How I got backlinks for a brand-new website (what actually worked)
Getting backlinks for a new site is one of the most confusing parts of SEO — especially when you don’t have traffic or authority yet.
I recently documented what actually worked for me while growing a brand-new site from scratch.
Things I covered:
-> why directory submissions still work if you’re selective
-> how launch platforms help with early backlinks + visibility
-> mistakes I made early on
-> a simple 30-day backlink plan for new projects
I wrote it mainly for other indie hackers who are launching side projects and don’t want to play the “spam outreach” game.
Here’s the post if you want to read it:
https://sololaunches.com/blog/how-to-get-backlinks-for-new-website
Curious what’s worked for you lately — guest posts, directories, partnerships, something else?
Recommended reading for independent developers: How to get 10K users in one month with $0
Would you trust ChatGPT with your credit card? 💳
Appreciate the honest breakdown - especially the "what actually worked" framing vs. the typical SEO advice that assumes you already have authority.
For me, the thing that's worked best lately is building relationships through communities like this one. Not in a transactional "I'll link to you if you link to me" way, but genuine conversations that sometimes lead to organic mentions.
The launch platform approach you mentioned is underrated. Product Hunt, Indie Hackers product pages, even niche-specific directories tend to stick around and pass real value over time.
One thing I'd add: creating genuinely useful free tools or resources can be surprisingly effective. If you build something that solves a small problem for people, they link to it naturally because they want to share it with their audience.
What directories have you found most worth the effort? I've seen mixed results with the generic "startup directories" vs. niche-specific ones.