Grumpy SEO Guy — Episode 123

Title: Do You Need to Keep Building SEO Backlinks After You Are In First Place?
Host: Grumpy SEO Guy
Date: August 27, 2025

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Grumpy SEO Guy tackles a common SEO dilemma: Should you keep building backlinks after your website reaches the number one spot in search results? Drawing on his 14 years of agency experience, the host explains how authority works, demystifies the role of ongoing backlink acquisition, and addresses when you might need to step back or double down. The discussion uses race metaphors and practical examples, guiding listeners on how to manage SEO efforts post-victory.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Big Question: Backlinks After #1 Ranking?

• Grumpy SEO Guy sets the stage by addressing a frequently asked question:
  "Do I have to keep building backlinks continuously given a case where my website is already in first position?" (03:53)
• He clarifies that authority—primarily derived from backlinks—is what propels websites to top rankings.

2. Authority as a Competitive Factor

• Authority is Relative:

  • "The amount of authority you need is normally based on the amount of authority that your competition has." (04:39)
  • Detailed competitor analysis is vital before starting a backlink campaign (04:55).

• Not Blindly Chasing More:

  • "It makes no sense to just start trying stuff if you don't know what the competition is doing." (05:05)
  • Agencies don’t just pile on backlinks; they assess the competitive landscape first.

3. The Race Analogy in SEO

• Race Metaphor:
  • "SEO is like being in a race. There's always somebody in first place...That person could be in first place by one inch, by a few feet, or by a lot." (03:20)
• Implication:
  • If you're ahead, you might be able to slow down. If competitors get faster, you need to step it up again.

4. Should You Keep Building Backlinks?

• Short Answer:

  • "You do not need to keep building backlinks, but you might have to if you lose your rank." (05:40)

• Maintain Vigilance:

  • "It's not like you have to keep doing it...If you're already in first place, it almost definitely means you have more authority than your competition." (05:55)
  • However, don’t just stop all SEO efforts after reaching #1.

• Reasons for Rank Loss:

  • Two main causes:
    1. Algorithm updates (06:51)
    2. Competition upping their SEO game (06:52)
  • Listeners directed to episodes 89 and 90 for deeper dives on rank loss causes (06:31).

• If Competitors Push Harder:

  • "That's like the person in second place starting to run faster and eventually they pass you. SEO is the same way." (07:13)

5. Organic Backlinks and Authority Over Time

• Top Sites Get Linked to More:
  • "When you're on the first page, you generally will organically collect backlinks anyway. Because people link to websites on the first page because they can find them." (09:11)
• Organic Links vs. Marketing Links:
  • Emphasis on the difference between genuine organic links and low-quality marketing links (09:34).

6. Practical Recommendations and Nuances

• Can You Slow Down?
  • "Generally speaking, if you're in first, you can maybe step back a little bit from building backlinks...But you should always be focusing on things like where you rank, because you never know when your competition's going to do something or when the algorithm is going to change." (10:05)
• It’s Not Binary:
  • "SEO is not like a formula that you follow. It's not like, well, I'm in the first position now, I'm done doing SEO. It's like, no, it continues, but when you're in the first position, you can maybe ease off a little bit, maybe." (10:32)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On competition:

  "The amount of authority you need is normally based on the amount of authority that your competition has."
  — Grumpy SEO Guy (04:39)

• On the SEO race analogy:

  "SEO is like being in a race... There's always a website in first position, there's always a website in second place, and so on."
  — Grumpy SEO Guy (03:20)

• On maintaining top authority:

  "It's not like you have to keep doing it and just build more backlinks... If you're already in first place, it almost definitely means you have more authority than your competition."
  — Grumpy SEO Guy (05:48)

• On motivation for ongoing SEO:

  "Maybe you might want to keep doing it if you want to make your lead even further. Like, just cause you're in first place in a race doesn't mean that you slow down necessarily."
  — Grumpy SEO Guy (08:41)

• On real-world backlink acquisition:

  "Websites on the first page regularly get more backlinks..."
  — Grumpy SEO Guy (09:53)

• On when you can ease off:

  "Generally speaking, if you're in first, you can maybe step back a little bit from building backlinks...Some people are like, I'm in first position. I need to keep building backlinks because I want to maintain my lead. That's fine. You can absolutely do that. But you don't necessarily have to."
  — Grumpy SEO Guy (10:05)

• On the unpredictable nature of SEO:

  "SEO is not like a formula that you follow. It's not like, well, I'm in the first position now, I'm done doing SEO."
  — Grumpy SEO Guy (10:32)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:40–03:20: Setup and race analogy discussion
• 03:53–05:48: Direct answer to "Should you keep building backlinks?"
• 06:27–07:13: Why you might lose rankings (algorithm updates/competition)
• 08:13–09:34: Easing off link building and organic link growth
• 10:05–10:32: Strategic recommendations and summary

Tone and Style Notes

Grumpy SEO Guy maintains a candid, no-nonsense tone that’s slightly sardonic, brutally honest, and very practical. He relies on analogies ("SEO is like a race") and speaks directly to both misconceptions held by SEO newcomers and the nuances missed by more experienced practitioners. He also frequently references his own back-catalogue of episodes, encouraging listeners to explore related topics for a deeper understanding.

Final Takeaways

• You do not need to infinitely build backlinks once at #1, but you should remain vigilant—competition and algorithm changes can threaten your position.
• Monitor competitors’ moves and be prepared to ramp up efforts if challenged.
• First-page visibility often leads to natural backlink accumulation.
• SEO is an ongoing process, not a destination—but once you're leading, you may be able to ease efforts judiciously.

For further questions or topic suggestions, you can reach Grumpy SEO Guy on Reddit or via email at hellorumpyseoguy.com. Full episode links and referenced episodes are provided in the show notes.