Backlinks Quality Matters More Than You Think
We recently had a client come to us, frustrated. He’d invested in a backlink campaign, meticulously submitting his website to dozens of bookmarking services, hoping to see a surge in traffic. But his links weren’t getting indexed.
Sites like bookmark-nation.com – where he’d placed many links – showed zero authority, and the bookmarking sites themselves weren’t even indexed by Google. Sound familiar? It’s a surprisingly common problem, and the first place we look is link quality.
We have created a table that shows examples of these sites with metrics.
Examples of Low-Quality Backlinks (And Why They Hurt Your SEO) — Google Sheets
As the saying goes, «There are no miracles, sometimes you have to admit it.» And that’s especially true in SEO. No indexing service can magically transform low-quality links into high-authority assets. As they say, you can’t turn trash into gold.
Here’s the blunt truth: not all backlinks are created equal. In fact, some can actively hurt your SEO. Submitting to low-quality bookmarking sites is a prime example of a strategy that’s likely to do more harm than good. So, before you blame the indexing service, let’s do a reality check on those links.
Key Criteria for Evaluating Backlink Quality (Paid or Free):
Domain Authority (DA): Aim for 30+, but remember, it’s just one metric.
Domain Rating (DR): Ahrefs’ DR provides another perspective on authority; higher is better.
Traffic: Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to estimate organic traffic. No traffic = little value.
Majestic Trust Flow/Citation Flow: Look for a healthy ratio; high Citation Flow without Trust Flow is a red flag.
Indexed Pages in Google: Run a site: search on Google. A small number of indexed pages indicates a potentially weak or penalized domain. Use SpeedyIndex for bulk index checking.
Domain Age: Older domains can be more trustworthy, but it’s not a guarantee.
Spam Score: Moz’s Spam Score highlights potentially problematic sites. Proceed with caution if the score is high.
Relevance is Paramount: The linking site must be relevant to your niche. A pet grooming site linking to a financial services page is a clear indicator of manipulation.
Red Flags We Spotted (And You Should Watch For):
- Low-Authority Sites: A link from a brand-new blog with zero traffic or a bookmarking site with no real users is about as useful as a participation trophy. We’re looking for established sites with decent Domain Authority (DA).
- Irrelevant Content: A link from a site about cat grooming pointing to your financial services page? Google sees that as spammy. Relevance is key.
- Spammy Tactics: Directory submissions, comment spam, article spinning… and yes, mass bookmarking submissions… these are relics of a bygone SEO era. Google actively penalizes them.
- Hidden or «NoFollow» Links: If the link is buried in the footer or tagged «nofollow,» it’s not passing any authority. You want visible, «dofollow» links within the body of relevant content.
- Over-Optimization: Exact-match anchor text for every link? That’s a huge red flag for manipulation. Natural variation is the name of the game.
Why are my backlinks not indexing? The Takeaway:
Indexing services can only work with what they’re given. If your backlinks are low-quality – especially if they’re from inherently low-value sources like spammy bookmarking sites – Google has no incentive to index them. In fact, they might actively avoid indexing them, potentially harming your site’s reputation.
Our Recommendation:
Before you invest in indexing, invest in link auditing. Identify and disavow the bad links from those bookmarking sites. Focus on earning high-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative sources. Then use an indexing service to ensure those valuable links get the attention they deserve.
It’s not about quantity; it’s about quality. Always has been, always will be. Steer clear of those bookmarking services.
Best regards,
