How I Got My First Backlink (Without Paying a Penny)
Until last week, my portfolio had zero external backlinks. It was technically sound, full of case studies, and optimised for on‑page SEO. But Google’s “Links” report in Search Console was empty.
So I decided to fix that – without spending money. Here’s how I got my first backlink using a free Justdial business listing.
Why I Chose Justdial
Justdial is one of India’s largest local search platforms. A free business listing gives you a profile page that includes your website URL – and that URL counts as a backlink.
It’s not a high‑authority link, but it’s a start. More importantly, it taught me the process of:
- Creating a consistent Name, Address, Phone (NAP) profile
- Adding UTM parameters for tracking
- Verifying a listing and getting it live
Step 1: Creating the Listing
I went to the Justdial free listing page and signed up with my mobile number. The form asked for:
- Business name (I used
Karan Dave SEO) - Category (
Digital Marketing Services) - Address (I used my area, not full home address – they allow service‑area businesses)
- Phone number and email
I also added a short business description and a list of services (SEO audit, local SEO, keyword research).
The most important field: Website URL. I didn’t just paste https://karandave211.github.io – first, I added tracking parameters.
Step 2: Adding UTM Parameters (So I Can Track Visits)
Using Google’s free Campaign URL Builder, I created a trackable link:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Website URL | https://karandave211.github.io |
| Campaign Source | justdial |
| Campaign Medium | organic |
| Campaign Name | justdial-backlink |
The generated link looked like this:
https://karandave211.github.io/?utm_source=justdial&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=justdial-backlink
I pasted that into the Justdial website field. Now, when someone clicks my listing, Google Analytics will show me exactly where the traffic came from.
Step 3: Verification and Waiting
After submitting, Justdial verified my mobile number via OTP. The listing went into a “pending review” state. Within 24 hours, I received an email confirming the listing was live.
I searched for my business name on Justdial, and there it was – with my portfolio link.
Step 4: Checking the Backlink (and Traffic)
I waited a few days, then checked:
- Google Search Console → Links → External links – the Justdial domain appeared.
- Google Analytics → Acquisition → Traffic acquisition – I saw a small spike from
justdial / organic.
It wasn’t hundreds of visitors, but it was proof that the link was working.
Lessons Learned
- Free directories still work – even with no‑follow or weak links, they help with local SEO and referral traffic.
- Track everything – without UTM parameters, I wouldn’t know if Justdial was sending any visitors.
- Consistency matters – I used the same business name and address everywhere (NAP consistency).
- Patience is required – verification and indexing take time, but they eventually happen.
What You Can Do Next
If you want your own first backlink:
- Sign up for a free Justdial business listing (or Sulekha, Hotfrog, AskLaila).
- Use UTM parameters on your website link.
- Complete your profile 100% (description, services, photos).
- Wait for verification and indexing.
- Check Search Console and Google Analytics after 1–2 weeks.
One backlink won’t change your rankings overnight. But it’s the first of many. And the process teaches you how link building actually works – by showing up where real customers search.
Have you tried getting backlinks through local directories? Let me know on LinkedIn.
📘 Read my SEO On‑Page Playbook for more optimisation tips.