Referring domain

Why the count of domains matters

Many links from the same site add less than the same number of links from different sites. A link from a new domain is a new, independent vote; the hundredth link from a site that already links to you mostly repeats the first. That is why referring domains are a better measure of a site's link profile than the raw number of backlinks.

Not all domains are equal

A followed link from a relevant, trusted site counts for much more than a link from a page nobody visits or from a site in an unrelated field. Links marked nofollow, ugc or sponsored, and links on pages that are not indexed, pass little or nothing.

Earning the first ones

For a new site, launch platforms and directories are a common way to get the first referring domains: each listing is a page on another domain about your product. Check that the listing is indexed and see whether the link is followed before counting it.

Measuring them

SEO tools such as Ahrefs, Semrush and Moz each crawl the web and count the referring domains they find, so their numbers differ. Google Search Console's links report shows the sites Google itself knows link to you, which is the most reliable list for your own site, though it updates slowly.

Example

A new SaaS gets listed on eight directories and two launch platforms: ten referring domains, of which four give a followed link on an indexed page.

Questions people ask

What is the difference between backlinks and referring domains?

Backlinks count every link; referring domains count the sites they come from. Ten links from one site are ten backlinks but one referring domain.

How many referring domains does a new site need?

There is no fixed number. A handful of relevant, followed links from trusted sites can be enough to rank for specific queries.