6 types of backlinks that are good for SEO 🧐
Plus, four to avoid!
Let's take a closer look:
H/T: @seowithjenny
Plus, four to avoid!
Let's take a closer look:
H/T: @seowithjenny
1️⃣ Editorial backlinks
Being cited as an authoritative source within content can drive tons of referral traffic.🚦
To do this:
✅ Create high-quality content that other sites will want to cite as a source
✅ Include linkable assets (e.g. infographics) in your content
Being cited as an authoritative source within content can drive tons of referral traffic.🚦
To do this:
✅ Create high-quality content that other sites will want to cite as a source
✅ Include linkable assets (e.g. infographics) in your content
1️⃣ Editorial backlinks (cont'd)
✅ Use PR techniques like newsjacking or reactive PR platforms such as HARO (@helpareporter).
These allow you to be quoted as an expert source on a topic + score editorial links to your website.
✅ Use PR techniques like newsjacking or reactive PR platforms such as HARO (@helpareporter).
These allow you to be quoted as an expert source on a topic + score editorial links to your website.
2️⃣ Guest blogging backlinks
According to @authorityhacker's link building survey, guest posting is the most popular link building tactic among SEOs.
To find the best sites to reach out to:
- In Ahrefs' Content Explorer, plug a keyword/phrase and select "In title"
According to @authorityhacker's link building survey, guest posting is the most popular link building tactic among SEOs.
To find the best sites to reach out to:
- In Ahrefs' Content Explorer, plug a keyword/phrase and select "In title"
2️⃣ Guest blogging backlinks (cont'd)
- Filter your results by e.g. DR30-65.
For new sites looking to build links, this DR range works well because it's high enough to move the noodle—yet realistic enough to potentially get a link from that website.
- Filter your results by e.g. DR30-65.
For new sites looking to build links, this DR range works well because it's high enough to move the noodle—yet realistic enough to potentially get a link from that website.
2️⃣ Guest blogging backlinks (cont'd)
- Now that you've found some relevant sites, check each of them to see what recent topics it's covered. PSST: Check the quality of links in its backlink profile too!
- Use a tool like @EmailHunter to put together your outreach list.
- Now that you've found some relevant sites, check each of them to see what recent topics it's covered. PSST: Check the quality of links in its backlink profile too!
- Use a tool like @EmailHunter to put together your outreach list.
2️⃣ Guest blogging backlinks (cont'd)
- Next, reach out.
You can pitch topics relevant to your existing content and audience—or offer to produce an updated version of the site's underperforming content.
- Put together a detailed content brief on 1-2 topics and send that over.👇
- Next, reach out.
You can pitch topics relevant to your existing content and audience—or offer to produce an updated version of the site's underperforming content.
- Put together a detailed content brief on 1-2 topics and send that over.👇
2️⃣ Guest blogging backlinks (cont'd)
Remember to also share a link to your portfolio and inform them you'll be happy to share the content with your audience once it's published. 💥
Remember to also share a link to your portfolio and inform them you'll be happy to share the content with your audience once it's published. 💥
3️⃣ Relationship-based backlinks
Unlike editorial backlinks, relationship-based backlinks take time and effort to nurture.
Two ways to do this:
Option 1: Reach out to thank journalists who've already linked you, and express that you're willing to be contacted for further input.
Unlike editorial backlinks, relationship-based backlinks take time and effort to nurture.
Two ways to do this:
Option 1: Reach out to thank journalists who've already linked you, and express that you're willing to be contacted for further input.
3️⃣ Relationship-based backlinks (cont'd)
Once a journalist regards you as a trusted source of information, they're more likely to reach out for your insights where relevant.
Option 2: The three-way link exchange
Take extra care when using this tactic. Here's how it works:
Once a journalist regards you as a trusted source of information, they're more likely to reach out for your insights where relevant.
Option 2: The three-way link exchange
Take extra care when using this tactic. Here's how it works:
4. Backlinks in business profiles
Creating a free business profile is one way of building your digital footprint.
Business listing sites like @crunchbase, @Yelp and @insiderpages allow you to set up a profile in minutes—plus include a link to your own site.
Creating a free business profile is one way of building your digital footprint.
Business listing sites like @crunchbase, @Yelp and @insiderpages allow you to set up a profile in minutes—plus include a link to your own site.
5️⃣ Backlinks from public speaking
Participating in public speaking opportunities shows you're a subject matter expert and in turn, demonstrates E-E-A-T* well.
*Experience, expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness
Participating in public speaking opportunities shows you're a subject matter expert and in turn, demonstrates E-E-A-T* well.
*Experience, expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness
5️⃣ Backlinks from public speaking (cont'd)
You can earn these links through:
- Live seminars
- Webinars
- Podcasts
- Conferences
- Online courses
As a guest speaker, you'll likely have your bio posted on the official website—along with a link to your personal site.
You can earn these links through:
- Live seminars
- Webinars
- Podcasts
- Conferences
- Online courses
As a guest speaker, you'll likely have your bio posted on the official website—along with a link to your personal site.
6️⃣ Embedded asset links
Here's a lesser-known backlink type that serves as excellent brand exposure.
Embedded asset links can be divided into two categories:
- Tools and widgets
- Awards and badges
Here's a lesser-known backlink type that serves as excellent brand exposure.
Embedded asset links can be divided into two categories:
- Tools and widgets
- Awards and badges
6️⃣ Embedded asset links: Tools and widgets
Steps:
- Create a tool/widget on your site
-Make the code accessible for other website owners in your niche to embed the widget on their sites
- Ensure your brand is coded so that it shows within the embedded tool:
Steps:
- Create a tool/widget on your site
-Make the code accessible for other website owners in your niche to embed the widget on their sites
- Ensure your brand is coded so that it shows within the embedded tool:
6️⃣ Embedded asset links: Awards and badges
People love accolades—being named the best at something is worth displaying to potential customers.
Steps:
- Create a "best of" round-up post on your website—either based on your opinion or by running a poll on social media
People love accolades—being named the best at something is worth displaying to potential customers.
Steps:
- Create a "best of" round-up post on your website—either based on your opinion or by running a poll on social media
6️⃣ Embedded asset links: Awards and badges (cont'd)
- Reach out to the featured sites, informing them they've been voted the best at [topic]
- Give them a digital badge (with your brand + link to your site) that they can proudly display, like so:
- Reach out to the featured sites, informing them they've been voted the best at [topic]
- Give them a digital badge (with your brand + link to your site) that they can proudly display, like so:
And now, on to 4 types of backlinks to avoid 🙅
1️⃣ Link schemes
The use of unnatural links to affect rankings in Google Search results is known as link spam, or link schemes.
These include inbound *and* outbound links from your site.
Some examples:
1️⃣ Link schemes
The use of unnatural links to affect rankings in Google Search results is known as link spam, or link schemes.
These include inbound *and* outbound links from your site.
Some examples:
1️⃣ Link schemes (cont'd)
Let's hone in on two popular link schemes: Private blog networks (PBNs), and automated links.
PBNs are a collection of sites built purely to link to one another and raise the site's organic search exposure.
This creates trust signals artificially...
Let's hone in on two popular link schemes: Private blog networks (PBNs), and automated links.
PBNs are a collection of sites built purely to link to one another and raise the site's organic search exposure.
This creates trust signals artificially...
1️⃣ Link schemes (cont'd)
...but like any link scheme, could trigger a Google penalty.
Automated links are another no-go zone 🚫
This involves using automated link building software to send links at scale to one site—and are against Google's webmaster guidelines.
...but like any link scheme, could trigger a Google penalty.
Automated links are another no-go zone 🚫
This involves using automated link building software to send links at scale to one site—and are against Google's webmaster guidelines.
2️⃣ Low-quality or irrelevant directory links
We earlier mentioned creating business profiles on high-quality listing sites.
However, setting up business profiles *at scale* on any directory (regardless of the quality!) is also considered a spammy practice, so take heed.
We earlier mentioned creating business profiles on high-quality listing sites.
However, setting up business profiles *at scale* on any directory (regardless of the quality!) is also considered a spammy practice, so take heed.
3️⃣ Low-quality forum backlinks
Links that are shared in forums should appear naturally as part of a genuine discussion.
So don't spam them—it won't do anything for your site.
Here's an example of *how* to share links in forums (this depends on community guidelines, of course):
Links that are shared in forums should appear naturally as part of a genuine discussion.
So don't spam them—it won't do anything for your site.
Here's an example of *how* to share links in forums (this depends on community guidelines, of course):
4️⃣ Non-newsworthy press release links
A press release is an official statement issued to the media—normally to announce something noteworthy, e.g.:
- Launch of product/service/business
- Major updates to a company (rebranding, acquisitions)
- Info about a crisis
A press release is an official statement issued to the media—normally to announce something noteworthy, e.g.:
- Launch of product/service/business
- Major updates to a company (rebranding, acquisitions)
- Info about a crisis
4️⃣ Non-newsworthy press release links (cont'd)
On the other hand, creating press releases solely to build links is a spammy practice.
It's all in the name: Newsworthy content = Content that media publications think is worth covering for their audience.
On the other hand, creating press releases solely to build links is a spammy practice.
It's all in the name: Newsworthy content = Content that media publications think is worth covering for their audience.
That rounds things up!
In short: Building backlinks the *right* way will positively impact your website, increase brand awareness, and drive referral traffic.
Want more of such content, free to your inbox?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter ⭐
ahrefs.com
In short: Building backlinks the *right* way will positively impact your website, increase brand awareness, and drive referral traffic.
Want more of such content, free to your inbox?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter ⭐
ahrefs.com
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