How to Get Free Backlinks: 20 High-Authority Platforms for 2025

You've poured hours into crafting the perfect blog post. The content is valuable, the writing is sharp, and you know it can help people. You hit "Publish" and... crickets.

If this sounds familiar, you're missing a critical piece of the puzzle: off-page SEO.

Great content is the foundation, but high-quality backlinks are the rockets that tell Google your site is credible. Think of them as votes of confidence. The more reputable votes you have, the more likely you are to show up on the first page. This is the core of effective link building.

But where do you get these links without paying a fortune?

In this guide, we'll walk you through an SEO backlink strategy with 20+ high-authority platforms where you can get powerful, free backlinks. We'll show you not just where to go, but how to get backlinks effectively.

A quick note: We’ll mention DA (Domain Authority). This is a score from 1-100 that estimates a site's reputation. The goal of this strategy is to increase domain authority for your own site.

Let's dive in.

Part 1: The Content Publishing & Blogging Giants

These platforms are perfect for sharing your expertise and earning high DA backlinks.

1. Medium (DA 90+)

A beautiful platform with a massive readership.

• How to get your link:
  • Profile: Add your website link in your bio.
  • In-Content: Write articles, linking back to relevant posts on your site.
  • Pro-Tip (The Canonical Link): Use Medium's "Import a story" feature. It automatically adds a canonical link back to your original article, sending all SEO credit to your site. This is a top-tier tactic for getting high-quality backlinks.

2. LinkedIn (DA 95+)

The ultimate professional network.

• How to get your link:
  • Profile: Your profile has multiple sections to add a website link.
  • Articles: Use the "Write an article" feature. This is a powerful way to publish long-form content with valuable backlinks inside.

3. Blogger / Blogspot (DA 95+)

Owned by Google, this platform carries immense authority.

• How to get your link:
  • Create a free blog and add your link in the profile and sidebar.
  • Publish articles with contextual links pointing to your main website.

4. WordPress.com (DA 95+)

One of the world's most popular blogging platforms.

• How to get your link:
  • Set up a free blog, add your website link in your profile, and publish posts that link back to your primary site.

Part 2: Professional Profiles & Quick Wins for Link Building

These are foundational, high-authority links you can set up in minutes.

5. Google Business Profile (DA 100)

An absolute must for any business. It's a direct, trusted link from Google.

• How to get your link:
  • Go to google.com/business and create a profile.
  • Add your website in the dedicated "Website" field.

6. GitHub (DA 95+)

The largest community for developers.

• How to get your link:
  • Sign up and add your website link directly on your main profile page.
  • Pro-Tip: Create a repository with the same name as your username. The README.md file in it will display on your profile, allowing you to write a detailed bio with multiple backlinks.

7. Crunchbase (DA 90+)

A leading database for innovative companies.

• How to get your link:
  • Create a profile for your company or personal brand. You can add your website, blog, and social media links.

8. About.me (DA 85+)

A simple way to create a personal landing page.

• How to get your link:
  • Register and add a prominent button that links directly to your main website.

Part 3: Community & Q&A Platforms

These require genuine engagement but are a core part of modern link building strategies.

9. Quora (DA 90+)

The world's largest Q&A site.

• How to get your link:
  • Fill out your profile bio completely, including your website link.
  • Find questions in your niche and write helpful answers. At the end, you can add, "For a more detailed guide, I wrote an article on this here: [your link]."

10. Reddit (DA 90+)

A massive collection of niche communities.

• How to get your link:
  • Warning: Reddit hates spam. Become an active, contributing member first. Once you've built credibility, you can share your content when it's genuinely helpful.

11. Niche Forums

A link from a highly relevant industry forum can be pure gold for your off-page SEO.

• How to get your link:
  • Search Google for "[your industry keyword]" + "forum".
  • Become a valuable member, then add your website link to your forum signature.

Part 4: Multimedia & Document Sharing

Repurpose content to get free backlinks from different types of platforms.

12. YouTube (DA 100)

The second-largest search engine.

• How to get your link:
  • On your channel's "About" page.
  • In the description of every video.

13. SlideShare (DA 95+)

A platform for sharing presentations.

• How to get your link:
  • Turn a blog post into a simple PDF or PowerPoint.
  • Embed clickable links within the slides and upload it.

14. Pinterest (DA 90+)

A visual discovery engine where every "Pin" can link back to a website.

• How to get your link:
  • Create a business account, claim your website, and create a beautiful vertical image for each blog post with a link.

15. The Rest of the Power List

Don't stop there! These platforms are fantastic additions to your link building strategy:

• 16. Substack (DA 85+) A fast-growing newsletter platform.
• 17. Scribd (DA 90+) A digital library for documents.
• 18. Behance (DA 90+) Adobe's portfolio platform for creatives.
• 19. Flickr (DA 90+) A respected photo-sharing community.
• 20. Tumblr (DA 85+) A unique blend of a blog and social media.

Great Content Deserves a Great Home

Now that you have a powerful backlink strategy, all those links need to point somewhere special. The foundation of all great SEO is having a fast, reliable, and beautiful home for your content.

Here at Postion, we built our platform for creators who want to focus on what they do best: creating. You can effortlessly publish SEO-friendly articles without wrestling with complicated software.

Start Building Your Authority Today

Link building is a marathon, not a sprint.

1. Start with the "Quick Wins" to build your foundational links.
2. Repurpose one piece of content this week for Medium or SlideShare.
3. Spend 15 minutes engaging in a community like Quora.

By consistently providing value, you'll build a network of backlinks that helps increase domain authority and drives long-term traffic to your site. Happy building!

Ready to build a platform that puts your content first? Learn more about Postion and how we can help.