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Posted by Vishal Parmar
November 17, 2021
Acquiring high-quality backlinks is important for an effective SEO plan. Backlinks help Google understand that the site is trustworthy and recognized, so it is worth showing it in the top spot of SERPs.
However, it is crucial to understand that the Google algorithm has changed tremendously. So, as a marketer, it’s necessary to stay in tune with what the Google algorithm wants us to do. Google is not looking at the number of backlinks you add but rather the types of backlinks.
To help you understand how link building is done, this post will talk about the different types of backlinks that will help you get results. These are the backlinks you need and should pay attention to.
So, without further ado, let’s find out what those high-quality backlinks are.
Backlinks, also known as one-way links, incoming links, or inbound links, are hyperlinks that point from one website to another. They are considered a crucial factor in SEO because they indicate to search engines that a particular website is relevant and valuable.
Google values backlinks because it increases your site’s authority, meaning it considers the link to be valuable. As a result, a web page with higher backlinks usually has a better chance of having better organic search engine rankings.
Let’s simplify the explanation. Let’s say a blogger tags your website as a backlink on one of their blogs; if they are doing it, it means that they think your website is valuable and should be visited.
Google will see the link’s popularity and also the relevance of the page. Google has something called the E-A-T score, which stands for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
If many websites encourage readers to click on the link of your website, Google will notice it. That’s why a website needs to have high authority sites add their website or any web page as their backlinks. This can be done through content marketing campaigns. But do remember that backlinks should be placed by authoritative sites that will help you enhance your site’s presence in SERPs.
Backlinks are essential for SEO because they tell Google that the link mentioned in another source is valuable, which is beneficial for the reader. When multiple sources start checking your website’s backlink, it signals Google that the website is worth checking and possesses valuable content, which in return helps your website rank better.
Google’s algorithm has changed multiple times, but one thing that remains the same is backlinks. Furthermore, Google considers backlinks to be an essential key factor in deciding a website’s ranking.
There are many different types of backlinks, but they can all be broadly classified into two main categories:
Within these two categories, there are many different types of backlinks, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits. Some of the most common types of backlinks include:
Some backlinks are better for SEO than others:
1. Relevant Guest Post Backlinks
Guest posts, even though in use for a long time, can be highly beneficial for backlinks. The only thing that you need to keep in mind is the guest blog is relevant to the backlink used. Therefore, the content has to be relevant and of high quality.
Google has invested a lot of time in guest posting websites to find whether they are abusing backlinks. They have checked how valuable a piece of content is and whether the added backlink does any justice to the content written. Hence, contact an authoritative and relevant website and try to establish a good relationship with them.
2. Editorial Backlinks
Editorial backlinks, although it is a common type of backlink, are one of the best. Editorial backlinks help your website to gain recognition in the right way. You will find editorial backlinks only in sites that are recognized and offer quality content.
Whether the backlink is earned or natural, doesn’t matter because the editorial content will be relevant to the content shared.
Moreover, the article’s author will consider adding a backlink only when they are sure that the link will help their readers. They are added based on the content written, so they are considered natural and organic.
Do note that editorial backlinks are what Google is looking for. Anyone reading editorial content will value the backlink of your website and web pages as well.
3. Blogger Outreach Backlinks
If you know a few bloggers who write content relevant to your industry or your website, you can reach out to them to add backlinks. And when you do that, that’s called blogger outreach backlinks. But the crux is reaching out to bloggers who share content that is relevant to your industry.
Considering that you reach out to these bloggers when they place your backlink, it will create an opportunity for your website to be seen by more people because when readers find backlinks in a blog, they do click on that.
4. Free Tool Backlinks
Free tool backlinks are a way to entice a reader to check what the website is about. In addition, free tool backlinks allow websites to help their readers because they highlight that there is something that they can try for free.
The free tool doesn’t have to be the full version of the tool, just the basic version. But ensure that the free tool backlink used in the content is relevant. Yet again, relevancy plays an important role. Call to action is also an excellent way to add free tool backlinks. This will prompt readers to try it.
5. Infographic Backlinks
Infographics are created to teach readers or help them readers understand a particular topic. Infographics are beneficial for the readers because they use both texts and images. So, when the infographic gets linked with a backlink, it becomes an infographic backlink.
Whenever someone shares the same infographic, whether on a guest blog, social media channels, or website, your website gets credited as the infographic’s creator.
6. Business Profile Backlinks
Businesses apart from their company website create multiple online profiles. Probably a Facebook page, Instagram profile, LinkedIn profile, and so on. What one can do is link their website to these profiles, and that’s called a business profile backlink.
The links can be on industry-specific directories, social media networks, and business listings. Create different profiles on different platforms and find a place where you can add a backlink.
7. Social Profile Backlinks
Social profile backlinks play an important role when it comes to ranking factors. Moreover, social media is here to stay and not going anywhere. All the social media profiles you have are important because they increase your visibility and help you grow.
The core purpose of having social profiles is to share more information about who you are, what you do, how you can help, and what you have accomplished, but all these things will go in vain if no one checks your website. That’s why you should add social profile backlinks to your profile, the blogs you have shared, and anywhere relevant.
8. Q&A Backlinks
Q&A sites help people to find information on different subjects. For example, Quora is a fantastic Q&A site where one can add a backlink to an answer that will benefit the reader. Moreover, it diversifies your link profile as well.
Although Q&A backlinks are nofollow links, they shouldn’t be ignored. Q&A backlinks drive traffic to your website, establish trust and credibility, and improve SEO.
9. Press Release Backlinks
When you are new in the industry, have launched something new, have an important announcement to make, or are newsworthy, nothing can be better than press releases.
When you contact a relevant PR agency that spreads the news that resonates with your industry, the audience reading the PR is encouraged to check your website.
PR works in multiple ways; it helps build your credibility, and improves your visibility, and a backlink added in a press release is a sure-shot way to drive more traffic to your website.
10. Testimonial Backlinks
Testimonials are valuable to customers. Through testimonials, a customer finds out more information about the product they are interested in and becomes confident to go for it. The best way to acquire a testimonial backlink is to contact companies that offer them a testimonial, and in return, they will add a backlink that will take them to your website.
Testimonial backlinks can also be added to case study websites. Since testimonials play an important role in decision-making, this shouldn’t be overlooked.
11. Forum Links
Forum links are acquired by participating in online communities relevant to your niche. By adding your website link in discussions or signature areas, you can gain backlinks. However, it’s essential to ensure that these forums are reputable and the content is relevant to avoid spam penalties.
12. Directory Backlinks
These are links from online directories where your website is listed. While they were once highly valuable, only a few select directories, such as Google My Business and Yelp, still hold SEO value today. Avoid low-quality directories, as they can harm your SEO efforts.
13. Broken Link Building
Broken link-building strategy involves finding broken links on other websites and offering your link as a replacement. It’s a win-win situation where you help the site owner fix a problem while gaining a high-quality backlink.
14. Business Listing Backlinks
Like directory backlinks, these come from listing your business on platforms like Yelp, Yellow Pages, or industry-specific directories. They help with local SEO and are important for businesses targeting local customers.
15. Footer Links
These are links placed in the footer section of a website. While they can be valuable, overuse or placing irrelevant links can lead to penalties. It’s best to use footer links sparingly and only when they provide genuine value to the user.
1. Dofollow Link
Search engines, such as Google value do follow links and are the ones that are useful for SEO. do follow links are organic, which is why Google acknowledges them. And, to cut it short, these backlinks tell Google that the website didn’t buy them. Instead, they are accurate and relevant to the content written.
Indirectly do-follow links inform Google and other search engines that the content is high quality and valuable to the readers. The source code of a do-follow link will be straightforward. Also, it doesn’t require rel attributes, unlike the others
2. Nofollow Link
When it comes to nofollow, these are less valuable backlink types and less common. When such links are used, they tell the search engines that they are better to be ignored. One should ignore these links because they tell webmasters that these links are not to be followed.
The source code for nofollow will look like a dofollow link, but the main difference between the two will be the use of the tag called rel=nofollow.
Even if someone uses a nofollow link, there has to be a good mixture of dofollow and nofollow links because that’s what Google suggests. However, do remember that Google considers do follow links to be more valuable.
3. UGC Link
UGC link (Rel=ugc), otherwise known as the user-generated link, is a new link attribute. It tells Google that the link used is an indication that it is generated by users. The introduction of this link is a lifesaver for webmasters.
UGC links allow webmasters to tell Google that the specific link is not added by them but by other people in the comment section or a forum post.
4. Sponsored Link
Sponsored link, rel=sponsored, is a new link attribute that Google released not a long time back. These are paid links, which, yet again, Google doesn’t want you to use a lot. This type of link is for advertisements, places as a form of sponsorship, and when someone has paid for it to be used.
These links don’t have any editorial endorsement when it comes to a webmaster’s perspective; however, with this link, Google finds out that it is untrustworthy.
link attributesSource: Moz
1. Natural Backlinks
Natural backlinks are valued by Google and SERPs the most. One acquires these backlinks because of the high-quality content. In addition, these are white-hat and completely free.
SEO says that natural backlinks are widely accepted, and are the safest. If you have acquired natural backlinks, your website is safe from Google penalties. Moreover, natural links will save you money from doing backlink outreach campaigns and your time.
If Google finds natural backlinks in high-quality content, rest assured, your website has better chances of ranking in SERP. Moreover, the natural link used in the content has to be relevant. Therefore, the more high-quality content that adds natural backlinks to your web page, the better.
You receive brand mentions because readers will see your brand name mentioned in the high-quality content, and it also works as a helpful tool to increase your brand awareness.
2. Paid Backlinks
Many websites use paid backlinks to increase their site’s ranking in SERP. Although it helps your website and web pages to gain recognition since someone else will be adding your website’s name to their website, you will be paying those sites for backlinks; that’s why they are called paid backlinks.
Paid links were a great way to improve the visibility of a website and improve the domain authority, but soon after the introduction of black hat SEO, paid backlinks began to be considered a way to manipulate the search engines since they are not organic but intentional.
Another reason paid backlinks are risky is that you never know where the backlink is added to and whether the content is relevant to the backlink used. A paid backlink increases your brand awareness, but does Google consider the backlink to be valuable?
The answer is Google gives less credit to paid backlinks. Common examples of paid backlinks are affiliate links on sponsored posts.
3. Outreach Backlinks
Outreach backlinks can be both paid and natural, depending on what the other websites want. It’s a practice to reach out to websites with high domain authority, asking them to add your website as a backlink.
The way it is done is that the other website will see whether adding your website as a backlink in their content will value their off-site SEO or not.
HARO is an excellent tool to use for outreach backlinks. It connects the website with multiple media sources, which will be beneficial for you. In addition, it saves time and effort. Apart from HARO, other methods of outreach backlink prospects are broken links, resource page links, and listicle posts.
Some types of backlinks are considered outdated today because they are no longer as effective as they once were. These include:
It is important to note that not all directory backlinks, article marketing backlinks, and comment spamming backlinks are outdated. However, it is important to be selective when acquiring these types of backlinks and ensure they are from high-quality websites.
Final Words
Backlinks are crucial for SEO, but quality matters more than quantity. Avoid low-quality or spammy backlinks, as they can harm your website’s ranking. Focus on building high-quality, relevant backlinks from reputable sources to boost your site’s authority and improve your search engine visibility. Ultimately, craft a link-building strategy that ensures the best results.
Yes, Google considers backlinks to be one of the top factors for ranking websites. High-quality, relevant backlinks can significantly impact your website’s ranking on SERPs.
Google typically takes a few days to a few weeks to recognize and index new backlinks. The exact time can vary based on the website’s authority, the link’s quality, and how often Google crawls the linking site.
Absolutely! In addition to their SEO benefits, backlinks can drive direct referral traffic from the linking site to yours.
There is no exact number, as it depends on your website's size and authority. However, acquiring too many backlinks in a short period can look unnatural and may result in penalties.
Yes, low-quality or spammy backlinks can harm your SEO, leading to penalties or lower rankings in search engines.
A natural, steady growth in backlinks is ideal. Acquiring a few high-quality backlinks per month is more beneficial than gaining hundreds of low-quality ones.
Toxic backlinks are links from low-quality, spammy, or irrelevant websites that can harm your SEO. They can lead to penalties or reduced rankings.
The toxic score indicates how harmful a backlink might be to your SEO. Tools like SEMrush and Moz provide toxic scores to help you identify and disavow harmful backlinks.
You can disavow toxic backlinks using Google’s Disavow Tool, which tells Google to ignore these links when assessing your site.
Editorial backlinks from authoritative, relevant websites are considered the most powerful as they carry significant SEO value and are often earned naturally.
Tools like Ahrefs, Moz, and SEMrush can help you analyze your backlinks and identify those that might be harming your SEO.
Ahrefs, Moz, and SEMrush are among the top tools for checking backlinks. They offer comprehensive reports and analysis on the quality of your backlinks.
Backlinks can start influencing your rankings within a few weeks, but it may take several months to see their full impact on your SEO.
Yes, backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors in SEO. Quality backlinks can significantly improve your rankings, while poor ones can hurt your site.
Focus on building backlinks to your most important pages, such as your homepage, cornerstone content, and high-converting landing pages. These will have the most significant impact on your SEO.
