The Importance of Backlinks for Traffic and Leads for Local Businesses & Google Business Profiles (GMB) - SEO | WEB DEV

A Complete A-to-Z Guide to Backlinks GMB Why They Matter, and How Local Companies Can Use Them to Dominate Search Results

For local businesses trying to stand out online, backlinks GMB remain one of the most powerful ranking signals Google uses to determine which websites deserve top placement. Whether you run a small plumbing company, a local dental practice, a real estate agency, or any service-based business, you’ve likely heard the term “backlink” and wondered what exactly it means—and why every SEO expert keeps insisting you need more of them.

In today’s digital marketplace, simply having a website or a Google Business Profile (GMB) isn’t enough. Competition is steep, customers are demanding, and Google’s algorithm is becoming more sophisticated every year. If your business isn’t earning backlinks consistently, you’re missing out on free traffic, qualified leads, and a competitive edge that your rivals may already be leveraging.

This comprehensive article breaks down what backlinks are, why they matter for local businesses, what makes a backlink strong or weak, how many backlinks you actually need, the best ways to earn high-quality links, and includes a realistic case study comparison showing the difference between a site with backlinks and one without.

Let’s get started.

Read Also: Avoid Duplicate Content Penalties

1. What Exactly Is a Backlink?

A backlink (also known as an inbound link) is a link from another website pointing back to your site. Think of it as a vote of confidence. When another site links to yours, Google interprets this as:

“This website is trustworthy, useful, and worth referencing.”

Backlinks act like digital endorsements. The more high-quality endorsements you have, the more Google believes your website deserves higher rankings in search results.

Backlinks help:

Increase your website’s authority
Improve local search visibility
Boost your Google Business Profile ranking
Drive referral traffic
Enhance brand credibility
Generate more leads and customers

Backlinks are not optional—they are essential.

2. Why Backlinks Are Critical for Local Businesses

Local businesses rely on local search visibility. According to multiple studies, over 70% of local customers click on one of the first three search results, and GMB listings with strong backlink profiles appear more frequently in the local map pack.

Here’s why backlinks matter so much for local SEO:

A. They Improve Local Organic Rankings

If you want to appear at the top of Google’s local results and organic listings, backlinks tell Google that your business is legit and authoritative.

B. They Boost Your GMB Visibility

Most business owners wrongly believe GMB ranking is purely based on reviews and proximity. In reality, backlinks directly influence your GMB placement by strengthening your domain authority and relevance.

C. They Increase Traffic & Leads

Backlinks bring two types of traffic:

Organic traffic – from better rankings
Referral traffic – from people clicking the link directly on other websites

Both types convert exceptionally well.

D. They Help You Outrank Local Competitors

Your competitors might have a similar service, price, or location—but if you have stronger backlinks, you win.

3. What Is Domain Authority and Why Does It Matter?

Domain Authority (DA) is a score (1–100) developed to predict how well a website will rank on Google. High DA sites carry more weight when they link to you.

Examples of high DA websites:

News sites
Educational institutions
Government websites
Big industry blogs

A backlink from a DA 70 website is significantly stronger than one from a DA 10 website.

4. Strong vs. Weak Backlinks — What’s the Difference?

Not all backlinks help your ranking. Some can even hurt it.

Strong Backlinks

A strong backlink is one that:

Comes from a high-authority website
Comes from a site relevant to your industry
Is placed in high-quality content
Uses natural, relevant anchor text
Comes from a real, reputable source
Drives actual traffic

Examples of strong backlinks:

A local news article covering your company
A link from a high-authority industry blog
A link from a chamber of commerce page
A link from a university resource page
Mentions from trusted influencers or local organizations

Weak Backlinks

A weak backlink:

Comes from low-quality or spammy websites
Uses over-optimized anchor text (“best plumber in Chicago cheap SEO backlinks”)
Is paid for in bulk
Comes from irrelevant industries
Comes from link farms or automated sites

Weak backlinks can lower your rankings or trigger a penalty.

5. How Many Backlinks Does a Local Business Need?

This depends on three major factors:

A. Your Competition

If your competitors have:

20 backlinks → You need 25–40
100 backlinks → You need 120–150

More high-quality links = competitive advantage.

B. Your Industry

High-competition industries need more (i.e., lawyers, roofers). Low-competition industries (i.e., pet grooming, cleaning services) need fewer.

C. Your Authority Level

If you’re a new business with zero links, you need more early on to establish credibility.

Most local businesses should aim for:

5–10 new quality backlinks per month
50–150 total backlinks within the first year

This is safe, natural, and effective.

6. Best Ways for Local Businesses to Get High-Quality Backlinks

Here is a full list of the most powerful backlink strategies—no spam, no shortcuts.

1. Local Citations (Essential for GMB)

Get listed on:

Yelp
Google Business Profile
Bing Places
YellowPages
Local directories
Industry-specific directories

These act as foundational backlinks.

2. Local News Features

Local newspapers love covering community stories.
Ideas:

Your grand opening
Charity involvement
Community events
Special announcements

3. Guest Posting

Write helpful articles for industry blogs.
Example:
A landscaping company writes a guest post on “Top 10 Summer Lawn Care Tips.”

You get exposure + a backlink.

4. Partner Links

Ask local partners for links:

Suppliers
Vendors
Associations
Local businesses you collaborate with

5. Sponsorships

Sponsor:

Local sports teams
School events
Community organizations
Local charity events

These often include high-authority backlinks from official websites.

6. Testimonials

Offer a testimonial to a vendor in exchange for a link.
Companies LOVE adding testimonials to their sites.

7. Local Blog Outreach

Reach out to bloggers and influencers in your city.
Many will link to your business in exchange for content or information.

8. Create Link-Worthy Content

Examples:

Local “Top 10” guides
Expert advice articles
Data-driven studies
Infographics
DIY guides

People naturally link to useful content.

9. Social Profiles & Web 2.0

Your social and web profiles offer safe foundational backlinks.
Examples:

Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
WordPress.com
Medium
Blogger

10. Ask Happy Customers

Customers with websites can link to you. Many are happy to support local businesses.

7. Case Study: A Local Business With vs. Without Backlinks

Below is a simplified but realistic example comparing two local businesses—one investing in backlinks and the other not.

Case Study Table: Impact of Backlinks on Local SEO

Factor	Business A (No Backlinks)	Business B (Strong Backlinks)
Domain Authority	8	26
Monthly Organic Traffic	50–120 visits	900–1,600 visits
GMB Map Pack Visibility	Rarely appears	Top 3 for major keywords
Keyword Rankings	Ranks for 2–5 keywords	Ranks for 25–60 keywords
Lead Volume	3–5 leads per month	25–70 leads per month
Local Brand Reputation	Low	High (featured on local sites)
Website Trust Score	Weak	Strong
Competition Level	Easily outranked	Dominates local competitors
ROI	Poor	High

Conclusion of Case Study

Strong backlinks increase:

Visibility by 5–10x
Leads by 10–20x
Traffic by 10–30x
GMB rankings dramatically

The business with backlinks wins—every time.

8. Common Backlink Mistakes Local Businesses Make

Avoid these mistakes:

❌ Buying cheap backlinks

These can get your site penalized.

❌ Using irrelevant websites

Relevance is key.

❌ Over-optimizing anchor text

Too many “keyword-stuffed” links can trigger Google’s spam filter.

❌ Using automated software

Automation = spam = penalties.

❌ Not tracking backlinks

Use tools like:

Ahrefs
SEMRush
Moz

9. How Long Does It Take to See Results From Backlinks?

Most local businesses start noticing improvements in:

4–8 weeks for initial ranking improvements
3–6 months for major traffic increases
6–12 months for full authority building

SEO is long-term, but the rewards are massive.

10. Final Thoughts: Why Backlinks Are the Lifeblood of Local SEO

For local businesses, backlinks are not just helpful—they are foundational. They determine your visibility, credibility, traffic, and ultimately your revenue. A strong backlink strategy can double or triple your leads, outrank your competitors, and transform your online presence.

If you want to grow your local business, investing in consistent, high-quality backlinks is one of the smartest decisions you can make.