What Is The Difference Between Referring Domains and Backlinks?

When it comes to SEO, understanding the difference between referring domains and backlinks is essential for any successful strategy.
Published: December 16, 2022
Written by: Kyle Crisp
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article may be affiliate links, which may provide compensation to us at no cost to you if a purchase is made.

When it comes to SEO, there are many different terms and concepts that can be confusing. One of the most common questions is: What is the difference between referring domains and backlinks?

Referring domains refer to the number of unique websites that link to your website. This metric is used to measure the quality and quantity of links pointing to your website from other websites. A referring domain can be a single website or multiple websites, depending on how many links are pointing to your website from each domain.

Backlinks, on the other hand, refer to individual links from one website to another. A backlink can be a single link or multiple links from one page on a website to another page on a different website. Backlinks are important for SEO because they help search engines determine which pages are more relevant and authoritative than others. The more high-quality backlinks you have pointing to your website, the higher you will rank in search engine results pages (SERPs).

The main difference between referring domains and backlinks is that referring domains measure the overall quality and quantity of links pointing to your website, while backlinks measure individual links from one page on a website to another page on a different website. Referring domains provide an overall picture of how many websites are linking to your site, while backlinks provide more detailed information about specific links from one page on a website to another page on a different website.

In conclusion, understanding the difference between referring domains and backlinks is essential for any successful SEO strategy. Referring domains provide an overall picture of how many websites are linking to your site, while backlinks provide more detailed information about specific links from one page on a website to another page on a different website. By understanding this distinction, you can better optimize your SEO efforts and improve your rankings in SERPs.

FAQs

What is a referring domain?

A referring domain is the number of unique websites that link to your website. This metric is used to measure the quality and quantity of links pointing to your website from other websites.

What is a backlink?

A backlink is an individual link from one website to another. A backlink can be a single link or multiple links from one page on a website to another page on a different website.

How do referring domains and backlinks differ?

Referring domains measure the overall quality and quantity of links pointing to your website, while backlinks measure individual links from one page on a website to another page on a different website.

Why are backlinks important for SEO?

Backlinks are important for SEO because they help search engines determine which pages are more relevant and authoritative than others. The more high-quality backlinks you have pointing to your website, the higher you will rank in search engine results pages (SERPs).

How can understanding the difference between referring domains and backlinks help with SEO?

Understanding the difference between referring domains and backlinks is essential for any successful SEO strategy. Referring domains provide an overall picture of how many websites are linking to your site, while backlinks provide more detailed information about specific links from one page on a website to another page on a different website. By understanding this distinction, you can better optimize your SEO efforts and improve your rankings in SERPs.

What does “SERPs” stand for?

SERPs stands for Search Engine Results Pages, which are the pages that appear when someone searches for something online using a search engine like Google or Bing.

How can I increase my ranking in SERPs?

You can increase your ranking in SERPs by optimizing your content for keywords related to your topic, creating high-quality content that provides value to readers, and building high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites that point to your own site or content pages.

Is it possible for one domain to have multiple referring domains?

Yes, it is possible for one domain to have multiple referring domains if there are multiple links pointing to it from other websites or webpages within the same domain name itself.

Are all types of links considered “backlinks”?

No, not all types of links are considered “backlinks” - only those that point directly from one webpage or site on the internet (the source) directly towards another webpage or site (the target). Links such as redirects, nofollows, sponsored posts/ads/etc., internal links within the same site/domain name do not count as “backlinks” since they do not directly point towards another webpage/site outside of their own domain name/site structure/etc...

What type of link should I use if I want my content/page/site ranked higher in SERPs?

If you want your content/page/site ranked higher in SERPs then you should focus on building high-quality external backlinks from authoritative websites that point towards it - this will help boost its relevance and authority in search engine algorithms which will lead it being ranked higher in SERP results pages over time!

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