3 Signs You’re Building Toxic Backlinks (And How to Fix It) | EP 19

Are the backlinks you’re building hurting your SEO more than helping? In this video, we talk about three clear signs that you might be building toxic backlinks. We’ll cover what toxic backlinks are, how they can damage your site’s rankings, and practical steps to fix the problem. By the end, you’ll know how to clean up your backlink profile and focus on building links that actually improve your SEO.

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(00:00) Introduction

(00:32) Sign 1: Buying Cheap Backlinks

(04:09) Sign 2: Checking your Backlink Profile

(07:50) Sign 3: Getting Backlinks from Sketchy Websites

(10:39) How to Clean Up your Backlinks

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are toxic backlinks?

Toxic backlinks are links from low-quality or spammy websites that can harm your website’s SEO. These often come from link farms, private blog networks (PBNs), or irrelevant websites. Search engines may penalise your site if they detect too many of these.

How do I know if my backlinks are toxic?

Look for warning signs like backlinks from unrelated websites, a high number of links from one domain, or links from sites with poor domain authority. Tools like Google Search Console or backlink analysis tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush) can help identify these.

What happens if I have too many toxic backlinks?

Your site could be penalised by search engines, causing a drop in rankings. In extreme cases, your site may even be removed from search results altogether. That’s why monitoring your backlink profile is crucial.

How often should I audit my backlinks?

It depends on your site size and activity. For most sites, every 3–6 months is a good interval. If you’ve been actively building links or notice a sudden drop in rankings, it’s worth checking sooner.

How can I prevent toxic backlinks in the future?

Stick to ethical link-building strategies like guest posting, earning links through quality content, and avoiding link exchanges or paid links. Always focus on relevance and quality when seeking backlinks.