What is a good backlink to referring domain ratio?

A good backlink to referring domain ratio typically ranges from 1:1 to 5:1. This means for every referring domain, you should ideally have between 1 and 5 backlinks. A ratio skewed too heavily toward backlinks from a few domains may appear unnatural to search engines.

How many referring domains are good for SEO?

The more high-quality referring domains you have, the better it is for SEO. There’s no specific number, but having 50 to 100+ unique referring domains is considered strong for many sites. What matters most is the authority and relevance of the referring domains rather than just the number.

What is the difference between a referral and a backlink?

A referral typically refers to traffic that comes to your website from another site, while a backlink is the actual link on a website that points to your site. Backlinks help drive referral traffic and boost SEO.

Is getting 100 backlinks from 100 different websites better for ranking?

Yes, getting 100 backlinks from 100 different websites (referring domains) is generally better for SEO than getting 100 backlinks from just a few sites. More referring domains indicate diverse authority and support, which is more valuable in the eyes of search engines.

How do referring domains impact SEO rankings?

Referring domains play a crucial role in SEO rankings because they indicate the number of unique websites linking to your site. The more high-quality and relevant referring domains you have, the more authority your site gains in the eyes of search engines, which can lead to improved rankings.

Is it better to have more backlinks or more referring domains?

While both are important, having more referring domains is often more beneficial. A variety of referring domains signals to search engines that your content is valuable across different websites, which can boost your credibility more than just having many backlinks from the same few sites.

Can too many backlinks from one domain hurt my SEO?

Yes, too many backlinks from a single domain, especially if they seem unnatural or excessive, can hurt your SEO. Search engines may interpret it as link manipulation, which can lead to penalties. It’s better to focus on gaining links from a wider variety of high-quality domains.

How can I increase the number of referring domains to my site?

You can increase referring domains by creating high-quality, shareable content, conducting outreach to relevant websites, guest posting, and building strong relationships within your industry. The goal is to earn natural backlinks from a diverse range of sources.

Backlinks vs Referring Domains — Understanding Key SEO Metrics

A backlink is a link from one website to another, often used to improve SEO by signaling to search engines that the linked content is valuable. A referring domain, on the other hand, is the website from which the backlink originates.

In simple terms, a backlink is the link itself, while the referring domain is the source of that link. In this article, we’ll dive deeper into the differences between backlinks and referring domains and how each impacts your SEO strategy.

What Are Backlinks?

Backlinks, also known as inbound or incoming links, are links from one website to another. They play a crucial role in SEO by serving as a vote of confidence from one site to another, indicating to search engines like Google that the linked content is credible and valuable.

For example, if Website A writes an article about SEO and includes a link to a blog post on Website B that discusses SEO strategies, Website B has gained a backlink from Website A. This backlink signals to search engines that Website B’s content is relevant and trustworthy, potentially helping it rank higher in search results.

Backlinks are essential because they not only drive traffic from the referring website but also help improve search rankings. The more high-quality backlinks a website has, the more authoritative it appears to search engines, which can lead to better visibility.

Types of backlinks include:

Do-follow Backlinks: These pass on SEO value or “link juice” from the referring website to the linked site.
No-follow Backlinks: These do not pass SEO value but can still drive traffic.

In summary, backlinks act as a vote of confidence for a website’s content, signaling its relevance and value to both users and search engines.

What is a Referring Domain?

A referring domain is the website or domain from which a backlink originates. In other words, it’s the source of the backlink that points to your website. Each unique website that links to your content is counted as a referring domain, regardless of how many backlinks it provides.

For example, if Website A links to Website B in three different blog posts, Website B receives three backlinks, but they all come from the same referring domain: Website A. However, if Website C also links to Website B, then Website B now has backlinks from two referring domains—Website A and Website C—even though one site provided multiple links.

The number of referring domains is an important SEO metric because it indicates how many unique websites find your content valuable enough to link to. Generally, the more referring domains a website has, the better it will perform in search rankings, especially if these domains are authoritative and relevant to your niche.

In essence, while backlinks refer to the total number of links pointing to your site, referring domains track how many different websites are linking to your content. Both are valuable, but having links from a variety of unique, high-quality referring domains is particularly beneficial for SEO.

Backlinks VS Referring Domains: What are the Differences?

Backlinks and referring domains are closely related but serve different purposes in SEO. A backlink refers to individual links pointing to your website, while a referring domain indicates the number of unique websites linking to your content.

Having more backlinks is helpful, but having backlinks from a wide variety of referring domains can provide stronger SEO benefits, as it indicates diverse support for your site.

Here’s a simple comparison of backlinks vs. referring domains:

Factor	Backlinks	Referring Domains
Definition	Individual links pointing to your site	Unique websites linking to your site
Quantity	Can have multiple backlinks from one domain	Only counts each unique website once
SEO Value	Helps improve SEO, but multiple links from one site are less impactful	More unique referring domains provide higher SEO value
Diversity	Focuses on the number of total links	Focuses on the variety of link sources
Example	5 backlinks from one website	1 referring domain providing those 5 backlinks

Both metrics are important for a healthy backlink profile, but having a balance of many referring domains with quality backlinks is ideal for SEO success.

Final Thoughts

Understanding the difference between backlinks and referring domains is essential for building a strong SEO strategy. While backlinks represent individual links to your site, referring domains highlight the diversity of websites linking to your content. Both play an important role, but a larger number of unique referring domains often signals broader authority and trust to search engines, leading to better rankings.

In the end, it’s not just about the quantity of backlinks—it’s about the quality and variety of the sources that really counts. Prioritize earning links from a wide range of relevant, authoritative domains for long-term SEO success.

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Author

Kirill Sajaev (38 articles)

Kirill has been in the SEO industry since 2010 as a college intern commenting on forums and blog posts and other outdated SEO tactics. Those days are long gone and now he focuses on promoting a full-service approach to SEO where design, analytics, backlinks development and content are equally valued and managed by SEO specialists, since it takes a whole team to build a quality SEO-proof website. He writes on changes to the algorithm and different tactics and processes businesses can utilize to improve their SEO. Feel free to contact him on Linkedin if you'd like to get in touch!

Frequently Asked Questions About Backlinks and Referring Domains

What is a good backlink to referring domain ratio?

A good backlink to referring domain ratio typically ranges from 1:1 to 5:1. This means for every referring domain, you should ideally have between 1 and 5 backlinks. A ratio skewed too heavily toward backlinks from a few domains may appear unnatural to search engines.
How many referring domains are good for SEO?

The more high-quality referring domains you have, the better it is for SEO. There’s no specific number, but having 50 to 100+ unique referring domains is considered strong for many sites. What matters most is the authority and relevance of the referring domains rather than just the number.
What is the difference between a referral and a backlink?

A referral typically refers to traffic that comes to your website from another site, while a backlink is the actual link on a website that points to your site. Backlinks help drive referral traffic and boost SEO.
Is getting 100 backlinks from 100 different websites better for ranking?

Yes, getting 100 backlinks from 100 different websites (referring domains) is generally better for SEO than getting 100 backlinks from just a few sites. More referring domains indicate diverse authority and support, which is more valuable in the eyes of search engines.
How do referring domains impact SEO rankings?

Referring domains play a crucial role in SEO rankings because they indicate the number of unique websites linking to your site. The more high-quality and relevant referring domains you have, the more authority your site gains in the eyes of search engines, which can lead to improved rankings.
Is it better to have more backlinks or more referring domains?

While both are important, having more referring domains is often more beneficial. A variety of referring domains signals to search engines that your content is valuable across different websites, which can boost your credibility more than just having many backlinks from the same few sites.
Can too many backlinks from one domain hurt my SEO?

Yes, too many backlinks from a single domain, especially if they seem unnatural or excessive, can hurt your SEO. Search engines may interpret it as link manipulation, which can lead to penalties. It’s better to focus on gaining links from a wider variety of high-quality domains.
How can I increase the number of referring domains to my site?

You can increase referring domains by creating high-quality, shareable content, conducting outreach to relevant websites, guest posting, and building strong relationships within your industry. The goal is to earn natural backlinks from a diverse range of sources.

Understanding Backlinks vs Referring Domains: Key SEO Metrics Explained