Google gauges the interest level of your content through the backlinks.

• Links
• Backlinks
• Social shares
• Page views

The correct answer is: Backlinks

Explanation: While producing high-quality content is essential, Google places significant emphasis on the perceptions of others regarding your content. The primary metric Google uses to determine this is the number of backlinks your content receives. In essence, backlinks act as endorsements, signaling to Google that others find your content valuable and noteworthy, influencing its ranking in search results.

Source: HubSpot Lesson: Link Building for SEO: Scaling Your Backlink Strategy