Link building
Measure referring websites as well as links
Separate the number of links from the number of distinct sites that provide them. Review relevance and context instead of treating either count as a guaranteed ranking outcome.
The starting point
Before you begin.
One website can link to yours from many pages. Counting both links and referring websites gives a clearer picture of where those references come from, but neither count explains relevance on its own.
The process
How to put it into practice.
- Compare total backlinks with the number of distinct referring websites.
- Check which pages receive links and whether the sources are relevant to your audience.
- Monitor changes alongside content and relationship work instead of pursuing a target count.
Review the number of distinct referring sites alongside the pages receiving links. Inspect examples for relevance and context, including whether many links repeat in a sitewide footer. Monitor meaningful changes and document the relationships or resources behind them.
A practical example
What this could look like.
Multiple footer links from one partner site represent repeated links from the same referring website.
Review the work.
Keep the evidence behind your decision: the pages you checked, the date range, the data source, and any assumptions. If you make a change, record what changed and check it again using the same method where possible.
Search visibility can move for many reasons, so compare relevant periods and avoid attributing an inquiry or ranking change to one action without supporting evidence.
What to keep in mind.
No fixed number of referring domains guarantees a ranking.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions.
Is one referring domain always better than many backlinks?
The counts answer different questions. Review the source, relevance, and context rather than choosing a number as a guarantee of value.
Is domain authority a Google ranking score?
Third-party authority metrics are tool estimates, not a publicly supplied Google ranking score. Use them cautiously and inspect the source page.
What to do next.
Choose one relevant page or question, document what you find, and agree on the next action before expanding the work. Review the result using the data available to your business.
For the fundamentals, read what SEO is and how it works. If you need hands-on help, explore my SEO services.