How to get a backlink from Bitly
Backlink signals
Editorial estimates for comparing this provider.
- Dofollow links Usually nofollow
- No : We set this after checking whether the recommended backlink method on this provider typically outputs a dofollow link in the page HTML. If attributes vary by page type, we use the realistic default for that path and explain the nuance in the guide.
- Authority rating Editorial estimate
- 3/100 : We score the actual backlink surface—not the provider homepage—using Domain Authority when available, otherwise a conservative Backlink Badger editorial estimate. This approximate comparison number may not match third-party tools or the live page's real strength.
- Spam rating Lower is better
- 3/100 : We use spam score when we have a defensible value for the relevant domain or surface, otherwise a conservative Backlink Badger editorial estimate from platform quality and spam patterns. Treat it as an approximate comparison guide, not a guarantee of how search engines evaluate the site.
- Acquisition difficulty Lower is easier
- 15/100 : Backlink Badger assigns this 0–100 score from editorial review of signup friction, content requirements, approval gates, and account trust for the recommended path. It is an approximate comparison estimate, not a measured difficulty metric.
- Time estimate Typical setup
- ~10 min : We estimate the minimum minutes a prepared user needs to sign up, set up, and publish or submit the backlink, including obvious waiting steps we can reasonably predict. This Backlink Badger estimate is approximate—your first attempt or extra verification may take longer.
- Free option No required spend
- Yes : We mark Yes when the recommended backlink path can be completed without paying the provider for access, placement, or a required plan. If only paid tiers unlock the link, or payment is commonly required in practice, we mark No.
Bitly does not give you a normal backlink. It gives you a public short URL that redirects to your site.
That can still be useful. Use Bitly when you need a short, measurable link for campaigns, social posts, SMS, print, QR codes, or offline materials. Do not treat the shortlink as an editorial citation from Bitly.
Steps
- Open Bitly’s short-link panel.
- Keep Short Link selected rather than QR Code.
- Paste the canonical URL you want to track into Paste your long link here.
- Click Get your link for free. Bitly may ask you to create or sign in to an account before the link is saved.
- Copy the generated
bit.ly/...URL and publish it only where a short, trackable redirect makes sense. - If you use a branded domain, verify the destination and analytics settings before sharing the link publicly.
Example: https://bit.ly/SFLivingShop is a public Bitly shortlink. It returned a 301 redirect to its destination and included X-Robots-Tag: noindex, so treat links like this as tracking redirects, not SEO placements.
Link quality notes
A Bitly link is not the same as a contextual link from an article, directory listing, profile page, or product page. Search engines and SEO tools may see the redirect path, but you are not getting a dofollow citation on a Bitly content page.
If your goal is click tracking or cleaner sharing, Bitly is useful. If your goal is direct SEO authority, choose a provider where your URL appears on a crawlable page with surrounding context.
Provider overview
Bitly creates short redirect links for campaigns, social posts, SMS, QR codes, and offline materials. It is useful for cleaner sharing and click tracking, but it is not a direct authority backlink.
Minimum requirements to get a backlink from Bitly
- Submit the destination URL you want to track
- Create or sign in to a Bitly account
- Choose a standard bit.ly shortlink or branded domain
Key challenges to get a backlink from Bitly
Bitly is a weak SEO backlink source because the user-created link is a redirect, not a crawlable editorial page that recommends your site. The short URL can be noindexed, and Bitly may require account signup before saving the link. Use it for tracking and referral measurement, not link equity.