What are backlinks used for in SEO?

Backlinks play a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO) by enhancing a website's authority and credibility. When other websites link to your site, it signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. This external endorsement can lead to higher rankings in search engine results pages, as search engines interpret these links as votes of confidence in your site's quality and relevance.

Unlike options like increasing website loading times or connecting to social media profiles, backlinks specifically contribute to how search engines evaluate the importance and relevance of your content compared to others on the internet. Hosting multimedia content is also unrelated to the purpose of backlinks, which is focused on fostering connections between different content across the web. Thus, utilizing backlinks effectively can significantly enhance your website’s visibility and organic traffic through improved search rankings.