When it comes to SEO, two terms that often cause confusion are “backlinks” and “referring domains.” While both are essential for boosting your website’s visibility, they aren’t the same thing. In fact, understanding the distinction between them can make or break your link-building strategy.
Backlinks act as votes of confidence for your website, while referring domains represent the number of unique websites linking to your site. Both play crucial roles in determining your site’s authority and search rankings, but they do so in different ways. Research has shown that websites with more referring domains tend to achieve higher search engine visibility and attract more organic traffic.
In this article, we’ll break down what referring domains and backlinks are, explore why they matter for SEO, and address common questions like “What is a good number of referring domains?” and “How do referring domains impact your strategy when using tools like SEMRush?” Whether you’re new to SEO or looking to refine your approach, this guide will give you the insights needed to build a powerful link profile and improve your site’s performance
What Is the Difference Between Referring Domains and Backlinks?
Backlinks are like digital recommendations. Imagine you’re browsing a website, and you see a clickable link that takes you to another website. That’s a backlink. It’s a way for one site to say, “Hey, this page is worth checking out!” These links come in many forms. You might see them embedded in text, such as a word or phrase (called anchor text). They can also appear in images or buttons.
Referring domains, on the other hand, are the websites that send backlinks your way. While backlinks measure the total number of links, referring domains count the number of unique websites linking to you. For example, if two different websites link to your site, you have two referring domains, even if each links multiple times. This distinction is crucial because search engines prioritize diversity in links, often viewing a variety of referring domains as more trustworthy than multiple backlinks from a single source.
Why Are Referring Domains Important for SEO?
Both referring domains and backlinks help boost your site’s authority, but referring domains play a particularly significant role. Think of them as unique endorsements for your site. While backlinks act as individual votes, referring domains show how many unique voters are supporting you.
Search engines, like Google, tend to view a page with a high number of referring domains as more credible. This is because diverse sources vouching for your content indicate that your site offers valuable information. Research also shows that pages with more unique referring domains often receive more organic traffic. Building a strong profile of referring domains is essential for improving visibility and establishing authority in your niche.
What Does “Referring Domains” Mean in SEMRush?
If you’re using tools like SEMRush to analyze your link profile, “referring domains” refers to the unique websites that are linking to your domain or specific pages. SEMRush provides valuable insights into the quality and quantity of these links, helping you understand how diverse your backlink profile is.
In SEMRush, you can view metrics like the authority score of each referring domain, which indicates how trusted or influential the linking site is. You can also analyze whether the referring domains are relevant to your niche, as relevance plays a crucial role in how search engines evaluate your links. By using tools like SEMRush, you can identify gaps in your strategy and focus on acquiring links from high-authority domains that align with your industry.
What Is a Good Number of Referring Domains?
There’s no magic number for how many referring domains you should have, as it varies based on your industry and competition. However, quality matters more than quantity. A site with fewer high-authority referring domains can often outperform one with a large number of low-quality links.
For newer websites, starting with 20–50 high-quality referring domains can establish a strong foundation. For established sites in competitive niches, having hundreds or even thousands of referring domains may be necessary to remain visible. Regularly auditing your referring domains and comparing them to competitors can give you a better sense of what’s realistic and effective for your strategy.
How to Evaluate and Improve Your Link Profile
The good news is, you don’t have to guess when it comes to your backlinks and referring domains. Tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Ubersuggest make it easy to check your link profile. Simply enter your site’s URL, and you’ll get a breakdown of backlinks, referring domains, and their quality.
If you notice spammy links pointing to your site, don’t panic. You can use Google’s Disavow Tool to tell search engines to ignore those links. This helps keep your link profile clean and reduces the risk of penalties.
Practical Tips for Building Referring Domains and Backlinks
Referring domains and backlinks are essential components of a strong SEO strategy, but understanding the distinction between them is crucial for optimizing your efforts. Backlinks represent the total number of links pointing to your site, while referring domains focus on the unique websites providing those links. Search engines value diversity in your link profile, making a higher number of unique referring domains more impactful than multiple backlinks from the same source.
Throughout this article, we’ve explored how referring domains and backlinks influence your site’s authority and rankings. We’ve discussed the importance of analyzing these metrics using tools like SEMRush and highlighted actionable strategies for building a healthy link profile. Questions like “What is a good number of referring domains?” and “Why are referring domains important for SEO?” demonstrate that the quality and relevance of your links matter as much as the quantity.
By prioritizing high-quality referring domains, maintaining a diverse link profile, and using reliable tools to monitor your progress, you can enhance your website’s visibility and drive sustainable traffic. With these insights, you’re better equipped to strengthen your SEO strategy and achieve long-term success in search rankings. By partnering with a trusted SEO agency Toronto, you can ensure high-quality referring domains and a strong, diverse link profile, driving consistent traffic and long-term success