Are we finally done with the "Backlink is King" ?

Ike i See a lot of sites in 2026 ranking #1 or getting the top "AI Overview" citation with a fraction of the backlinks their competitors have.

It seems the algorithm is prioritizing Topical Authority and Brand Citations over raw link juice.

- If you had $1,000 today, are you spending it on 2 high-quality backlinks or 10 high-engagement community mentions? Personally, I’m leaning toward the mentions.