Nofollow Links, Brand Mentions & $508 Backlinks - The 2025 Link Building Report

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Jun 29, 2025

Discover the latest insights from a massive survey of SEO pros on link building trends for 2025. Find out why NoFollow links still hold value and explore the impact of unlinked brand mentions on rankings. Dive into the debate over the worth of a $508 backlink and learn effective, low-cost strategies for gaining quality links. The discussion reveals risky practices, the necessity of backlinks, and the potential consequences of using Google's disavow tool. Uncover fascinating statistics that could reshape your approach to SEO.

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INSIGHT

Backlinks Impact AI Search Rankings

Backlinks remain a major ranking factor impacting visibility in AI search results.
Top ranking pages influence AI-generated summaries and search engine responses.

INSIGHT

Value of Nofollow Links

Nofollow links affect rankings and contribute to a natural backlink profile.
A diverse backlink profile looks more natural and avoids suspicion of gaming Google.

INSIGHT

Unlinked Brand Mentions Matter

Unlinked brand mentions can indirectly boost rankings by building trust and authority.
A natural brand presence with mentions and links looks less suspicious to Google.

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E725: I break down the 2025 State of Link Building report - a huge new study featuring insights from 518 SEO pros (myself included).

You’ll learn: - Why NoFollow links still matter - The most popular shady black hat backlink methods - How unlinked brand mentions influence rankings - Whether a $508 backlink is actually worth it - What’s working in link building right now - and what’s risky - Why you don’t always need backlinks to rank - And whether using Google’s disavow tool will annihilate you

I also share my favorite low-cost ways to get high-quality links, plus some wild findings from the survey that might change how you think about SEO in 2025.

⭐️ The State of Link Building | 2025 - https://editorial.link/link-building-statistics/

⭐️ Source of Sources - https://sourceofsources.com/

⭐️ Help a Reporter Out - https://www.helpareporter.com/

⭐️ Featured - https://featured.com/

⭐️ Linkable Assets - https://edwardsturm.com/articles/no-link-building-budget-could-buy-these-results/

⭐️ Moz Exec: Is SEO Dead or Stronger Than Ever in the Age of AI? - Jonathan Berthold - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtSWV5oH_vM

⭐️ Should You Use Google’s Disavow Tool in 2025? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHt0qNjJ6ss

💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/

00:00 The Impact of Backlinks on AI Search Results 00:31 The Role of Nofollow Links in SEO 01:24 Edward's Insights on Nofollow Links 02:51 Unlinked Brand Mentions and Their Influence 03:53 Ranking Without Backlinks: Is It Possible? 06:41 The Value of High-Quality Backlinks 08:44 Link Building Strategies and Tactics 10:46 Shady but Effective Link Building Methods 11:49 Red Flags in Link Building 12:25 Natural Backlink Profiles and Disavow Tool 13:54 Cost-Effective Link Building Tips 15:33 Final Thoughts

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#linkbuilding #backlinks #seohacks #searchengineoptimization