Is SEO without link building possible? Spoiler alert: Not so much.
The recent link building statistics show that 95% of the surveyed SEO specialists consider link building important for SEO, but the debate continues. Some people say they’ve ranked without backlinks (which we’re a little skeptical about), while others claim it’s impossible.
So, can you rank without backlinks? In this guide, we’ll share our view, plus Google’s stance. The answer might be different from what you’ve heard.
Let’s start!
Can SEO Be Done Without Link Building?
To answer this question, it’s important to understand what SEO is and how it works.
SEO consists of three parts: On-page SEO (your content), Technical SEO (how well your website works), and Off-Page SEO, which is mostly about link building.
If you have compelling content, but a messy website with a bunch of technical issues and poor backlinks from irrelevant sources, then your SEO won’t do much for you. You’ll need to fix these issues so backlinks can take effect more quickly. This includes improving page speed, sitemaps, and more. For more details on how to optimize your site, check out our website audit checklist.
On the other hand, if you have backlinks and a well-performing site, but you lack proper content, it’s not going to help either.
The takeaway? SEO is not complete without link building, and all three parts need to work together. When all these elements are in good shape, SEO can work wonders for your rankings. But miss one, and all your time and resources will be wasted.
What’s Google’s Take on Pages Without Backlinks?
Google isn’t a fan of link building, more specifically excessive direct link exchanges. It loves organic backlinks that you get just because your content is good.
Plus, Google mainly finds pages through links from other pages it has already crawled. These are other websites (aka referring domains) linking to your pages. So, if you don’t have backlinks, you are basically invisible to Google and it cannot rank your pages. Makes sense, right?
The bottom line is that backlinks are still a ranking factor in 2025, whether you’ve built them organically or through strategies like A-B-C link exchanges and guest posting.
So, if you’ve written a well-researched and unique content optimized for SEO, good job! But don’t stop there. While it might bring some traffic on its own (chances are low though), backlinks are what will help you leave your competitors behind and get noticed.
SEO Without Backlinks: When (If Ever) Does It Work?
Unless you’re a big name like HubSpot or Ahrefs, you can’t really skip link building. These brands naturally earn backlinks thanks to their strong brand image and authority. They don’t need to put much effort into building.
If your brand has some recognition, you might be able to rank on Google for low-competition keywords. Especially if you’re covering something fresh that no one’s written about yet or if existing content on the topic is simply bad. In such cases, Google may reward your content.
However, this strategy may work for a while. Once the keyword becomes more competitive, and better content shows up, you will need backlinks to keep up with competitors or you’ll drop out of the rankings fast.
And honestly, even for those “easy” keywords, the top-ranking pages usually have at least a few backlinks. In the example above, you can see that 9 referring domains are needed to rank in the top 10. So, low competition doesn’t always mean low effort.
And if your business has no visibility at all? Then link building becomes even more important. It helps search engines discover your pages.
To wrap it all up: Yes, creating unique and engaging content targeting keywords with low difficulty can work sometimes. But if link building consistently helps rankings, why take a path that may not deliver?
Which Needs More Backlinks: New or Old Sites?
The short answer is both. However, newly established sites need them the most.
No matter how appealing your product or service is, it won’t matter if no one knows you exist, right? And one of the best ways to build an online presence is through SEO, link building included.
That said, older sites that already have some backlinks should not hit pause, either. A common link building mistake we see is businesses investing in backlinks for a few months, then stopping completely.
Link building works best when it’s consistent. Building 10 relevant backlinks every month is far more effective than getting 30 links and then disappearing.
And it’s not just only about numbers. Quality is equally important. A hundred poor backlinks from spammy sources won’t help (and can even hurt your rankings), while a few strong links from reputable sites can make a big difference. So, keeping a balance is key.
Can You Rank Without Backlinks? Only in a Perfect World
Let’s wrap up things.
Backlinks are an important aspect of SEO. Compelling content and a properly functioning website are also key, but they are not enough on their own to achieve higher rankings. But without backlinks, search engines may not even find your pages.
Our final verdict? You cannot rank without backlinks, at least not in this lifetime.
By the way, if you are considering link building but don’t know where to start, our team at Saynine has your back. Check out our link building services or book a call — we’d love to hear about your project and answer your questions.
FAQ about can you rank without backlinks
Do you need backlinks to rank?
Yes. You need backlinks to rank, as they are one of Google’s ranking factors. The more relevant and valuable backlinks you build, the higher your rankings will be.
How to rank in Google without backlinks?
It’s possible to rank by targeting low-competition keywords, but without backlinks, it’s much harder to compete, stay visible, and further improve your rankings.
