How to get high-quality backlinks (and what are backlinks)?
What backlinks are, why quality matters more than quantity, and which link-building methods work in the Netherlands.
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How to get high-quality backlinks (and what are backlinks)?
A backlink is a link from another website to yours. Google still uses links as a trust signal, but only if they are editorial: relevant, placed voluntarily, and not paid for. Buying links is considered spam.
- According to Google, paid links without rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" are link spam.
- Relevance outweighs quantity: a single link from your industry does more than dozens of generic links.
- Link building is the slowest part of SEO; think in months, not weeks.
- Recovering from a damaged link profile usually takes more time and money than building one in the first place.
A backlink is a link from another website to yours. Google still uses links as a trust signal, but the days of buying links in bulk are definitely over.
Why paid link networks backfire
PBN links and spammy packages deliver short-term numbers in SEO tools, but no rankings. Worse still: they pollute your anchor profile and make recovery expensive.
What actually works
Specialist guest articles, trade associations, supplier and dealer pages, local listings, data-led research, and PR. Fewer links, higher relevance.
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Geschreven door: Lubna Ouarghi
Step by step: earning links instead of buying them
Start with the links you can already get: trade associations, supplier and dealer pages, local business platforms, partners, and clients you work with. These are legitimate mentions that nobody can dispute.
Next, create something genuinely worth linking to: proprietary industry data, a practical calculator, or a clear explanation that hasn't been done properly anywhere else. Then, reach out directly to websites already covering the topic to see if they'd be willing to link to it.
The mistakes I see most often
Buying link packages. They produce numbers in SEO tools rather than rankings, and they pollute your anchor text profile. Other things to avoid: hundreds of links with the exact same anchor text, or links from websites that write about every topic under the sun.
People also often forget that internal links are free and have an immediate impact. Before you even look at external links, you can usually strengthen your own site structure significantly.
Which links help and which don't
| Link type | Value |
|---|---|
| Specialist article in your industry | High, provided it is an editorial placement |
| Trade association, supplier, dealer page | High and safe |
| Local listing and business directory | Supporting, especially locally |
| Purchased link package or PBN | Risk of a penalty, no effect |
In brief
- 01
Relevance over quantity
A single relevant link beats dozens of random ones.
- 02
Editorial or marked
If you pay for it, mark it as sponsored.
- 03
Internal first
Your own links are free and work immediately.
Frequently asked questions
How many backlinks do I need?
There is no set number. What matters is whether relevant sites in your field link to you. Compare yourself with the competitors currently outranking you.
Can I pay for a guest post?
For placement, yes, but not for an unmarked link. Paid placements must include rel="sponsored" on the link.
Are bad links harmful?
Google ignores most spam links. Problems mainly arise if you arranged them yourself; in that case, clean-up work is required.
How long does link building take?
Expect it to take months. It only works if your site's technical setup and content are already in order.
Bronnen en controle
Laatst bijgewerkt en gecontroleerd: September 2026 — door Lubna Ouarghi
This explanation is based on the official documentation below and on my own work in client projects.
- Google — Spam Policies for Google Search — why bought links are spam
- Google — Qualifying links with rel attributes — using sponsored, nofollow and ugc
- Google Search Central — SEO Starter Guide — links in the context of the basics
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