Building links takes time. But how fast should you really be gaining new backlinks? This question has puzzled website owners for years. Link velocity in SEO measures exactly that – the speed at which your site earns new links over time, either organically or paid.
This guide will show you everything about link velocity. You’ll learn what it means, why some experts worry about it, and how to use this knowledge to protect your website. We’ll also cover practical tools, real examples, and actionable strategies you can start using today.
What Exactly Is Link Velocity?
Think of link velocity like the speedometer in your car. Instead of measuring miles per hour, it tracks how many new backlinks your website gains each month. The math is simple: Count your new backlinks, divide by the time period, and you get your link velocity. If you gained 50 new links in January, your link velocity for that month is 50 links.
Most SEO professionals track this monthly. Some prefer weekly measurements for more detailed monitoring. Others look at quarterly trends for bigger picture planning. Why does this matter? Your link velocity tells a story about your website’s growth. Steady increases suggest healthy, natural growth. Sudden jumps might signal problems.
Does Link Velocity Actually Matter?
Here’s where things get interesting. The SEO community can’t agree on whether link velocity affects rankings.
The Case for Link Velocity’s Impotance
Back in 2003, Google filed a patent called “Information Retrieval Based on Historical Data.” This document mentioned that rapid increases in backlinks could indicate spam. The patent suggested Google might lower a site’s rankings if links appear too quickly.
Many SEO experts point to this patent as proof. They’ve seen websites get penalized after buying thousands of links overnight. These cases make them believe Google watches link velocity closely.
Some also argue that viral content naturally attracts many links quickly. But even viral content usually builds links over days or weeks, not hours.
The Case Against Link Velocity’s Importance
Google’s Gary Illyes once called link velocity a “made-up term.” John Mueller, another Google representative, said the company cares more about link quality than speed. These statements suggest Google doesn’t use link velocity as a direct ranking factor. Instead, they focus on whether links appear natural and helpful.
Many successful websites show irregular link velocity patterns. News sites often get huge link spikes during breaking stories. Product launches can create similar patterns. These sites rarely face penalties.
The truth probably lies somewhere between both sides. Google likely doesn’t have a “link velocity penalty” that automatically punishes fast-growing sites. But rapid link acquisition might trigger manual reviews.
Think of it like airport security. Flying frequently doesn’t make you a criminal. But unusual travel patterns might cause extra screening. The screening itself isn’t punishment – it’s just checking for problems.
How Fast Should You Build Links?
The “right” link velocity depends on several factors. Your industry, content type, and business size all play roles.
Ahrefs conducted a study on 200,000 pages across 10,000 keywords and found:
- Top-ranking pages typically gain +5% to +14.5% growth in referring domains per month.
Translating this into daily backlink velocity
- A page with 100 referring domains gains 5 to 15 new backlinks monthly, or about 0.17 to 0.5 backlinks per day.
- Pages with 500+ referring domains can gain 25 to 70 backlinks monthly, or roughly 1 to 2.3 backlinks per day.
📌 Note: These figures reflect natural link acquisition patterns. Actual results depend on niche, content type, and visibility.
The higher you rank, the faster you naturally attract backlinks. This reinforces the “vicious circle of SEO”—ranking high boosts visibility, which brings more links, which helps rankings again.
Source: Ahrefs Blog: Backlink Growth Study
Industry Patterns Make a Big Difference
News websites naturally gain links faster than accounting firms. Fashion blogs see seasonal spikes during major fashion weeks. Software companies often experience bursts during product launches.
Research your competitors to understand normal patterns in your space. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze similar websites. Look at their link growth over 12-24 months.
Tech startups might gain 100+ links monthly during growth phases. Local service businesses might see 5-10 new links as perfectly normal. Knowing your industry baseline helps set realistic expectations.
Content Type Changes Everything
Different content attracts links at different speeds:
- Research and data studies often generate quick link bursts. Journalists and bloggers love citing original research. Expect higher velocity when you publish surveys or industry reports.
- How-to guides and tutorials build links more slowly but steadily. People bookmark useful guides and share them over months or years.
- News and trending topics create fast spikes followed by rapid declines. Breaking news stories might gain 50 links in one day, then nothing for weeks.
- Product pages and service descriptions rarely attract many links. These pages serve users but don’t generate much linking activity.
Seasonal Considerations Most People Ignore
Link velocity changes throughout the year in predictable ways:
- December and January typically show slower link growth. Many people take vacations, and business slows down.
- Back-to-school seasons (August-September) often boost education-related sites. Students and teachers actively search for resources.
- Holiday shopping periods increase links to retail and gift guide content.
- Industry conference seasons create link bursts for relevant businesses. Speakers and attendees share content more actively during these periods.
Red Flags That Could Hurt Your Site
While natural link velocity varies, certain patterns raise concerns. Watch for these warning signs:
Sudden Massive Spikes
Gaining 1,000+ links overnight looks suspicious unless you have a clear reason. Viral content, major news coverage, or product launches can justify such spikes. But random Tuesday increases without explanation? That’s concerning.
Links from Irrelevant Sites
Your accounting firm shouldn’t suddenly get links from gaming blogs, fashion sites, and pet stores. Diverse linking domains are good, but they should make logical sense.
Identical Anchor Text Patterns
If 90% of your new links use the exact same anchor text, you’ve got problems. Natural link building creates varied anchor text patterns.
Low-Quality Source Clustering
Getting many links from similar low-quality sites suggests artificial link building. Real organic growth attracts links from varied quality levels.
Perfect Velocity Consistency
Gaining exactly 47 links every month for six months straight isn’t natural. Real growth shows some variation, even with consistent effort.
Types of Backlinks Google Considers Spam
Google deems the following backlink types manipulative or spammy (per its Search Essentials and Spam Policies):
| Spammy Backlink Type | Explanation |
| Paid Links | Exchanging money for links or posts that pass PageRank |
| Excessive Link Exchanges | “Link to me and I’ll link to you” on a mass scale |
| Low-Quality Directory Links | Submitting to hundreds of irrelevant directories |
| Auto-Generated Content Links | Using bots or spinners to generate pages with embedded links |
| Private Blog Networks (PBNs) | Network of sites created solely for manipulating SERPs |
| Forum Comments with Links | Spammy backlinks in forums or blog comments with keyword-stuffed anchors |
| Links from Irrelevant Sites | Unrelated industries (e.g., accounting firm linked from a gaming blog) |
Remove Spammy links from your website
Smart Ways to Check Your Link Velocity
You don’t need expensive tools to monitor your link velocity. Here are several methods:
Free Methods That Work
- Google Search Console shows your backlink history. Export data monthly and calculate the differences. It’s basic but functional for small sites. (Set up Google Search Console)
- Manual competitor research helps establish baselines. Pick 3-5 similar websites and track their visible link growth using free tools.
- Ahrefs free backlink checker allows limited queries. Check your top competitors monthly to spot trends.
Tools You Can Use to Check Your Link Velocity
- Ahrefs Site Explorer provides detailed link velocity data. You can see referring domains over time, link acquisition dates, and growth patterns.
- SEMrush Backlink Analytics offers similar features with different data presentation. Some users prefer its interface and reporting options.
- Moz Link Explorer includes link velocity tracking in its Pro plans. It’s particularly good for smaller websites and local businesses.
Never do seo audit of your website with a free tool before checking
Setting Up Automated Monitoring
Create monthly reminders to check your link velocity. Document the numbers in a simple spreadsheet. Track both total backlinks and referring domains. Set up Google Alerts for your brand name. Unexpected mentions might indicate new linking activity worth investigating.
Use IFTTT or Zapier to automate data collection if you’re technically inclined. These services can pull data from various APIs automatically.
What to Do When Things Go Wrong
Sometimes link velocity problems happen despite your best efforts. Here’s how to respond:
Immediate Damage Control
First, identify the problem source. Did you buy links? Use a sketchy SEO service? Get negative SEO attacks from competitors?
Document everything. Screenshot concerning links, save email communications, and record timeline details. This information helps if you need to contact Google later. Stop any ongoing link building campaigns immediately. Don’t add fuel to the fire while addressing existing problems.
Link Cleanup Process
- Identify problematic links using your backlink analysis tools. Look for patterns in timing, source quality, and anchor text.
- Attempt manual removal by contacting site owners directly. Many will remove links when asked politely. Keep records of all communications.
- Use Google’s disavow tool for links you can’t remove manually. This tells Google to ignore specific links when evaluating your site. Click here to understand how to do it.
- Submit a reconsideration request if you received a manual penalty. Explain what happened, what you’ve fixed, and how you’ll prevent future issues.
Recovery Timeline Expectations
- Link-related recoveries take time. Manual penalties might lift within 2-6 weeks after successful reconsideration requests.
- Algorithm-related issues often require 3-6 months to fully resolve. Google needs time to recrawl your links and update its assessment.
- Don’t expect immediate results from cleanup efforts. Focus on building good links slowly while waiting for recovery.
Link Velocity Strategies by Business Size
Before understanding how many links you should acquire per day, it’s better to understand which type of links Google considers good or bad.
White Hat vs. Black Hat SEO: Backlink Types
| Backlink Type | White Hat SEO | Black Hat SEO |
| Guest Posts | Genuine content on relevant sites | Spammy content or fake contributor bios |
| Editorial Links | Earned via high-quality content | Paid or reciprocal links |
| Niche Directories | Industry-relevant and vetted | Generic or spammy directory farms |
| HARO (Help a Reporter Out) Links | Earned through expert insights | Fake personas or purchased interviews |
| Resource Page Links | Useful guides cited by others | Paid placement on fake resource pages |
| Social Bookmarking Sites | Natural sharing | Automated mass submissions |
| Forum & Blog Comments | Occasional relevant commenting | Mass-spammed comments |
| PBN Links | Never used | Central to the strategy |
Your business size affects how you should approach link velocity management.
Small Local Businesses (1-10 employees)
Aim for 5-15 new links per month. Focus on local directories, industry associations, and community involvement.
- Realistic activities: Join local business groups, sponsor community events, and create useful local resources.
- Budget considerations: $200-500 monthly for basic tools and local directory submissions.
- Time investment: 5-10 hours monthly for outreach and relationship building.
Steal your competitor backlinks for free
Growing Companies (10-50 employees)
Target 15-50 new links monthly. Expand beyond local focus to industry-wide recognition.
- Realistic activities: Guest posting, industry partnerships, content marketing, trade show participation.
- Budget considerations: $500-2000 monthly for tools, content creation, and promotional activities.
- Time investment: 20-30 hours monthly across multiple team members.
Larger Enterprises (50+ employees)
Expect 50-200+ new links monthly with dedicated resources. Scale becomes both an opportunity and a challenge.
- Realistic activities: PR campaigns, research studies, industry leadership, and content partnerships.
- Budget considerations: $2000-10000+ monthly for comprehensive link building programs.
- Time investment: Full-time staff or agency relationships with multiple team members involved.
Some Advanced Strategies You Should Follow
Competitive Analysis Beyond Basic Tools
- Don’t just track competitor link totals. Analyze their link velocity patterns around product launches, content releases, and seasonal events.
- Look for a correlation between their marketing activities and link acquisition. When do they see spikes? What content types drive the most links?
- Study their anchor text distribution over time. Natural growth shows evolving anchor text patterns as brand recognition increases.
Integration with Other SEO Metrics
Link velocity correlates with other important metrics. Sites with healthy link growth often show:
- Improving domain authority scores over 6-12 month periods.
- Increasing organic traffic following link velocity improvements by 2-4 months.
- Better keyword ranking distributions as authority signals strengthen.
- Enhanced brand search volume as awareness grows through linked mentions.
Track these correlations for your own site. Understanding relationships helps predict results from link building investments.
Important Seo metrics you need to track for a website
Future-Proofing Your Approach
Search engines continue evolving. Focus on principles that will remain valuable:
- Build relationships, not just links. Real business relationships create lasting link opportunities.
- Create genuinely useful content. Quality content earns natural links over time without artificial manipulation.
- Diversify your link sources. Don’t rely too heavily on any single linking strategy or source type.
- Monitor industry trends. What works in your industry today might change as markets evolve.
- Document your strategies. Good record-keeping helps you understand what works and enables quick pivots when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
New websites should start slowly. Aim for 3-10 new links in your first month, then gradually increase. Focus on quality over quantity during the early stages. Build relationships with other site owners in your industry rather than pursuing aggressive link campaigns.
Building links slowly won’t hurt your rankings. Steady, consistent growth often works better than rapid acquisition. Many successful websites gain just 5-20 new links monthly. Quality matters more than speed in sustainable SEO strategies.
Natural link velocity varies but shows some patterns. Look for gradual increases over time, diverse source types, and logical connections to your business. Compare your patterns with similar companies in your industry. Sudden massive spikes without clear reasons raise more concerns.
Some link loss is normal. Websites go offline, content gets removed, and links naturally disappear. Track net link growth (new links minus lost links) rather than just additions. Losing 10-20% of links annually isn’t unusual, especially for older websites.
The biggest mistake is obsessing over speed instead of focusing on quality and relevance. Many people buy cheap links or use automated tools to boost their numbers quickly. This approach often backfires. Building fewer high-quality links consistently works better than chasing velocity targets with poor-quality sources.