A new analysis by Internet Marketing Ninjas reveals that a whopping 96% of websites ranking in Google’s top 10 positions have amassed over 1,000 backlinks from unique domains. The study found that a mere 0.3% of top-ranking sites had fewer than 100 backlinks, with none having 50 or fewer.
Key Findings:
- High Backlink Volume: Over 96% of the top 10 Google sites have more than 1,000 backlinks from unique domains.
- Minimal Backlinks: Only 0.3% of these sites had fewer than 100 backlinks.
Why This Matters: Despite Google’s claims that links are no longer among the top three ranking signals and that very few links are needed to rank pages, the analysis indicates that successful sites typically have a significant number of backlinks. This suggests that while high-ranking pages attract more backlinks due to their visibility, having a substantial number of backlinks remains a common trait among top-ranked sites.
Detailed Findings:
- Amazon Dominance: Amazon ranked in the top 10 for 164 of the 200 keywords analyzed, with Walmart coming in second with 57 keywords.
- Weakest Site: The site with the fewest referring domains (54) still managed to rank in Position 6.
- Local Search Terms: For local search terms, an average of 164 unique domain backlinks was the minimum required to rank in the top 10 for the lowest 10 sites.
Link Value Factors: The study emphasizes that not all backlinks are created equal. Factors influencing a link’s value include the authority of the linking site, the anchor text used, and the likelihood of users clicking on the links.
Check Your Backlinks with SEOGEEK.io: To understand your website’s backlink profile and identify opportunities for improvement, you can use SEOGEEK.io’s comprehensive backlink analysis tools. SEOGEEK.io provides detailed reports on your backlinks, helping you track the number of unique domain links, assess the quality of these links, and strategize effectively to enhance your site’s SEO performance.
About the Data: This study analyzed the top 10 Google Search results for 200 random commercial intent keyword phrases, encompassing 1,113 unique websites.
Read More: For a detailed breakdown, you can access the full study here: [Backlinks Google Study]
Further Reading: Eric Enge, a contributor to Search Engine Land and SMX speaker, has conducted several studies in previous years that also highlight the significance of backlinks.