Quick Links
If your notes feel more like a chaotic web of information than an organized resource, you’re not alone. Without a clear system, it’s easy to get lost in the sea of scattered ideas and half-finished thoughts. This used to be my daily struggle—until I discovered the power of backlinking.
What Are Backlinks, and Why Do They Matter in Note-Taking?
Backlinks are in-text links that send you to another page. Since it’s easier than ever to take quick notes each day, backlinking is an excellent way to keep them organized. This is especially true if you don’t like using folders for notes or if your note-taking app doesn’t have folders in the first place.
Most popularnote-taking appslet you backlink your notes. An app like Obsidian takes this a step further, as it’s characterized by its seamless backlinking and the way it turns your notes into a dynamic network of interconnected ideas. For this piece, I’ll be using Obsidian to demonstrate backlinking.
How I Use Backlinking in My Note-Taking App
I’m currently working on a big personal blog project, and the number of pages I use continues to grow each day. To give you an idea of how you can use backlinks in your note-taking app, I’ll show you how I keep everything organized. But first, let’s look at the specific steps you should take.
I recommend using note backlinks for studying and work. I also use them if I need to buy multiple things in different categories, such as when moving into a new house. One way that I use note backlinking is to manage my blog, which continues to grow daily. With so many ideas and things I’m managing, I’ve found it much easier to backlink for organization.
As you’ll see below, this is what the homepage looks like with backlinks added.
Below is an example of one of my backlinked pages. Obsidian also shows you linked and unlinked mentions.
While I’ve used Obsidian in this example, other note-taking apps—such as Notion—are equally as good for backlinking. Before picking a tool, check out thiscomplete comparison between Notion and Obsidian.
I prefer backlinking on my computer than on my smartphone or iPad. Copying and pasting is significantly easier, and I also find that it’s easier to add links from within the app.
Why I Recommend Backlinking Your Notes
Adding backlinks to my notes has made a noticeable impact on my productivity, and I’m confident it will do the same for you. Here are the two main reasons I highly recommend you try backlinking your notes.
Easier Project Organization
I hate having my thoughts scattered, and I have always found it much easier to group related things when possible. Doing so means that I am much less likely to forget about something important, and it also means that I am more likely to take action on my most important ideas.
I often use one main note as a hub for all of its related offshoots, for which I then add backlinking. I’ve tried building a second brain, but for me, that is far too complicated and backlinking is a nice middle ground.
You Don’t Need to Manually Search for Notes
Apple Notes and Notion both have excellent search functions, and you will rarely have issues finding what you need. But at the same time, it’s still time-consuming to look for notes manually. By adding backlinks, I know exactly where I need to go for something and can get on with my tasks more quickly.
Backlinking is even more useful if you’re invested in a note-taking app without as good of a search function. For example, I find it much easier to add backlinks in OneNote than to look for things.
If you’re not already using backlinks to organize your notes, I strongly recommend giving it a try. Most note-taking apps offer this feature, and it will make a world of difference in how you manage everything from tracking large projects tocreating daily to-do lists.
