Do you still build external links in 2026?

[Nick11]

Guys,

I would like to know you opinion to external links. Since quality content become more and more important, is it necessary to build external links?

If possible, could you please tell me how to start, and I will really appreciate it.

[RedBar]

Since quality content become more and more important,

I would say that is very debatable with AI ripping-off so many sites these days. If you read through this forum you will find many complaints regarding massive traffic losses even though their sites may have many quality links.

Personally I've never, ever bothered with developing them.

[lucy24]

Or, ahem, you could set aside all thoughts of “building” and “developing” and instead stick to specific links that might be interesting or useful to your human visitors. If you make an assertion to which a human might reasonably say “Says who?” or “How do you know?” that’s where you point to your source.

[Nick11]

thanks, guys.

[Whitey]

Yes - but earn links rather than manufacture them: target relevant trade publications, associations, partners, resource pages and unlinked mentions using original research, useful tools, expert commentary and digital PR.

Google warns against paid, exchanged or manipulative links, while SEO experts say authoritative links still matter - but brand mentions, trusted citations, reviews and real-world reputation increasingly influence Google and AI visibility from what I'm hearing, but not personally experiencing. So depending on what subject vertical you're in, and how competitive your area is, a few well placed mentions could be helpful, i feel.

Also invest in internal linking, technical SEO, genuine expertise, user experience, communities and PR coverage - even when the mention does not include a link.

You may benefit from running through some posts on the Link Building Forum over here: [webmasterworld.com...]

[lucy24]

Oh, my bad, I was thinking of outlinks.

But if it's in your power to do so, keep an eye out for human visitors with a referer other than a search engine or legitimate directory. Those mean you've already impressed someone. I mean, of course, actual humans, not referer spam, whether that's old-style robot showing up in logs with putative referer, OR new-style all done in analytics.

[ElcerOG]

The last post on this was dated in 2011. Is there a more updated string and information on outbound links related to SEO ranking quality?

[not2easy]

Hello ElcerOG and welcome to WebmasterWorld [webmasterworld.com]

The last post on this was dated in 2011

Not sure what that date relates to, there have been hundreds, even thousands of threads in the Link Building Forum here (linked above by Whitey) and they go back to 1999. You're in the Google Search and Seo Forum and it also goes back long before 2011 - however, the most useful and relevant discussions would be in the Link Building Forum and I wouldn't bother with 5 year old ideas. AI and overviews have changed things a lot.

For your benefit, that welcome link above offers tips on using the forums' features and settings.

[ElcerOG]

Thank you, Not2Easy. I'll check out the link you provided.

[Wolfik]

Yes, external link building is still active and vital in 2026, though spammy tactics no longer work.

[EditorialGuy]

From the perspective of a potential link source:

I hardly ever get requests for links these days (whether paid or unpaid links). OTOH, I do get a lot of pitches for "guest posts" and "sponsored posts" along the lines of "I think your Finnish travel site would be a perfect fit for an article about RV campgrounds in Western Australia."

I ignore the vast majority of requests for links, because I'd rather use links as editorially-driven citations for readers who want more information on a topic.

[lucy24]

I'd rather use links as editorially-driven citations for readers who want more information on a topic

^^^ this. I also like thinking that when someone leaves my site--as leave they eventually must--they're going somewhere I've sent them.