Last Updated on October 25, 2025 by Ian Naylor
How to Build Backlinks in 2025: Strategies for Success and Insights from Industry Experts
Building a strong backlink profile remains one of the most critical aspects of SEO in 2025. However, the evolving landscape of search engine optimization demands innovative approaches to acquiring backlinks. Gone are the days of generic outreach and simple directory submissions. Today, creating authentic, impactful backlinks requires a blend of foundational tactics, creative linkable assets, and a strategic focus on building authority and expertise.
This article highlights transformative insights from a discussion with seasoned SEO experts, offering actionable strategies to obtain your first backlinks, leverage linkable assets, and navigate the complexities of modern SEO.
The Foundation of Backlink Building: Your First 10 Links
Every SEO journey begins with the basics. When you’re launching a new website or starting fresh, the first 10 backlinks matter significantly – they lay the groundwork for getting indexed and gaining visibility. Here’s how to approach these foundational links:
- Tap Into Existing Relationships:
- Reach out to colleagues, friends, and professional connections who can link to your site. For example, partnerships with vendors or clients offer opportunities for mutually beneficial backlinks.
- If you operate multiple websites, create internal backlinks between your properties (as long as they are contextually relevant).
- Local and Niche Directories:
- Submit your website to reputable directories and your local chamber of commerce. These links may not be high-impact individually, but they signal credibility to Google.
- Press Releases:
- Publish newsworthy content about your business or website launch through press release distribution channels. While press releases are not as impactful as they once were, they can still provide foundational links for visibility.
- Basic Outreach:
- Politely request backlinks from known businesses or organizations you’ve worked with in the past. While basic outreach isn’t as scalable, it can help when you’re starting out.
These foundational links may not "move the needle" in terms of significant rankings, but they are essential for indexing your site and establishing an initial online presence.
Moving the Needle: Linkable Assets as a Game Changer
Once you’ve secured the basics, the next step is building links that truly elevate your website’s authority. In today’s SEO landscape, linkable assets are proving to be the most effective way to gain organic backlinks. So, what are linkable assets? Simply put, they are high-value pieces of content that others want to link to naturally.
Why Linkable Assets Matter More Than Ever
Traditional methods of outreach – such as asking bloggers to insert your links into their existing content – have become increasingly low ROI. Instead, creating valuable and shareable resources allows you to attract links organically. According to experts, a well-designed linkable asset can generate backlinks "over and over again" with minimal upkeep.
Types of Linkable Assets That Work in 2025
- Unique Research and Data-Driven Insights:
- Conduct original studies, surveys, or experiments. For instance, if you run a site about health, test three types of products (like red light therapy devices) and share data-driven insights. Presenting fresh data, even on a small scale, can make your content highly shareable.
- Organize your findings in easy-to-read tables or charts, making them accessible and visually appealing.
- Web Apps and Tools:
- Interactive tools, such as calculators or generators, are powerful linkable assets. For example, a "Sleep Cycle Calculator" or "Color Palette Generator" can go viral due to their utility.
- Incorporate shareable outputs in these tools to encourage users to spread the word (e.g., generating sharable images or reports).
- Timely and Newsworthy Content:
- Publish reports or studies on trending topics within your niche. Journalists and bloggers are always on the lookout for unique information to cite in their articles.
- Replicating Virality:
- Observe what has worked well in your niche before. For example, find content or tools that went viral, reverse engineer their approach, and create something similar but improved.
- Visual Content:
- Infographics may not be as revolutionary as they were a decade ago, but they remain effective when paired with original data. Coupling visuals with unique research enhances their value.
Navigating Modern Challenges: The Decline of Outreach and Rise of Authority
The discussion emphasized a significant shift in link-building approaches. Instead of focusing solely on outreach emails asking for backlinks, the trend is moving toward building authority around your brand, expertise, and content.
Building Authority Through Personal Experience
With Google’s focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness), showcasing personal experience has become critical. Here are ways to incorporate this into your content:
- Use Personal Pronouns: Incorporate personal language such as "I", "we", or "my" to emphasize real-world experiences.
- Add Photographs and Videos: Include original images and videos showcasing you or your team using or testing products.
- Offer Demonstrations: Provide step-by-step explanations of your process, preferably with visual evidence.
- Share Unique Perspectives: Provide insights and opinions that can’t be found elsewhere. This could be lessons learned from failures or innovative approaches within your industry.
These practices not only help your content rank higher but also make it more engaging for your audience.
Leveraging Internal Linking for Maximum Impact
An often-overlooked strategy is optimizing internal links. Internal linking provides context to Google while guiding users to explore your website further. Here’s how to optimize it:
- Prioritize Simplicity:
- Avoid cluttering your navigation menus. Focus on linking only the most critical pages from your homepage.
- Remove unnecessary links that dilute the importance of others.
- Create Hub Pages:
- Design hub pages that comprehensively cover a topic and link to detailed subtopics. Ensure these hub pages are user-friendly and solve a real problem.
- Homepage Linking Boost:
- Place priority pages in a featured section on your homepage. Google gives higher priority to pages linked directly from the homepage.
- Avoid Over-Optimization:
- Avoid exact-match anchor text for internal links, which can appear spammy. Instead, use natural, descriptive phrases.
Recovering From Google’s Helpful Content Update
The Helpful Content Update (HCU) shook the SEO world by targeting over-optimized websites and those heavily reliant on affiliate or ad-based models. Recovering from HCU requires a shift in focus:
- Focus on Experience: Highlight real-world experience through content that includes personal anecdotes, photos, and unique insights.
- Diversify Business Models: Sites that rely solely on affiliate income may struggle. Incorporate subscription models, community features, or product sales to establish a legitimate audience purpose.
- Update Old Content: Refresh older posts with updated information, unique research, or revised visuals. Show Google your content remains relevant.
Key Takeaways
- Start With Foundational Links: Use personal connections, directories, and press releases to secure your initial backlinks.
- Invest in Linkable Assets: Create tools, research, or other shareable content that attracts organic backlinks over time.
- Showcase Personal Experience: Incorporate personal pronouns, photos, and videos to meet Google’s focus on E-E-A-T.
- Simplify Internal Linking: Prioritize essential links, avoid over-optimization, and use featured sections on your homepage.
- Refresh Content Regularly: Update old pages with new data and insights to maintain relevance.
- Adapt to Google’s Helpful Content Update: Focus on user intent, diversify revenue models, and prioritize quality over quantity.
Conclusion
Backlink building in 2025 is less about quick wins and more about creating sustainable, value-driven content. By leveraging foundational tactics, developing impactful linkable assets, and focusing on authority and experience, businesses can stay ahead of the curve. Success lies in balancing technical SEO with a user-first mindset, ensuring every piece of content serves a real purpose. Now is the time to elevate your strategy and build a backlink profile that stands the test of time.
Source: "Link Building in 2025: First 10 Links, Linkable Assets & HCU Wins (w/ Cyrus Shepard)" – Edward Sturm, YouTube, Sep 19, 2025 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPEkoQnwErc
