For SEO, are links to my site from other websites still important

Ask Me Anything Q&A SEO Office Hours Repo

Topic summary

Current Status of Backlinks:
Links from other websites remain important for SEO, though slightly less critical than in 2015. They still serve as a key ranking signal for search engines.

Context & Business Situation:

  • The original poster worked in SEO until 2015, when backlinks were a primary ranking factor based on quantity and authority.
  • Currently runs a probiotics supplement business facing fierce competition.
  • Relies on paid Google Ads targeting their brand name to help existing customers find them.
  • Reports minimal organic search visibility and unsuccessful sales results from social media efforts.

Key Takeaway:
While the SEO landscape has evolved, backlinks continue to play a meaningful role in search rankings and site authority.

Summarized with AI on October 30. AI used: claude-sonnet-4-5-20250929.
1

I did SEO work until about 2015. Having links pointing to your website from other websites was very important. Search engines used the number of links to determine how important your website was.

1 Like
2

Thanks

3

I pay for google ads just for the search term of the brand name of one of my supplements so my old customers can search and find me. Otherwise I don’t think I get any organic search results. I mostly sell probiotics. Probiotics have become very popular over the last 25 years and competition is fierce now. I did a lot of work with Social Media but it did not lead to sales.

4

Yes. They’re a bit less important than 2015, but yes, they’re still important.