The Complete Guide to Building Backlinks in Forbes, Business Insider, and More
SEO agencies charge thousands to get companies featured in high-profile publications like Forbes or the New York Times. They are the holy grail of SEO.
But building backlinks isn’t reserved for big companies with deep pockets. In fact, I got my teeny business featured in Forbes, Business Insider, Hostinger, and more completely free.
I didn’t hire a marketing agency or PR team, I didn’t spend thousands, and I didn’t spend months hunting for opportunities.
And since I’m not into gatekeeping, I’m going to show you how I build backlinks that boost your visibility and help your website do what it was meant to do: bring in sales.
What Is a Backlink?
A backlink is just a fancy word for a link from someone else’s website to yours.
That’s it. No secret code. No algorithm wizardry. Just someone, somewhere on the internet, pointing people (and search engines) toward your site.
But here’s where it gets interesting:
To Google, backlinks are basically votes of confidence. The more reputable websites that link to you, the more trustworthy and valuable your site looks, which can push you up the rankings and get you in front of way more people.
So if you're wondering why you're stuck on page 243 of Google while someone with half your talent is outranking you? It’s probably backlinks.
Related: How to Build Website Traffic with Pinterest (Without Living on Social Media)
Do I Really Need Backlinks?
Yes! Especially if you're:
Trying to rank on Google for anything other than your name.
Blogging to bring in leads or clients.
Tired of relying on social media to get seen.
Ready for your content to actually do something after you hit publish.
Backlinks help you skip the algorithm drama and start building long-term visibility.
They’re one of the fastest ways to build authority without constantly churning out new content.
Types of Backlinks (and Which Ones Are Actually Worth It)
Not all backlinks are created equal. Some will seriously boost your visibility, while others are basically background noise. Here’s a quick breakdown:
High-Authority Backlinks
These backlinks are the gold standard. Think: sites like Forbes, Business Insider, HubSpot, GoDaddy, Hostinger, or trusted publications in your niche.
They carry major weight with Google because they’re already well-established, and getting a link from them tells search engines: “Hey, this person knows what they’re talking about.”
Pro tip: These are the kind of backlinks I teach you to get (without PR connections) inside the Booked-Out Website Kit.
Niche-Relevant Backlinks
These are backlinks built from blogs, directories, or publications specifically related to your industry or topic.
For example, if you’re a brand designer and a marketing blog links to your guide on visual storytelling, that’s a niche-relevant backlink. And it’s powerful.
The best part about niche backlinks is they usually send you the right kind of traffic (aka potential clients).
Guest Post Backlinks
You write a blog for someone else’s site, and in return, they link back to you.
It’s a win-win: they get free content, you get exposure + a backlink.
Just make sure the site you want to build backlinks on has real traffic and not one of those “we accept all guest posts, no matter what” content farms.
Related: Why Blogging Is Better Than Instagram for Getting Clients in 2025
Directory Backlinks
These are low-effort, low-impact, but still worth sprinkling in.
Think: industry directories, local listings, or round-up sites like Clutch, DesignRush, or even your local Chamber of Commerce.
They won’t skyrocket your SEO overnight, but they do help build your backlink profile. Plus, they’re much easier to get at the beginning.
In the Backlink Builder guide inside the Booked-Out Website Kit, there’s a full list of my favourite, free directories to help you get started!
Spammy Backlinks
You’ll know these when you see them:
Too cheap to be legit
Promising “1000 backlinks in 24 hours!”
From irrelevant or low-quality websites
Google’s smarter than that. These won’t help you, and in most cases, they can even hurt your rankings.
How to Get Natural Backlinks (Without Feeling Overwhelmed)
Building backlinks doesn’t have to mean cold-emailing strangers or spending hours writing guest posts you hate. Instead, focus on smart, doable steps that actually work:
1. Create Link-Worthy Content
Start writing content people want to link to. Things like helpful guides, original research, templates, or tools that solve real problems.
If your content rocks, backlinks will naturally follow.
Related: 9 Unconventional Blogging Tips to Book More Clients
2. Reach Out with Purpose
Cold outreach can feel awkward, but it’s way easier when you know what to say.
That’s why having ready-made email templates and a clear outreach strategy is a game-changer. (In the Booked-Out Website Kit, I share my exact scripts that get replies and results.)
3. Get Featured as an Expert
If you want to land links from big sites like Forbes or Business Insider, it’s all about positioning yourself as a go-to expert with a story journalists want to share.
I use platforms like HARO (Help A Reporter Out) to connect with journalists looking for sources.
The process is simple: Answer their requests, get quoted, and earn backlinks from major publications.
Here’s a few of my recent features:
Want to get features like these? You need my Backlink Builder Guide! Grab it in the Booked-Out Website Kit now for just £9!
Ready to Build Backlinks That Actually Bring in Clients?
You don’t need 100 backlinks from random blogs or to spend your life pitching guest posts to people who never reply.
What you do need is a strategy that works. One that helps you get featured on sites your dream clients actually read, and tu/rns that visibility into clicks, traffic, and sales.
That’s exactly what I teach inside the Booked-Out Website Kit.
I’ll show you:
How I’ve landed backlinks from Forbes, Business Insider, Hostinger, and more.
The exact outreach templates I use to get featured (no cold-pitching cringe required).
A backlink-building process that’s made for service providers, not SEO pros.
If you’re done posting endlessly on social media and hoping people stumble across your site, it’s time to try something that builds long-term visibility.
Grab the kit here and let your website do what it’s meant to do: book you clients on autopilot.
