A backlink is a hyperlink on one website that points to a page on another website. Search engines treat backlinks from relevant, credible sites as signals of trust and authority, so pages with good backlinks tend to rank higher. Links from spammy or paid link networks can have no effect or lead to penalties.
Why it matters for an Indian small business
Links are how Google first learned to rank, and they still separate two otherwise similar pages. A Jaipur jeweller with mentions from a city news site, a wedding blog and the local chamber of commerce will outrank a competitor with better photos and no links. For a new domain, the first ten relevant links are often what moves it from page five to page one for city-level queries.
The Indian market is full of ₹2,000 for 50 backlinks offers. Those links come from automated networks and either do nothing or get the site flagged. Earning links takes effort but is cheap: supplier directories, trade association pages, local press, event sponsorships and genuinely useful content that others cite.
How it works
Google evaluates each link by the linking site's relevance and authority, the anchor text, the placement (editorial text versus footer or sidebar) and whether it carries a nofollow or sponsored attribute. One editorial link from a respected industry site outweighs hundreds from directories. Links also drive referral traffic directly, which for a B2B supplier can matter more than the ranking effect.
Earning them is relationship and content work: get listed on industry bodies and reputable directories, supply quotes or data to journalists, publish original figures or guides worth citing, sponsor local events, and ask customers and partners who have websites. Monitor your profile in Search Console's Links report and disavow only clearly toxic links.
Example: a Jaipur jeweller
Rajwada Gems in Johari Bazaar makes kundan and polki jewellery. The site has no backlinks and ranks nowhere for kundan jewellery Jaipur. Over six months the owner gets listed on the Jaipur Jewellers Association site, is quoted in a Rajasthan Patrika feature on wedding jewellery trends, supplies photographs to two wedding blogs that credit the store with a link, and sponsors a college fashion show that lists sponsors on its page. Five relevant links later, the kundan page sits at position four nationally and first for Jaipur, and enquiries from NRI customers planning weddings arrive through the site every week.
Common mistakes
- Buying bulk links from Fiverr-style sellers or link networks.
- Exchanging links with unrelated sites just to have links.
- Exact-match anchor text on every link, which looks manipulative.
- Ignoring free, relevant listings such as trade bodies and government MSME directories.
- Obsessing over link counts while the site has nothing worth linking to.
How Neweb handles it
Neweb does not sell links. The SEO autopilot suggests legitimate listings and directories for your industry and city, builds citable content such as FAQs and guides, and monitors new backlinks in Search Console so you can see what is working.
Backlink questions
How many backlinks do I need to rank?
For city-level queries, a handful of relevant links plus a strong Google Business Profile is often enough. Quality and relevance matter far more than count.
Are directory listings backlinks?
Yes, and reputable ones such as trade associations, Justdial, IndiaMART and chamber of commerce sites are useful for local trust even if their ranking weight is modest.
Should I buy backlinks?
No. Paid links violate Google guidelines, usually come from low-quality networks and can trigger a manual action that removes the site from results.
What is a nofollow link?
A link marked so that it passes little or no ranking credit. It can still send visitors and is normal for social profiles, comments and sponsored placements.
How do I see who links to my site?
Google Search Console shows top linking sites and pages under the Links report. Third-party tools offer more detail for a fee.
Related terms.
Related pages.
SEO mistakes new businesses make
Why bought links are the most expensive shortcut.
Local SEO checklist
The citations and listings that double as early backlinks.
Collect and use testimonials
Partners and customers who can link to you.
Guide: local SEO in India
Where links fit among the local ranking factors.
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