# Link building Link building is earning links from other sites to yours. For a small site, links are proof you are cited and useful. They help discovery and can help rankings when they are editorial and relevant. Updated 2026-09-14 · Source: https://porteur.ai/glossary/link-building ## What it means for a small site You need a handful of real mentions from sites your buyers read. One link from a trusted niche site can beat dozens from weak pages. Build things people want to cite: a product page with clear specs, a simple tool, a study with original data, or a guide that solves a sharp problem. ## What works within the policies - Ship a product, tool, study or page worth linking. For example, /tools/roi-calculator that solves a common task. - Launch where real audiences gather. For example, Product Hunt or a relevant community with rules you follow. - Get listed on category pages, comparisons and roundups, where inclusion is editorial. - Guest write when it is genuinely edited and fits the site’s readers. - Reclaim unlinked mentions. Ask for a link where you are named but not linked. - Form partnerships with real users. Case studies and integrations often earn natural links. > Do not buy links that pass ranking, trade links at scale, or use private blog networks, link farms or automated link programmes. These violate Google’s spam policies. ## How to find and measure links Track referring domains, not just raw link counts. A new domain that cites you is a stronger signal than ten sitewide links from one place. Watch the quality of the page that links, its relevance and if the link is followed or nofollow. - Use the Search Console Links report to see top linking sites and pages. - Check anchor text for brand, product and natural phrases. Avoid pushing exact-match anchors. - Log unlinked brand mentions you can reclaim. For example, “yourproduct.com” named without a link on a review. - Measure outcomes, not just counts: referral signups, demo requests, or time on the landing page. ## What to do this month 1. **List your linkable assets** Pick two: a helpful tool, a data point no one else has, or a clear comparison page like /alternatives/competitor. 2. **Publish and pitch three targets** Find three sites your buyers read. Send a short, specific note. Offer the asset because it fits a page they already maintain. 3. **Reclaim mentions** Search for your brand and founder names. Where you are cited without a link, ask for one politely with a working URL. 4. **Secure two editorial listings** Apply to one category page and one roundup that curates tools in your niche. Give facts, screenshots and pricing so editors can list you. 5. **Pick one guest article** Pitch a topic that extends your asset. For example, a methods post that cites your study and adds value without anchor stuffing. ## Traps and nofollow sources Links from most social networks and many directories carry nofollow. They help discovery and traffic, but they are not meant to pass ranking. Use them for profiles and launches, not as your core plan. - Do not scale link exchanges. One-off partnerships are fine, schemes are not. - Avoid mass guest posts with templated bios. Seek editorial review and fit. - Ignore spammy “link back checker” blasts and automated offers. If it looks easy, it is likely risky. - Do not obsess over sitewide footer links. One contextual link on a relevant page is the goal. ## Questions ### What is meant by link building? Link building is earning links from other sites to yours. For a small site, that means getting cited by relevant, editorial pages your buyers trust. ### Is link building still relevant? Yes, as of 2026 editorial links remain a way for search engines to find good pages and for people to discover products. Focus on quality, relevance and real audiences. ### Do nofollow links help SEO? Nofollow links are not meant to pass ranking. They still help discovery, brand trust and referral traffic. Include them, but aim for editorial followed links too. ### How much does link building typically cost? There is no standard price. You can earn links by building useful assets and pitching editors yourself. Paid schemes that pass ranking violate spam policies. ### What is a link building service? A service that helps you earn coverage and links. Choose ones that focus on editorial outreach and content worth citing, not on buying links or scaled exchanges. ### How many links do I need? There is no fixed number. Aim for steady wins from relevant sites. Track new referring domains and the impact on signups and key pages, not just totals. ## Read next - [How to get backlinks for a small product site](https://porteur.ai/guides/how-to-get-backlinks-for-a-small-site): What to build, who to ask and how to measure. A founder’s plan to earn backlinks without spam or spend, with examples and a checklist. - [The Links report in Search Console: what it shows and what it hides](https://porteur.ai/guides/search-console-links-report): What Google’s Links report really shows, why counts differ from Ahrefs or Semrush, and two jobs it is good at on a small site. - [Backlink](https://porteur.ai/glossary/backlink): A backlink is a link from another site to yours. See what counts, how to check links, dofollow vs nofollow, and what a small site can expect. - [Referring domain](https://porteur.ai/glossary/referring-domain): A referring domain is a unique site that links to yours. Here is why the count matters more than backlink totals, how to check it, and what to do. - [Nofollow link](https://porteur.ai/glossary/nofollow-link): What a nofollow link is, what changed in 2019, how to check rel values, when to use nofollow, sponsored or ugc, and the traps to avoid. - [Broken backlinks: the links you are losing to pages that are gone](https://porteur.ai/guides/broken-backlinks): Links point to deleted pages, wasting authority. Learn how to find broken backlinks, map redirects, when to restore pages, and what not to redirect. Paste your homepage and get three specific places your site could earn an editorial link, based on your niche and rivals, in about thirty seconds, free. Free check: https://porteur.ai/