A new website has no history, no reputation and usually no links. Getting your first backlinks is about building a small, natural base that tells search engines your site is real and connected to its topic. This guide covers the free options to start with, when paid placements make sense, and how to spend a small budget without wasting it.
Before you build links: get the basics right
Links work best when they point at something worth linking to. Before you start, make sure you have:
- A clear homepage that explains what you do and for whom.
- A few useful pages or articles that answer real questions in your niche.
- An about page and contact details, so people and publishers can trust you.
- Your site verified in Google Search Console.
If you are new to SEO, our guide to SEO basics for link building covers the foundations.
Free ways to get your first backlinks
Start here. These links cost time rather than money, and they make your link profile look natural from day one.
Profiles that make sense
Create profiles on platforms your customers actually use: relevant business directories, industry associations, review sites, app stores or the communities in your niche. Skip mass directory submissions. Google says it ignores most spammy links, so dozens of junk profiles add nothing.
A good test: would a real customer ever find you through this page? If yes, it is worth having.
Partners, suppliers and customers
Think about the people you already work with. Suppliers often list stockists, software tools list integration partners, and event organizers list sponsors and speakers. A short, friendly email asking to be included is often all it takes.
Digital PR basics
You do not need an agency to get mentioned in the press. Start small:
- Answer journalist requests in your area of expertise.
- Share something new: original data from your own business, a useful tool, or a clear opinion on news in your niche.
- Pitch local media and niche publications, which are more open to new businesses than national outlets.
Resource pages
Many sites keep pages that list helpful tools, guides or services on a topic. Search for your topic plus phrases like “useful resources” or “helpful links”. If you have a page that genuinely belongs on that list, send a short note to the site owner.
Guest posts on editorial sites
Some blogs accept contributed articles for free in exchange for quality content. Searches like “write for us” plus your topic will find them. Our guide on where to find guest post sites covers this in more detail.
When to add paid placements
Once you have a natural base of free links, paid placements can speed things up, especially in competitive niches. Approach them carefully.
Be honest with yourself about the risk: Google’s guidance says paid links should use rel=”sponsored” or nofollow. Many SEOs still buy followed placements and accept that risk. If you do, keep it moderate and focused on quality.
A few rules for buying your first placements:
- Relevance first. A site in your niche with real traffic is worth more than a high score on an unrelated blog.
- Start small. Buy a few links, track them, and see what happens before scaling.
- Vary anchors. Use your brand name and natural phrases, not the same exact keyword every time.
- Check the site. Look at organic traffic, recent articles and outgoing links before ordering. Our post on what makes a high quality backlink has a checklist.
- Know what you are buying. Guest posts and link insertions have different costs and trade-offs. See guest posts vs link insertions.
Budget tips for a new site
Prices vary widely. As a rough guide, a guest post on a small niche blog can cost under $100, while placements on large news sites can cost thousands. For a new site, the middle and lower end is usually where the value is. Our post on how much backlinks cost explains the typical ranges and why they differ.
Ways to stretch a small budget:
- Compare before you pay. The same site is often listed on several marketplaces at different prices. A free backlink price checker shows the offers side by side, cheapest first.
- Write the article yourself if the publisher allows it, instead of paying a writing fee.
- Spread purchases over time rather than buying everything in one month.
- Track every link so you can claim replacements if something is removed.
| Approach | Cost | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Relevant profiles | Free | A basic, natural foundation |
| Partners and suppliers | Free | Easy, trusted links from real relationships |
| Digital PR | Mostly time | Mentions on news and niche sites |
| Resource pages | Free | Links to genuinely useful pages |
| Paid placements | Varies widely | Speeding up growth in competitive niches |
What to expect after your first backlinks
Do not expect rankings to jump the week a link goes live. New links take time to be found and counted, and a new site also needs content and time to build trust. Focus on steady progress: a few good links each month, more useful content, and regular checks that your links are still live.
FAQ
How many backlinks does a new website need?
There is no fixed number. It depends on your niche and competitors. Look at the sites ranking for your target keywords to get a sense of what you are up against.
Should a new site buy backlinks?
Start with free links first. If you buy placements later, choose relevant sites, keep volumes moderate and be aware that paid links can conflict with Google’s spam policies.
Are directory links worth it for first backlinks?
Only relevant, real directories that your customers use. Mass submissions to low-quality directories are usually ignored by Google and add little value.
When you are ready to buy your first placements, create a free LinkAcquire account and compare prices across marketplaces before you pay.