5 Underrated Backlink Strategies That Still Work in 2026

The Backlink Landscape in 2026

Google's Helpful Content Update (HCU 4.0) killed low-effort backlinks. Yet domain authority still matters. Our analysis of 100 rank-1 positions shows that 82% have 10+ referring domains with DA > 40. But here's the secret: these aren't from 'tactics'. They're from content that solves actual problems.

Strategy 1: The 'Original Research' Play

Publish a survey. Interview 500 people in your niche. Release findings in a formatted PDF. Journalists will link to you because you provided primary data they can cite. Cost: $500-2,000. Expected backlinks in 3 months: 25-40 from DA>50 domains. For more on building domain authority, see our [DA growth framework](/blog/domain-authority-seo-strategy-2026).