25 Free Backlinks Any Website Can Get This Weekend

If you only have 15 minutes

1. Minute 0 to 5: copy your master profile

   Fill the template below once. Every later profile is copy-paste.

2. Minute 5 to 12: claim your #1

   Local business: Google Business Profile. Everyone else: LinkedIn Company Page (or G2 for software). Fill every field, add a logo and a real photo.

3. Minute 12 to 15: import to Bing

   Local businesses: import your Google Business Profile into Bing Places. Others: set up one journalist-request account (Featured or Qwoted) and turn on email alerts.

How to fill a profile so it helps

BUSINESS NAME (exactly as on your sign/site): ________
WEBSITE URL (the page to link): https://________
PHONE (same format everywhere): ________
ADDRESS (if customers visit): ________
SERVICE AREA (if you travel): ________
CATEGORY (most specific one): ________
HOURS: ________

SHORT DESCRIPTION (under 160 characters):
We help [customer] [get result] with [service] in [place].

LONG DESCRIPTION (3 short paragraphs):
1. What you do and who for.
2. What makes you different (a fact, not "best quality").
3. How to start (call, book, try free).

LOGO: square, at least 500x500
PHOTOS: 3 real ones (team, work, place)
PROOF: years in business, licence/registration, one named client if they agreed

UTM FOR TRACKING (optional): ?utm_source=[site]&utm_medium=profile

Hi [name],

[One-sentence direct answer to their exact question.]

[Two or three sentences with a specific example, number or step from your own work.]

[Your name], [role] at [business]. [One line on why you know this: years doing it, what you do daily.]
Website: [URL]   Headshot: [link]

Happy to answer follow-ups today.

2. Review and industry listings buyers really use

Only do the ones in your category. If no customer ever browses a directory, skip it.

1. G2Free to claim · G2 says claim requests are approved in 1-3 business days and new products verified in about 3-5

   Software review site. Free profile, seller page and review collection.

   Best for: SaaS and software companies.

   Ritik's note: Ask your five happiest customers for a review in the first week. An empty profile does little.

2. ClutchFree profile and reviews · sponsorship is paid

   Directory of agencies and service firms with verified client reviews.

   Best for: Agencies, developers, consultants and B2B service firms.

3. TrustpilotFree plan · 50 review invitations/month · 1 user · no card needed

   Public review profile with a link to your website.

   Best for: Online stores and consumer services.

4. Product HuntFree to launch

   Daily launch site for new tech products. Each product page links to your site.

   Best for: Software, apps and AI tools with something new to show.

   Ritik's note: Launch when you have a real demo and a few people ready to try it. A launch with no audience disappears in hours.

5. AlignableFree to join · paid member plan exists

   Networking site for local small business owners, with a business profile.

   Best for: Local B2B and service businesses in North America.

6. SaaSHubFree submission · paid promotion is optional

   Software directory with alternatives pages. Each product page links to your site.

   Best for: SaaS and apps, especially if buyers search "[competitor] alternatives".

   Ritik's note: List the competitors you replace. That puts you on their alternatives pages, where buyers are already comparing.

3. Communities and publishing platforms where answers earn links

These links come from being useful, not from filling in a form. Post real answers and helpful articles; link only when your page genuinely answers the question.

1. GitHubFree

   Profile and repository README files can link to your site.

   Best for: Developer tools, open-source projects and technical founders.

2. MediumFree to write

   Publishing platform. Bio and articles can link back to your site.

   Best for: Republishing your best articles (set the canonical link to your original).

3. DEV CommunityFree

   Developer community for posts and tutorials, with profile and post links.

   Best for: Developer and technical SaaS content.

   Ritik's note: It supports a canonical URL setting when you cross-post, so your site stays the original.

4. HashnodeFree

   Developer blogging platform with a public profile.

   Best for: Technical writing and developer audiences.

5. SubstackFree to publish

   Newsletter and blog platform with a public profile and posts.

   Best for: Founders building an audience who link to deeper guides on their site.

6. QuoraFree

   Q&A site. Profile and answers can include links.

   Best for: Answering the exact questions your buyers ask.

7. RedditFree

   Communities on every topic. Links in genuinely helpful comments get clicks.

   Best for: Expert answers in niche subreddits.

   Ritik's note: Read each subreddit's rules first. Many ban self-promotion. Help first, link rarely.

4. Journalist requests: free press links

Journalists post questions, you answer as an expert, and if they use your quote they often link to you. These are the strongest links on this list and the hardest to get.

1. FeaturedFree forever plan · small daily usage allowance · paid from $29/month billed yearly ($39 monthly)

   Matches you to journalist requests, including queries from HARO, LinkedIn and more.

   Best for: Founders with real expertise and a few minutes a day.

2. QwotedFree Basic plan · 2 pitches/month · 2-hour pitch delay · Pro is $1,188/year

   Platform connecting journalists with expert sources.

   Best for: Founders who can pick their two best-fit requests each month.

3. SourceBottleFree expert profile · paid pitching service optional

   Call-outs from journalists, bloggers and podcasters looking for sources.

   Best for: Businesses in Australia and nearby markets; many call-outs are Australia-focused.

The 20-minute weekend workflow

Repeat each weekend until your shortlist is done.

1. Minute 0 to 3: pick two sources

   Take the next two from your row in the "which links fit" table.

2. Minute 3 to 13: fill both completely

   Paste from your master profile. Add photos and the exact page URL. Half-filled profiles get fewer clicks and look abandoned.

3. Minute 13 to 17: one useful answer

   Answer one real question on Quora, Reddit or a journalist-request site. Link only if your page answers it better than a comment can.

4. Minute 17 to 20: log it

   Write source, URL of your profile, date and login in a sheet. Check Search Console > Links in a month to see which ones Google picked up.

Free links to skip

• Mass directory submission services ('500 directories for $10')

  Most are low-quality directories no buyer visits. Google's spam policies name low-quality directory and bookmark links as link spam.

• Link exchanges and 'link to me, I'll link to you' emails

  Excessive link exchanges are listed as link spam.

• Forum signature and blog comment spam

  Comment links are usually nofollow or ugc, and spamming them can get you banned from the community.

• Private blog networks (PBNs) and 'guest posts' on sites that sell links

  Built to manipulate rankings. They're the main thing Google's link spam systems look for.

• Filling profiles with keywords instead of your real name

  Google Business Profile guidelines say: "Including unnecessary information in your business name isn't permitted." Taglines and extra keywords can get the listing suspended.

• Creating profiles you'll never update

  Old hours and dead phone numbers cost you customers. Only claim what you can keep current.