Have you ever wondered if those tiny links left in the comment sections of blogs can make a difference for your website’s SEO? At first glance, comment backlinks might seem like an old-school tactic – a relic from the days when dropping links everywhere could boost rankings. But today, in a world where quality and relevance matter more than ever, the rules have changed.
When done correctly, backlinks from comments can still help establish authority, drive referral traffic, and foster connections within your niche. Done wrong, they can drag your site down, invite penalties, and waste countless hours.
Let’s break down the benefits, the risks, and the best practices for making comment backlinks work for your site.
Why Comment Backlinks Still Matter in SEO
Comment backlinks are often overlooked in serious link-building conversations. Yet, when approached strategically, they can still play a role in strengthening your site’s backlink profile and expanding its online visibility.
Although most comment links are tagged nofollow, making them irrelevant for direct PageRank benefits, that doesn’t mean they’re worthless. In reality, a well-placed link within an insightful comment can:
- Attract highly targeted referral traffic.
- Position yourself as a trusted expert in your field.
- Build long-term relationships with site owners and readers.
- Lead to future opportunities, such as guest posting or collaborations.
What Do We Mean by a Comment Backlink?
A backlink from a comment is any link placed within the comment section of a website. These links can be added to:
- The name/URL field when submitting a comment.
- The body of the comment itself, when site settings permit links.
Why Are These Links So Common?
Blog commenting became popular when site owners encouraged readers to leave feedback and links. Today, this practice has evolved into a tactic for gaining backlinks, traffic, and exposure.
Although many platforms now mark comment links as no-follow or user-generated content (UGC) links, these links still have indirect benefits for SEO when used appropriately.
Are Comment Links Usually NoFollow?
Most reputable platforms mark comment links with nofollow or ugc attributes. This means that traditional link equity doesn’t pass through these links, making them less valuable for direct ranking boosts. However:
- They can drive highly targeted traffic.
- They can build trust and recognition for your brand.
- They can lead to future opportunities for higher-impact backlinks.
The Pros and Cons of Using Comment Backlinks
Comment backlinks have benefits and very real downsides. Understanding both is the only way to use them effectively.
The Benefits You Can Expect
Build a Diverse Link Profile
Link diversity is one of the signals search engines use to assess site quality. Comment backlinks can help you balance your link profile, making it appear more natural and credible.
Attract Targeted Referral Traffic
Commenting on authoritative, high-DA websites can drive highly engaged traffic to your site. Readers of those platforms are more likely to click links when a comment is genuinely insightful.
Build Stronger Relationships
Leaving valuable, thought-provoking comments can build connections with site owners, editors, and influencers — relationships that can evolve into guest post opportunities, interviews, and collaborations.
Position Yourself as an Authority
By participating in conversations within your niche, you showcase your expertise. This builds trust and increases the likelihood that readers will recognize your site as an authoritative resource.
The Risks You Should Avoid
Spam Signals
Search engines have evolved to spot spammy link patterns. Dropping links indiscriminately can quickly land your site in hot water, especially if those links are irrelevant or placed across low-quality platforms.
Low-Value Links
Comment backlinks from irrelevant or low-DA websites carry little benefit. In some cases, an accumulation of such links can harm your site’s trust and authority.
Time Sink Without Strategy
Commenting across dozens or hundreds of websites can be a massive time investment. Without a targeted approach, it may yield very little in return.
Potential for Penalties
Buying comment backlinks in bulk or relying on automated services can lead to penalties from search engines, including manual penalties that remove your site from results altogether.
How Comment Backlinks Actually Work
Although comment backlinks don’t carry the direct SEO benefits of a dofollow link, their value lies in indirect benefits. Here’s how it works:
- Traffic generation: A link within a valuable comment can pique readers’ interest and drive traffic to your site.
- Contextual trust: Comment backlinks surrounded by relevant, quality discussion can signal site owners and readers that your site is worth exploring.
- Relationship building: Strong connections within a niche can evolve into higher-impact links later.
The Role of Moderation and Approval
High-authority websites often review and moderate every comment. Purely self-promotional or irrelevant links rarely get approved. To make it through moderation:
- Ensure your comment adds real value.
- Stay on-topic and relevant.
- Respect the site’s guidelines and community.
How to Identify the Right Websites for Comment Backlinks
Not every site that allows comments is worth your time. Focus your efforts on platforms that:
- Are relevant to your niche or industry.
- Maintain an active and engaged audience.
- Have a strong Domain Authority (DA).
- Maintain clean and well-moderated comment sections.
Tips for Discovering Quality Sites
Try using advanced search queries like:
“leave a comment” + [your keyword or niche]“add a comment” + [your topic or industry]“discuss” + [your keyword]
These queries can surface authoritative platforms worth engaging with.
How to Build Relevant and Valuable Comment Backlinks
Here’s how you can build backlinks from comments that have long-term benefits:
Focus on Adding Value
Make sure your comment is insightful, helpful, or thought-provoking. Share examples, answer questions, or ask questions that deepen the conversation. This approach encourages site owners to approve your comment and makes readers more likely to click through.
Link to Specific, Relevant Pages
Avoid dropping links indiscriminately. Instead, link to pages that genuinely relate to the discussion. This improves user experience and boosts the chance that your link will be clicked and appreciated.
Avoid Overusing Links
More is not always better. Dropping too many links can make your comment appear spammy and diminish its value.
Maintain a Consistent, Professional Identity
Use a real name or persona when commenting. Avoid using your target keyword as the “name” in the comment form, which can appear unnatural or spam-like.
Is It Worth Buying Comment Backlinks?
Short answer: No. Buying backlinks from comments, especially in bulk, is a risk that rarely delivers long-term benefits. The links you obtain through these services:
- Are often placed on low-DA or spam-ridden websites.
- Frequently reside in pages ignored or devalued by search engines.
- Might result in penalties if search engines detect unnatural link patterns.
Better Alternative: Invest in quality relationships and personalized outreach. Genuine connections with site owners lead to backlinks that matter.
Examples of What Works and What Doesn’t
Here’s a quick look at the difference between valuable and worthless comment backlinks:
What Works:
- Commenting on a SaaS review site and adding a link to an in-depth SaaS case study you’ve published.
- Participating in a long-running conversation about digital marketing strategies and sharing a link to a relevant guide.
What Doesn’t Work:
- Dropping a “Thanks for sharing” comment with a link to an unrelated site.
- Commenting repeatedly across low-quality forums with the same link and anchor text.
Final Thoughts: Are Comment Backlinks Worth Your Time?
Comment backlinks aren’t a magic bullet for SEO. They won’t replace authoritative guest posts, PR links, or high-impact earned links. However, when used strategically and authentically, comment backlinks can:
- Build trust and credibility.
- Drive targeted traffic.
- Expand your network within your industry.
Remember, quality always wins over quantity. Focus your efforts on making meaningful connections and adding genuine value. Done right, comment backlinks can still have a place in a well-rounded link-building campaign.
If you’re looking for a long‑term, safe, and effective link‑building strategy, Novo Marketing is here to help. Our team of SEO experts knows how to build authoritative backlinks that drive traffic, build trust, and deliver measurable results.
Contact Novo Marketing today and let’s build a backlink strategy that supports your site’s growth for years to come!