The number of unique domains linking to a site often matters more than the total number of individual backlinks, and it's worth evaluating specifically.
Many Links From a Few Domains Signal Less Diversity
A backlink profile concentrated among a small number of referring domains carries less genuine authority than one with broader distribution.
A Genuinely Diverse Referring Domain Base Suggests Organic Growth
Links earned naturally across many different sites over time tend to reflect real, organic recognition rather than manufactured link building.
Compare Referring Domain Count Against Total Backlink Count
A large gap between total backlinks and unique referring domains is worth investigating as a potential sign of manipulative link patterns.
Next step: Use the Wayback Expired Domains to review a domain's archived history alongside its referring domain diversity.