The Current State of Backlinks in SEO (2025 Update)
Remember when SEO was all about getting as many links as possible? Those days are long gone. In 2025, Google’s algorithms are smarter than ever, paying attention to things that seemed impossible just a few years ago.
Here’s what’s happening: Google’s Search Advocate John Mueller recently confirmed something fascinating – backlinks remain one of the top three ranking factors, right up there with content quality and RankBrain. But there’s a twist.
Let me share some eye-opening statistics with you:longest time someone has slept
When we analyzed the top 10 results across 10,000 keywords, pages in positions 1-3 had nearly four times more backlinks than those ranking 4-10.
94% of pages at #1 have at least one external backlink.
The correlation between quality backlinks and higher rankings is now at 0.74 – stronger than ever.
But here’s the real kicker: Google’s evaluation of links has evolved dramatically. Imagine having a reference letter for a job. Would you rather have one from a respected industry leader or ten from random acquaintances? Google thinks the same way about links.