What are the Best Sites for Getting Backlinks?
Here are the best sites for getting backlinks that are covered in this guide:
- HARO
- SourceBottle
- Qwoted
- Software Review Sites, such as G2 and Capterra
- Connectively
- Product Hunt
- “Write for Us” Sites
- Resource Pages
- Clutch
- GoodFirms
- LinkedIn Articles and Newsletters
- Medium
- Quora
- MatchMaker.fm
- Crunchbase
For most businesses, the strongest backlink opportunities come from journalist-source platforms, relevant guest-post sites, resource pages, trusted business directories, software review platforms, and industry communities.
Building backlinks is like weight training.
Sure, you can buy all the equipment and start doing it from home. But where do you begin?
How do you know if you're using the right techniques, or whether there’s a better way to build strength over time?
The better option is to learn from a professional instructor at the gym, or at the very least, a really helpful YouTube video.
Consider this post your link building instructor.
Instead of churning out content and hoping something sticks, go directly to these 15 sites and link-building opportunities to earn relevant backlinks, attract more traffic, and put your brand in front of the right people.
Plus, stick around for a bonus tip at the end that can uncover a goldmine of fresh link-building opportunities.
Ready, set, go!
Before pursuing new backlink opportunities, use SEOptimer’s free Backlink Checker to see which pages already attract links, which anchors are most common, and where your referring domains come from.
What Makes a Good Backlink?
The best links come from relevant, trustworthy websites where your business, content, or expertise genuinely makes sense to the reader.
A strong backlink can help you reach a new audience, drive referral traffic, and build credibility over time. In other words, it should still be worth earning even if Google did not exist or backlinks carried so much SEO weight.
1. HARO
Site URL: https://www.helpareporter.com/
Backlink Type: Editorial backlinks, potentially followed or nofollow
HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is one of the most popular platforms for connecting journalists with expert sources, and it can be a great way to earn high-quality editorial backlinks and brand mentions.
This is a great site for backlinks if you can set aside enough time, and ideally have a team, to respond to queries with genuinely valuable quotes. One-liners are not going to cut it here, of course.
I have my own experiences with HARO, which you can read about here.
In my case, and not only mine, it was not super successful because I did not have enough time and energy to devote to the task.
But despite the limited results, the links I managed to build through HARO were high quality and came from relevant publications, so I would still recommend it.
To get backlinks from HARO, sign up as a source and opt in to receive its three daily emails featuring journalist requests across a range of topics and industries.
Each day, pick the most relevant queries and respond directly with a concise, helpful pitch. The trick is to focus on requests where you have real expertise to offer, and where the publication is a good fit for your brand and audience.
Before pitching, take a moment to check the journalist’s profile and publication. Prioritise credible websites where a mention or backlink would be genuinely valuable, rather than sending the same response to every request.
When a journalist or blogger approves and publishes your contribution, you may earn a backlink, a brand mention, referral traffic, or all three.
2. SourceBottle
Site URL: https://www.sourcebottle.com
Backlink Type: Editorial backlinks, brand mentions, and referral traffic
This is a similar service like HARO. You can get free publicity by responding to media queries from bloggers, journalists, and writers.
SourceBottle is especially useful for sources targeting Australia and New Zealand, but it also features opportunities from the United States, Canada, the UK and Ireland, and Singapore.
Like with HARO, you can sign up to SourceBottle to get relevant media queries delivered to your inbox. Rather than sorting through every possible request, you can choose the topics and countries that matter most to you.
SourceBottle sends up to two “Drink Up!” emails each weekday with opportunities that match your selected interests.
Or, you can browse queries directly on the site. Just click “View Call Outs” in the top navigation menu, then choose the country and industry that are most relevant to you.
From there, start browsing the available opportunities and pitch journalists or bloggers where you can offer genuinely useful expertise, data, or commentary.
When your contribution is selected and published, you may earn a backlink, brand mention, and some referral traffic.
3. Qwoted
Site URL: https://www.qwoted.com
Backlink Type: Editorial backlinks, brand mentions, and referral traffic
Qwoted is another platform that connects journalists, reporters, and content creators with expert sources.
It works in a similar way to HARO and SourceBottle, but it is especially useful for founders, industry experts, and businesses that want to build stronger relationships with the media over time.
To get started, sign up for a free account and create a profile that clearly explains your expertise, experience, and the topics you can comment on.
Once your profile is set up, you can respond to relevant media requests and connect directly with journalists looking for expert quotes, insights, data, or real-world examples.
The key is to be selective. Do not respond to every request that lands in your inbox. Focus on opportunities where you can add genuine value and where the publication is relevant to your business or audience.
A thoughtful response can lead to a media mention, referral traffic, a backlink, or sometimes all three. Even when a journalist does not include a link, being featured in a reputable publication can still build credibility and put your brand in front of a new audience.
4. Software Review Sites (G2, Capterra, and More)
Site URL: https://www.g2.com, https://www.capterra.com
Backlink Type: Software profile link, referral traffic, buyer visibility, and brand credibility
Software review sites are a great place to build links if you sell a SaaS product, app, online tool, platform, or other type of software.
Sites like G2, Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice are used by people who are actively comparing software solutions before making a purchase. That makes them much more valuable than a random directory where you simply add your website and move on.
To get started, check whether your product already has a profile on the platform. If it does, claim it and make sure all the details are accurate. If it does not, create a listing and add your website, product description, categories, pricing information, screenshots, integrations, and key features.
Your profile will usually include a link back to your website, but the real opportunity is getting your software in front of potential buyers at the exact moment they are looking for a solution.
Reviews are especially important here. Ask real customers to leave honest feedback about their experience with your product, what problems it helps them solve, and who they would recommend it to.
You do not need to be listed on every software review site at once. Start with the one or two platforms where your target customers are most likely to compare products in your category.
For SaaS companies and software businesses, these sites can help build trust, drive referral traffic, improve visibility, and earn a legitimate backlink at the same time.
5. Connectively
Site URL: https://www.connectively.us
Backlink Type: Editorial backlinks, brand mentions, and referral traffic
Connectively is another great site for backlinks if you want to get your expertise featured on relevant publications.
Like HARO, it connects journalists, publishers, and content creators with sources who can contribute quotes, insights, commentary, and real-world examples.
To get started, sign up for an account and create a profile that clearly explains who you are, what you do, and the topics you can speak about with confidence.
From there, you can browse opportunities and respond to requests that are relevant to your niche.
The key is not to treat it as a numbers game. Focus on the opportunities where you can give a thoughtful, useful response instead of sending the same pitch to everyone.
If your contribution gets picked up, you could earn a backlink, a brand mention, referral traffic, or all three.
Even if a link is not included every time, getting featured on the right publication can still help build authority and get your brand in front of a wider audience.
6. Product Hunt
Site URL: https://www.producthunt.com
Backlink Type: Product listing backlink, brand visibility, and referral traffic
Product Hunt is a great site for backlinks if you have a SaaS product, app, online tool, browser extension, or another digital product worth putting in front of a tech-focused audience.
Unlike the other sites on this list, Product Hunt is not about responding to journalist queries or pitching guest posts. It is a product-discovery platform where makers can launch what they have built, collect feedback, and get their product in front of potential users.
To get started, create a personal Product Hunt account and submit your product’s URL, along with a clear description, images, categories, and launch details.
Your Product Hunt listing will include a link to your website, but the real value is not simply getting another link. A successful launch can send relevant visitors to your site, generate product feedback, build brand awareness, and potentially lead to additional mentions or links from people who discover your product.
The key is to treat Product Hunt as a real launch, not a place to quickly drop a link and disappear. Make sure your product page is ready, involve the people who actually built it, and be available to answer questions from the community.
Product Hunt will not be the right fit for every business. But for software companies, apps, and online tools, it can be a valuable way to earn visibility, referral traffic, and a legitimate link back to your site.
7. "Write for Us" Sites (Guest Posting)
Site URL: The URL of the blog(s) where you decide to guest post
Backlink Type: Editorial backlinks, potentially followed or nofollow
Guest posting is simple. Search Google for websites in your niche that welcome guest contributions, then look closely at their content, audience, and contributor guidelines.
You can narrow your search by adding your niche to the search term. For example, try searching for “write for us” content marketing or “guest post guidelines” small business.
Make a list of the best sites you would genuinely like to write for, then reach out with a thoughtful pitch or submit a high-quality article tailored to that publication’s readers.
The number and placement of backlinks will depend on the website’s editorial policy. Some sites allow one link in the author bio, while others may allow one or two relevant links within the body of the post.
The important thing is to focus on relevance. Only include links that add useful context for the reader and fit naturally into the article.
Before pitching, read a few recent posts, understand the tone and topics they cover, and make sure your idea offers something their audience has not already seen.
Rather than prospecting from scratch, research competitor backlink opportunities to find the sites linking to your competitors and uncover guest-post, PR, resource-page, and directory opportunities that may also be relevant to your business.
8. Resource Pages
Site URL: The URL of the site(s) where you decide to add your resource
Backlink Type: Editorial backlinks, potentially followed or nofollow
There are plenty of websites that collect useful links, tools, guides, and resources on dedicated pages. You can find them with search operators such as:
- intitle:resources [your niche]
- intitle:"useful resources" your niche
- inurl:resources your niche
One example is the vegan diet resource page on the Plant Based Health Professionals site:
Once you have found resource pages where your content would genuinely be useful, reach out to the site owner or editor and suggest your page for inclusion.
For example, if you sell medical supplies and find a trusted pharmaceutical advice site with a resource page for healthcare providers or medical equipment, your guide, tool, or product page could be a relevant addition.
The key is to be selective. Do not ask every site with a resource page for a link. Focus on pages that are relevant to your audience and explain clearly why your resource would be useful to their readers.
9. Clutch
Site URL: https://clutch.co
Backlink Type: Business profile link, referral traffic, and brand visibility
Clutch is a great site for backlinks if your business provides services to other businesses.
Think digital marketing agencies, web design companies, software development agencies, consultants, IT providers, accounting firms, and other businesses where clients need to compare potential service partners before making a decision.
It is not really designed for ecommerce stores, publishers, or businesses that simply sell physical products. Clutch works best when you can show the services you provide, the types of clients you work with, and the results you have achieved.
To get started, create a free company profile or claim one if your business is already listed. Add your website, service categories, locations, company information, portfolio examples, and client references.
Your profile will include a link back to your website, but the real value is that potential customers can find and compare your business while researching service providers in your category.
Client reviews are especially important here. Ask genuine clients to leave honest feedback about the work you completed, the services you provided, and their experience of working with your business.
The more complete and credible your profile is, the more useful it becomes. Treat it like a real sales and reputation asset, not just another directory listing where you add a link and never return.
10. Good Firms
Site URL: https://www.goodfirms.co
Backlink Type: Business profile link, referral traffic, and brand visibility
GoodFirms is a useful site for backlinks if your business provides professional services or sells software to other businesses.
It is particularly well suited to digital agencies, software development companies, IT providers, consultants, marketing firms, web designers, and SaaS businesses that want to be discovered by potential clients researching providers.
To get started, submit your business for a GoodFirms listing and choose the service categories that best match what you offer. Your business must be legally registered and have an official website before it can be approved.
Once your profile is live, add as much useful information as possible. Include your website, company description, locations, team size, pricing information, service focus, industry focus, portfolio projects, and client reviews.
Your GoodFirms profile will include a link to your website, but like Clutch, the real value goes beyond the backlink. A complete profile can help potential clients find your business while they are actively comparing agencies, developers, consultants, or software providers.
Reviews are especially important. Ask genuine clients to share honest feedback about the work you completed and the experience of working with your team.
GoodFirms is not the right fit for every type of business. But if you provide professional services or B2B software, it can be a valuable place to build credibility, reach potential clients, and earn a legitimate link back to your site.
11. LinkedIn
Site URL: https://www.linkedin.com
Backlink Type: Content-distribution link, referral traffic, brand visibility, and potential secondary backlinks
LinkedIn is a great site for backlinks if you work in B2B, offer professional services, or have useful industry knowledge to share.
You can publish long-form LinkedIn Articles from your personal profile or company Page.
If you plan to publish regularly, you can also create a LinkedIn Newsletter so people can subscribe and get notified when you post a new edition.
The best approach is not to copy and paste your blog posts word for word. Instead, adapt the topic for LinkedIn by adding a personal perspective, a practical takeaway, or a shorter version of the original article.
For example, you could turn a detailed guide on your website into a LinkedIn Article covering the key lessons, then link to the full resource for readers who want to learn more.
Make sure any links you add are useful and relevant to the reader. A link to a guide, template, case study, tool, or research piece will feel much more natural than linking to your homepage for no real reason.
The backlink itself is not the main reason to publish on LinkedIn. The bigger opportunity is reaching a professional audience, building credibility in your field, driving relevant referral traffic, and potentially earning additional mentions or links when people discover and share your content.
12. Medium
Site URL: https://medium.com
Backlink Type: Nofollow
We all know Medium, the content platform where people share stories, ideas, and useful advice across just about every industry.
It’s a cool place where you can write new content, syndicate existing articles, start discussions, and add relevant backlinks to the content you publish there.
If you are republishing an article from your own website, use Medium’s import tool. It automatically adds a canonical link back to the original post, helping search engines understand which version should be treated as the main source.
You can also create original Medium posts based on topics you have covered on your blog, then link readers to your detailed guide, tool, template, or resource on your website.
If your content is genuinely useful, readers from the Medium community may click through to find out more about you, your business, or the topic you are writing about.
Like with any content platform, do not publish on Medium just to add a link. Focus on creating something worth reading, and make sure any links you include add useful context for the reader.
13. Quora
Site URL: https://quora.com
Backlink Type: User-generated link, referral traffic, and brand visibility
This is the site where anyone can ask questions and anyone else can answer them.
It’s also a very good platform for developing authority because you can become a helpful resource in your niche. When it makes sense, you can add a relevant link to your website in your responses so readers know where to find more information.
The trick is not to force a link into every answer. Focus on answering the question properly first, then link to a useful guide, tool, or resource only when it genuinely adds value.
Overall, Quora can be great for referral traffic and authority-building, especially if you consistently answer questions related to your expertise. It is definitely worth the time when you focus on being genuinely helpful instead of treating it as a place to drop links.
14. MatchMaker.fm (Podcast Guesting)
Site URL: https://www.matchmaker.fm
Backlink Type: Editorial podcast-show-notes link, referral traffic, and brand visibility
Podcast guesting is a great way to build authority, reach a new audience, and potentially earn high-quality backlinks at the same time.
MatchMaker.fm is a platform that connects podcast hosts with guests. You can create a profile, explain what you do, share the topics you can speak about, and look for shows that are relevant to your experience or industry.
The goal is not really to get a backlink from your MatchMaker.fm profile. The real opportunity comes when you appear on a podcast and the host publishes an episode page or show notes featuring your bio, website, and any resources you mentioned during the interview.
Before pitching yourself to a podcast, listen to a few previous episodes and check the show notes. If the host regularly links to guests and their websites, it could be a strong backlink opportunity as well as a useful brand-building opportunity.
When reaching out, make your pitch specific. Explain why you would be a good fit for that particular show, what useful insights you can share, and why the host’s listeners would care.
A good podcast appearance can lead to referral traffic, brand awareness, a backlink from the episode page, and sometimes even more invitations to appear on other shows.
15. Crunchbase
Site URL: https://www.crunchbase.com
Backlink Type: Company profile link, brand visibility, and referral discovery
Crunchbase is a useful site for backlinks if you run a startup, SaaS company, technology business, or B2B company that wants to build credibility online.
It is best known as a database of companies, founders, funding rounds, investors, and business activity. That means people often use it when researching businesses, competitors, potential partners, or companies in a particular industry.
To get started, search Crunchbase to see whether your company already has a profile. If it does not, you can create one using a registered, socially authenticated account.
Make sure your profile is complete and accurate. Add your website, company description, logo, headquarters, founding date, industry categories, social media links, founders, and any relevant funding or team information.
The link back to your website is useful, but the bigger opportunity is making sure your business appears credible when someone searches for information about your company.
Crunchbase is not the right fit for every local business or small side project. But for startups, software companies, agencies, and B2B brands, it can be a valuable place to strengthen your online presence and earn a legitimate company-profile link.
Earning a backlink is only half the job. Use SEOptimer to monitor new and lost backlinks so you can spot successful campaigns, follow up on disappeared placements, and keep an eye on changes over time.
The Best Sites for Backlinks are Where Your Audience Is
The best backlink opportunities are usually found where your audience already spends time.
People who are genuinely interested in your niche are more likely to find your content useful, share it, or link to it than someone with no connection to the topic.
After all, they are online for the same reason you are: to learn more about the subjects they care about.
So, the best sites for backlinks are where your audience is, whether that means target readers, fellow professionals, potential clients, or a mix of all three.
The sites listed in this post are meant to give you a starting point for finding backlink opportunities. But every opportunity should still be considered carefully.
Ask yourself:
Is this a site where my audience could realistically find me?
Because SEO, by itself, is meaningless if it does not bring you new readers, subscribers, customers, or clients.
So build links wisely, slowly, and with genuine care for the people who will read the content on both sides of the link.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to choose the best backlinks for improving SEO?
Choose backlinks that make sense to a human reader first. Relevance, context, placement, and the quality of the referring site matter far more than simply chasing a high domain metric.
What are high-quality backlinks?
High-quality backlinks are links from relevant, credible websites that are earned because your content, product, expertise, or business adds genuine value.
Where can I buy high-quality backlinks safely?
Google says that buying links for the purpose of influencing search rankings goes against its spam policies.
That said, link-building marketplaces such as LinkPublishers and PressWhiz can make it easier to find publishers that accept sponsored content or paid placements.
Before paying for any placement, carefully review the site’s relevance, audience, editorial quality, recent content, outbound-link patterns, and overall trustworthiness.
How to get strong backlinks for a new website?
For a new website, start by creating a few genuinely useful pages worth linking to, such as original research, practical guides, free tools, templates, case studies, or local resources.
Then target relevant directories, guest posts, resource pages, and industry partners. Competitor backlink research can also help you find sites already linking to similar businesses.
Build links steadily and naturally. Quality and relevance matter more than getting lots of links quickly.
What is the best software for backlink analysis and monitoring?
For backlink analysis, try SEOptimer’s Backlink Checker to review referring domains, anchor text, and the pages attracting links. For ongoing tracking, use our Backlink Monitoring feature to keep an eye on new and lost backlinks.
