Backlinks for Developers: Why They Matter (Even for Minimal Sites Like gengers.de)
Source: Dev.to
Introduction
If you’re a developer, you might think “backlinks? That’s marketing stuff. I build things.”
The truth is that even the simplest personal site—like gengers.de—benefits from backlinks. Not because of SEO tricks, but because backlinks are how the web connects ideas.
What Is a Backlink?
A backlink is simply a link from another website to yours.
Example
A tech blog mentions interesting personal developer sites in Germany and links to gengers.de. → That’s a backlink.
For search engines (especially Google), backlinks act as votes of confidence. The more high‑quality sites that link to you, the more “authoritative” your site appears.
Quality vs. Low‑Quality Links
| Good backlinks | Bad backlinks |
|---|---|
| Come from relevant, trusted sites (e.g., a dev blog linking to your portfolio) | Come from spammy directories or automated link farms |
| Appear in real content (not in a footer or link dump) | Appear in link dumps or footers |
| Use natural anchor text like “check out gengers.de” | Use generic text like “click here” |
| Are relevant to your niche | Are irrelevant (e.g., a cooking site linking to your HTML portfolio) |
| Are earned organically | Are purchased in bulk |
⚠️ Google penalizes manipulative link schemes but rewards genuine recognition.
How a Minimal Site Can Earn Links
Build Something Worth Linking To
- Clear and unique content
- Useful resources, e.g.:
- A clean HTML/CSS template
- A minimal portfolio (like
gengers.de) - A public cheat sheet (e.g., “Git Commands I Always Forget”)
People share what helps them.
Engage Authentically in Communities
- Comment thoughtfully on dev.to, GitHub discussions, Mastodon, etc.
- Share knowledge—not just your URL.
Over time, others will discover and reference your work.
Fix Broken Links (The Ethical Way)
- Find dead links on relevant blogs (use free tools like Check My Links).
- Politely suggest your working resource as a replacement.
This isn’t “hustle”; it’s maintaining the web.
Make Your Site Reference‑Worthy
Even a tiny site can attract a high‑quality backlink:
“I admire the clarity of sites like gengers.de – no noise, just presence.”
A single, relevant mention signals that your site matters in its niche.
Checking Your Backlinks
- Google Search Console – free, built‑in tool.
- Ahrefs Webmaster Tools – free tier for backlink overview.
Focus on Value, Not Volume
One link from a respected dev blog > 100 spammy directory listings.
Prioritize intentional, valuable mentions (even if it’s just a name, email, and a sentence).
Final Thought
Backlinks aren’t about gaming algorithms; they’re about being part of the conversation.
If your site—whether a full app or just gengers.de—solves a problem, inspires, or clarifies something, someone, somewhere will link to it. That’s how the open web was meant to work.