How to Get Your First 10 Backlinks for a New Website

The Challenge of Starting from Zero#

Every website starts with zero backlinks—and that's the hardest point to be at. You have no domain authority, no brand recognition, and no existing relationships. Getting your first 10 backlinks requires different strategies than scaling an established site.

The good news? Those first 10 links are entirely achievable within your first 1-3 months. This guide provides a practical roadmap for building your foundational backlink profile.

Why Your First Links Matter Most#

Your initial backlinks establish your site's baseline authority and signal to Google that your website is a legitimate, trustworthy entity worth indexing and ranking.

Benefits of Early Link Building:

Accelerates Google's discovery of your site
Establishes initial trust signals
Creates momentum for organic link acquisition
Provides early referral traffic
Builds relationships for future opportunities

Backlink #1: Google Business Profile (If Applicable)#

Effort: Low | Value: Foundational | Time: 30 minutes

If you have any local component to your business, claim and optimize your Google Business Profile.

Steps:

Go to business.google.com
Claim or create your business listing
Complete every section thoroughly
Add your website URL
Verify your business (mail, phone, or instant verification)

Why It Works: This is a direct link from Google itself. While it's nofollow, it establishes legitimacy and is completely free.

Effort: Low | Value: Foundational | Time: 1-2 hours

Create profiles on major social platforms with links back to your site.

Priority Platforms:

LinkedIn (company page)
Twitter/X
Facebook (business page)
Instagram (business profile)
YouTube (if you'll create videos)
Pinterest (for visual industries)

How to Maximize Value:

Complete every profile section
Use consistent branding
Write compelling bios that include keywords naturally
Make profiles public

Why It Works: These links are mostly nofollow, but they establish your brand's web presence and make your site appear more legitimate.

Backlink #3: Industry Directories#

Effort: Medium | Value: Good | Time: 2-3 hours

Submit your site to legitimate directories in your industry.

Finding Quality Directories: Search for:

"[your industry] directory"
"[your industry] listings"
"best [your industry] companies"

Quality Indicators:

Editorial review process (they don't accept everyone)
Active updates and maintenance
Real businesses listed
Some domain authority (DA 20+)
No excessive outbound links

Common Legitimate Directories:

Industry-specific associations
Chamber of Commerce (for local businesses)
Better Business Bureau
Professional organization listings
Software directories (G2, Capterra) for SaaS

Avoid:

Low-quality submission sites
Directories that link to gambling/pharma spam
Sites that guarantee acceptance for anyone
Directories with thousands of random links

Backlink #4: Partner and Vendor Mentions#

Effort: Low | Value: Good | Time: 1-2 hours

Many companies you work with have customer or partner pages.

Where to Look:

Tools and software you use (customer showcases)
Suppliers or vendors (client lists)
Business partners (partner directories)
Agencies you work with (client portfolios)

How to Approach:

Identify companies you have relationships with
Check if they have customer/partner pages
Reach out offering to be featured
Offer a testimonial or logo usage permission

Example Email:

Subject: Happy to provide a testimonial

Hi [Name],

We've been using [their product/service] for [time period] and have been really happy
with the results.

I noticed you feature customers on your website—we'd be honored to be included. I'm happy
to provide a testimonial or logo for your client showcase.

Let me know if you'd like any additional information.

Thanks,
[Your name]

Backlink #5: Free Tool or Resource#

Effort: High | Value: Excellent | Time: Variable

Create a genuinely useful free tool or resource that solves a specific problem.

Beginner-Friendly Options:

Google Sheets Templates: Create useful spreadsheets for your industry
Checklists: Comprehensive checklists for common processes
Calculators: Simple calculators using Google Sheets or no-code tools
Curated Resource Lists: Comprehensive collections of useful links

Why It Works: Free tools naturally attract links because people reference useful resources. Even a simple, well-designed spreadsheet template can earn organic links over time.

Example: A marketing agency could create a "Content Calendar Template" in Google Sheets. They make it freely available, and bloggers writing about content marketing link to it as a resource.

Promotion:

Share on relevant Reddit communities
Post in industry Slack groups
Share on social media
List on Product Hunt (for tools)

Backlink #6: HARO Response#

Effort: Medium | Value: Excellent | Time: Ongoing

HARO (Help A Reporter Out) connects journalists with expert sources. As a new site owner, you have expertise worth sharing.

Getting Started:

Sign up at helpareporter.com (free tier available)
Select relevant categories
Respond to queries where you have genuine expertise
Be fast—journalists often use the first good responses

Writing Winning Pitches:

Answer the specific question asked
Provide unique insights or data
Include your credentials
Keep responses concise
Follow formatting instructions

Success Rate: Expect 5-10% response rate when starting. Focus on quality over quantity—one excellent pitch beats 10 mediocre ones.

Alternative Platforms:

Connectively (formerly HARO's premium tier)
Qwoted
SourceBottle
Featured.com

Backlink #7: Community Participation#

Effort: Medium | Value: Good | Time: Ongoing

Become an active, helpful member of communities where your audience gathers.

Valuable Communities:

Reddit (relevant subreddits)
Industry Slack groups
Niche forums
Facebook groups
Discord servers

The Right Approach:

Don't spam links—genuinely participate
Answer questions helpfully
Share your content only when directly relevant and permitted
Build recognition over weeks/months
Include website in profile/flair where allowed

Why It Works: When you become a trusted community member, opportunities arise naturally. People ask for resources, recommend helpful sites, and reference community experts in their content.

Example: A web developer who helpfully answers questions in r/webdev for months becomes known as an expert. When they mention their tutorial site, community members share it.

Backlink #8: Unlinked Brand Mentions#

Effort: Low | Value: Variable | Time: 1-2 hours

If your brand has been mentioned anywhere without a link, reach out to request one.

Finding Unlinked Mentions:

Set up Google Alerts for your brand name
Search Google for your brand in quotes
Use Ahrefs Content Explorer to find mentions
Check social media for brand mentions

Outreach Template:

Subject: Thank you for mentioning [Your Company]

Hi [Name],

Thank you so much for mentioning [Your Company] in your article about [topic]. We really
appreciate the recognition!

I noticed the mention isn't linked—would you be open to adding a link to make it easier
for your readers to find us? Our URL is [your website].

No pressure either way—we're grateful for the mention regardless.

Best,
[Your name]

Success Rate: High—50% or more of people will add the link since they've already endorsed you.

Backlink #9: Guest Post#

Effort: High | Value: Excellent | Time: 4-8 hours

Write a valuable article for another website in your industry.

Finding Opportunities: Search for:

"[your topic] + write for us"
"[your topic] + contribute"
"[your topic] + guest post guidelines"

Qualification Criteria:

Relevant to your industry
Has real traffic and audience
DA 20+ (use free DA checkers)
Not part of a guest post network
Has editorial standards

Pitch Tips:

Read their existing content first
Propose specific, relevant topics
Show examples of your writing
Demonstrate understanding of their audience
Be professional and respectful

Sample Pitch:

Subject: Guest post idea: [Specific Topic]

Hi [Name],

I've been reading [Site Name] for a while and particularly enjoyed your recent piece
on [specific article].

I'd love to contribute an article on [specific topic]. This would cover:
- [Key point 1]
- [Key point 2]
- [Key point 3]

I think this would resonate with your readers because [reason].

Here are some examples of my previous work:
- [Link to article 1]
- [Link to article 2]

Let me know if you're interested, or if you'd prefer a different topic.

Thanks for considering,
[Your name]

Backlink #10: Original Research or Data#

Effort: High | Value: Excellent | Time: Variable

Create and publish original data that others will cite.

Beginner-Friendly Data Sources:

Survey your audience: Even 50-100 responses provide usable data
Analyze public data: Compile publicly available statistics
Product usage data: If you have a tool, anonymized user data is valuable
Industry analysis: Systematic review of industry trends

Format for Maximum Impact:

Clear methodology explanation
Key findings highlighted
Visualizations (charts, graphs)
Quotable statistics
Embeddable graphics

Promotion Strategy:

Create a press release summarizing findings
Reach out to journalists covering your industry
Share in relevant communities
Submit to data aggregation sites
Mention in guest posts

Example: A new project management tool surveys 100 users about remote work habits. They publish "Remote Work Productivity Report 2026" with original statistics that bloggers cite.

Execution Timeline#

Week 1: Foundation Links (3-4 links)#

Day 1-2:

Set up Google Business Profile (if applicable)
Create and complete all social profiles

Day 3-4:

Research and list quality industry directories
Submit to 3-5 directories

Day 5:

Identify partner/vendor link opportunities
Send testimonial offers

Week 2: Active Outreach (2-3 links)#

Day 1:

Sign up for HARO
Set up Google Alerts for brand mentions

Day 2-3:

Research guest post opportunities
Send 5-10 pitches

Day 4-5:

Respond to HARO queries (daily practice)
Follow up on directory submissions

Weeks 3-4: Content and Community (3-4 links)#

Week 3:

Create free tool/resource
Promote in relevant communities
Continue HARO responses

Week 4:

Pursue unlinked brand mentions
Follow up on guest post pitches
Begin original data project (for future links)

Tracking Your Progress#

Simple Tracking Spreadsheet#

Create a spreadsheet with: | Source | Type | Status | DA | Dofollow? | Date Acquired | |--------|------|--------|----|-----------|--------------| | LinkedIn | Social | Live | 90+ | No | Jan 5 | | Industry Directory | Directory | Pending | 35 | Yes | Jan 7 | | Partner Site | Partner | Outreach | 45 | Yes | Jan 10 |

Free Monitoring Tools#

Google Search Console: Check Links report weekly for new referring domains.

Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (free): Monitor new backlinks for verified sites.

Google Alerts: Track brand mentions as they happen.

What Makes These Links Valuable#

Diversity#

Your first 10 links come from different source types:

Social profiles
Directories
Partners
Journalism
Guest content
Community

This diversity looks natural and provides a solid foundation.

Legitimacy#

None of these tactics violate Google's guidelines. You're building links through:

Genuine business relationships
Valuable contributions
Helpful resources
Authentic community participation

Scalability#

These tactics don't just get you 10 links—they establish patterns you'll repeat:

Guest posting becomes a regular practice
HARO becomes a daily habit
Community participation builds over time
Tools and resources earn links passively

Frequently Asked Questions#

How long will it take to get 10 quality backlinks?#

Following this roadmap, most new sites can acquire 10 quality backlinks within 30-60 days. Some tactics (social profiles, directories) happen quickly, while others (guest posts, HARO features) take longer.

Should I accept nofollow links for my first links?#

Yes. Early on, any link from a legitimate source helps establish your site's presence online. Nofollow links from authoritative sites still provide brand awareness, referral traffic, and contribute to a natural link profile.

What if my niche has limited guest posting opportunities?#

Get creative. If direct competitors don't accept guest posts, look at adjacent industries. A SaaS product might guest post on productivity blogs, business advice sites, or industry news publications—not just software-specific sites.

How do I know if a directory is worth submitting to?#

Check for:

Editorial review process (they reject some submissions)
Reasonable domain authority (DA 20+)
Real businesses in listings
Regular updates and maintenance
No spammy link patterns

Double down on what worked: If guest posting worked well, do more
Refine your approach: Improve outreach based on response data
Scale systematically: Set monthly link acquisition goals
Track rankings: Monitor whether links impact your target keywords
Build relationships: Nurture connections for ongoing opportunities

Your first 10 links prove you can do this. Now it's about consistency, refinement, and gradual scaling.

Ready to build your backlink profile? Get started with BacklinkGrid - permanent dofollow backlinks from just $1.