u/Backlyst

One thing I’ve noticed speaking to business owners is that most websites aren’t actually “bad” — people just can’t find them.
A lot of companies:
build a website

maybe post on social media occasionally

then wonder why traffic never really grows

The part most people never get taught properly is authority online.
If no other websites mention or link to your business, search engines have very little reason to trust or prioritise your site over competitors.
That’s where backlinks come in.
Not spammy links or random directories — actual relevant websites connecting to yours.
It’s one of the biggest reasons some businesses slowly disappear online while others keep growing year after year.
I’ve been looking into this heavily while building Backlyst, because the current process still feels broken for most businesses:
cold outreach

expensive agencies

low quality links

no transparency

Curious how others here are currently approaching website growth and backlinks?
Are businesses still struggling with this or have you found systems that work consistently?

How many business owners here are paying agencies every month and still not moving on Google?

One of the biggest things most website owners don’t realise is that having a website alone is not enough anymore. You can have a good-looking site, fast hosting, and decent services, but if Google doesn’t trust your website, you’ll struggle to rank.

A big part of that trust comes from backlinks.
For anyone new to SEO, backlinks are simply links from other websites pointing to yours. Google sees them as signals that your website is being talked about and recommended elsewhere online.

A few simple things business owners should focus on:
Make sure every page targets a specific service or keyword

Add useful content regularly instead of leaving your site untouched for months

-Get listed on relevant directories in your industry

-Build genuine backlinks from related websites

-Improve page speed and mobile usability

Don’t expect results overnight — SEO compounds over time

A lot of companies spend thousands on ads while completely ignoring long-term organic growth.

I’m currently building a platform called Backlyst focused around backlink growth and SEO partnerships, so Ive spend a lot of time researching what genuinely helps websites move in Google.

If anyone has any input or insight I’d be very interested and eager to have alternative views and learn from others experiences and if any have questions about their website or wants some free advice, feel free to message me. Happy to help where I can.

I honestly think the backlink industry has become ridiculous.

Businesses are paying thousands every month to SEO agencies who proudly show them reports full of completely irrelevant links.

Why is a security company getting backlinks from toy shop blogs and random lifestyle sites?

Most business owners don’t actually understand what they’re buying, so agencies sell DR metrics instead of relevance.

Google is evolving heavily toward relevance, relationships and topical authority now, but a huge part of the industry still acts like random high DR links are all that matters.
I genuinely think paying huge retainers for backlinks is becoming outdated.

Curious if others here are seeing the same thing lately?

We are looking for UK based SEO specialists to grow their portfolio and assist with our mission while earning money. If available please comment and we will contact you with details.

Hey everyone,
There is still a lot of confusion about backlinks, especially with AI overviews and search algorithms evolving so fast in 2026. I see beginners chasing numbers (100 links!) while veterans are chasing authority (1 link).
Here is a simplified breakdown of understanding backlinks, why they still matter in 2026, and how to get them without spamming.

1. What is a Backlink (Simplified)
A backlink is when another website links to yours. Think of it as a vote of confidence. If a high-authority site (like a major news outlet or industry leader) links to you, Google thinks, "This site must be credible."

2. Why Backlinks Matter in 2026 (The AI Shift)
Despite what you might hear, backlinks are not dead.
Trust Signals: They are still a top 3 ranking factor.
AI Citations: AI models (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Google AI Overviews) use backlinks to verify information. If reputable sites link to you, AI is more likely to trust and cite your brand.
Faster Indexing: New sites get found and indexed faster.

3. Quality vs. Quantity: The 2026 Reality
In 2026, one link from a highly relevant, trusted domain is worth 100 spammy links from junk directories.
Good Links: Contextual (inside the article), niche-relevant, editorial (earned), dofollow.
Bad Links: Link farms, paid link schemes, spammy forum comments, irrelevant niche links.

4. How to Actually Get Backlinks in 2026 (Actionable Tips)
Don’t just buy links. Earn them or build them ethically.
Create "Citation Magnets": Create original research, surveys, or infographics. People cite data, not just "how-to" articles.
Reclaim Unlinked Brand Mentions: Use tools to find where your brand is mentioned but not linked. A polite email to the editor often turns a mention into a link.
The "Skyscraper" Technique (Updated): Find the best content on a topic, make it 10x better (add updated 2026 data), and reach out to sites linking to the old, inferior content.
HARO/Qwoted/Featured: Sign up as an expert source to provide quotes for journalists. This is the best way to get high-authority editorial links.
Broken Link Building: Find dead links on reputable sites and offer your content as a replacement.
TL;DR: Backlinks are still reputation currency. Focus on relevance and authority, not volume.
What is the best backlink you've earned recently? Let’s discuss in the comments.

There’s only one solution and it’s being created. A link building platform designed for everyone to use. Our new platform will revolutionise the industry.

In an ideal world would you not want relevant backlinks from multiple different relevant sources?

Welcome to r/LinkBuildingPlatform

If you’re here, you’re likely trying to figure out one thing — how to actually get backlinks that move the needle.

This community is for website owners, bloggers, and SEO professionals who want to discuss real link building strategies, what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve results without wasting time on outdated outreach methods.

Feel free to:

-Ask questions

-Share what’s worked for you

-Talk about challenges you’re facing

-Discuss backlink strategies and content placements

No spam, no fake “guaranteed backlinks” — just real conversations.

I’ll also be sharing insights around building a more structured approach to link building and how platforms like Backlyst aim to simplify the process.

If you’re serious about growing your site, you’re in the right place.

I’ve been looking into how businesses actually handle backlink building, and it still seems pretty inefficient across the board.

Most of what I see is:

– Cold outreach that gets ignored

– Paying agencies without much transparency

– Buying links with mixed quality

– A lot of time spent for inconsistent results

It made me wonder why there isn’t a more structured way for website owners and businesses to just connect directly and handle this in a cleaner way.

For example, something like:

– A place where businesses can find relevant websites in their niche

– Clear expectations on what’s being offered

– A more transparent process instead of endless emailing

I’m currently exploring this idea and trying to understand if it actually solves a real problem or if there’s something I’m missing.

For those of you who actively build backlinks:

How are you doing it right now?

What’s the biggest frustration you run into?

Would a more direct/structured system even be useful, or not really?

Genuinely interested in how people are approaching this at the moment 👍