Backlinks are one of the most important signals search engines use to decide which pages deserve to rank higher. In plain words: when other websites link to your pages, they are telling search engines your content is useful. That “vote” helps your site appear in search results more often. The good news is you do not have to pay money to get many useful backlinks. You will, however, invest time, effort, and care. Below I explain the best free (or mostly free) ways to earn links in 2025, in simple language and with real steps you can follow.
Start with content worth linking to
The very first thing you must do is create content that other people want to link to. This means content that provides clear value: a long, well-researched guide on a specific problem, a data report, a useful tool, a clear checklist, or a great visual such as an infographic. People link to resources that save them time or make their articles better. A long, evergreen guide or an original piece of research often attracts links naturally over time.
A single high-quality page can earn many links from different websites if it solves a common question or collects useful facts in one place. Think about the questions your audience asks often and write the clearest, most useful answer you can. Over time these pages become link magnets. (Siege Media)
Use guest posts the right way
Guest posting means writing an article for another website in your niche and including a link back to your site. When done thoughtfully, guest posts can bring both traffic and backlinks from relevant sites. The key is to target websites whose readers would genuinely be interested in your content, and to write something that fits their audience.
Don’t treat guest posting as just a shortcut for links. Use it to introduce yourself to a new audience. Offer fresh ideas or a unique angle that the host site’s readers will find useful. If the piece is valuable, the link you get will be natural and more likely to bring real readers. There are many blogs and sites that accept guest posts for free—finding and pitching the right ones is part of the work. (LinkBuilder.io)
Pitch to resource pages and link lists
Some websites maintain pages that list useful resources on a topic. These can be titled “resources,” “links,” “useful tools,” or “helpful reads.” These pages are often open to suggestions. If you have a page that genuinely belongs on such a list, send a polite, short message to the owner explaining what your page is and why it helps their readers.
Because resource pages are already designed to link out, they usually have higher acceptance rates than other outreach. Find them with simple search combinations like “keyword + resources” or “keyword + useful links.” Personalize each message: mention the exact place on their page where your link would fit. That small bit of care raises your chance of getting a yes. (Backlinko)
Fix broken links (broken link building)
Broken link building is a smart way to earn links by helping site owners remove dead links and replace them with working ones. Many websites have pages that link to content that no longer exists. You can find those broken links, create a replacement page on your site that covers the same topic, and offer your page as a fix.
The process is straightforward: find a relevant page with broken links, confirm the broken link, prepare a page on your site that covers the topic well, and send a short email to the site owner saying you noticed a broken link and offering your page as a replacement. People appreciate help fixing errors on their sites, so this approach often works well when your content is a good match. (Linkio)
Make visuals and tools people want to share
Visual content — infographics, charts, simple calculators, and downloadable templates — often gets linked to because it is easy for other writers to re-use or embed. If you create a helpful infographic or a small tool that answers a common question, reach out to blogs in your niche and offer the asset. Many editors will use your image and credit your site with a link.
When you publish a visual, include an embed code that other sites can copy. This makes it easier for them to add your graphic and automatically includes a link back to your site. Visuals plus an easy embed option lower the friction for people to share and link to your content. (sendible.com)
Use HARO, journalist outreach, and expert quotes
HARO (Help A Reporter Out) and similar services connect journalists with expert sources. When you reply to a journalist’s request with a useful quote or unique insight, you may earn a mention and a link when the article publishes. Reporters are often pressed for time; clear, concise, and well-supported quotes increase your chance of being used.
Beyond HARO, build relationships with journalists and bloggers by answering questions on your topic when they ask. Over time, being a helpful source can result in consistent links from news sites and industry blogs. This method costs nothing but time and thought. (YouTube)
Be active in communities and Q&A sites — carefully
Answering questions on places like Quora, Reddit, or niche forums can bring traffic and links when you genuinely help people. However, avoid spamming. The goal is to add value: write complete answers, include a link only when it directly helps, and follow community rules. If your answer helps visitors, some of them may later reference your page, write about it, or link to it from their own sites.
Use community participation as a way to build trust and visibility, not as a direct link-hunting tactic. Good behavior in online communities leads to organic sharing and occasional backlinks. (Editorial.Link)
Reverse-engineer competitors and learn where they get links
Look at where your competitors have earned backlinks. Tools can show which pages link to their sites. If you notice a pattern—certain resource pages, industry blogs, or niche directories—you can try similar outreach where it makes sense. This is not copying; it is research. You learn which sites in your niche are open to linking, and then you create content that fits those sites’ needs.
Use competitor backlink analysis to focus your effort. Spend your outreach time on places that already link to similar content. That raises the chance that your pitches will be relevant and accepted. (Backlinko)
Keep outreach short, personal, and helpful
Outreach emails should be brief, personal, and focused on helping the recipient. A short note that explains what you found, why your page helps their readers, and a polite call to action works far better than long templates. Personalization shows you did your homework and are not sending mass pitches.
Use outreach templates only as a starting point; then edit each message to mention something specific on the target site. People respond to genuine, human messages — not automated spam. (Woodpecker)
Small wins add up: local links, testimonials, and partnerships
Don’t ignore easy local links. Local business directories, chamber of commerce pages, and local clubs often link to members for free. If you use a tool or service, offer a short testimonial to the provider—many companies publish testimonials with a link back to the author’s site. Partnerships and co-marketing with other small businesses can also produce natural links when both parties share the work.
These smaller links may not be as strong as a top industry blog link, but together they build a healthy and natural-looking backlink profile.
What to avoid
Avoid buying low-quality links from sketchy services. These can harm your site in the long run. Also avoid mass link exchanges or spammy directories that exist solely to pass link juice. Focus on relevant, honest, and user-first approaches. Quality matters far more than quantity.
Keep track, be patient, and update your content
Link building is not a one-day task. Keep a simple spreadsheet or use a tool to track outreach, responses, and which pages link to you. When your best pages gain links, update them periodically so they remain useful and continue to attract links. Patience matters: many backlinks arrive slowly as people discover and reference your work.
Final note — it costs time, not always money
Most ethical backlink strategies cost time and creativity, not cash. If you invest in making useful content, help other site owners, and reach out politely to the right people, you can earn strong backlinks without paying for them. Think of link building as building relationships: give value first, and links will often follow.