Did you know that pages with lots of quality backlinks rank much higher in Google? In fact, one study found that the top result on Google has almost four times more backlinks than positions 2 to 10. That’s right. If you want to be seen online, consider investing in backlinks, not just any link, but quality backlinks relevant to your niche.
But what does that mean for your business in 2025?
After 3 months of work, $20,000 in research costs, and input from 518 SEO experts, the 2025 Link Building Report by Dmytro Sokhach team is here. It’s full of insights that can help your business grow online. From artificial intelligence to rising costs and smarter link-building strategies, here’s what you need to know.
1. AI-Powered Search Depends on Links
Many people now search using AI tools like ChatGPT and Google’s AI Overviews. But 73.2% of SEO professionals say your website won’t show up in those AI-powered results unless it has strong backlinks.
What does this mean?
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your site. Think of each backlink like a vote of confidence. The more high-quality sites linking to you, the more trustworthy your website looks to search engines and now to AI tools too.
If you want your business to be seen in the future of search, you can’t ignore backlinks. Whether someone asks ChatGPT for the “best marketing tools” or checks Google’s new AI-powered overview for “top virtual business cards,” your site needs to earn those links to show up.
2. Businesses Are Spending More on Backlinks
SEO experts are preparing to invest more in backlinks. In fact, 80.9% of those surveyed said they plan to increase their link-building budget in the next 2 to 3 years.
Why the big spend?
Because backlinks aren’t just helpful. They’re essential. As search engines get smarter and more competitive, getting good links is harder. That’s why businesses are willing to pay more to work with experts who can help them build strong, safe, and valuable backlinks.
In highly competitive industries, the average minimum monthly budget needed to compete is $8,406. This underscores the importance of allocating sufficient resources to link-building efforts.
3. Not All Links Are Good Links
Here’s a warning sign every business should know: spammy outbound links. A huge 89.0% of SEO pros said they would avoid placing links on any site that also links to spammy, low-quality pages.
What are spammy links?
They come from or point to sites that look shady, use clickbait, or sell links in ways Google doesn’t allow. If your website is linked to or from these kinds of sites, it can hurt your rankings or even get your site penalized.
That’s why it’s so important to work with a trustworthy SEO expert who uses white-hat methods (clean and honest strategies) to earn you safe, helpful backlinks.
4. Be Original, Don’t Just Copy Competitors
It might seem smart to copy where your competitors are getting backlinks, but 66.6% of experts say it’s better to find unique link opportunities instead.
Why is originality better?
If everyone is chasing the same links, they lose value. Instead, you want backlinks that your competitors don’t have. These could be:
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Guest posts on niche blogs
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Interviews or podcasts
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Links from partnerships or sponsorships
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Press coverage or original research
Unique backlinks will improve your on-site SEO and help you stand out in a crowded market. They also show that your brand is doing something worth talking about.
5. $500 is the New Normal for One Backlink
Getting a single high-quality backlink now costs, on average, $508.95.
That might seem like a lot, but here’s what you’re paying for:
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The time it takes to find the right websites
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The effort to write custom content or pitch editors
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The risk a site takes by linking to someone else
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The value of the traffic and authority that a backlink brings
In short, high-quality backlinks don’t come cheap. But they do deliver long-term value.
6. DR, UR, and Why Metrics Matter
When choosing where to get backlinks, SEO pros often look at a website’s Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR).
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DR measures the overall strength of a website’s backlink profile (from 0 to 100)
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UR measures the strength of a specific page’s backlinks
These scores come from SEO tools like Ahrefs. The higher the score, the more power that backlink might pass on to your site.
According to the report, Ahrefs was the most trusted tool among experts:
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59.1% use it as their main all-in-one SEO platform
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68.1% say it gives the best backlink data
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64.1% trust its DR and UR scores the most
That’s why it’s smart to check these scores before trying to earn or buy a backlink. A link from a DR 80 site is much stronger than one from a DR 20 site.
7. Google Overviews and ChatGPT: New SEO Frontiers
If you’ve seen Google’s new AI-generated overviews at the top of some search results, you’ve seen how search is changing. Instead of just listing websites, these overviews summarize answers using content from across the web.
And yes, they still rely on links.
Google and ChatGPT both use online content to answer questions. But they also need signals to decide what’s reliable. That’s where backlinks come in. A page with lots of trusted links is more likely to be picked for these AI summaries.
So if your content is linked to by others, you’re not just ranking higher. You’re more likely to be featured in the AI-generated results that are shaping the future of search.
8. ChatGPT is Recommending Websites (And Links Help Decide Which Ones)
ChatGPT and other AI tools are starting to recommend real businesses and websites. But how do they decide which ones to show?
That’s right. Backlinks.
These tools look at what sites are being talked about, linked to, and trusted online. The more high-quality backlinks your site has, the more likely it is that AI tools will see it as a good choice to recommend.
So yes, building backlinks can even influence what ChatGPT says about your business.
9. Digital PR is the Top Link-Building Strategy
In 2025, 48.6% of SEO professionals consider digital PR the most effective link-building tactic.
What is digital PR?
Digital PR involves creating and promoting content to gain high-quality backlinks from reputable online publications and websites. This strategy not only improves SEO but also enhances brand visibility and authority.
By focusing on digital PR, businesses can earn backlinks that are both valuable and relevant, contributing to better search rankings and increased online presence.
10. Anchor Text Strategies: Partial-Match Leads
When it comes to anchor text—the clickable text in a hyperlink—41.7% of SEO experts prefer partial-match anchor texts.
Why partial-match?
Partial-match anchor texts include variations of your target keywords, making them appear more natural to both users and search engines. This approach balances keyword optimization with readability, reducing the risk of over-optimization penalties.
By using partial-match anchor texts, businesses can improve their SEO performance while maintaining a user-friendly experience.
Quality Links Equal Long-Term SEO Wins
Backlinks are not just part of SEO. They’re one of the most important parts, and in 2025, they matter more than ever.
Whether you want to rank higher in Google, show up in AI-powered search tools, or get more organic traffic to your site, backlinks are key. But it’s not just about getting any link. It’s about getting the right links.
If your business isn’t investing in backlink strategies yet, now’s the time to start. The SEO pros are already ahead, and they’re building the future of search one link at a time.
I can help you earn quality backlinks from high authority websites relevant to your niche. Let’s connect.