• What’s inside this article:
• What are the main differences between internal and external backlinks?
• How does Google Algorithms use external links to assess SEO Strength?
• Why is it widely considered so important to lower a company’s bounce rate?
• What does U.X mean. What is user experience and why does it matter?
• What does anchor text mean, and why should you avoid over-optimising It?
• How can our expert team based in Bristol help?

 

Are backlinks (external) still considered the backbone of organic / local SEO?

 

Absolutely.

Backlinks (external links) remain a critical component of search engine optimisation (SEO).

According to a study by Authority Hacker, 79.7% of organic SEOs consider link building an important part of their SEO strategy. So in 2025 they are still an important part of the SEO process.

Therefore even when Google was using PageRank, to today in 2025, Google still uses backlinks as one of the main ways of working out how good a companies search engine optimisation is.

High-quality backlinks signal to search engines that your website is authoritative (Part of Google EEAT) and trustworthy, which can significantly boost your domain authority and organic traffic.​

 

What is the difference between internal and external links?

 

Internal Links:

These are hyperlinks that connect one page / blog post to another within the same domain.

They enhance website navigation, distribute page authority (link equity), and help users discover related content  marketing.

For instance, a blog post about car waxes might link to associated products, such as car dent remover, helping guiding users to additional relevant information.​

 

External Links

These are links from other websites pointing to your site. They can help a business to obtain link equity, therefore if the businesses domain authority (DA).

They are vital for SEO because they act as endorsements from other domains.

However, it’s crucial to focus on acquiring high-quality external links (high DA score), as low-quality or purchased links can lead to penalties from search engines (Google Penguin). 93.8% of link builders say link quality is more important than link quantity. ​

 

How do Google’s algorithms use external links to assess SEO Strength?

 

Google’s algorithms consider backlinks one of the top two ranking criteria for pages.

Websites with a higher number of quality backlinks tend to rank higher in Google’s search results.

For example, the page ranking #1 on Google has an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than other pages.

This is why at Digital Tailors, for our valued clients in Bristol, we spend a huge amount of time building links.

This highlights the importance of establishing a robust backlink profile to boost your site’s visibility.​

 

Why is it important to lower a company’s bounce rate?

 

A high bounce rate indicates that visitors are leaving your site without engaging further (check this using your Google Analytics account to check your businesses bounce rate), which can negatively impact your SEO performance.

Implementing effective internal linking strategies can reduce bounce rates by encouraging users to explore more content  marketing. Notably, 42% of SEO professionals allocate equal time to building internal and external links, underscoring the importance of internal linking in SEO strategies. ​

What Is (U.X) User Experience and Why does it matter?

 

User experience (UX) encompasses all aspects of a user’s interaction with your website, including design, the navigation, and the quality of content marketing, i.e is the bounce rate high?

A positive U.X leads to longer dwell times and increased engagement, which are favourable signals to search engines. For example, long-form content marketing generates 77.2% more links than shorter articles, indicating that comprehensive, user-friendly content is more likely to be linked to and shared. ​

 

What does anchor text mean?

 

Anchor text refers to the clickable text within a hyperlink.

While it’s important for indicating what the content marketing is about, over-optimising anchor text with exact-match keywords can appear manipulative to search engines.  This can trigger a Google Panda penalty.

Therefore, it’s advisable to use natural and varied anchor text to maintain a healthy backlink profile.​

 

How can our expert team in the heart of Bristol help?

 

Navigating the complexities of organic SEO and link building can be challenging.

Our agency specialises in developing tailored SEO strategies that focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks, creating engaging content, and enhancing user experience.

Given that 52.3% of digital marketers say link building is the most challenging aspect of SEO, partnering with experienced professionals can provide a significant advantage. Contact us today to elevate your business’s online presence and achieve sustainable growth.​