Startups in 2025

20 Free Ways to Get Quality Backlinks and Increase Your Domain Rating (Backed by 2025 Data)

10 Free Ways to Get Quality Backlinks and Increase Your Domain Rating (Backed by 2025 Data)

Building high-quality backlinks remains one of the most effective ways to boost your Domain Rating (DR) and improve search rankings. While paid link-building strategies exist, many free methods can deliver exceptional results when executed correctly.
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  1. Pick directories that fit your niche: Choose the ones relevant to your industry or location.
  2. Follow submission guidelines: Each directory has slightly different requirements, but most ask for a business description, logo, and email address.
  3. Get listed and gain backlinks: Submit your business manually and watch your website grow in authority and visibility.

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Below are 10 proven, free backlink strategies backed by 2025 data, including why each method works and how to leverage it effectively.

1. Get Featured on F/MS Startup Game (Top Pick!)

If you're in tech, or female-led communities, getting featured on F/MS Startup Game is a must. This platform actively seeks guest contributions, interviews, and product showcases, offering dofollow backlink.
  • How it works: Sign up and fill in your user profile.
  • Why it deserves #1: This site has a niche-specific audience, making their backlink highly valuable.
  • Example: F/MS frequently features women in tech, offering backlinks to personal blogs and businesses.
🔗 Sign up for F/MS Startup Game here

2. Publish Expert Roundups in Your Niche

Expert roundups gather insights from industry leaders, making them highly shareable—and a magnet for backlinks.
  • How it works: Reach out to influencers, compile their responses, and publish the roundup.
  • Why it works: Contributors often share the post, earning you natural backlinks from their sites.
  • Example: A marketing roundup featuring Neil Patel or Rand Fishkin can attract links from their followers.
🔗 Learn how to create an expert roundup (Backlinko guide)

3. Submit to High-Quality Web Directories

Not all directories are spammy. Legitimate directories like Crunchbase and Angie’s List pass link equity.
  • How it works: Find niche-specific directories and submit your site.
  • Why it works: Directories with strict submission guidelines ensure only quality links are followed.
🔗 List of high-DR directories (Ahrefs)

4. Create and Distribute Free Tools or Templates

Free tools (e.g., calculators, templates) attract organic links because people naturally reference useful resources.
  • How it works: Build a simple tool (e.g., an SEO audit template) and promote it.
  • Why it works: Blogs and forums will link back to your tool as a resource.
🔗 How to create a free tool for backlinks (HubSpot)

5. Leverage HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

Journalists use HARO to source expert quotes. A mention in a major publication can earn a powerful backlink.
  • How it works: Sign up, respond to relevant queries, and get cited.
  • Why it works: Sites like Forbes and CNN use HARO, offering DR 90+ backlinks.
🔗 Sign up for HARO here

6. Write Testimonials for Tools You Use

Many SaaS companies (e.g., Ahrefs, SEMrush) feature customer testimonials with backlinks.
  • How it works: Leave a detailed review on their site.
  • Why it works: High-authority sites reward genuine feedback with dofollow links.
🔗 Submit a testimonial to SEMrush

7. Get Listed on Scholarship Pages

Universities have high-DR sites and often link to external scholarship pages.
  • How it works: Create a small scholarship program and submit it to university listings.
  • Why it works: .edu backlinks are rare and highly trusted by Google.
🔗 List of scholarship directories (ScholarshipOwl)

8. Broken Link Building

Find broken links on high-DR sites and suggest your content as a replacement.
  • How it works: Use Check My Links to find broken links, then email webmasters.
  • Why it works: Webmasters appreciate fixes, making them likely to link to you.
🔗 Broken link building guide (Moz)

9. Participate in Forum Discussions (Quora, Reddit, GitHub)

Engaging in niche forums with valuable insights can earn contextual backlinks.
  • How it works: Answer questions with in-depth responses and link to your site when relevant.
  • Why it works: High-traffic forums pass authority if used correctly.
🔗 How to use Quora for backlinks (Neil Patel)

10. Publish Industry Studies or Original Research

Original data attracts citations from journalists, bloggers, and researchers.
  • How it works: Conduct a survey, compile data, and publish it as a study.
  • Why it works: Data-driven content earns authoritative backlinks naturally.
🔗 How to create link-worthy research (BuzzSumo)

FAQ: Free Backlink Strategies (2025)

Q: How long does it take to see results from backlinks?
A: Typically 3-6 months, depending on the authority of the linking site. Learn more (Search Engine Journal).
Q: Are .edu backlinks still valuable in 2025?
A: Yes, .edu links are highly trusted. See Google’s stance (Google Webmasters).
Q: Can I get penalized for guest posting?
A: Only if done spammy. Follow Google’s guidelines. Read Google’s advice (Google Blog).
Q: Do nofollow links help SEO?
A: Indirectly, yes—they drive traffic and brand signals. More here (Moz).
Q: How many backlinks should I aim for monthly?
A: Focus on quality over quantity—5-10 high-DR links beat 100 spammy ones. Ahrefs study.
Q: What’s the easiest free backlink method?
A: Testimonials—just review a tool you use. Example (Ahrefs).
Q: Does Wikipedia link to external sites?
A: Rarely, but high-quality citations can get a nofollow link. Wikipedia guidelines.
Q: Can social media links boost DR?
A: No, but they increase visibility, leading to natural links. More (Backlinko).
Q: Should I disavow toxic backlinks?
A: Only if you see a manual penalty. Google’s disavow tool.
Q: Are press releases good for backlinks?
A: Only if picked up by major news sites. Press release tips (PR Newswire).

About the Author

Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities.
2025-03-29 08:53 Insights