To rank on Google today, it’s not just about having backlinks—it’s about having the right mix of backlinks.
A high-performing backlink profile sends three key signals to Google:
1. Relevance
Links from pages that cover the same or similar topics help Google understand what your content is about.
For example, if your page is about protein powder,
and you have inbound links from other fitness or nutrition websites, that reinforces your topical authority.
2. Trust
Google places higher value on links from trusted sources—think established domains like:
- The New York Times
- Healthline
- Forbes
- IBM.com
Even links from smaller websites that have earned links from those trusted domains carry more weight.
The trust signal is critical for establishing E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness).
3. Power
This refers to links from pages that themselves have:
- High domain or page authority
- Many inbound links
- Few outbound links
These types of links pass the most raw ranking power—
especially when they’re placed contextually on strong, focused pages.
In summary:
To build a backlink profile that moves the needle, focus on relevance, trust, and power.
It’s no longer about quantity—it’s about strategic quality.
To rank on Google today, it’s not just about having backlinks—it’s about having the right mix of backlinks.
A high-performing backlink profile sends three key signals to Google:
1. Relevance
Links from pages that cover the same or similar topics help Google understand what your content is about.
For example, if your page is about protein powder,
and you have inbound links from other fitness or nutrition websites, that reinforces your topical authority.
2. Trust
Google places higher value on links from trusted sources—think established domains like:
- The New York Times
- Healthline
- Forbes
- IBM.com
Even links from smaller websites that have earned links from those trusted domains carry more weight.
The trust signal is critical for establishing E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness).
3. Power
This refers to links from pages that themselves have:
- High domain or page authority
- Many inbound links
- Few outbound links
These types of links pass the most raw ranking power—
especially when they’re placed contextually on strong, focused pages.
In summary:
To build a backlink profile that moves the needle, focus on relevance, trust, and power.
It’s no longer about quantity—it’s about strategic quality.
