How to Get Backlinks for a New Website

Getting backlinks for a new website feels hard — and honestly, it is at the beginning.

You have:

no authority
no traffic
no reputation

Yet backlinks are one of the strongest ranking factors in SEO.

The good news? You don’t need fancy outreach or big budgets to get your first backlinks. You just need the right strategy.

This guide walks you through beginner-friendly, realistic ways to get backlinks for a brand-new website, even if you just launched yesterday.

What Are Backlinks (and Why They Matter)

A backlink is a link from another website pointing to yours.

Search engines treat backlinks as votes of trust. The more high-quality, relevant backlinks you have, the more likely your site is to rank.

Backlinks help you:

Improve domain rating (DR)
Rank faster on Google
Get referral traffic
Build credibility

For new websites, the goal is momentum, not perfection.

1. Start With Directory Submissions (Easiest Wins)

Directory submissions are the fastest way to get your first backlinks.

They work especially well for:

SaaS products
tools
startups
side projects
indie apps

Why directories are great for new sites

Easy approval
No outreach needed
Many offer dofollow links
Indexed quickly
Safe when done in moderation

What to look for in a good directory

Decent Domain Rating (DR)
Active listings
Real traffic
Clean UI
Relevant niche

Platforms like sololaunches.com help founders get visibility while also earning backlinks from real launch pages — not spammy link farms. You get a public product page, exposure to builders, and a clean backlink that helps kickstart SEO.

If your goal is to scale backlinks faster, tools like listmy.site complement this by submitting your website to high-quality, relevant directories, helping improve domain authority while saving you time on manual submissions.

2. Submit Your Website to Startup Launch Platforms

Launch platforms naturally generate backlinks and visibility.

Examples include:

product launch communities
indie hacker platforms
startup showcases
founder directories

These sites:

Allow product listings
Link back to your website
Help early users discover you

For example, when you launch on Solo Launches, your product gets its own indexed page with a backlink, impressions from real visitors, and long-term visibility — making it ideal for brand-new websites.

Even a few launches can give you your first authority boost.

3. Write Guest Posts (Smart, Not Spammy)

Guest posting still works — when done properly.

How to do it right:

Target small to mid-sized blogs
Stay in your niche
Offer real value
Avoid mass emails

Simple pitch idea:

“I built X and learned Y — happy to share a practical post with your readers.”

Even 5–10 good guest posts can move your DR significantly early on.

4. Create Linkable Content (Once You Have Some Traffic)

Certain content naturally attracts backlinks:

Guides
Case studies
Data-backed posts
Comparisons
Tutorials

Examples:

“How I grew DR from 10 to 28 in 14 days”
“50 directories to submit your startup”
“Product Hunt alternatives for solo founders”

This works best after you already have a few base backlinks.

5. Use Community Platforms (Safely)

Communities can give you early backlinks + traffic:

Indie Hacker–style forums
Reddit (when genuinely helpful)
Hacker News (discussion-based)
Founder communities

⚠️ Don’t drop links blindly. Share value first.

A good rule:

If the link helps the discussion, it’s okay.

6. Build Links Through Partnerships

If you collaborate with other founders, you can:

Exchange mentions
Be listed on partner pages
Share case studies

This creates contextual backlinks, which are very powerful.

7. Track Your Backlinks

Use tools like:

Google Search Console
Ahrefs / SEMrush (if available)
Free backlink checkers

Track:

new referring domains
anchor text
DR growth

Small, consistent growth beats spikes.

A Simple Backlink Plan for New Websites

Here’s a realistic starter plan:

Week 1–2

Submit to quality directories
Launch on 2–3 platforms

Week 3–4

Write 1–2 blog posts
Submit 3–5 guest posts

Month 2+

Publish case studies
Build partnerships
Scale what works

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Buying spam backlinks
Submitting to hundreds of low-quality directories
Exact-match anchor spam
Expecting overnight results

SEO is compounding — slow at first, powerful later.

Final Thoughts

Getting backlinks for a new website doesn’t require hacks or huge budgets.

Start small, stay consistent, and focus on real platforms that give visibility + links.

If you’re launching a product or side project, sololaunches.com is a simple way to:

get early visibility
earn clean backlinks
reach real builders
build traction from day one

Backlinks aren’t magic — but when combined with the right launch platforms, they compound fast.