Hey everyone,
I’m still learning the basics of SEO and had a question I couldn’t quite find a clear answer to. If a website gets backlinks from older blogs or sites that don’t get much traffic anymore, do those links still provide value for rankings?
I know that high-authority and active sites are usually better, but I’m wondering if a link from a quiet or less-active blog still counts in Google's eyes — even a little bit. Does anyone know how Google views those kinds of links today?
Yes, backlinks from older or less-active sites can still provide value, though usually less than links from high-authority, active sites. Google primarily values backlinks for their relevance and authority rather than traffic volume, so a link from a quiet blog that is topically related to your content can still help your rankings. For example, if you are working with a Home Services Marketing Agency, even links from smaller, niche sites in your industry can contribute positively. That said, links from low-quality or spammy sites can be neutral at best or harmful at worst. In short, Google counts the link itself, even if the site doesn’t get much traffic, but the impact is stronger from reputable, relevant, and active sources.
Good question! Even backlinks from older or low-traffic sites can still have some value, especially if they’re relevant and from indexed pages. But their impact is usually much lower compared to links from active, high-authority sites with real traffic.
Google focuses more on quality, relevance, and trust rather than just link count. So it’s better to aim for a mix, but prioritize strong, contextual backlinks.
If you’re learning SEO, tools like Rankar.ai can also help you analyze backlink quality and improve your overall strategy.
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