I’ve been in the SEO world long enough to witness every so-called “revolution” in search ranking strategies. Every time Google breathes a little differently, the SEO industry explodes with speculation. “Keywords are dead!” they scream. “On-page SEO doesn’t matter anymore!” they claim. But the biggest myth I hear today, from self-proclaimed SEO experts and misinformed marketers, is that backlinks are no longer relevant.

As someone who’s worked with companies worldwide, analyzing their traffic patterns and uncovering why their rankings nose-dived after an algorithm update, I can tell you—backlinks are very much alive. But this is where the problem starts; most SEOs wrongly use them. And that's precisely why so many websites in Charlotte and beyond struggle to climb back up in search rankings after Google's latest core update.

Above Bits, a company I’ve followed for years knows the importance of smart, modern link-building. They’ve seen businesses in North Carolina bounce back after suffering massive ranking losses simply by adjusting their approach to backlinks. In reality, SEO services in Charlotte are booming, but many agencies are stuck using outdated link-building techniques. And if you’re one of those businesses, you need to know the truth before it’s too late.

Why Backlinks Still Matter in 2025

Before we dive into why so many people get backlinking wrong, let’s get one thing straight—backlinks are still a top-ranking factor for Google. In a recent study by Ahrefs, over 66% of websites that ranked in the top three positions had a strong backlink profile. Another report by Semrush found that websites with more referring domains consistently outrank competitors with weak link profiles, even if their content is similar.

The reason is simple. Backlinks act as endorsements. When reputable websites link to yours, it signals to Google that your content is valuable. However, not all backlinks are created equal; this is where most SEOs trip up.

A decade ago, backlink building was like the Wild West. You could buy links from shady link farms and spam blog comment sections, submit your website to 10,000 directories, and watch your rankings soar. Google cracked down hard, with major updates like Penguin in 2012 and multiple AI-driven refinements over the years. Today, link-building requires strategy, relevance, and—most importantly—quality over quantity.

And yet, here we are in 2025, with businesses in Charlotte still being sold overpriced, worthless backlinks that do nothing but put their website at risk. I’ve seen some SEO services in Charlotte still peddling guest post packages that rely on low-quality, unrelated blogs. If you're falling for these tactics, you might as well be lighting your marketing budget on fire.

The Google Algorithm Has Evolved, So Why Haven’t SEOs?

Let’s talk about Google’s AI-powered updates. With machine learning models like RankBrain and BERT, search engines no longer just count the number of backlinks you have. Instead, they analyze who is linking to you and why.

Take a recent case I came across with a client in Charlotte. They had been buying backlinks from link-building agencies promising “DA 50+ links” (domain authority, for those unfamiliar with the term). On the surface, it looked great. Hundreds of high-authority links point to their website. The problem? They were utterly irrelevant. A website selling roofing materials in North Carolina doesn’t benefit from backlinks from a random cryptocurrency blog in Japan. And when Google caught on, their rankings took a nosedive.

I’ve seen Above Bits approach this issue with precision. Their link-building strategy isn’t about just getting high numbers. It’s about relevance, natural growth, and ensuring that backlinks actually help businesses rank rather than land them in penalty territory. And with SEO services in Charlotte becoming more competitive, this approach is crucial.

The Reality of Link-Building in 2025

If you think backlinks are a guaranteed ticket to SEO success, think again. While they play a crucial role, they aren’t magic. Google is looking for a combination of factors, including page experience, content quality, and engagement metrics. A page with tons of high-quality backlinks but no user engagement isn’t going to rank well.

Let’s take another real-world example. A large e-commerce business I worked with in Charlotte had thousands of backlinks but still struggled to gain organic traffic. The reason? Their site was slow, poorly structured, and lacked proper internal linking. They had spent tens of thousands of dollars on backlinks, yet their website experience was so frustrating that users left within seconds.

Backlinks can boost your authority but won’t fix fundamental SEO problems. In Charlotte, where businesses compete fiercely in the digital landscape, SEO services must focus on a holistic strategy rather than just backlinks alone.

How Big Brands Are Winning the Backlink Game

If you want to see backlink strategies done right, look at major brands. Companies like Shopify, HubSpot, and even Airbnb have mastered the art of organic link-building.

Take HubSpot, for example. They generate thousands of high-quality backlinks monthly by producing in-depth guides and free SEO tools that websites naturally want to reference. Shopify takes a different route—collaborating with influencers and niche bloggers to gain natural links. And then there's Airbnb, which leverages press releases and city tourism partnerships to gain backlinks from major news outlets.

The key takeaway? None of these brands are paying for spammy guest posts or using outdated directory submissions. Instead, they’re creating link-worthy content that earns backlinks naturally. This is exactly what Above Bits advises businesses in Charlotte to do when optimizing their digital presence.

SEO services in Charlotte need to shift their mindset. If you’re still chasing low-quality backlinks, you’re setting yourself up for failure. It’s time to think bigger, smarter, and more strategically.

The Hidden Dangers of Bad Backlinks

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—backlink penalties. Google has spent the last decade perfecting its ability to detect unnatural link-building. If your SEO agency is still bragging about “buying” backlinks or offering bulk link packages, you should be very, very concerned.

I once worked with a business in Charlotte that saw a complete SEO disaster unfold because of bad backlinking strategies. They had hired an agency promising “200 powerful backlinks in 30 days,” and at first, everything seemed great. Their rankings shot up, their organic traffic doubled, and they started seeing an influx of new leads.

Then, about three months later, the crash came. Google’s algorithm caught the pattern, flagged their website for manipulative link-building, and their rankings dropped overnight. They went from the first page to complete obscurity. And the worst part? There was no quick fix. Disavowing links and sending reconsideration requests took months to repair the damage.

This is a warning I give to every business owner considering SEO services in Charlotte—backlinks should never feel like a “hack” or a quick win. If it sounds too good to be true, it almost always is.

The Rise of AI in SEO and How It Affects Backlinks

Google has officially entered the AI era, and search algorithms are no longer just matching keywords—they understand context, user intent, and relevance like never before. With AI-driven updates like MUM (Multitask Unified Model) and BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers), backlinks alone won’t cut it.

Consider this: Google’s AI can now analyze how users engage with your content. If people land on your website from a backlink but leave in three seconds, that link isn’t helping you—it’s hurting you. The algorithm sees that users aren’t finding value in your page and adjusts rankings accordingly.

So, what does this mean for backlink strategies? First, it’s no longer just about getting links. It’s about ensuring that the pages those links point to actually deserve traffic. And that’s why companies like Above Bits emphasize user experience and content quality just as much as they do link-building.

Why Local Backlinks Matter More Than Ever

For businesses operating in Charlotte, North Carolina, there’s one critical backlinking strategy that’s often overlooked—local backlinks. While many SEO agencies focus on getting links from high-DA websites, they ignore the fact that relevance trumps authority in many cases.

A backlink from a national news site like Forbes is great, but a link from a well-established local website can often carry just as much weight, if not more. Why? Because Google wants to see local relevance in search results.

If you’re a business in Charlotte, having backlinks from local directories, news sites, and community organizations can dramatically improve your rankings. That’s why good SEO services in Charlotte focus on hyper-local outreach instead of chasing generic high-authority links.

The Guest Post Industry and Why It’s Broken

Guest posting used to be the holy grail of backlink building. You write a great article, get it published on a relevant site, and in return, you earn a high-quality backlink. Simple, right?

Not anymore. The guest post industry has become a cesspool of paid placements, low-quality content farms, and irrelevant links. I’ve personally seen SEO agencies offer “guest post packages” that place articles on entirely unrelated websites simply because they have a high domain authority.

This is exactly why so many businesses are getting burned by SEO agencies that don’t understand how modern link-building works. When Google sees a backlink from an irrelevant website, it doesn’t just ignore it—it devalues it and sometimes even penalizes you for it.

Above Bits has taken a different approach. Instead of chasing numbers, they focus on securing real guest posts on industry-relevant websites. This means businesses in Charlotte actually get backlinks that improve their authority rather than wasting money on useless placements.

The Future of Link-Building: What Businesses in Charlotte Should Do

If you’re looking for sustainable SEO services in Charlotte, it’s time to think long-term. Google’s algorithms will continue evolving, AI will play a bigger role in rankings, and backlinks will always be a key factor—but only if done right.

Here’s the truth: backlink strategies need to be tailored. Some businesses benefit from digital PR and media mentions. Others thrive with niche blog collaborations. Some companies see huge gains from local sponsorships and partnerships. There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy, which is why generic backlink services rarely work.

Above Bits has spent nearly two decades mastering these strategies. They’ve worked with businesses of all sizes, adapting their SEO approaches as search engines evolve. They know what works, what doesn’t, and—most importantly—how to ensure backlinks actually help your business grow.

If you’re serious about SEO and want a team that understands the real science behind search rankings, check out SEO services in Charlotte by Above Bits. Because in the world of modern SEO, doing backlinks wrong is worse than not doing them at all.