methods tailored specifically for new websites that want to grow fast and organically.
1. Start with High-Quality Content
Before you even begin a link building campaign, you need something worth linking to. That’s where high-quality content comes in. Content is still king, and no link building strategy works without solid content behind it.
Focus on:
In-depth blog posts
Helpful how-to guides
Case studies
Unique insights or data
Free tools or templates
Make sure your content solves real problems for your target audience. The better the content, the easier it is to get backlinks naturally and through outreach.
2. Guest Posting on Niche-Relevant Blogs
Guest posting is one of the best link building strategies for new websites. It helps you build backlinks while getting exposure to a new audience.
Steps to get started:
Find websites in your niche that accept guest posts
Analyze their domain authority (DA) and traffic
Pitch a valuable and relevant topic
Write quality content with a contextual link back to your site
Don’t go for low-quality or irrelevant blogs. Instead, aim for authority and engagement.
3. Use HARO (Help A Reporter Out)
HARO connects journalists with sources. As a new website owner, you can respond to journalists’ queries and earn mentions in top media sites like Forbes, Business Insider, or HubSpot.
Tips:
Sign up as a source on HARO
Respond quickly with expert and unique insights
Only reply to queries in your niche
If successful, this can lead to high-authority backlinks that dramatically improve your website’s trust score.
4. Build Links from Business Profiles and Directories
Creating business profiles is a simple but effective link building strategy for new websites. These are structured, easy-to-acquire backlinks that help establish your business online.
Some places to list:
Google Business Profile
Yelp
Yellow Pages
Crunchbase
Local directories
Social media profiles (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram)
Make sure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is consistent across all listings.
5. Collaborate with Influencers or Micro-Influencers
Partnering with influencers—even small ones in your niche—can help generate traffic and links. Many will mention your website in blogs, interviews, or social posts.
How to start:
Reach out for content collaborations
Offer them a free product or exclusive discount
Ask for a mention or backlink in return
This creates mutual benefit: exposure for you and value for them.
6. Leverage Broken Link Building
Broken link building is a smart tactic that involves finding broken (dead) links on other websites and suggesting your content as a replacement.
How it works:
Use tools like Ahrefs or Broken Link Checker to find dead links in your niche
Reach out to the site owner
Politely suggest your relevant content as a replacement
This works well if your content matches the old one in topic or value.
7. Create Linkable Assets
If you want people to link to your website naturally, give them a strong reason to do so. Creating linkable assets helps you attract organic backlinks.
Examples include:
Infographics
E-books
Tools and calculators
Original research or surveys
Free resources like templates
Once created, promote them through email outreach, social media, and niche communities.
8. Engage in Blog Commenting (Smartly)
While blog commenting won’t give you powerful dofollow links, it can help in other ways:
Drive referral traffic
Build relationships with blog owners
Show your expertise
Only comment on blogs in your industry. Add real value—avoid spammy or generic comments. Over time, this can lead to collaboration or guest post opportunities.
9. Join Niche Forums and Communities
Being active in niche-specific forums like Reddit, Quora, or industry-specific communities can lead to backlinks and brand mentions.
Tips:
Provide real value in your answers
Link to your blog or website only when it makes sense
Build trust before self-promoting
Consistency is key here. Over time, people will start referencing your content.
10. Internal Linking Is Also Link Building
Don’t ignore your own site! Internal linking is an easy and powerful way to help search engines understand your content structure and improve rankings.
Benefits:
Distributes authority to important pages
Improves crawlability
Keeps users on your site longer
Create a clear internal linking strategy and use descriptive anchor text.
11. Use Content Aggregator Sites
For early-stage websites, submitting content to aggregator platforms can boost traffic and earn links.
Platforms to consider:
Medium
Scoop.it
GrowthHackers
Hacker News (for tech content)
Don’t just post blindly. Share valuable articles that spark discussions.
12. Offer Testimonials for Other Brands
This is a simple but underused link building strategy for new websites. Reach out to tools, services, or products you’ve used and offer a testimonial. Many companies feature testimonials on their homepage with a backlink.
Make sure:
You’ve actually used the service
Your testimonial is detailed and real
You include your full name and website link
Conclusion
Getting backlinks as a new website may seem like a mountain to climb, but with the best link building strategies mentioned above, the journey becomes more structured and manageable. Focus on quality over quantity, build relationships, and stay consistent.
Every link you earn builds your authority, improves your rankings, and gets you one step closer to your digital growth goals. In a world full of noise, backlinks are the signal that tells Google, “This site is worth ranking.”