Relevant Backlinks: What They Are and How to Build Them the Smart Way
A relevant backlink is a link from a website that covers similar or related topics to your own. It’s not just about the link itself—it’s about the context around it.
In other words, it’s not enough for someone to link to your page. That link needs to come from a page or site that’s topically connected to yours.
If you run a fitness blog and get a link from a nutrition site talking about meal plans for runners—that’s a relevant backlink.
But if you get a link from a random gambling blog that has nothing to do with fitness? Even if the domain has a high authority, that link doesn’t help you much—and might even hurt your rankings in the long run.
🔍 Why Relevance Matters in Link Building (Not Just Domain Authority)
For years, SEOs were obsessed with Domain Rating (DR) and Domain Authority (DA)—metrics created by Ahrefs and Moz to estimate a website’s power. And while authority still matters, Google’s algorithms have evolved.
Now, relevance plays a major role in how Google evaluates backlinks.
Here’s why:
✅ Topical Relevance Sends Stronger Ranking Signals
A backlink from a niche-relevant site tells Google:
“Hey, this website is being referenced by others in its industry. It must be legit.”
✅ Better Relevance Means Better Traffic
Links from relevant sites usually send more targeted referral traffic. These are visitors who are already interested in what you offer—so they’re more likely to stick around, sign up, or buy.
✅ Google’s Algorithms Are Smarter Than Ever
With advances like BERT and RankBrain, Google can understand semantic context. That means it evaluates not just the link but the content surrounding it—and whether it makes sense in your niche.
🏆 What Makes a Backlink Relevant?
Not all backlinks are created equal. Here’s what determines backlink relevance:
| Factor | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Domain Topic | Is the entire website in the same niche as yours? |
| Page-Level Content | Is the specific page linking to you about a related topic? |
| Anchor Text | Do the words used in the link reflect your target keywords or topic? |
| Link Placement | Is your link naturally embedded within relevant content, or hidden in a footer/sidebar? |
| User Intent Alignment | Is the content on both sides (your page and the referring page) aimed at similar user intent? |
The more boxes you check, the more valuable that backlink becomes.
🚫 Irrelevant Backlinks: What You Want to Avoid
Let’s quickly cover what not to do.
Backlinks from these sources can do more harm than good:
- Spammy directories or link farms
- Websites in unrelated industries
- Comment sections on random blogs
- Sidebar or footer links not surrounded by context
- Paid links with no editorial control
Google’s SpamBrain algorithm is constantly evolving to spot and devalue irrelevant or manipulative links—so it’s better to focus on quality over shortcuts.
🚀 10 Proven Strategies to Build Relevant Backlinks (The Right Way)
Now, let’s talk tactics. Here are the best ways to earn backlinks that are both relevant and powerful.
1. Create Topic Clusters on Your Website
When your site has multiple pages about related topics, it signals topical authority to Google and makes it more attractive to link to.
Start by:
- Creating a pillar page (e.g., “Complete Guide to Plant-Based Eating”)
- Supporting it with cluster articles (e.g., “High-Protein Vegan Foods,” “Vegan Meal Plan for Athletes”)
- Internally linking between them
Once done, you can pitch these posts to similar blogs as high-value resources worth linking to.
2. Guest Blogging on Relevant Sites
Forget mass guest posting. Instead:
- Identify blogs that share your audience and topic
- Pitch valuable, non-promotional articles
- Link back to your site only when relevant to the content
Pro Tip: Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to check the linking domain’s topic relevance before pitching.
3. HARO (Help A Reporter Out) & Qwoted
These free platforms connect you with journalists looking for expert quotes.
When your quote gets published, it’s often from a high-authority, niche-relevant source—which makes it one of the best types of backlinks you can get.
4. Linkable Asset Creation
These are content pieces designed specifically to attract backlinks, like:
- Industry studies
- Original data or statistics
- Infographics
- Case studies
- Comprehensive guides
Once live, promote them through:
- Blogger outreach
- Social media
- Email newsletters
5. Broken Link Building
This method involves:
- Finding broken links on relevant websites
- Reaching out to the site owner
- Suggesting your own content as a replacement
It works best when your replacement content is highly relevant and better than what used to be there.
6. Niche-Specific Directories and Forums
Look for quality directories or communities in your industry. For example:
- Health professionals might use Zocdoc or Healthgrades
- Developers can post on GitHub
- Designers might use Dribbble
These aren’t spammy—if used correctly, they add topical and community relevance.
7. Podcast Interviews and Roundups
Being featured on a podcast or expert roundup in your niche earns you a backlink and positions you as a thought leader.
Plus, podcast backlinks are almost always contextual and relevant, which is gold for SEO.
8. Skyscraper Technique
Here’s how it works:
- Find content in your niche with lots of backlinks
- Create a better version (more up-to-date, in-depth, visual)
- Reach out to sites linking to the original and suggest yours instead
Because these are already relevant links, you’re just giving them a better reason to link to you.
9. Build Relationships With Niche Influencers
Networking leads to natural backlinks over time. Share their content, comment on their blogs, engage on Twitter or LinkedIn—then pitch when the time is right.
This works best when you’re already creating useful content they’ll want to share.
10. Use Internal Linking to Support External Efforts
This might seem minor, but internal links help Google:
- Understand your content hierarchy
- Pass authority between pages
- Identify which pages are most important
This makes your external backlink targets more impactful.
📊 How to Track and Measure Relevant Backlinks
You should always keep an eye on your link profile.
Use tools like:
- Ahrefs – Great for measuring relevance by topic and anchor text
- Semrush – Shows authority + keyword overlap
- Google Search Console – Lists links pointing to your site
- Majestic – Provides topical trust flow, showing if your links come from related topics
Pay attention to:
- Referring domains by industry
- Anchor text variety
- Link growth over time
- Referral traffic from backlinks
❓ FAQs About Relevant Backlinks
Q1: Are relevant backlinks more important than high-authority ones?
Not always—but in many cases, relevance beats raw authority. A DR 30 link from a niche-related blog can have more SEO impact than a DR 90 link from an unrelated site.
Q2: How many relevant backlinks do I need to rank?
It depends on your niche and competition. Some keywords may need 10–20 strong relevant links, while others need 100+. Focus on quality first.
Q3: What’s the best way to find relevant backlink opportunities?
Use tools like Ahrefs Content Explorer, Google searches with “intitle:” operators, or competitor backlink audits. Look for sites publishing content similar to yours.
Q4: Can irrelevant backlinks hurt my rankings?
Yes—especially if they come from spammy or low-quality sites. Google might ignore them, or worse, flag your site for unnatural links.
Q5: Should I disavow irrelevant links?
If you notice large amounts of toxic or unrelated links from shady domains, yes. Use Google’s Disavow Tool cautiously—only when needed.
Q6: Do backlinks still matter in 2025?
Absolutely. While SEO has changed, backlinks—especially topically relevant, editorial ones—remain one of the strongest ranking factors in Google’s algorithm.
🧭 Final Thoughts: Relevance Is the Future of Link Building
In the world of modern SEO, relevant backlinks are the real currency of authority.
They:
- Improve your search rankings
- Send targeted traffic
- Support your brand’s topical authority
- Future-proof your SEO against algorithm updates
Forget chasing every link you can get. Instead, double down on earning high-quality backlinks from websites that actually make sense in your industry.
If you play the long game and focus on building relevance, your site won’t just rank—it’ll thrive.