How to Get Backlinks: 25 Free and Paid Ways

Twenty-five ways to get backlinks, from free methods you can do this week to paid placements that scale, with honest notes on what works for Saudi and Arabic websites and what to avoid.

Free ways to get backlinks

1. Google Business Profile and maps listings (nofollow, but essential for local)
2. Industry directories and chambers of commerce in Saudi Arabia
3. Supplier and partner pages: ask companies you work with to list you
4. Business associations and licensing bodies
5. Unlinked brand mentions: find mentions of your brand and request a link
6. Broken link building: find dead links on relevant sites and offer your page as a replacement
7. Resource pages: suggest your guide for “useful resources” lists
8. HARO-style expert sourcing: answer journalists’ requests
9. Testimonials: give a testimonial to a vendor in exchange for a linked quote
10. Guest articles on relevant blogs that accept contributions
11. Original data and research journalists want to cite
12. Free tools and calculators that others reference
13. Local sponsorships of events, teams and charities
14. Speaking and interviews on podcasts and at events
15. Scholarship or competition pages that universities link to (use sparingly)

Paid and managed methods

1. Guest posting service: outreach, writing and placement done for you. Details →
2. Link insertions: links in existing ranking articles. Details →
3. Digital PR campaigns: stories that earn coverage. Details →
4. Sponsored features: brand value, limited SEO value. Details →
5. Blogger outreach: reviews and features. Details →

Methods to avoid

• “1,000 backlinks for SAR 100” packages: spam
• PBNs and link farms
• Automated directory and profile submissions
• Comment and forum spam
• Reciprocal link schemes at scale
• Expired-domain redirects for links

Getting Arabic backlinks

Arabic publishers rarely receive good pitches, so a relevant Arabic article offered to a Saudi blog or news portal often gets accepted. Write natively, match their audience, and offer genuine value. Brand Majlis maintains relationships with Arabic publishers across niches.

A simple monthly link plan for a small business

• Month 1: directories, partners, unlinked mentions
• Month 2: two guest posts on niche sites
• Month 3: one PR story or data piece
• Ongoing: two to four quality links per month, mixed types

Frequently asked questions

How can I get backlinks for free?

Directories, partners, mentions, broken links, resource pages and guest articles cost time rather than money.

Are free backlink lists worth it?

Mostly not; they are profile and comment links with little value.

How fast can I get backlinks?

Directories within days; guest posts in 1–2 weeks; PR coverage in 2–6 weeks.

Can I get .edu or .gov links?

Legitimately, yes, with real reasons. See EDU and GOV backlinks.

Related services and guides

• What are backlinks?
• Link building strategies
• Guest posting service
• Buy backlinks