Launching a new website is exciting — but getting it seen? That’s where the real work begins. One of the most important drivers of visibility is link building. But when should you actually start building backlinks?
The short answer: sooner than you think — but not before your site is ready.
Step 1: Make Sure Your Site is Worth Linking To
Before reaching out for links, ensure your site has the basics:
- A clear purpose and value proposition
- Key pages (homepage, about, contact, service/product pages)
- High-quality, useful content — even just a few well-crafted blog posts or guides
Think of it this way: no one wants to link to an empty or half-baked site. You don’t need a massive content library, but you do need something valuable to offer.
Step 2: Build a Strong Technical Foundation
Google and your potential link partners care about user experience. Make sure your site:
- Loads fast
- Is mobile-friendly
- Has clean URLs and proper on-page SEO (titles, meta descriptions, H1s, etc.)
- Doesn’t have broken pages or crawling issues
A well-structured site builds trust — both with algorithms and humans.
Step 3: Start Building Links Early — But Smartly
Once your foundation is in place, you can start building links — even if your domain is brand new. The key is to focus on foundational, low-risk strategies, such as:
- Getting listed in niche directories
- Securing mentions on startup platforms or SaaS directories
- Guest posting on relevant, low-barrier blogs
- Reaching out to partners or early supporters
At this stage, don’t worry about chasing “DR 90” links. Focus on relevance, trust, and momentum.
Step 4: Scale As You Grow
As your content library grows and your domain builds authority, you can scale your efforts into:
- Higher-tier guest posts
- Data-backed content that earns editorial links
- Targeted digital PR campaigns
- Linkable assets like tools, templates, or reports
The earlier you start link building, the sooner you’ll start gaining organic traction — and that compounds over time.
Final Thoughts
If your website is live, crawlable, and offers real value — it’s not too early to start link building. Just make sure you’re starting from a place of strength, not desperation. A thoughtful, phased approach beats a rushed campaign every time.
