Ask HN: Is backlink trading still a problem worth solving?

2 sathishn 1 8/27/2025, 6:27:51 PM

Getting backlinks usually feels messy - cold emails, spreadsheets, links disappearing, secondly spammy links.

I’m experimenting with a credits-based system where:

1. Sites give a backlink and earn credits. 2. They can spend credits on getting backlinks from other sites, not just the same one. 3. The platform auto-verifies if the link is live.

The idea is that product creators and businesses can support each other by linking to things they already see as useful and trustworthy - not spammy exchanges, but genuine recommendations.

My questions:

Do you see this as a real problem in 2025?

Would a credits-based system actually work, or does it fall apart in practice?

Comments (1)

codingdave · 7h ago

I didn't even see that as a problem in 2015. Google's algorithm that devalued link exchanging went live in 2012, so I'm somewhat flabbergasted that people are still pursuing it for SEO.

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Ask HN: Is backlink trading still a problem worth solving?

Comments (1)