Backlinks and referring domains are terms that are often used interchangeably.
However, doing so would be a mistake.
While similar, they are not the same.
In this article, we’ll break down what difference between referring domains and backlinks is, how to check both, and how to build more high quality backlinks from new referring domains.
Let’s get started.
Key Takeaways:
- Referring domains are the number of unique websites linking to your website, while backlinks refer to the total number of individual links.
- In the referring domains vs backlinks debate, diverse referring domains are usually more valuable because search engines treat links from different domains as stronger trust signals.
- Multiple backlinks from a single referring domain can still help, but each additional backlink usually passes less link equity over time.
- Building quality backlinks from authoritative referring domains is one of the most effective ways to strengthen your backlink profile and improve ranking potential.
- A strong link building strategy should focus on acquiring high quality referring domains instead of just increasing raw backlink count.
Link building cheat sheet
What are Referring Domains?
Referring domains are the total number of unique domains (websites) linking to you.
A high unique referring domain number typically associates with better search engine ranking.
What are Backlinks?
Backlinks, on the other hand, refers to each individual link.
You can have multiple backlinks from one domain or even page, so usually the two numbers are different.
Are Backlinks or Referring Domains More Important?
Let’s put it this way: referring domains indicate how many unique links you have.
It’s better to have a unique domain link to you rather than the same two partners over and over again.
So, in general, growing your referring domains number is more important.
Let me dive a little deeper into why that is.
Backlinks pass on what is called PageRank, or “link juice”, or link equity.
Despite being a several-decade-old concept, it’s still used by Google because it lies so close to the core of its algorithm.
Links from different websites (and even different pages on those sites) offer a different amount of value based on a number of factors.
This includes:
- Relevance
- The number of other links on the web page
- Whether the link is dofollow or nofollow (only a dofollow backlink passes on link juice)
And, more importantly, whether the domain has already been linked to you before.
Each consecutive inbound link from the same website yields less and less value, so your SEO strategy should always focus on getting new high quality referring domains.
How to Check Referring Domains & Backlinks?
To check both backlinks and referring domains, you’ll need a backlink monitoring tool, such as Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz.
We use Ahrefs so that’s what we’ll be using in this example.
First, paste your website into Site Explorer:
Right underneath, you’ll find your site’s Domain Rating, URL Rating as well as total backlinks and different referring domains.
Click on the number under either “Backlinks” or “Ref. domains” to view the corresponding report.
That’s it!
You can also use the referring domains report to weed out low-quality domains or links using a set of filters, including referral traffic, DR/UR, and more.
How to Get More Referring Domains
The most sure-fire way of getting new websites to link to you is through link building outreach.
It involves finding high quality backlink building opportunities (along with any associated contact information), and sending them an email along with a connection request on LinkedIn.
The most reliable way to get more referring domains is through link building outreach.
The process itself is pretty straightforward in theory:
- Find relevant websites
- Identify good link opportunities
- Find contact information
- Reach out with a personalized pitch
- Follow up consistently
- Secure placements
The problem is that doing this at scale takes a massive amount of time.
You need people handling prospecting, outreach, relationship management, quality control, and reporting consistently over a long period of time.
And if you are targeting competitive niches, you also need strong quality backlinks from authoritative referring domains, not just random websites willing to give you an external link.
That is where most companies struggle.
Getting one backlink is easy. Building a healthy backlink profile with diverse referring domains and consistent ranking impact is much harder.
At Respona, the process is designed to simplify all of this.
You start by placing an order with custom guidelines based on your SEO strategy.
That can include target pages, preferred anchor text, target search queries, niche requirements, domain authority ranges, or the type of placements you are looking for.
From there, the team handles the hard part for you:
- Prospecting relevant websites
- Finding contact information
- Outreach and follow-ups
- Relationship building
- Negotiations and placements
- Quality control for every link
And because it is pay-per-result, it works at any scale.
Whether you need one high quality backlink for a specific web page or thousands of links across a broader SEO campaign, you can scale up or down depending on your current SEO efforts without locking yourself into huge retainers.
You can also use the campaigns feature to make link building much more targeted.
The tool takes your target search queries and identifies articles already performing well in search engines and already being cited by AI answer engines. Instead of building random backlinks, you can focus specifically on placements from pages that already have visibility for topics relevant to your website.
Those placements help in three ways at once:
- Strengthen your backlink profile with high quality referring domains
- Drive referral traffic from existing high-performing pages
- Improve AI visibility by increasing citations across answer engines
Before placements go live, you can review and approve orders directly inside the platform.
And after links are secured, campaigns continue tracking your visibility across search engines and AI-driven search experiences over time, so you can actually measure the SEO impact of your link building efforts.
Link building cheat sheet
Now Over to You
In conclusion, the number of unique referring domains is usually more important than raw backlink count because multiple backlinks from the same domain pass diminishing value over time.
That said, a strong backlink profile still needs both quality backlinks and diversity across different referring domains.
If you need help growing your referring domains through high-quality placements, you can simply place an order and let Respona handle the prospecting, outreach, relationship building, and placements for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the main difference between backlinks and referring domains?
Backlinks are the total number of links pointing to your website, while referring domains represent the number of unique websites linking to you.
You can have multiple backlinks from a single referring domain.
Which is more important for SEO, backlinks or referring domains?
Diverse referring domains are generally considered more valuable for SEO because they indicate a wider range of sources endorsing your site, suggesting greater authority and relevance.
While total backlink count matters, diversity matters even more.
If I have 100 backlinks from one website, how many referring domains do I have?
You would have only one linking domain, as all 100 backlinks originate from the same website.
This highlights the difference between quantity (backlinks) and diversity (referring domains).
How do I check my referring domains and backlinks?
You can use SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz, or Google Search Console to analyze your backlink profile.
These tools provide reports showing both total backlinks and the number of referring domains.
Does getting more backlinks from the same website improve my SEO?
While additional backlinks from the same domain can offer some value, the SEO impact diminishes with each successive link.
Focusing on acquiring backlinks from multiple referring domains is generally a more effective strategy for boosting SEO.
In other words, if you already have a link from someone, move on to a different website.
What is better: multiple backlinks from one domain or links from different domains?
In most cases, links from different domains are more valuable because search engines treat each unique referring domain as a separate trust signal. Multiple links from the same domain can still help, but the SEO impact usually decreases over time.
Do referring domains affect domain authority and ranking?
Yes. High quality referring domains can strengthen both domain authority and overall ranking potential because they improve the credibility of your website in the eyes of search engines.
Can fewer backlinks still outperform a larger backlink profile?
Absolutely. A website with fewer backlinks from authoritative referring domains will often outperform a site with a large number of low-quality links from weak websites.
What makes a high quality backlink valuable?
A high quality backlink usually comes from a reputable website that is relevant to your niche, has strong domain rating metrics, and drives real referral traffic.
Why do SEO tools separate backlinks vs referring domain metrics?
Because backlinks vs referring domain metrics measure different things. One tracks total links, while the other measures how many unique domains are linking to your website.
What is the difference between a backlink and an inbound link?
Nothing. An inbound link and a backlink are essentially the same thing. Both refer to a link pointing from another website to your own.
Can one referring domain send multiple links to the same website?
Yes. A single referring domain can send multiple links to the same website or even the same web page, although each additional individual link typically passes less link equity.
How do linking domains affect a website’s SEO strategy?
Linking domains play a major role in SEO strategy because search engines use them to evaluate trust, authority, and relevance across websites SEO performance overall.
Why are quality referring domains more important than random backlinks?
Because quality referring domains pass stronger authority signals and create a healthier link profile compared to low-quality links from unrelated or spammy websites.
What is an authoritative referring domain?
An authoritative referring domain is a trusted website with strong domain authority, relevant content, and a solid backlink profile that can pass meaningful ranking value through its links.
