Backlink
An inbound link from another website to yours. Search engines treat backlinks as votes of confidence, so links from authoritative, topically relevant sites can meaningfully improve rankings. Backlinks remain one of the strongest off-page ranking signals, though quality and relevance matter far more than raw quantity.
Why It Matters
Backlinks build the authority and trust that help pages compete for competitive queries. A handful of links from respected, relevant domains outperform hundreds of low-quality links and can also drive direct referral traffic.
Common Mistake
Chasing link volume, buying links, or pursuing links from unrelated or spammy sites. These tactics violate search engine guidelines and can trigger penalties that are hard to reverse.