are backlinks important

Yes, backlinks are very important for SEO. Here's why:

* **Authority:** Backlinks act like votes of confidence for your site from other websites. Search engines like Google consider the number and quality of backlinks a sign of your website's trustworthiness and expertise.

* **Higher Rankings:** Websites with strong backlink profiles tend to rank higher in search results for relevant keywords. This increases your website's visibility and drives more organic traffic.

* **Referral Traffic:** Backlinks can also send direct traffic to your site. When people click on a link from another website, they land on your page. This can be a great way to reach a new audience.

However, it's important to focus on quality over quantity.  Building backlinks from high-authority sites in your niche is more valuable than having many links from low-quality sources.