Link building still works but just not the way most people do it. The goal isn’t to collect as many backlinks as possible: it’s to earn the right ones. Usually, the “link building is dead” crowd never did it right in the first place. Industry data backs it up: 78% of SEO pros say they get a strong ROI from link building, and it eats up nearly a third of their SEO budgets. Done right, it’s one of the fastest ways to move rankings.
Guest Posts That Actually Matter
Guest posting is still a staple. Nearly two-thirds of top SEO agencies rely on it, but the difference is in the targets. They write for sites with real readers and editorial standards, not link farms. For example, a single guest piece on HubSpot or Search Engine Journal can drive more authority than 20 low-quality blogs combined.
Fixing Broken Links at Scale
Broken link building works because it’s a win-win. You spot a link pointing to a dead resource, create something better, and let the site owner know. The best agencies run this in bulk using tools like Ahrefs, turning hundreds of “404” pages into backlink opportunities. It’s not flashy, but it’s reliable.
The Skyscraper Method Still Pulls Weight
Brian Dean’s Skyscraper Method still works in 2025. Take a popular piece of content, make a version that’s more thorough, more visual, and more up-to-date, then promote it hard. Agencies have doubled traffic in weeks with this approach. People naturally link to the best resource; you just have to create it.
Think Like PR, Not Spam
Google still counts backlinks as a top-three ranking factor, but the way you earn them matters. Top agencies pitch linkable stories (e.g., original research, interactive tools, or industry data), not “Can you link to my post?” spam emails. A data-driven report can get covered in Forbes or TechCrunch without a single cold pitch.
Budget for It or Go Slow
Quality link building isn’t free. The agencies doing it well invest in research, content creation, and outreach. A campaign might include a custom tool, a set of visuals, and weeks of relationship-building before the first link lands. If you’re working on a shoestring budget, expect slower results.
Stack Multiple Tactics
The smartest agencies layer strategies. A single asset might earn links from a press mention, be featured on resource pages, and be referenced in a guest article. That’s how link building compounds over time: one campaign creates multiple streams of links.
If you want agencies that already operate at this level, without gimmicks or shortcuts, check our verified list of SEO firms. These are the ones worth hiring.