Video summary

How to Build Backlinks for a Brand New Website (From Zero Authority)

Main summary

Key takeaways

Technology

Summary: How to build backlinks for a brand-new website (no authority)

The episode answers a common link-building question from a subreddit thread: how to get high-quality, white-hat backlinks from scratch for a new site that has no existing authority. The speakers emphasize starting with “baseline trust” and focusing on referral value before scaling outreach.

Core strategy: build foundational “entity” + trust signals first

Start with easy, foundational backlinks so the site looks legitimate and Google can better understand the brand/entity.

Types of foundational backlinks to start with

  • Directory submissions (including niche directories)
  • Listing/profile backlinks
  • Q&A sites (e.g., Quora, Reddit)
  • Brand mentions and citations
  • Social profiles (often the “most basic thing” people overlook)

Why this helps

  • Foundational links make the brand appear like a real company
  • Helps trust, improves conversions, and can boost click-through rate in SERPs

Community-first link acquisition (patience beats cold outreach)

Instead of immediately reaching out, the recommendation is to join niche communities (Facebook groups, Discord servers, Reddit).

Suggested approach

  • Spend ~2 weeks only helping people (no self-promotion)
  • Once you’re recognized, outreach and link opportunities happen more naturally

Claimed benefits

  • Stronger, longer-lasting links than cold template outreach
  • People are more willing to provide dofollow links if they trust the contributor

Outreach + earned links (selective, quality-focused)

After baseline trust is in place, suggestions include:

  • Manual outreach (but not “blast cold outreach blind”)
  • Guest posting, selectively:
    • Don’t immediately target guest posts before baseline trust exists
    • Prefer sites with real traffic (not AI-made selling/link sites)
  • Help a Reporter Out (HARO) / expert quote platforms
  • Broken link building
  • Collaborations and product swaps
  • Round-up inclusions, especially for beauty brands with strong visuals / first-hand experience
  • Expert quotes (journals often ask lifestyle beauty questions via reporter platforms)

Referral traffic over “domain authority”

Don’t over-focus on domain authority/domain rating. Instead:

  • Prioritize links that drive referral traffic
  • Seek genuine recommendations, not just ranking signals

Local / service business specifics

Link + citation workflow

  • Create and optimize a Google Business Profile
  • Claim the business on relevant local directories
  • Start with local citations before scaling other pages

Site/page link sequencing

  • Start with homepage links first
  • Later build links for service pages

Press releases as visibility + link tactic

One recommendation is to run press releases early.

Why press releases can help

  • They can show up in SERPs
  • They can support AI-influenced visibility (the episode suggests they “influence AI”)

Example mentioned

  • AB Newswire: “83 press releases for $500”
    • About $6 each, then ~$6 beyond

Suggested cadence

  • Publish 2–3 press releases per week
  • Based on ongoing brand activities (reviews/testimonials, milestones, viral social videos, podcast guests, etc.)

Tools mentioned / used for link opportunities

  • Feature.com for expert-quote/reporting-style placements
  • Press Wiz for finding and vetting real publishers early (vs. mass outreach)
  • aipodcastmatchr.com for matching podcast hosts with guests
    • Example outcome cited: finding ~30 podcasts in ~3 months and using branded language to earn links via appearances

Execution principle: don’t do everything at once

Operational advice:

  • Do a small amount each day
  • Let it compound over time rather than attempting a large campaign immediately

Main speakers / sources

  • Edward Sturm (host; “Edward Show” / “Compact Keywords” references)
  • Charles Float (SEO guest/“legendary SEO,” contributes advice via a Reddit thread and comments)
  • David Quaid (mentioned as a podcast co-guest on an upcoming episode)
  • Reddit community / thread sources (r/linkbuilding; comments provide most of the tactical recommendations)

Original video