What It Is
A backlink is a link on someone else’s website that points to your site. Search engines see backlinks a bit like recommendations. If a respected local newspaper or industry association links to you, that suggests your site is worth visiting. Not all links count equally. One link from a relevant, trusted site is usually worth far more than many links from unrelated or low-quality sites.
Why It Matters for Your Business
Backlinks help search engines discover your pages and judge their authority, and they can send real visitors too. A roofing contractor listed on the local chamber of commerce site, featured in a neighborhood blog and linked from a supplier’s "find an installer" page has strong signals that it is a real, established business in that area.
Good to Know
Common mistake: buying links in bulk or trading links with unrelated sites. These schemes break Google’s guidelines and can hurt rather than help. Look for natural opportunities instead: sponsor a local team, join professional associations, partner with businesses you already work with or publish a helpful guide that others will want to reference.