When small business owners hear the word “backlink,” most either (a) glaze over or (b) get pitched by a dodgy SEO agency offering hundreds of backlinks for $99 ... or (c) you've been paying an ongoing $2000+ per month to a SEO agency and a year later you still have no idea what they're doing! 😬
Let’s clear the fog, shall we?
What even is a backlink?
In plain speak:
A backlink is when one website links to another. If a trusted website includes a link to your site, Google sees that as a little vote of confidence. A “this business is worth checking out” 👍.
🔗 Example:
If your website is listed in the Positive, Passionate Business Women directory, that’s a backlink to your site.
The right backlinks help search engines trust your website, which means you’re more likely to show up in results when your dream clients go Googling.
📢 In 2025, backlinks are still one of the top 3 ranking factors for SEO.
But wait, can’t you just… buy backlinks?
You can, but please don’t.
Spammy backlink farms and pay-for-placement sites might seem tempting, but they can seriously hurt your ranking (or get you de-indexed entirely). Google’s smarter than ever and very anti-spam.
What matters now?
✅ High-quality backlinks
✅ From relevant, trustworthy sites
✅ That are created naturally and ethically
What makes a backlink good in 2025?
Straight from the Hello Media SEO & Drive Traffic masterclass (which I held earlier this month):
✨ Comes from a trusted site in your niche or location
✨ Adds value to real humans (not just bots!)
✨ Looks natural, not keyword-stuffed or forced
✨ Bonus points if it’s local, community-focused or industry-specific
👎 Skip the random link swaps and spammy comment links.
👍 Focus on genuine connections, collaborations, and community.
OK, so how do you get started with backlinks?
Here’s what Neil Patel (backlink guru) says:
“If you want great links, create great content and build relationships.”
And you know what else helps? Joining a directory that’s:
- niche
- local or industry-based
- trusted
- actively promoted
(like the PPBW Biz Directory – more on that in a sec!)
Let’s uncomplify: 6 smart ways to get backlinks in 2025
-
List your business in local or niche directories
✨ Like Positive Passionate Business Women - boom, there’s your first one! -
Guest post or collaborate on blogs
Offer to share value on a biz-bestie's site. Not a sales pitch, but actual tips. Give great value! -
Be a podcast guest
Most episodes include a link back to your site in the show notes = gold. -
Get featured on community pages or articles
Reach out to councils, chambers, or aligned platforms. -
Encourage your biz besties to link to you
Feature each other in newsletters, blogs, or resource lists. I personally love the websites I love" approach ... you can include your biz besties AND affiliate links to epic platforms that you love! -
Create content worth linking to
Write a helpful how-to blog, a checklist, or a free guide that others want to share.
And here’s the best bit → you only need a few great backlinks to start with, to make a difference. It’s quality over quantity.
🌸 Real talk: why the PPBW Directory is a backlink no-brainer 💡
If you’re a woman in business in Australia or New Zealand, the Positive Passionate Business Women directory was made for you.
💫 When you join, you get:
- A live listing on a well-ranked, SEO-optimised site
- A high-quality backlink to your website
- An intro to a community of supportive, generous biz women
- Visibility beyond your own audience
- And ongoing shout-outs from Hello Media (we see you, directory fam!)
- And yes, this backlink is Google-loved because it’s relevant, real, and human-first.
🪙 It’s affordable (ridiculously so) and part of a bigger visibility strategy we talk about in our SHINE membership and coaching programmes all the time.
👉 Click here to get your listing
Want more SEO help?
Backlinks are just one slice of the SEO cake. If you want to dive deeper into how search engines work (without losing your mind), check out this post:
👉 What is SEO? A no-jargon guide to getting found online
And if you want the step-by-step support? Come join a masterclass or get on a free strategy call with me. SEO doesn’t have to be scary, and you can totally DIY! It just needs to be human and explained to you in easy-to-follow terms!
Summary for those who think 😵💫TL;DR?
🧲 Backlinks = trusted websites linking to you = better Google rankings
💡 Focus on quality, relevance, and human-first content
📍 Start with the PPBW Directory – a simple way to get listed, connected, and found
📈 SEO is long-game magic that pays off when done right