Domain Authority (DA)

Domain Authority is a third-party metric developed by Moz that estimates the ranking strength of an entire domain.

A higher DA can indicate that a domain has stronger authority signals according to Moz’s methodology.

However, DA is not a Google ranking score.

Google does not use Moz’s DA score as a direct ranking factor.

Page Authority (PA)

Page Authority is another Moz metric that estimates the ranking strength of an individual webpage.

A website may have a high DA while a particular page on that website has a very different PA.

Therefore, looking at only the domain-level metric may not provide the complete picture.

Spam Score

Spam Score is a third-party metric designed to estimate how similar a website’s characteristics are to patterns associated with potentially spammy websites.

A high Spam Score does not automatically mean that every link from that website is harmful.

Likewise, a low Spam Score does not automatically make a website a high-quality backlink source.

These metrics should be treated as supporting indicators rather than absolute SEO decisions.

Why Do SEO Metrics Keep Changing?

A common mistake when creating backlink lists is assuming that metrics such as DA, PA and Spam Score are permanent.

They are not.

Website authority can change because of:

• New backlinks
• Lost backlinks
• Changes in the website’s link profile
• Changes in third-party SEO databases
• Search engine algorithm updates
• Domain changes
• Website restructuring
• Changes in indexing
• Changes in platform policies
• Changes in spam detection systems

For this reason, an SEO resource containing authority metrics should ideally be reviewed and updated periodically.

The same applies to link attributes.

A platform that provides a particular type of link today may change its linking policy tomorrow.

DoFollow vs NoFollow Links

Backlinks are often classified as DoFollow or NoFollow, although modern link attributes are more nuanced than this simple distinction.

A traditional DoFollow link can allow search engine crawlers to follow the link and may pass ranking signals.

A NoFollow link includes an attribute indicating that the publisher does not want the link treated as a normal editorial endorsement.

There are also other attributes such as:

• rel="sponsored"
• rel="ugc"

The exact treatment of links depends on the search engine and the context.

Therefore, NoFollow does not mean “useless.”

NoFollow and other non-standard link attributes can still provide:

• Referral traffic
• Brand exposure
• Content discovery
• Audience visibility
• Potential secondary opportunities
• Brand mentions
• Community engagement

A natural backlink profile can contain different types of links.

Don’t Focus Only on DoFollow Links

One of the biggest misconceptions among beginners is:

“Only DoFollow backlinks are useful.”

SEO should not be approached that way.

If a website naturally receives attention from different sources, its backlink profile may include:

• Followed links
• NoFollow links
• UGC links
• Sponsored links
• Brand mentions
• Editorial links
• Directory references
• Social references

The objective should be to build a natural and relevant online presence, rather than artificially collecting only one type of link.

How to Use Free Backlink Platforms Properly

Free platforms can be useful, but the way they are used matters.

Creating an empty profile simply to place a backlink provides very little value.

Instead, create a complete profile and provide useful information.

For example:

On a professional profile platform

Add:

• Real name or business name
• Professional description
• Relevant expertise
• Website
• Social profiles
• Portfolio or projects

On a blogging platform

Publish:

• Original articles
• Practical guides
• Tutorials
• Case studies
• Research-based content
• Industry insights

On a Q&A platform

Provide:

• Genuine answers
• Useful explanations
• Examples
• Supporting resources

A link should be included only when it adds value to the reader.

Should You Publish the Same Article Everywhere?

Publishing exactly the same article across dozens of platforms is generally not the best content distribution strategy.

Instead, create unique or substantially adapted content for each platform.

For example, if your main website has an article titled:

“Complete Guide to Local SEO for Small Businesses”

you could create related but distinct content such as:

Medium

7 Local SEO Mistakes Small Businesses Should Avoid

LinkedIn

What Small Businesses Should Know About Local Search Visibility

Quora

How Can a Small Business Improve Its Local Google Visibility?

Pinterest

Create an infographic:

Local SEO Checklist for Small Businesses

Reddit

Participate in an existing relevant discussion and provide a genuinely useful answer.

This approach allows one core topic to become multiple useful content assets without simply copying and pasting the same article everywhere.

Write for People First

Good SEO content should be written primarily for people.

Avoid writing content that exists only to insert keywords or backlinks.

Instead:

• Answer the searcher’s question
• Use simple language
• Explain concepts clearly
• Provide examples
• Add useful statistics or references where appropriate
• Include relevant visuals
• Use descriptive headings
• Keep paragraphs readable
• Avoid unnecessary repetition

For example, instead of repeatedly using:

“best off-page SEO techniques, off-page SEO backlinks, off-page SEO link building…”

write naturally:

“Backlinks are one part of Off-Page SEO, but the relevance and context of the link are often more important than simply increasing the number of links.”

This creates a better experience for both readers and search engines.

Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Keywords still have an important role in SEO, but excessive repetition can make content difficult to read.

Use your primary keyword naturally.

For an article about Off-Page SEO, related terms may include:

• Off-Page SEO
• Link Building
• Backlinks
• SEO Strategy
• Content Marketing
• Digital PR
• Website Authority
• Link Building Strategy
• Brand Mentions
• SEO Content

Use these terms where they genuinely fit the topic.

Do not force keywords into every paragraph.

E-E-A-T and Off-Page SEO Content

High-quality content should demonstrate Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T).

This can be supported by:

• Sharing first-hand experience
• Providing practical examples
• Using credible sources
• Linking to authoritative references
• Keeping information updated
• Clearly identifying the author
• Avoiding unsupported claims
• Correcting outdated information

For example, instead of claiming:

“This website will definitely improve your Google rankings.”

a more responsible statement would be:

“This platform may be useful for content distribution, profile visibility or link building, but a backlink from the platform does not guarantee higher Google rankings.”

This distinction is important when creating professional SEO resources.

How Many Links Should an Article Have?

There is no universal number of links that every article should contain.

The correct number depends on the purpose and length of the content.

The basic principle is:

Add a link when the link is genuinely useful to the reader.

Your article might need one relevant link, or it might need several.

Avoid adding links simply because there is an opportunity to do so.

Internal links can help readers discover related content on your website.

External links can provide supporting information from authoritative and relevant sources.

Both can be valuable when used naturally.

Use Relevant Images and Visual Content

Images can make an educational SEO article easier to understand.

Depending on the topic, you can use:

• Infographics
• Screenshots
• Charts
• Diagrams
• Original photographs
• Illustrations
• AI-generated visuals
• Process diagrams

If AI-generated images are used, they should still be reviewed and edited before publication.

Make sure the image is:

• Relevant to the topic
• Visually clear
• Free from unnecessary text
• Properly compressed
• Correctly formatted
• Accessible with descriptive ALT text

The goal is not to add an image simply because every blog needs one.

The image should improve the content.

Different Types of SEO Blogs You Can Create

A strong SEO content strategy should include different content formats.

1. How-To Guides

Example:

How to Build an Off-Page SEO Strategy Step by Step

Useful for people looking for practical instructions.

2. Informational Articles

Example:

What Is Off-Page SEO?

Useful for beginners researching a topic.

3. List Articles

Example:

50 Free Websites for SEO Link Building

Useful as a resource.

4. Case Studies

Example:

How a Local Business Improved Its Online Visibility

Useful for demonstrating real-world experience.

5. Comparison Articles

Example:

On-Page SEO vs Off-Page SEO: What’s the Difference?

Useful for people comparing concepts.

6. Checklists

Example:

Complete Off-Page SEO Checklist for Beginners

Useful for practical implementation.

7. Mistake-Based Articles

Example:

10 Common Link Building Mistakes to Avoid

Useful for problem-solving search intent.

8. Beginner’s Guides

Example:

Off-Page SEO: A Complete Beginner’s Guide

Useful for broad educational searches.

Don’t Build 100 Backlinks in One Day

A long list of websites does not mean that all of them should be used immediately.

If you discover 100+ platforms, there is no need to create 100 profiles and publish 100 links in a single day.

SEO is a long-term process.

Focus on:

Relevance → Quality → Consistency → Measurement → Improvement

Instead of:

Quantity → Quantity → Quantity

Build your online presence gradually.

Create useful content.

Participate in relevant platforms.

Build professional profiles.

Earn genuine mentions.

Publish valuable resources.

Monitor the results.

Then improve your strategy.

Quality Matters More Than Quantity

Imagine two websites.

Website A has hundreds of random backlinks from unrelated platforms.

Website B has fewer backlinks, but they are relevant, contextual and earned through useful content.

The number of links alone does not tell us which website has the stronger SEO strategy.

This is why modern link building should focus on:

• Relevance
• Context
• Quality
• Trust
• Editorial value
• Natural acquisition
• Referral potential

A backlink should ideally make sense even if search engines did not exist.

Ask:

Would a real person find this link useful?

If the answer is yes, you are more likely to be creating a meaningful resource.

Off-Page SEO Is More Than Link Building

Backlinks are important, but Off-Page SEO goes beyond links.

A broader Off-Page SEO strategy may include:

Link Building

Building relevant references from other websites.

Digital PR

Getting your business, expertise or content mentioned by publications and media.

Brand Mentions

Increasing awareness and references to your brand across the web.

Community Engagement

Participating genuinely in relevant online communities.

Reviews

Building trust and reputation through legitimate customer reviews.

Content Distribution

Getting useful content in front of relevant audiences.

Professional Profiles

Creating credible and consistent profiles across relevant platforms.

The objective is to build a stronger online presence and reputation, not simply a larger backlink count.

Keep This Resource Updated

SEO platforms and metrics are constantly changing.

A website that is available today may change its publishing policy tomorrow.

A link that is Follow today may become NoFollow later.

A website’s DA, PA or Spam Score can also change as third-party tools recalculate their databases.

Therefore, this list should be treated as a living SEO resource rather than a permanent database.

The platforms, metrics and link attributes should be reviewed periodically.

New platforms can be added, outdated platforms can be removed, and existing information can be updated.

Final Takeaway

Off-Page SEO is an important part of a complete SEO strategy, but successful link building is not about creating the maximum number of backlinks.

It is about creating the right content, on the right platforms, for the right audience, with relevant and natural references.

Free platforms such as blogging websites, professional networks, community platforms, Q&A websites, website builders and publishing platforms can provide useful opportunities for building content, visibility and online presence.

However, always evaluate a platform based on:

Relevance + Quality + Context + Trust + Current Data

Do not rely on DA, PA or Spam Score alone.

Do not focus only on DoFollow links.

Do not publish the same article everywhere.

Do not create links just for the sake of creating links.

Instead, create useful content, contribute genuinely, build your online presence gradually and keep your SEO resources updated.

The best Off-Page SEO strategy is not the one with the most links. It is the one that creates the most relevant and trustworthy signals around a website.

Free Off-Page SEO Resource List

This resource will be continuously updated with additional platforms, websites and SEO opportunities.

Check the current list before using any platform, as website policies, link attributes, authority metrics, spam scores and publishing options may change over time.