Build Backlinks to New Websites: 13 Easy Methods for Quick Authority Growth

Building backlinks to new websites is one of the toughest challenges. Without quality backlinks, your site might stay buried in search results for months, no matter how great your content is. Whereas, websites with strong backlink profiles are 3.8 times more likely to rank on page one compared to those without quality links. 

You don't have to wait years to build authority. With the correct tactics, you can earn intelligent links that show your credibility to search engines, accelerating the growth of your new website. However, the problem is figuring out exactly how to build them when you're starting from scratch. 

This blog covers 13 methods to build backlinks to new websites. Learn how to fix broken links to create content people want to link to; these strategies are for new domains looking to establish credibility quickly.

13 Tips to Build Backlinks to New Websites

Building quality backlinks to new websites isn't about throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. You need a strategic approach that works.

1. Start with the basics

For new websites, start with the basics. Create content that people want to link to. Certain content formats consistently outperform others when it comes to attracting natural backlinks:

• "Why" and "What" posts that answer important questions

• Data-driven research and original studies

• The ultimate guides that become go-to resources

• Visual content like infographics that make complex data digestible

• Free tools, templates, or interactive resources

2. Fix and Inherit Broken Backlinks

While other site owners ignore broken backlinks, you can swoop in and claim valuable link equity that would otherwise disappear. Start by checking your website for broken backlinks. You can reclaim these lost opportunities by:

• Restoring the broken page

• Setting up 301 redirects to relevant content

How to make it easy?

Use tools like Ahrefs' Broken Link Checker and SEMrush's Backlink Audit to make this process simple. These tools update their databases every 15 minutes, so you can catch new broken links as they happen and fix them immediately.

3. Use competitor broken links to your advantage

Broken link building has become one of the most popular link-building approaches in recent years, and it works incredibly well for new websites. The process is straightforward:

• Find competitors at your level (don't chase industry giants)

• Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze their backlink profile

• Filter for broken pages that still have active backlinks

• Create better content to replace the dead resource

4. Evaluate link quality before outreach

If you want to build backlinks to new websites, skip links from irrelevant sites or those with questionable SEO practices. Instead, focus your efforts on:

• Links from relevant, authoritative domains in your niche 

• Pages with decent traffic potential

• Links that would provide contextual value to your site

5. Send personalized outreach emails

Personalized emails receive a 32% better response rate than generic messages. When reaching out to website owners:

• Keep it short: Stay under 150 words. Be specific: Point out exactly where the broken link is located

• Offer value: Present your content as a direct replacement. Explain the benefit: Show why your resource fits perfectly. Make it easy: Give them everything they need to make the change

• Follow up once after 3–5 days if you don't hear back. Most website owners appreciate the heads-up about broken links, even if they don't end up linking to you.

6. Write expert-level guides

Long-form, detailed guides naturally attract backlinks because they become the go-to resource others reference. Ultimate guides work well because they become the definitive resource that others reference whenever they write about that topic.

Content with 3,000+ words receives approximately 77.2% more links than shorter articles. But length alone isn't enough; instead, focus on creating detailed, useful information that helps readers solve problems or learn something new.

7. Design infographics and visuals

Use infographics to build backlinks to new websites; they are powerful link magnets. They work because they simplify complex information into visually appealing formats that capture attention. Infographics are three times more likely to be shared than any other type of content. 

They're easy to read and work across multiple platforms, from emails to social media. Well-designed infographics with accurate data can generate hundreds of backlinks from dozens of different domains.

8. Build free tools or templates

Free tools and templates are exceptional linkable assets that keep working for you long after you create them. Useful resources like calculators, generators, or specialized applications provide genuine value that encourages others to link to your site. 

Yes, creating quality tools requires either coding knowledge or financial investment, but the return through links, traffic, and brand awareness makes them worthwhile.

9. Publish original research or data

Original research stands as the most effective content type for generating backlinks. 70% of SEO experts find data and research most efficient for building link profiles. Original studies provide exclusive value that other sites can't find elsewhere, making them natural citation magnets. 

Journalists and bloggers actively seek empirical research to cite within their articles, potentially helping you build backlinks to new websites. The key is creating content that others want to refer to and share. Focus on providing unique value that doesn't exist elsewhere, and the links will follow.

10. Respond to media requests (HARO, Qwoted)

Help a Reporter Out (HARO) connects journalists with expert sources, allowing you to gain exposure on major publications like Forbes, The New York Times, and Wall Street Journal. Similarly, Qwoted connects industry experts with journalists from high-authority publications. When crafting pitches:

• State your credentials clearly in the first paragraph 

• Provide concrete facts rather than generalisations

• Make your main quote easy to copy and paste

11. Get featured on resource pages

Resource page link building ranks as the second most popular link building strategy among SEO professionals. These curated lists are specifically designed to link to external websites, making them ideal for new domains. Here's how to find them:

12. Use testimonials to earn backlinks

Writing testimonials for products you use creates backlink opportunities with minimal effort. Unlike guest posts, testimonials only need a paragraph of text.

Similarly, companies value customer feedback and often feature testimonials on their homepages with backlinks to the author's website. Target companies with sufficient domain authority (aim for 30+ DA) that are relevant to your niche. Your testimonial should include:

• Specific details about how you used the product

• Quantifiable results, whenever possible

13. Find unlinked brand mentions

Unlinked mentions are references to your brand without accompanying hyperlinks. Converting these into backlinks takes minimal effort but delivers solid SEO value. To build backlinks to new websites, these unlinked mentions are; 

• Easy to find with the right tools

• High conversion rate since they already mentioned you

• Builds relationships with people who know your brand

Conclusion

Building backlinks for a new website is tough. But it's also one of the most important things you can do to establish authority quickly and get your site noticed by search engines. Rather than chasing hundreds of low-value links, focus on earning relevant, authoritative backlinks that genuinely boost your site's reputation. Moreover, broken link building offers the fastest path to gaining immediate authority and doesn't require you to start from scratch. 

To build backlinks to new websites, use a strategic outreach to amplify everything else you do. Choose platforms like HARO that connect you directly with journalists, while targeted outreach to resource pages gets your content where it belongs. Start with the strategies that feel most manageable for your situation. Track your results, learn from what works, and gradually expand your efforts. 

FAQ

How to build backlinks for a new website?

• Guest posting

• Directory submissions

• Social media profiles

• Blog comments

• Forum participation

• HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

• Create shareable content (infographics, stats)

How to build 100 backlinks in 30 days or less?

• Write 10 guest posts (10 backlinks)

• Submit to 30 directories (30 backlinks)

• Share on 20 niche forums/blog comments (20 backlinks)

• Create 3 viral infographics and promote (20+ backlinks)

• Use HARO daily (10+ backlinks)

• Repurpose content for Web 2.0s (10 backlinks)

How to get backlinks from news websites?

• Use HARO or Qwoted to respond to journalists queries

• Create data-driven press releases

• Build relationships with journalists on Twitter/LinkedIn

• Pitch unique, newsworthy stories or insights

• Offer expert quotes for trending news topics