Link velocity

Link velocity describes the pace at which new links appear. A site that gains a few links a month and then suddenly picks up hundreds may look different from one that grows steadily. The idea is that natural growth tends to be uneven but explainable.

A spike isn't automatically bad. A press mention, a viral post or a product launch can bring lots of links quickly. What matters is whether there's a reason a real person would see. Google hasn't published a safe speed, and anyone quoting a number is guessing.

Practical point: plan link work so that it spreads out and fits your activity. If you publish a big study, links will come around that date. If you buy a batch of links in a week with no news behind it, you're creating an odd shape. Track new referring domains by month in a backlink tool.