Ask HN: Is backlink trading still a problem worth solving?

[sathishn]

Getting backlinks usually feels messy - cold emails, spreadsheets, links disappearing, secondly spammy links.

I’m experimenting with a credits-based system where:

1. Sites give a backlink and earn credits. 2. They can spend credits on getting backlinks from other sites, not just the same one. 3. The platform auto-verifies if the link is live.

The idea is that product creators and businesses can support each other by linking to things they already see as useful and trustworthy - not spammy exchanges, but genuine recommendations.

My questions:

Do you see this as a real problem in 2025?

Would a credits-based system actually work, or does it fall apart in practice?

[codingdave]

I didn't even see that as a problem in 2015. Google's algorithm that devalued link exchanging went live in 2012, so I'm somewhat flabbergasted that people are still pursuing it for SEO.

[kamphey]

What I would like is a list of creators, bloggers, youtubers etc, who have a solid audience and are seeking to mention others. For example I make a google sheets tutorial youtube channel. Sometimes I make a video that I genuinely could be featured by others and reacted to, and discussed... but I don't have the list of those to reach out to. I'm building it myself. like you said, in a spreadsheet. But there's no earning credits or trading. Wouldn't mind going through a list of people who are interested in trading exposure.