The Truth About Backlinks: Traffic vs. Relevance (Traffic, DR, & More)

Relevance vs. DR/DA: which matters more?

We put a lot more weight on relevance than on DR or DA. In our words, as we said in the video:

“I don't give a damn about DR.”

That is blunt, but it illustrates the point. Domain Rating (DR) and Domain Authority (DA) are third-party metrics. They can give you a rough idea of site strength, but they do not replace relevance.

• Topical relevance (content around the link matches your niche) is our top priority.
• Geographic relevance (local pages, city or region focused content) matters for maps and GBP.
• DR/DA can be a tie-breaker if two link options are equally relevant. But DR/DA alone is not the deciding factor for us.

Topical links vs. geographic links: which helps maps vs organic?

We split link types into two helpful groups:

• Topical links: these are links from pages or sites that match your business topic. They push organic search ranking more than maps ranking.
• Geographic links: these are links from sites or pages that match a location or local context. They push maps and GBP ranking more than organic ranking.

We like to strike a balance. If you want both organic and maps visibility, you will want a mix of topical and geo links. If you must prioritize, choose the link type that matches your immediate goal: more organic clicks or higher Google Maps placement.

How we pick links: a simple checklist

When evaluating a potential backlink, we ask a few short questions:

1. Is the linking page topically relevant to our business? If yes, that’s a strong signal.
2. Is the linking page geographically relevant to the area we serve? If yes and we want local rankings, that’s a strong plus.
3. Does the linking page get real traffic? If it does, that makes the link more effective.
4. Is the domain trusted and not spammy? DR/DA can help here as a secondary check.
5. Is the anchor text and surrounding content natural? Links placed in real content are better than links in lists or footers with no context.

We often choose a relevant page with moderate traffic over a high-DR page with no relevance. Relevance is the core filter.

When DR or DA might matter

There are a few cases where DR/DA can help make a choice:

• If you are doing very aggressive link building and want to avoid penalties, high DA sites can absorb more risk.
• If two pages are both equally relevant and both have similar traffic, choosing the one on a higher DR site can give a bonus.
• If you need a quick way to filter a long list of link prospects, DR/DA can speed up the process. But we would then run a manual relevance check.

That said, we stopped obsessing over DR/DA years ago. We check it only when it helps with our workflow, not as a primary ranking signal.

Practical examples: how we would choose links

Scenario A: We have a chiropractor in Austin trying to rank in local maps.

• Best link: an Austin health blog that writes about local clinics and gets monthly traffic. It mentions the chiropractor and links to the booking page.
• Second best: a national health site with high DR but no Austin connection. It mentions physiotherapy generally and links to the chiropractor.
• Why: the local site gives geographic relevance and helps maps ranking. The national site may help organic authority but less so for maps.

Scenario B: We have an SEO agency trying to rank for “SEO services” organically.

• Best link: a marketing industry blog that writes about agency case studies and gets steady traffic.
• Second best: a local city guide site with a small link in a directory page.
• Why: topical relevance helps organic ranking for service keywords. Local directory links add local signals but don’t move the organic needle as much.

Common myths we want to clear up

• Myth: Higher traffic to the domain always beats relevance. False. Relevant links often beat raw traffic.
• Myth: DR/DA equals ranking power. False. These are third-party scores, not Google metrics. Relevance and traffic patterns matter more.
• Myth: Links on pages with zero traffic are worthless. False. They can still help, but links on active pages are stronger.

How to build a balanced link profile

We suggest a mix of link types and a steady plan:

1. Start with topical links to boost organic visibility. Guest posts, case studies, and industry mentions work well.
2. Add geo-relevant links for maps and GBP. Local news sites, local blogs, and city directories can help.
3. Prefer links on pages with real traffic when possible. Use traffic as a tie-breaker.
4. Use DR/DA sparingly as a secondary filter, not your main rule.
5. Keep link building natural over time. Slow and steady wins more than a sudden burst of random links.

What we watch for in reports

When we audit link prospects, we check:

• Relevance of the page and domain
• Traffic to the page and domain
• Context around the link (semantic content, anchor text)
• Geographic signals if local ranking is the priority
• Spam signals or patterns that look unnatural

These simple checks help us decide which links to pursue and which to skip.

Conclusion

Backlinks and content still matter for both GBP and organic rankings. Relevance is the single most important factor for us. Traffic to the linking page makes a link more effective, but it does not replace relevance. DR and DA are useful as secondary metrics, but we don’t rely on them as the main signal. For maps ranking, favor geo-relevant links. For organic ranking, favor topical links. And when in doubt, choose the link that matches your goal—whether that goal is local visibility or broader organic traffic.

FAQ

Q: Do backlinks matter more than content for GBP?

A: Both matter. Content helps Google understand your site. Backlinks help signal authority. For GBP, reviews and citations are heavy signals, but good website content plus the right links make a big difference over time.

Q: If I can only get one link, should I choose high traffic or high relevance?

A: Choose relevance. A relevant link will most often help with the right keywords and the right audience. If you can get both, even better.

Q: Should we aim for high DR sites?

A: High DR sites can be useful, especially if you plan to do aggressive link work or want a quick trust signal. But don’t chase DR at the cost of relevance. We use DR sparingly as a secondary filter.

Q: Do local directories still help maps rankings?

A: Yes. Local directories and geo-relevant mentions help maps and GBP. They add local signals that topical links may not provide. But don’t expect directories alone to push you to the top; use them as part of a broader strategy.

Q: How do we check traffic to a linking page?

A: Use tools that estimate page-level traffic from search, or look for social proof, comments, and engagement. Exact numbers can be hard to get, but patterns and signals will show you which pages are active.

Q: Can a link on a non-English site help?

A: It can, but language and audience matter. A link on a site in your market and language will usually perform better. If the non-English site is relevant to your audience, it can still help.

Q: How often should we build links?

A: Regularly and naturally. A steady flow of relevant links over time is better than a sudden spike of low-quality links. Slow, consistent work builds a strong profile.

Q: Is anchor text still important?

A: Yes. Natural anchor text that fits the content helps. Avoid over-optimized anchors that look spammy. Context matters more than exact-match anchors.