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7 Real Ways to Score Backlinks on LinkedIn

Evans Karanja

• 7 min read
7 Real Ways to Score Backlinks on LinkedIn

Backlinks. You know you need them.

They’re the secret sauce behind top-ranking websites, and the reason random “10 SEO Hacks” articles somehow outrank your Pulitzer-worthy blog post.

But here’s the thing: chasing backlinks the old way—endless cold emails, shady link farms, or buying your way onto guest posts—feels like crawling through glass.

There’s a better way: LinkedIn.

Yup, that work-themed social media app you mostly use to update your job title once a year.

It’s full of people sharing, linking, and recommending stuff every single day. If you know how to play it right, you can get real backlinks that boost your SEO, drive traffic, and maybe even land you on a few industry radars.

Here’s how to make it happen .

Let’s clear this up first. Not all backlinks are created equal.

A high-quality backlink is when a respected website links to your content. Think of it like getting a shout-out from someone with clout. Not your uncle Barry. Think Harvard.edu, HubSpot, or even just a solid industry blog that people trust.

Search engines treat those links like gold stars.

The more gold stars your site gets from legit sources, the more Google thinks, “Okay, this site knows what it’s doing.” And boom—you rank higher, get more traffic, and look smarter than you probably are.

Low-quality backlinks, on the other hand, come from sketchy directories or spammy sites. Google’s not dumb. It knows when you’re trying to game the system, and it might just slap your site into oblivion (okay, not really, but your rankings will tank).

So yes—quality over quantity. Always.

Here’s the deal: LinkedIn is where the pros hang out.

It's the only social platform where people share blog posts unironically, write full essays in the comments, and say things like “Let’s connect and synergize.”

And more importantly, it’s full of people who write, share, and link to helpful content.

If you show up on LinkedIn with useful, interesting stuff, people will start paying attention. And when they do? Some will link to your site in their blog posts, newsletters, or even company resources.

It's not instant. It takes effort. But it’s way more fun (and less spammy) than sending 100 cold emails a day.

Now lets explore how you can score backlinks on LinkedIn;

1. Share Stuff People Actually Want to Read

Let’s start simple.

If your content reads like an SEO checklist glued together with AI buzzwords, no one’s going to link to it. Not even your mum.

But if your post actually helps someone, teaches something, or makes them go, “Whoa, I didn’t know that”—that’s backlink material.

Write about real stuff. Break down a case study. Tell a story. Share behind-the-scenes insights. Walk through something that worked (or flopped) and what you learned from it.

Example: “We tripled our LinkedIn traffic without spending a cent. Here's what we changed.”
→ That's useful. That's shareable. That’s link-worthy.

Then at the end, link back to your full breakdown on your site. Simple. Authentic. Effective.

The more value you pack in, the more likely someone will say, “You know what? I’m going to link to this in my next blog post.”

2. Build Real Connections (Not Just Randomly Clicking ‘Connect’)

You wouldn’t walk into a networking event and hand your business card to every person without even saying hello, right?

Okay… maybe you would. But on LinkedIn, that doesn’t fly.

If you want backlinks (and future collaborations), you’ve got to make actual connections. That means:

  • Sending a personal message with every connection request
  • Following up with something other than “Hey! Check out my latest article!”
  • Taking time to engage with their posts, comment with value, and react like a human

People are more likely to link to someone they know, trust, and see regularly. It’s just how our brains work.

And the magic is: once those relationships are built, you don’t even need to ask for the link. They’ll see your work, like it, and include it naturally in something they’re writing.

It’s the long game—but it’s the one that actually works.

3. Slide Into Relevant Group Chats (But Don’t Be a Creep)

LinkedIn Groups are like digital coffee shops.

Some are dead and dusty (don’t bother). But the active ones? Goldmine.

You’ll find experts trading tips, asking questions, and sharing content. These groups can be full of people who already run blogs or newsletters. People who are always looking for things to link to.

So get in there. Join the discussion. Share smart thoughts.

Don’t just show up and drop links like breadcrumbs though—that’s spammy. Instead, bring something to the table first. Ask a question. Answer one. Start a poll. Then when it makes sense, say something like:

“We actually ran into this exact issue. Here’s what we learned: [link].”

It’s not spam. It’s context. And people respect that.

Plus, once people in the group trust you, they’re more likely to reference your content or invite you to write something on their site. Double win.

You know what kills posts? Link overload.

But you know what works? A single, well-placed, helpful link.

When you write a post or share a story on LinkedIn, drop a link to your blog or site only when it makes sense. For example:

“We did a deep dive on this in our latest post [link], but here’s the short version…”

You’re not just dropping a link—you’re offering more value.

This approach makes it easy for others to share your stuff or even link to it when they’re writing their own content.

Also, quick tip: don’t use a shortened URL or third-party redirect. Just paste the real link. People trust that more.

5. Comment, Share, and Cheer Others On (Yes, This Works)

You want backlinks? Start by giving people attention.

Here’s a secret most people forget: when you consistently engage with others—like, comment, share—they notice.

They check out your profile. They follow you. And some even read your blog.

And guess what? A few will find your content so good they’ll link to it later.

This is especially true if you engage with creators in your niche. Think marketers, SEO writers, founders, etc. Not only does it build goodwill, but it also opens up backlink opportunities down the line (guest posts, interviews, roundups—you name it).

Engagement is currency on LinkedIn. Spend it wisely.

6. Create Videos That Actually Say Something Useful

No one’s asking you to become a TikTok influencer. But short, smart LinkedIn videos? Super underrated.

Here’s why they work:

  • People stop scrolling to watch them
  • They help establish you as a subject-matter expert
  • You can drop links in the captions (hello, backlinks)

Just grab your phone, talk for 60–90 seconds, and drop a few insights. Share a tip, a quick framework, or a myth-busting moment.

Then end with, “I wrote more about this here: [link].”

That’s your backlink.

Pro move: cross-post that video on YouTube or your website too. Same content, multiple platforms, more backlink chances.

7. Guest Post, Partner, or Collaborate Like a Pro

Let’s not forget one of the oldest backlink plays: collaborations.

You can absolutely earn backlinks on LinkedIn by teaming up with others. Some easy wins:

  • Co-authoring a post with someone
  • Writing a guest post for their newsletter
  • Getting featured in a “Top Tools” list
  • Being interviewed for their blog

All of these things end with one thing: a backlink to your profile or site.

The key? Make the first move. Offer to help. Share an idea. Be the person who gives first, not just asks.

And when you land one of these collabs? Share it like crazy. More visibility = more links.

Automate Your Outreach With Leadplay.io

Okay, real talk—everything above sounds great. But it also sounds like a part-time job.

That’s where Leadplay.io steps in. It’s like having a LinkedIn assistant who:

  • Sends connection requests (the human way)
  • Follows up automatically
  • Runs outreach campaigns while you sleep
  • Targets leads based on your ideal client profile
  • Tracks who opens, clicks, and replies

Basically, it does the boring stuff, so you can focus on building relationships and creating content worth linking to.

Set it up once, and it runs on autopilot—just like your coffee machine.

🎯 Visit Leadplay.io to check it out.

Backlinks don’t have to be a grind. When you treat LinkedIn like the goldmine it is—full of smart people, conversations, and sharing—you’ll start earning backlinks organically.

No spam. No cold emails. Just helpful content, real connections, and a few tools to help scale the process.

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