What are Backlinks? Are they worth it in 2026?
SEO
4Quick Read
Backlinks are the hyperlinks from one website to your website. They are also known as inbound links. They fall into the category of off-page SEO and have been one of the most important ranking factors for many years. In 2026, after relevant statements from Google, hyperlinks still hold value, but not as much as was previously attributed to them. "The total number of links pointing to a website is irrelevant to Google" — John Mueller
The purpose of hyperlinks is the same as bibliographic references: to expand and verify knowledge. For this reason, they enhance Topical Authority and will continue to be a ranking factor in Google's eyes.
Visual representation of a backlink or inbound links
What does Google say about Backlinks in 2026?
Google's view on Backlinks in 2026 is that they matter but not as much as many think. Additionally, according to Google, paid links violate its official Guidelines and can lead to a drop in Traffic or even de-indexing of your site.
Let's go through everything in the right order to clear up any questions you may have.
Advantages of Backlinks
The advantages of backlinks for your site are as follows.
They improve your Rankings
They increase Clicks and Visibility
They boost Trust if from Reliable sources
They enhance Reach as they can be easily shared
Disadvantages of Backlinks
The disadvantages of backlinks for a Website are as follows.
Penalties from search engines
High Cost (quality Links)
Constant monitoring for Changes
Vulnerability to malicious techniques
“I think they are important, but I think people overestimate the importance of links. I don’t agree it’s in the top three. It hasn’t been for some time.” — Gary Illyes
Definitions and Basic Concepts
What are internal links?
What are inbound links?
What are external links?
What are outbound links?
What is anchor text in Backlinks?
Anchor text is the text on which we place the backlink or any other type of hyperlink.
4 tips to create the perfect anchor text
Below you'll read 4 tips to create the perfect anchor text.
Choose words related to the target page
Keep it short, maximum 3-4 words
Integrate the anchor text naturally into the content
Use different phrases and formulations
What is link juice in SEO?
Link juice in SEO is the value that a webpage passes to another through hyperlinks.
What is considered a quality backlink?
A quality Backlink is one that extends the knowledge of a Website and therefore comes from a site with related subject matter and authority. It is dofollow and transfers link juice from one website to another. It has not been registered as spam by Google and finally, it is placed at the correct spot with the right anchor text.
How do I create quality Backlinks?
To create quality backlinks, you need to find sites with more traffic than your own, related to your subject, and dofollow. Once found, create standout quality content and follow one of the backlink creation techniques below.
5 strategies for backlink creation
Read the 5 best strategies for creating backlinks after you've developed quality content.
Guest Blogging
Social Media e.g. LinkedIn
Participation in Forums e.g. Reddit
Use of Infographics
Creating Use Cases or Statistical Studies to attract backlinks
What is the difference between nofollow and dofollow backlinks?
Dofollow links tell search engines to follow the link and pass "value" from one site to another. On the contrary, nofollow links tell search engines not to follow the link. By default, all links are dofollow, while nofollow needs to be explicitly set.
What is Parasite SEO?
Parasite SEO is a technique for generating Traffic to your Website through Backlinks in Articles published on high-traffic sites. For example, I write a piece in a newspaper with high DR on "What is Branding" and add a link leading to my page in the corresponding article.
Is it worth doing Parasite SEO in 2025?
No, it’s not worth doing Parasite SEO in 2025 first because Google recognizes it 90% of the time, and second, it takes time and is costly. It's better to write an article on an X medium if you want a traffic bonus, which you should, however, mark with rel="sponsored".
Backlinks at Cosmolink
When do we use Backlinks at Cosmolink?
We use backlinks at Cosmolink very rarely, in competitive business sectors and E-commerce.
How much does Link-Building Cost?
Link-building at Cosmolink costs 800€ to 1500€ per Link. It includes research, proper text writing of the anchor texts, content creation, and placement on target Websites.
Backlink FAQs
What is the rel attribute in a link?
The rel attribute in a Link defines the relationship between two pages. It is used for security and SEO because it helps browsers and Google understand the relationship of links. The most well-known rel attributes are rel="nofollow", rel="noopener", rel="noreferrer", rel="sponsored", rel="ugc".
And they are used within an HTML <a> tag as shown in the example.
<a rel="ugc nofollow" href="https://www.example.gr">Alpha</a>
Where is rel="sponsored" used?
Rel="sponsored" is used on links that are either affiliate, Paid, or for general advertising purposes. Its purpose is to inform the search engine that the Link is not misleading, so it won’t drop your rankings.
Are backlinks from PBN worth it?
No, backlinks from PBN are prohibited by Google. A lot of resources and money are required to set up such a network, and its essence is based on a quick grab. It is usually used by scammers for Casino and Bitcoin projects.
Are backlinks from WhitePress* worth it?
No, backlinks that are paid for to be easily purchased from link marketplaces (like PBN) such as WhitePress are not worth it. In many cases, they harm SEO and others can even lead to de-indexing your Website by Google.
*We mention WhitePress because it is the most well-known platform in Greece.
How do I remove negative Backlinks?
To remove negative backlinks, you need to use the Google Disavow Tool. Upload a .txt list with the URLs you want to disavow.
