Definition
Referring domains represent the number of distinct websites sending at least one link to your domain. This metric is considered one of the most powerful indicators in SEO because Google values link source diversity. Having 100 backlinks from 100 different domains is generally more beneficial than 100 links from a single site. SEO tools like Ahrefs, Majestic, and Semrush allow tracking referring domain evolution over time and analyzing their individual quality.
Key Points
- Referring domain diversity matters more than raw backlink count
- One quality referring domain is worth more than dozens of weak domains
- Regular growth of referring domains is a positive signal for Google
Practical Examples
Diversification strategy
An e-commerce site has 2,000 backlinks but only 35 referring domains. Its strategy shifts toward acquiring links from new domains via LemmiLink rather than accumulating links from the same sources.
Ranking correlation
A study of 50 keywords shows that pages in the first position have on average 3.5 times more referring domains than pages in the tenth position, confirming this metric's importance.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no magic number. It all depends on competition for your target keywords. Analyze the number of referring domains of pages ranked on the first page for your priority queries and set a goal accordingly. On average, sites in the top 3 have significantly more referring domains than their competitors.
Use tools like Ahrefs or Majestic to audit your referring domains. Check their Trust Flow or Domain Rating, topic, content language, and link position on the page. Disavow toxic referring domains (link farms, detected PBNs, spam sites) via Google Search Console.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07