Not all main search engines are using links as a ranking factor

Inbound links, also known as backlinks, are links from external domains pointing to your website. They have long been considered a significant factor in search engine ranking algorithms, particularly by Google. Essentially, Google evaluates the links directed towards a webpage to determine its relevance and authority, thus influencing its ranking in search results.

While Yandex, Russia’s prominent search engine, has abandoned links as a ranking factor in favor of alternative methods to combat spam and enhance search quality, there’s speculation whether Google might follow suit. Although Google hasn’t publicly adopted a completely link-free algorithm, internal experiments suggest a growing interest in prioritizing factual accuracy over link metrics. Factors such as trustworthiness and domain quality may increasingly influence search rankings.

These developments herald an exciting era in SEO, with search engines exploring new avenues to deliver the most relevant and reliable search results. Despite the evolving landscape, inbound links continue to hold significance as a crucial ranking signal in Google’s algorithm, alongside potential shifts towards fact-based metrics.