Key Takeaways

• Dominate search results in your niche by consistently building high-authority backlinks to your key product and collection pages.
• Create valuable linkable assets, such as in-depth product guides or original research, to naturally attract links from other websites.
• Build trust with search engines by earning backlinks from reputable and topically relevant websites in your industry.
• Protect your business from algorithm updates by building a strong backlink profile that provides long-term ranking stability.

In fact, in ecommerce ecosystem, it might just be your most undervalued growth lever. Kind of amazing, right? For founders and ecommerce teams focused on performance metrics and ROAS dashboards, backlinks may not be the sexiest line item. But here’s the truth: links are still the connective tissue of the web anatomically speaking, they’re the arteries feeding your domain authority and visibility. Ignore them, and your SEO body starts to underperform.

If you’ve ever asked, “Do backlinks still matter in 2025?” this article will explain why the answer is a resounding yes, and how to capitalize on this often-overlooked asset without breaking the bank.

Link Building in 2025: Still the MVP of Organic Search

Search engine algorithms have evolved, no doubt. We’ve seen the rise of AI-driven ranking signals, machine-learning search intent models, and topical authority mapping. But even in this fast-paced SEO arena, links still move the needle, big time.

Google’s own documentation still references backlinks as a key trust and authority signal. External links from authoritative domains act like endorsements, helping the algorithm assess your site’s reputation in the greater internet ecosystem.

So why are so many brands treating link building like an afterthought?

Let’s move onto that.

The Mindset Shift: From “Nice to Have” to “Need to Win”

Too many ecommerce operators view backlinks like optional bells and whistles, something to explore after you’ve “finished” your on-page and technical SEO. But that’s like building a race car and ignoring the fuel system. Links are what power your rankings and visibility. No joke.

Here’s what we’ve observed across ecommerce brands scaling from 6 to 8 figures:

• Sites with consistent backlink velocity dominate competitive SERPs
• Brands investing in diversified anchor text and referring domain variety retain authority longer
• High-quality backlinks compound influence, traffic, and conversion lift accrue over time

You can build a Shopify store with stunning UX and conversion-optimized product pages but without trusted backlinks, you’re essentially running that store in the dark.

So let’s take a quick deep dive into what makes link building so strategic right now.

Link Building for Ecommerce: Why Founders Should Care

We’ve broken down the fundamentals here before: ecommerce link building is about more than just pointing random blogs at your homepage. You need a strategic blend of content-based, relationship-driven, and earned media tactics that prioritize:

• Topical relevance (think: niche blogs, industry directories, partner sites)
• High domain authority (DA 40+ to command real weight)
• Diversification (homepage, collection pages, and editorial links – not just blog posts)

If you’ve already reviewed our full guide to ecommerce link building, you’re probably already applying some of these principles. If not bookmark that. It’s your SEO playbook.

But if you’re ready to go beyond the basics, it’s time to step up your strategy.

Dominating the Link Building Game With These Strategies

Let’s not sugarcoat it: competitive link building is a contact sport. To outpace the competition, you’ll need more than a press release and a “guest post” tab.

Here are a few tactics ecommerce brands are using to build link equity that actually ranks:

• Linkable Assets: In-depth product guides, proprietary research, seasonal trend data
• Partner Co-Marketing: Cross-promote with suppliers or tools in your ecommerce stack
• Brand Mentions Outreach: Turn unlinked citations into valuable backlinks
• Authority HARO Responses: Position founders as industry experts in credible outlets
• Podcast + Niche Guesting: Leverage voice platforms that also publish transcripts and links

We’ve outlined these in detail in our advanced strategy guide, but here’s the core principle: link building today is about earning trust through relevance and value, not gaming the system.

Scaling Globally? Then You’ll Want International Link Building in the Mix

For ecommerce brands targeting global markets, domestic backlinks alone won’t cut it. You’ll want to localize your SEO authority, country-specific domains, language-specific content, and regionally trusted backlinks.

Magfellow’s international link building services provide a turnkey way to attract links from high-authority sites in targeted geographies. That’s critical when expanding into Europe, Australia, or multilingual markets.

This approach is particularly effective for:

• DTC brands entering new markets
• Amazon sellers launching regional Shopify stores
• Brands with localized content strategies or subdomains

Localized link equity builds trust faster with international SERPs and that can significantly impact how quickly your products rank abroad.

Want Done-For-You Link Building? Page One Power Has You Covered

If building outreach pipelines and managing link partnerships isn’t your jam, there are vetted agencies that specialize in this exact function.

Page One Power’s link building service is built on customized white-hat strategies tailored to your industry, existing backlink profile, and growth goals. In 2025, relevance, not volume, is the key to long-term success, and that is exactly where they focus.

It’s worth considering if:

• You’re hitting a growth ceiling in organic visibility
• Your internal team is spread thin
• You want quality links without the internal bandwidth drain

Whether or not you’re ready to outsource, knowing what high-level services look like can help you benchmark your current strategy and set realistic goals.

Don’t Let This Asset Sit Idle

In ecommerce, timing is everything especially with SEO. Backlinks are a long game, but they’re also a flywheel. The earlier you start, the more momentum you gain.

If you’ve focused exclusively on email flows, paid ads, and product UX, that’s great but now it’s time to optimize the backbone of your search visibility.

Because here’s the kicker: strong link profiles don’t just boost rankings they insulate you from volatility. Algorithm updates. PPC fluctuations. Supply chain pivots.

Solid backlinks are stability. They’re the anchor you didn’t know you needed.

So, what’s next?

Take a look at your link profile. Audit where your authority gaps are. Explore the resources above, and consider whether it’s time to scale your link building game because in 2025, backlinks still win championships.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is link building still important for my ecommerce store in 2025?
Yes, link building remains a fundamental part of SEO. High-quality backlinks from reputable websites act as endorsements, signaling to search engines that your store is a trustworthy and authoritative source. This directly influences your ability to rank for competitive keywords and drive organic traffic.

What kind of backlinks should my ecommerce business focus on?
Focus on acquiring links from websites with high topical relevance to your products, such as niche blogs, industry publications, and partner sites. A strong backlink is not just about the authority of the linking domain; it is also about whether the context of the link makes sense for your brand.

My team is small. What is a practical first step for link building?
A great starting point is to look for unlinked brand mentions. Use a monitoring tool to find where your brand has been mentioned online without a link back to your site. Reaching out to these authors and requesting they add a link is often an easy and effective way to gain valuable backlinks.

Is it better to get links to my homepage or my product pages?
A healthy backlink profile has a mix of both. Links to your homepage build overall domain authority, while links pointing directly to product or category pages can help those specific pages rank higher in search results. Your strategy should include building a diverse link profile that supports your entire site.

I’ve heard link building is just a numbers game. Is this a myth?
Yes, this is a common misconception. The quality and relevance of your backlinks are far more important than the total quantity. A single, authoritative link from a trusted industry site can have a greater positive effect on your rankings than hundreds of low-quality links from irrelevant websites.

How does international link building differ from a domestic strategy?
International link building involves earning links from websites based in the specific countries you are targeting. This requires creating localized content and building relationships with regional publications to build trust with both local search engines and international customers, which is fundamental for ranking in new markets.

What is a “linkable asset” and why should my store create one?
A linkable asset is a piece of high-value content, such as an in-depth guide, a research report, or an interactive tool, that other websites will want to link to as a resource. Creating these assets is a proactive strategy to earn high-quality backlinks naturally instead of manually asking for them.

Can a strong backlink profile really protect my business?
Yes, a diverse and authoritative backlink profile can act as a buffer against search algorithm volatility and fluctuations in paid ad performance. Since backlinks are a long-term asset, they provide a stable foundation for your organic visibility that is less susceptible to sudden market changes.

When does it make sense to outsource link building to an agency?
Outsourcing is a good option when your internal team lacks the time, expertise, or resources to manage a consistent outreach campaign. If you are hitting a plateau in your organic growth or want to scale your efforts with high-quality, white-hat strategies, an experienced agency can provide the necessary focus and bandwidth.

How do I measure the success of my link building campaign?
Success can be measured through several metrics. Monitor the increase in the number of referring domains, improvements in your domain authority score, and most importantly, track the organic ranking improvements for your target keywords and the corresponding growth in organic traffic and revenue.