When it comes to SEO, backlinks and referring domains are two important concepts that are often confused with each other. While they are related, they have distinct differences that must be understood in order to optimize your website's search engine ranking. Let's learn the difference between backlinks and referring domains. 
What Are Backlinks?
A backlink, inbound link or incoming link, is a link from one website to another. Backlinks are a key factor in search engine rankings, as search engines view them as a sign of credibility and authority. The more quality backlinks a website has, the better it ranks in search engine results pages (SERPs).
For example, if a food blogger writes a post about a new recipe and includes a link to a cooking website that sells the ingredients, this link is considered a backlink for the cooking website. Backlinks can be either dofollow or nofollow. Dofollow backlinks are links that are recognized by search engines and pass on link juice, while nofollow backlinks are links that are not recognized by search engines and do not pass on link juice.
What Are Referring Domains?
A referring domain is a domain that links to another website through one or more backlinks. Referring domains are an important metric for SEO, as they indicate the number of unique domains that are linking to a website. Search engines view backlinks from unique referring domains as a sign of quality and relevance, which can positively impact a website's search engine ranking.
For example, if a cooking website has 100 backlinks from 50 referring domains, this means that there are 50 unique domains linking to the cooking website. Referring domains are a more valuable metric than total backlinks, as they indicate the diversity of the website's backlink profile.
Key Differences Between Backlinks and Referring Domains
The main difference between backlinks and referring domains is that backlinks are individual links from one website to another, while referring domains are the unique domains that are linking to a website. A single referring domain can have multiple backlinks, but each backlink is counted as a separate link.
While both backlinks and referring domains are important for SEO, referring domains are considered a more valuable metric as they indicate the diversity and quality of a website's backlink profile. Search engines prioritize high-quality backlinks from unique referring domains, as they view them as a sign of credibility and authority. 
How to Build Authority Online
Getting high-quality referring domains is an important aspect of SEO that can improve your website's SEO ranking. Here are some ways to get referring domains:
1. Create High Quality Content
The best way to get referring domains is by creating high-quality content that people want to link to. When you create valuable content that provides useful information or solves a problem, other websites are more likely to link to it.
2. Get Into Guest Blogging
This is a great way to get backlinks and referring domains. You can reach out to websites in your industry and offer to write a guest post in exchange for a backlink.
3. Build Up Broken Links
This technique centers around looking for broken links on other websites, and offer to exchange them with a link to your content. This is a win-win situation, as the website owner gets a working link, and you get a backlink and potentially a referring domain.
4. Use Outreach and Link Building
Outreach and link building involves reaching out to websites in your niche and asking for a backlink to your website. You can offer to write a guest post or provide a resource that is relevant to their website.
5. Sync Up With Social Media
Social media platforms can be a great way to get backlinks and referring domains. You can also share your content on social media and encourage others to share it as well. This can lead to more traffic and backlinks to your website.
Important Bonus Tip
It's important to note that getting high-quality referring domains takes time and effort. You need to create high-quality content that people want to link to, build relationships with other website owners, and consistently promote your website on social media. By following these strategies, you can gradually building a strong backlink profile and improving your website's search engine ranking.
Backlinks and referring domains are two important concepts in SEO that are often confused with each other. Backlinks are individual links from one website to another, while referring domains are the unique domains that are linking to a website. While both metrics are important for SEO, referring domains are considered a more valuable metric as they indicate the diversity and quality of a website's backlink profile.
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