{"id":621786,"date":"2024-05-24T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-24T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/"},"modified":"2024-05-24T15:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-05-24T12:00:00","slug":"how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"#How important are backlinks for SEO in 2024?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a257248b8da3\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a257248b8da3\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Do_backlinks_remain_a_crucial_factor_for_SEO_Or_has_their_importance_been_diminished_in_2024_We_help_separate_fact_from_fiction\" >Do backlinks remain a crucial factor for SEO? Or has their importance been diminished in 2024? We help separate fact from fiction.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Backlinks_and_SEO_Confusion_in_todays_landscape\" >Backlinks and SEO: Confusion in today\u2019s landscape<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Googles_statements_and_updates\" >Google\u2019s statements and updates<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Empirical_evidence_and_studies\" >Empirical evidence and studies<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Study_1_Ahrefs_backlink_statistics_and_findings\" >Study 1: Ahrefs backlink statistics and findings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Study_2_Backlinko_search_ranking_findings\" >Study 2: Backlinko search ranking findings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Study_3_Monster_Insights_Ranking_Factor_Findings\" >Study 3: Monster Insights Ranking Factor Findings<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Making_sense_of_link_data_and_associated_claims\" >Making sense of link data and associated claims<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/how-important-are-backlinks-for-seo-in-2024\/#Understanding_the_role_of_backlinks_in_2024\" >Understanding the role of backlinks in 2024<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"subhead\" itemprop=\"alternativeHeadline\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_backlinks_remain_a_crucial_factor_for_SEO_Or_has_their_importance_been_diminished_in_2024_We_help_separate_fact_from_fiction\"><\/span>Do backlinks remain a crucial factor for SEO? Or has their importance been diminished in 2024? We help separate fact from fiction.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"bialty-container\">\nSEO today is more complex and challenging than at any other point.<\/p>\n<p>Once upon a time, not too long ago, links were the most important thing in SEO. <\/p>\n<p>But is that still true? <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/1038259\/SEL_Post-text --><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1693000027709-0\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"post-break\"><\/div>\n<p>This article will examine the significance of link SEO today. It will include various perspectives within the industry, analyze empirical evidence and consider Google\u2019s recent statements and updates on the role of links in their ranking algorithms.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-backlinks-and-seo-confusion-in-today-s-landscape\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Backlinks_and_SEO_Confusion_in_todays_landscape\"><\/span>Backlinks and SEO: Confusion in today\u2019s landscape<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Links matter. The volume and quality of external links to a webpage can influence its search rankings.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond the number of links, other factors that play a role include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Link diversity (do your links come from multiple sites?).<\/li>\n<li>Relevance.<\/li>\n<li>Quality.<\/li>\n<li>Authority. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Technical aspects and Google\u2019s preference for editorial (non-paid) links further impact effectiveness.<\/p>\n<p>Links create PageRank, which helps elevate keyword rankings. Although Google no longer shows PageRank publicly, it still influences its algorithm. <\/p>\n<p>How much? Opinions vary. Some believe PageRank is crucial, while others think its importance is all but dead.<\/p>\n<p>Just check out this LinkedIn post:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"583\" height=\"605\" alt=\"1 LI Post\" class=\"wp-image-442530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post.png 583w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post-326x338.png.webp 326w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post-578x600.png.webp 578w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post-109x113.png.webp 109w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post.png\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"583\" height=\"605\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post.png\" alt=\"1 LI Post\" class=\"wp-image-442530\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post.png 583w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post-326x338.png.webp 326w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post-578x600.png.webp 578w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/1-LI-Post-109x113.png.webp 109w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 583px) 100vw, 583px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Such posts can lead to interesting discussions that surface interesting views:<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"GjJRPZglxyl5Wh2YOInVvcGPB8JZ1VPgMkEROxHjv FHOS85pbUogiHGY JTXSFOQ4JyPHf1O4bDxdXrs Bn3ZEh2U  6dtANHJ TgV5YA VeptbMfD9kqqqnWoWtFlp7ppIt7EbHGBIBB2CcDfq00w\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/GjJRPZglxyl5Wh2YOInVvcGPB8JZ1VPgMkEROxHjv-fHOS85pbUogiHGY_JTXSFOQ4JyPHf1O4bDxdXrs_bn3ZEh2U_-6dtANHJ-TgV5YA-VeptbMfD9kqqqnWoWtFlp7ppIt7EbHGBIBB2CcDfq00w\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-us.googleusercontent.com\/GjJRPZglxyl5Wh2YOInVvcGPB8JZ1VPgMkEROxHjv-fHOS85pbUogiHGY_JTXSFOQ4JyPHf1O4bDxdXrs_bn3ZEh2U_-6dtANHJ-TgV5YA-VeptbMfD9kqqqnWoWtFlp7ppIt7EbHGBIBB2CcDfq00w\" alt=\"GjJRPZglxyl5Wh2YOInVvcGPB8JZ1VPgMkEROxHjv FHOS85pbUogiHGY JTXSFOQ4JyPHf1O4bDxdXrs Bn3ZEh2U  6dtANHJ TgV5YA VeptbMfD9kqqqnWoWtFlp7ppIt7EbHGBIBB2CcDfq00w\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"587\" height=\"855\" alt=\"3 LI Comments\" class=\"wp-image-442532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments.png 587w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments-232x338.png.webp 232w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments-412x600.png.webp 412w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments-78x113.png.webp 78w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"587\" height=\"855\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments.png\" alt=\"3 LI Comments\" class=\"wp-image-442532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments.png 587w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments-232x338.png.webp 232w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments-412x600.png.webp 412w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/3-LI-Comments-78x113.png.webp 78w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 587px) 100vw, 587px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Opinions on the importance of links vary widely, leaving many confused. <\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re among the confused, know you aren\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n<p>So \u2013 are links as crucial as sellers claim? Or are links an industry scam costing thousands for unnecessary links?<\/p>\n<p>The truth, as is typically the case, is somewhere in between.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s further examine these perspectives and measure them against the facts.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-google-s-statements-and-updates\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Googles_statements_and_updates\"><\/span>Google\u2019s statements and updates<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Before we proceed, it\u2019s probably prudent to check recent comments from Google. <\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with comments from Gary Illyes, a webmaster trends analyst at Google, from September, as reported here on Search Engine Land:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cI think they [links] are important, but I think people overestimate the importance of links. I don\u2019t agree it\u2019s in the top three. It hasn\u2019t been for some time.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Then, in March, Google released a Spam Policy update, removing the word \u201cimportant\u201d in reference to links as a ranking factor. This change coincided with the March 2024 core algorithm update.<\/p>\n<p>In April, there was a bit of a storm when Illyes indicated that <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/patrickstox\/status\/1781349615465304466\">links were less important<\/a> at a search conference:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cWe need very few links to rank pages\u2026 Over the years we\u2019ve made links less important.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>John Mueller, a Google search advocate, also made these comments:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cMy recommendation would be not to focus so much on the absolute count of links. There are many ways that search engines can discover websites, such as with sitemaps. There are more important things for websites nowadays, and over-focusing on links will often result in you wasting your time doing things that don\u2019t make your website better overall.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some parts of Google\u2019s documentation still mention links and PageRank as core aspects of its ranking systems.<\/p>\n<p>Within their <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/appearance\/ranking-systems-guide\">documentation<\/a>, Google states that PageRank is:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cone of our core ranking systems used when Google first launched. Those curious can learn more by reading the original PageRank research paper and patent. How PageRank works has evolved a lot since then, and it continues to be part of our core ranking systems.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>So, even if Google is reducing the prominence of link data within its ranking algorithms, it seems that will be a gradual sunset.<\/p>\n<p>And here\u2019s what Google\u2019s <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/about.google\/philosophy\/\">philosophy page<\/a> says:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cWe assess the importance of every web page using more than 200 signals and a variety of techniques, including our patented PageRank\u2122 algorithm, which analyses which sites have been \u2018voted\u2019 to be the best sources of information by other pages across the web. As the web gets bigger, this <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>roach actually improves, as each new site is another point of information and another vote to be counted.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This suggests that links and PageRank are still important in 2024. However, if you read further:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cWe never manipulate rankings to put our partners higher in our search results and no one can buy better PageRank. Our users trust our objectivity and no short-term gain could ever justify breaching that trust.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The statement that \u201cno one can buy better PageRank\u201d indicates that Google aggressively defends this part of its ranking algorithm. <\/p>\n<p>It also suggests that Google believes, or wants us to believe, that paid link building services are ineffective. If such services were effective, Google couldn\u2019t claim that no one can buy better PageRank. <\/p>\n<p>This doesn\u2019t mean links are unimportant. But Google invests heavily to make simple link building strategies ineffective.<\/p>\n<p>Despite Google\u2019s efforts to reduce reliance on links and prevent backlink exploitation, the SEO industry still promotes link building as a valid tactic. The industry continues to generate business and educate those they see as uninformed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"589\" height=\"782\" alt=\"4 LI Link Building Ad\" class=\"wp-image-442533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp 589w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad-255x338.png.webp 255w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad-452x600.png.webp 452w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad-85x113.png.webp 85w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 589px) 100vw, 589px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"589\" height=\"782\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp\" alt=\"4 LI Link Building Ad\" class=\"wp-image-442533\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp 589w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad-255x338.png.webp 255w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad-452x600.png.webp 452w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/4-LI-Link-Building-Ad-85x113.png.webp 85w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 589px) 100vw, 589px\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"591\" height=\"750\" alt=\"5 LI Link Building Ad\" class=\"wp-image-442534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp 591w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad-266x338.png.webp 266w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad-473x600.png.webp 473w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad-89x113.png.webp 89w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"591\" height=\"750\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp\" alt=\"5 LI Link Building Ad\" class=\"wp-image-442534\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp 591w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad-266x338.png.webp 266w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad-473x600.png.webp 473w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/5-LI-Link-Building-Ad-89x113.png.webp 89w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 591px) 100vw, 591px\"><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"590\" height=\"745\" alt=\"6 LI Link Building Ad\" class=\"wp-image-442535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp 590w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad-268x338.png.webp 268w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad-475x600.png.webp 475w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad-89x113.png.webp 89w\" data-lazy-sizes=\"(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"590\" height=\"745\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp\" alt=\"6 LI Link Building Ad\" class=\"wp-image-442535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad.png.webp 590w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad-268x338.png.webp 268w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad-475x600.png.webp 475w,https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2024\/05\/6-LI-Link-Building-Ad-89x113.png.webp 89w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px\"><\/figure>\n<p>These practices will persist unless Google makes radical changes to its ranking algorithms and clearly communicates them to the industry. <\/p>\n<p>Google aims to move away from links to better rank content, but what could replace PageRank? <\/p>\n<p>For now, nothing. <\/p>\n<p>However, with Google\u2019s AI capabilities, this could change. <\/p>\n<p>If Google can evaluate content usefulness directly without external links, they won\u2019t need to rank webpages anymore. Instead, responding to search queries will become an exercise in AI-driven, technical content extraction and surfacing.<\/p>\n<p>This shift seems inevitable.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-empirical-evidence-and-studies\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Empirical_evidence_and_studies\"><\/span>Empirical evidence and studies<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The key question to ask when it comes to your SEO efforts is: \u201cDo links work right now?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s look at findings from <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-statistics\/#backlink-statistics\">Ahrefs<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/search-engine-ranking\">Backlinko<\/a> and <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.monsterinsights.com\/google-ranking-factors\/\">MonsterInsights<\/a>:<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-study-1-ahrefs-backlink-statistics-and-findings\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Study_1_Ahrefs_backlink_statistics_and_findings\"><\/span>Study 1: Ahrefs backlink statistics and findings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Ahrefs \u2013 a platform for backlink analysis, keyword indexing, content optimization, and cloud-based technical SEO auditing \u2013 updated its SEO Statistics for 2024 on March 18.<\/p>\n<p>Ahrefs found a positive correlation between the number of sites linking to a page and that page\u2019s ranking and SEO traffic performance. Most top-ranked pages gain between 5% and 14% more followed links per month.<\/p>\n<p>Many other stats from Ahrefs reference publishers like Authority Hacker and include survey-based data.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-study-2-backlinko-search-ranking-findings\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Study_2_Backlinko_search_ranking_findings\"><\/span>Study 2: Backlinko search ranking findings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>\u201cA site\u2019s overall link authority (as measured by Ahrefs Domain Rating) strongly correlates with higher rankings,\u201d according to a Backlinko study, updated on March 24.<\/p>\n<p>Google doesn\u2019t use SEO tool scores in its algorithms, but it still uses PageRank. Ahrefs Domain Rating is designed to simulate PageRank, so a correlation is expected if Ahrefs is accurate.<\/p>\n<p>Backlinko\u2019s study also said:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cPages with lots of backlinks rank above pages that don\u2019t have as many backlinks. In fact, the #1 result in Google has an average of 3.8x more backlinks than positions #2-#10.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>However, correlation doesn\u2019t imply causation. High rankings can make a page more visible, leading to more backlinks and citations. Still, the correlation between link authority and higher rankings is strong.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cWe found no correlation between page loading speed (as measured by Alexa) and first page Google rankings.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The point above is slightly misleading. Google doesn\u2019t adjust rankings based on Alexa page-speed ratings. Instead, they use Core Web Vitals to assess page performance. Therefore, this statement might be based on poor input data.<\/p>\n<p>On to the next point:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cGetting backlinks from multiple different sites appears to be important for SEO. We found the number of domains linking to a page had a correlation with rankings.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The importance of link diversity is <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly accepted within the search community. <\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-study-3-monster-insights-ranking-factor-findings\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Study_3_Monster_Insights_Ranking_Factor_Findings\"><\/span>Study 3: Monster Insights Ranking Factor Findings<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Monster Insights, a WordPress plugin provider, determined that backlinks \u201chave a huge influence on Google\u2019s ranking algorithm,\u201d in January. <\/p>\n<p>Monster Insights concluded that sites with higher volumes of backlinks usually achieve higher Google ranking positions (on average):<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\u201cAll in all, backlinks from high authority websites are more valuable, and will boost your rankings more, than links from lower rated sites. Acquiring these links sends a signal to Google that your content is trustworthy, since other high-quality websites vouch for it.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-making-sense-of-link-data-and-associated-claims\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Making_sense_of_link_data_and_associated_claims\"><\/span>Making sense of link data and associated claims<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While most studies show a correlation between links, rankings and search traffic, they don\u2019t address causality. <\/p>\n<p>Do links cause pages to rank higher, or do high-ranking pages attract more links? <\/p>\n<p>This has been a major debate in SEO for over a decade. <\/p>\n<p>Some have had success with link building, while others have seen no results or even received a manual action from Google.<\/p>\n<p>I trust Ahrefs\u2019 study the most because it provides tools and data without selling link building services, reducing bias. They have a massive index of over 14 trillion live backlinks.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-understanding-the-role-of-backlinks-in-2024\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_the_role_of_backlinks_in_2024\"><\/span>Understanding the role of backlinks in 2024<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your main takeaway is that links still matter now. <\/p>\n<p>However, traditional link building, which often produces poor-quality links, has been ineffective for some time. <\/p>\n<p>Success requires creative ideas and real-world events that garner high-tier editorial coverage.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t \u201cbuild\u201d links. Earn and attract links. Producing links isn\u2019t as simple as stacking blocks.<\/p>\n<p>While backlinks are becoming less important, they are still an important part of SEO. <\/p>\n<p>Adopting a holistic and quality-focused approach in link acquisition and broader SEO strategies will likely yield the best results in this changing landscape.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n<div class=\"about-author\">\n    About the author<\/p>\n<div class=\"information\">\n<div class=\"author-module\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-3 text-center\">\n<div class=\"avatar\">\n                        <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid rounded-circle avatar-border\" alt=\"James Allen\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2023\/09\/James-Allen.jpeg.webp\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid rounded-circle avatar-border\" src=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2023\/09\/James-Allen.jpeg.webp\" alt=\"James Allen\" width=\"140\" height=\"140\">\n                                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-lg-9\">\n<div class=\"about\">\n<div class=\"name\">\n                            <strong>James Allen<\/strong>\n                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"row g-2 pt-2\">\n<div class=\"col-auto\">\n                                    <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/scriptedinsight\/\" aria-label=\"opens in a new tab\"><i class=\"fab fa-linkedin\"><\/i><\/a>\n                                <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        Hailing from the Midlands of the United Kingdom; James Allen has been working in search since 2009. Specialising in technical SEO early in his career, he is an auditor who is capable of ascertaining his own data. With a solid knowledge of XPath and some working knowledge of Python, James also dabbles in AI scripting (for example, combining the functions of BLIP with Open-AI&#8217;s GPT suite of technologies). James decided to split his career between then technical SEO, light API scripting and Analytics support disciplines. Due to this, he also has high familiarity with Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager and managing custom events within the data layer. James specialises in page-speed analysis, and utilising AI for SEO purposes.                  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology<\/a><\/span> category.<\/strong>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/backlinks-seo-importance-442529\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do backlinks remain a crucial factor for SEO? Or has their importance been diminished in 2024? We help separate fact from fiction. SEO today is more complex and challenging than at any other point. Once upon a time, not too long ago, links were the most important thing in SEO. But is that still true?&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":621787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/wp-content\/seloads\/2023\/02\/Backlinks-in-2023-Do-they-still-matter.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[129436,78070],"class_list":["post-621786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-link-building","tag-seo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/621786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=621786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/621786\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/621787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=621786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=621786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=621786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}