Let’s explore – what are backlinks and Why Does Your New Celebrant Website Actually Need Them?
And then… not very much happens.
If that sounds familiar, or if you’re just starting out and want to avoid that particular frustration, I want to talk to you about something called backlinks. It’s one of those terms that floats around in marketing conversations and can feel a bit technical and intimidating – but the concept itself is genuinely simple, and understanding it could make a significant difference to how easily new clients find you.
So let’s unpack it. Gently. No jargon. No graphs.
So What Actually Is a Backlink?
A backlink is simply a link on someone else’s website that points to yours.
That’s it. When a wedding venue lists you on their preferred suppliers page and links to your website, that’s a backlink. If a funeral director includes your name and website address on their resources page, that’s a backlink. A local wedding blog writes about ceremony options and links to your site, that’s a backlink.
Think of it like a recommendation, but in the language that search engines understand.
When Google is deciding how to rank websites in search results (who appears on page one and who gets buried on page seven) one of the things it looks at is how many other reputable websites are pointing in your direction. It’s essentially asking: does the wider internet vouch for this person? The more quality sites that link to yours, the more Google tends to trust you, and the higher you can climb in search results.
For a newly qualified celebrant trying to be found by couples and families in your local area, that matters enormously.
Why Can’t I Just Rely on My Website Alone?
You can, and many celebrants do – but it’s a slower road.
A brand new website, with no backlinks pointing to it, is a little like a new shop that’s opened on a quiet back street with no signs anywhere else in town. The shop might be wonderful. The person running it might be exceptional. But if nobody points the way, footfall will be low.
Backlinks are the signposts. They tell Google – and real human beings – that you exist, that you’re established enough for others to mention you, and that your website is worth visiting.
The good news is that as a celebrant, you are in a profession with a rich network of potential backlinks all around you. You just need to know where to look.
Where Do Celebrants Find Backlinks?
This is the practical bit, and I want you to feel encouraged rather than overwhelmed by it. You don’t need dozens of backlinks to make a difference. A handful of good quality, relevant ones can shift things noticeably.
Venue preferred supplier lists.
Many wedding venues maintain a list of recommended suppliers on their website. Getting onto that list – which usually means introducing yourself, building a relationship, and perhaps attending a venue open day – is one of the most valuable backlinks you can earn. It’s relevant, it’s local, and it’s exactly the kind of endorsement Google respects.
Funeral directors’ websites.
If you’re a funeral celebrant, speak to local funeral directors about being listed on their website as someone they work with or recommend. Many are genuinely looking for skilled, compassionate celebrants and are happy to link to you once they know your work.
Celebrant directories and professional associations.
Being listed on recognised celebrant directories isn’t just good for direct enquiries – those listings often include a link to your website, which counts as a backlink. The same goes for any professional bodies or networks you join – take a look at Civil Celebrant Connection who I highly recommend. Make sure your profile is complete and your website is linked. I highly recommend you get listed on SearchCelebrants – the new directory from Justine Coombs, an award winning celebrant and SEO expert.
Local wedding blogs and guides.
Many towns and counties have local wedding blogs, guides, or planning resources. Reaching out to introduce yourself, offering a short interview or a guest post about ceremony planning, can result in a lovely backlink as well as genuine local visibility.
Your training Academy’s graduate pages.
Worth checking whether your training provider lists graduates – and whether your website is linked. If it isn’t yet, ask.
Collaborations with other suppliers.
Photographers, florists, and planners who you work with may be happy to mention you on their own websites or blogs. Likewise, you can mention them on yours. These natural, mutual links are exactly what Google likes to see.
A Word on Quality Over Quantity
Not all backlinks are equal. A link from a well-regarded local wedding venue or a respected funeral director carries far more weight than a link from an unrelated website or a low-quality directory that lists everyone and everything indiscriminately.
You don’t need to chase hundreds of backlinks. Focus on a few that are genuinely relevant – local, professional, and from sources that real people in your industry trust. Those are the ones that will quietly, steadily build your credibility with search engines over time.
This Is a Long Game – And That’s Okay
Building backlinks isn’t something you do once in a frantic afternoon. It’s something that grows naturally as your professional relationships develop. As you get listed in more places, venues get to know your work, and your presence in the community deepens.
The celebrants who are easiest to find online are usually the ones who’ve been consistently showing up – in professional networks, in local supplier communities, in directories, and in genuine collaborations with other people in their field.
You’re at the very beginning of that journey. Every relationship you build, every directory you join, every venue you introduce yourself to – these are all backlink opportunities quietly accumulating in the background.
Keep showing up. Keep building those connections. Your website will gradually become easier and easier to find – and the right enquiries will start to follow.
Warmly, Dinah