You wake up one morning, check your backlink tracker, and see a new link from Forbes. You didn’t pitch them. You didn’t pay them. You didn’t even know they were writing about your topic.

But there it is: a journalist found your research during their reporting, thought it was credible enough to cite, and linked to you. That’s an editorial link. 

Editorial links are important because they serve as authoritative, third-party endorsements from high-quality publications, which significantly enhance a website’s trustworthiness and search engine ranking. And they’re worth more than 10 guest posts combined.

Why? Google knows the difference between a link you earn through pure content quality and a link you negotiated through outreach.

In this guide you’ll learn the exact framework to verify if a link is truly editorial (not just what the vendor called it). Then you’ll get proven tactics that actually attract editorial links, from converting unlinked mentions in 30 minutes to publishing research that earns dozens of citations over months.

No theory. No fluff. Just the strategies that work right now.

What Are Editorial Links?

An editorial link is a backlink that a publisher adds to their content without you asking for it. They find your content through Google, social media, or industry news. They read it. They link to it because it helps their readers.

You never contact them. You don’t request the link. They discover you on their own.Think about it this way,  When Forbes cites a research study in an article, or when TechCrunch references a tool in a product review, those are editorial links. 

The writer found that content during research and chose to include it. That voluntary mention signals content quality way more than links you negotiated through outreach.

Here’s what makes a link editorial:

• Zero solicitation: The publisher finds and links to you without any contact from your team
• They choose everything: The publisher picks the anchor text, placement, and context
• Content value drives it: The link exists because your resource adds value to their article
• Nothing exchanged: No payment, no reciprocal link, no contributor agreement
• Real editorial standards: It appears on sites with actual editorial guidelines and review processes

Publishers who add editorial links typically work for news organizations, industry publications, research institutions, or authoritative blogs. These sites have editorial standards that require citing credible sources. 

That’s why these links carry more ranking weight, search engines see them as independent quality endorsements.

How to Earn Editorial Links? 

You can’t buy editorial links. You earn them by creating content worth referencing and making sure publishers can find it. Creating high-quality, link worthy content is essential for attracting editorial links.

Here’s the strategy: Start with quick wins that convert existing assets. Then invest in content creation for long-term growth. Publishing original research and statistics is particularly effective for generating editorial links.

Promoting your content proactively increases the likelihood of earning editorial links.

👉 START HERE (Takes 10 Minutes)

Set up Google Alerts for: “[your brand name] -site:yoursite.com“

You’ll get emails when sites mention you without linking. Reply asking for a link. 30-50% say yes. That’s your first editorial link.

Quick Win Tactics (0-30 Days)

1. Convert unlinked brand mentions: Set up Google Alerts to track when sites mention your brand, product, or executives without linking. Then contact the author politely and ask them to add a link. Success rates hit 30-50% because publishers often meant to link but forgot.

2. Find broken links and replace them: Use Ahrefs Content Explorer or Check My Links to find broken links on authoritative sites in your industry. Find content on your site that replaces the dead resource. Then email the site owner about the broken link and suggest your replacement.

3. Answer journalist queries on HARO: Respond to Help A Reporter Out requests where journalists need expert quotes or data. Give substantive answers with specific details and stats. When they quote you, they usually include an editorial link to your site.

Content Creation Tactics (60-90 Days)

4. Publish original research: Run surveys, analyze datasets, or conduct experiments that produce quotable statistics. A single quotable stat from your research can earn dozens of editorial citations across industry blogs and news sites.

5. Build comprehensive guides: Create in-depth resources that answer every question about a topic. Include step-by-step instructions, examples, and troubleshooting. When Backlinko publishes search engine statistics or BuzzStream releases link building surveys, hundreds of sites cite them. Why? Readers demand factual backing for claims.

6. Create free tools: Build ROI calculators, assessment templates, or browser extensions that solve real problems. Tools provide utility beyond information. That creates a stronger incentive for publishers to reference them in articles.

Ongoing Outreach Tactics

7. Run digital PR campaigns: Develop newsworthy angles about your research, product launches, or industry insights. Pitch journalists at relevant publications with story ideas. When coverage runs, you typically earn editorial links from the article and any syndication. Running digital PR campaigns is one of several effective link building strategies for earning editorial backlinks and securing backlinks from authoritative sites.

8. Target resource pages: Find curated lists of tools, guides, or resources in your niche. If your content matches their criteria and quality standards, suggest adding it. Suggesting your content for inclusion is a way to place links in relevant content and further diversify your link building strategies. Explain briefly why it fits.

Why Editorial Links Matter for SEO? 

Google loves editorial links. Why? Because when a publisher links to you without being asked, they’re putting their reputation on the line. That’s a strong trust signal.

Here’s the proof: 

As of 2025, 67.5% of SEO professionals say backlinks have a significant impact on rankings. And editorial links carry more weight than acquired or exchanged links.

Why they work so well:

Editorial links come from high-trust domains with real editorial standards. Those standards filter out low-quality sources. So when you get linked, it means something.

They also send referral traffic. Engaged readers click through to learn more. Plus, publishers use natural anchor text varied phrases based on what fits their article, not keyword-stuffed anchors.

The numbers back this up:

• 59% of SEOs believe backlinks will have even more impact in the future
• Pages ranking #1 gain 5-14.5% more dofollow backlinks each month
• 56.2% of SEO professionals prioritize both quality and quantity
• Companies with active blogs get 97% more backlinks than those without

Here’s the bonus: When major publications mention your research or tools, their audience discovers your brand through a trusted channel. That awareness extends beyond search traffic. It compounds over time, making editorial links valuable for long-term organic growth.

Editorial links are also excellent for brand building and brand recognition because they associate your company with reputable publications. The traffic from editorial links is often the highest quality, as visitors arrive pre-qualified and already trusting you by association. 

Search engines view editorial links as natural endorsements, which improves your rankings, credibility, and leads to more organic traffic. Earning authoritative editorial links can result in more organic traffic, increased audience reach, and stronger brand recognition.

How to Identify Editorial Backlinks? 

Want to know if a link is truly editorial? Check these five things. If any fail, it’s probably a guest post or paid placement not editorial.

Five-Check Verification Framework.

1. Check the author: Did someone from your company write the article? If yes, that’s a guest post, not editorial. Real editorial links come from independent journalists or bloggers with no connection to your brand.
2. Search your records: Look in your CRM, email, and link building tools for any contact with that publisher. Editorial links happen without pitches or relationship building. If you find outreach records, that link came from digital PR or blogger outreach.
3. Check the placement: Editorial links appear in article body text where they support a claim. Links in author bios, sidebars, or footers? Those usually mean negotiated placements, not editorial decisions.
4. Look at the anchor text: Publishers choose natural phrases like “according to recent research” or “data shows”. Exact-match keyword anchors or over-optimized phrases? That’s guest posting or paid insertion.
5. Scan for disclosures: Look for labels like “Sponsored,” “Paid Partnership,” or “Advertorial”. Paid content includes disclosure. If you see those labels, it’s not editorial.

Common Editorial Link Mistakes

Thinking guest posts are editorial links: Here’s the reality, if you pitched the article, negotiated the link, or provided content to the publisher, it’s not editorial. It’s acquired. 

Acquired links are generated when outreach is performed with the specific goal of link building, while editorial links are added to a website solely due to the value they add to the content. 

True editorial links happen when publishers discover your existing content on their own and reference it without your involvement.

👉 Buying “editorial” links: Services that sell “editorial link placements” are selling guest posts or sponsored content disguised as editorial mentions. Here’s the truth: by definition, you can’t buy editorial links. Any financial transaction disqualifies it from being editorial.

👉 Expecting fast results: Editorial links take time. They accumulate over 3-6 months as Google indexes your content and publishers discover it through research. Content you publish today won’t attract citations until journalists and bloggers find it organically.

👉 Ignoring where the link appears: A link buried in a sidebar or footer isn’t as valuable as one in article body text. Placement context matters as much as domain authority.

Editorial Links vs Other Link Types 

Editorial links are different from guest posts, paid placements, and user-generated links in four ways: how you get them, who controls them, how the anchor text is chosen, and their ranking value.

Guest posts require contributor agreements. Paid links involve money. Editorial links? They come from voluntary publisher decisions without any contact from you.

Paid links violate search engine guidelines and can lead to a Google penalty, while editorial links are earned instead.

Link Type Comparison:

Link Type	Acquisition Method	Who Controls Placement	Anchor Text Selection	SEO Value	Disclosure Required
Editorial	Organic discovery	Publisher alone	Publisher’s choice	Highest	None
Guest Post	Content contribution	Contributor & publisher	Negotiated	Moderate-High	Optional
Paid/Sponsored	Financial payment	Advertiser & publisher	Advertiser specifies	Low (nofollow)	Yes
Niche Edit	Outreach & insertion	Link builder & publisher	Link builder chooses	Moderate	Depends
User-Generated	User contribution	Platform user	User decides	Low-Moderate	None

Why ranking value differs:

Editorial links show that an independent publisher evaluated your content and deemed it reference-worthy. That creates a quality signal Google rewards. Editorial links are considered more valuable than other types of backlinks from other websites because they come from high-quality, authoritative websites and are earned naturally through compelling content.

Guest posts? They signal promotional intent. Contributors write specifically to include their links. That reduces trust value even when the content is good.

Paid links have the lowest value because Google explicitly devalues links obtained through financial transactions. 

Google’s Webmaster Guidelines say paid links should use rel=”nofollow” or rel=”sponsored” attributes. Publishers who sell links without proper attributes risk penalties.

Building Relationships for Editorial Links 

When it comes to earning high quality editorial links, building relationships is just as important as creating link worthy content. Search engines reward links that come from genuine endorsements, and those endorsements are far more likely when you have real connections with website owners, editors, and journalists in your industry.

Start by identifying the authoritative websites and relevant publications in your niche. Follow their editors and writers on social media, engage thoughtfully with their content, and share their articles with your own audience. 

Over time, this consistent interaction helps you stand out as a valuable contributor to the community, not just another site owner looking for a quick backlink.

Attend industry conferences, webinars, and virtual events where you can meet journalists and website owners face-to-face (or screen-to-screen). These interactions often lead to opportunities for collaboration, interviews, or being quoted as an expert source, all of which can generate editorial links from high quality websites.

Building relationships isn’t about asking for links directly, it’s about establishing trust and credibility over time. The more you invest in genuine connections, the more likely you are to attract edit

Get Professional Editorial Links 🚀

Ultimately, the key to earning editorial links lies in creating reference-worthy content that publishers discover organically, original research, comprehensive guides, and tools that fill gaps in your industry.

But building this content and ensuring journalists can find it takes time and expertise.

Ready to earn high-authority editorial links without the months of trial and error?

If you’re looking for a professional link-building agency that specializes in editorial link strategies including original research production, unlinked mention conversion, HARO management, and digital PR campaigns, check out BuildingBacklinks.io.

Choose from editorial link-focused packages that combine content creation, journalist outreach, and strategic promotion, or custom campaigns tailored to your niche and authority-building goals.

Frequently Asked Questions