Well, hang on. We’ve dug into the data, talked to SEOs running tests, studied Google’s patents, even tracked how AI tools actually work. And come up with a well researched blog to facilitate our audience.
For better insight , do read this blog , “How Long Does SEO Really Take? Insights Straight from Google’s John Mueller”
Backlinks aren’t dead. They’ve evolved.
In 2025, after 18 months of AI Overviews, SGE (Search Generative Experience), and Perplexity answers dominating SERPs, backlinks aren’t just surviving. They’re thriving.
The fact is, however, that backlinks are still relevant. They have changed.
In fact, they may be more important than ever in 2025—not only for ranking in blue links, but also for appearing in AI-powered replies, which are where the majority of users presently obtain their information. Let’s examine the true situation.
How AI Search Actually Uses Links
Here’s what goes on behind the scenes when you question Gemini, ChatGPT, or Perplexity about the “best project management software for startups”:
The AI retrieves new search results or analyzes indexed web pages.
It finds agreement from several reliable sources
Pages that are linked, referenced, and cited from reliable websites are preferred.
After that, it produces a response, frequently with citations (Google’s AI Overviews mention roughly three to five sources, while Perplexity cites sources 100% of the time).
Backlinks continue to be an essential component of that procedure. In order to assist AI in determining “Which source can I trust enough to pull into my answer?” they serve as reputation markers.
Reasons Backlinks Are Even More Valuable in the AI Era
- Links Address the Trust Issue with AI
AIs are known to have hallucinations. According to studies, 27% of medical inquiries examined by Search Engine Journal in late 2024 had factually incorrect responses from Google’s AI. AI mainly relies on sources with reliable backlinks to combat this;
consider.gov,.edu, and reputable publishers.
According to a Backlinko analysis, the typical page at the top of the search results had 3.8 times as many backlinks as those in positions 2–10. Since the AI likewise need such indications of authority, that benefit directly transfers into AI visibility.
- Backlinks Content from the “AI Content Pile” should be saved.
The internet is overrun with artificial intelligence-generated content, let’s face it. Indeed, Google acknowledged that more than 40% of newly created sites in 2024—mostly shallow, repetitive AI content—were never indexed.
Backlinks are a lifeline in this situation. According to case studies, an AI-assisted post can rise above the competition with just 10–20 high quality backlinks. After adding contextual backlinks to its AI-generated content, one SaaS blog saw a 370% increase in organic traffic in just six months.
Absent backlinks? That material would have remained undetectable.
- Feed of Backlinks
Pages are no longer the only thing that Google’s Entity Understanding Search considers. To better comprehend the connections between brands, subjects, and individuals, Google is creating entity maps and knowledge graphs.
When entity keywords, such as “HubSpot CRM guide,” are used by high-authority websites to connect to your company, Google is informed:
This brand is reliable.
CRM software is applicable to this brand.
That’s how you appear in both conventional rankings and AI-generated responses. In the absence of backlinks, you are essentially unknown.
Link Building That AI Actually Respects
PBNs, Fiverr bundles, or spammy directory links? Worthless. Google and AI have advanced past that. In 2025, obtaining backlinks that convey credibility will be effective.
The following three strategies genuinely make a difference:
Publishing Linkable Assets is the first tactic.
AI adores unique, data-rich resources. Provide information that people would like to use, such as: Industry surveys (e.g., 2025 State of SaaS Buying Habits)
Comprehensive manuals (such as the 101-step SEO audit checklist)
Roundups of experts with actual thinking leaders
In less than a year, one marketing firm increased organic traffic by 1,200%, published one original industry report, and received over 30 editorial backlinks.
Tactic 2: Be a Source Detective
Use Google’s AI Overview or Perplexity to search for your keywords. Examine which websites receive the most citations. Next, check where those websites obtain links by running them through Ahrefs or Semrush.
Make a pitch to those same referring domains with your own data, case studies, or guides.
Getting a backlink there brings you one step closer to getting cited yourself if AI already has faith in them.
Tactic 3: The Brand Mention “Link-Fix”
To monitor when someone mentions your business or product without providing a link, use apps like Mention, Brand24, or Ahrefs Alerts.
Rates of responses? If the material is indeed helpful, industry figures indicate a success rate of 35–60%.
3 AI-Era Link Myths You Need to Drop
Any High-DA Link Will Work” => Not at all. Your B2B SaaS guide linked to a DA 90 lifestyle blog? Irrelevant. Topical relevancy is given priority by AI over vanity metrics.
Links Are Replaced by Social Media Shares” → While engagement is good, retweets are not seen as validation by AI. One contextual.edu link surpasses 10,000 Twitter likes.
Automated email blasts are ignored, despite the claim that AI can automate link outreach. Research can benefit from AI tools, but human customization is what generates responses.
Optimizing Content for the “AI Eye”
Think like an answer engine rather than merely a search engine if you want AI to choose your material.
FAQ format → Create headlines that pose queries, such as “Will backlinks be important in 2025?”
“Semrush’s 2025 study found…” is obviously AI citation bait, according to attribute statistics.
Construct content clusters. A ten-piece cluster communicates authority to Google, while a single “CRM Guide” is insufficient.
Measure in a new way. Keep tabs on AI citations in addition to ranks. Do Gemini or Perplexity answers contain your pages?
Final Word: Authority Still Wins
Are backlinks no longer relevant? Not even close.
AI eliminated lazy link strategies, not backlinks. It’s no longer necessary to purchase thousands of spam links. But obtaining a few relevant, high-quality backlinks? The new gold is that.
Because one rule remains the same whether a person searches or an AI summarizes:
Authority speaks louder than algorithms.
Ignore backlinks now? You’re not just opting out of SEO. You’re opting out of the future of search.
