5 Ways to Get Other Websites to Help You Rank Higher on Google

So, what's a backlink?

A backlink is simply a link from someone else's website to yours.

When Google is deciding where to rank your website in search results, it doesn't just look at what's on your site. It also looks at what the rest of the internet thinks of you. And one of the ways it measures that is through backlinks.

Think of each backlink as a vote of confidence. Another website linking to yours is basically saying, "this site is worth visiting." The more quality votes you collect, the more trustworthy your site looks to Google — and the higher you can rank.

This is what SEO professionals call off-page SEO. And for small business owners, it's one of the most overlooked pieces of the puzzle when it comes to getting found online.

The good news? You don't need hundreds of backlinks. You just need the right ones.

What are the 5 ways to get backlinks for your small business?

This one is genuinely low-effort and worth doing today.

Local business directories, think Google Business Profile, Yell, Yelp, Checkatrade, FreeIndex, or your local Chamber of Commerce website - almost always include a link back to your website. Each of those links is a backlink.

Beyond the SEO benefit, being listed in directories also helps people actually find you. Local SEO is a big deal for small businesses, and directory listings are a foundational part of it. If you haven't claimed your Google Business Profile yet, that's the first place to start.

Quick tip: Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are consistent across every directory listing. Inconsistencies confuse Google.

If you've ever been quoted in an article, featured in a roundup, or had your business mentioned in a local news piece - that's a backlink (or at least it should be).

Actively look for opportunities to be featured:

• Reach out to local blogs or business publications and offer to contribute a short guest post or expert comment

• Look for "best of" roundups in your industry and ask to be included

• Answer journalists' questions via platforms like ResponseSource or even LinkedIn - reporters regularly look for expert sources
  

You don't need to be in The Guardian. A well-regarded local website or a niche industry blog in your sector is just as valuable, sometimes more so.

This is one of the most natural ways to build backlinks and it doubles as good marketing.

Think about businesses that complement yours. A wedding photographer might collaborate with a florist. A nutritionist might partner with a personal trainer. A VA might team up with a web designer.

If you write a guest post on their blog, create a joint resource, or do a partnership feature together, ask them to link back to your website. It's a reasonable and normal thing to request. Most people are happy to do it, they just need to be asked.

Important: Don't do link exchanges for the sake of it ("I'll link to you if you link to me" with no real connection). Google is wise to that. Make sure the collaboration is genuine and relevant.

This feels out of reach for a lot of small business owners, but it's more achievable than you think.

You don't need to hire a PR agency. You just need a story worth telling. Think about:

• A milestone in your business (first anniversary, a big achievement, an unusual niche)

• An opinion piece on something happening in your industry

• A local angle, local media love covering local businesses
  
  Reach out to local newspapers, online magazines, or industry publications with a genuine story. Even a small local news site has domain authority and passes SEO value. And being featured builds trust with potential customers, not just with Google.

This one surprises people every time.

If you've worked with another business and had a great experience, offer to write them a testimonial. Many businesses publish these on their website and if they do, they'll often include your name, your business name, and a link back to your website.

It takes ten minutes to write, costs nothing, and genuinely helps the other business too. Win-win.

The key is to offer testimonials to businesses that have a decent website presence and would actually publish it think suppliers, software you use, training providers, or people you've collaborated with.

Not sure where your website stands right now?

If you've been wondering why your website isn't bringing in enquiries, backlinks might be part of the picture, but there's usually more going on.

In a Marketing Power Hour with me, we'll look at exactly what's working, what isn't, and what you should actually focus on first. No jargon, no 22-step plan - just clear, honest answers specific to your business.

1. Get listed in local business directories

2. Get mentioned in a blog post or article

3. Collaborate with another business who links back to your site

4. Get press coverage or a feature on someone else's website

5. Write a testimonial for a business you've worked with

Still with me? Good...

Backlinks aren't some dark marketing secret. They're just the internet's version of word-of-mouth, and they can make a real difference to where your website shows up in search results.

You don't need to do all five of these at once. Start with what feels most achievable. Get your Google Business Profile sorted. Reach out to one complementary business about a collaboration. Write a testimonial for someone you've genuinely worked with.

Small, consistent steps add up. That's what good SEO actually looks like.

Written by Ellie Hamilton, Just Thrive Marketing - a digital marketing consultancy based in Sussex, helping small business owners get found online without the agency price tag.