Let’s be real,  backlinks are still what separate page one from page ten in Google. In SEO backlinks are a core concept for improving rankings and visibility, serving as endorsements that signal trust and authority to search engines.

Link quality and diversity are more important than nearly anything else in SEO. There are different types of backlinks, each with varying effects on SEO performance and search visibility. But here’s what nobody tells you: one link from The New York Times will outperform 100 directory submissions every single time.

Most guides simply list backlink types without explaining which ones are effective. As a result, you may spend months pursuing links that have no impact on your rankings or search engine results pages.

This guide clarifies the facts. We break down 10 types by what they do, how difficult they are to obtain, and which ones genuinely influence search rankings. Analyzing backlinks is essential for identifying links that truly improve SEO performance and help you move up the SERPs.

You’ll know exactly where to spend your time and which tactics will waste months or get penalized.

Backlinks still rank among the top three factors for Google search rankings, indicating content authority, relevance, and trustworthiness to search algorithms.  

If you are new to this area, begin by understanding what link building truly is before exploring different types of backlinks.

What Are Backlinks? 

Backlinks, also known as inbound links or incoming links, are links from a linked website pointing to a specific linked page on your site.

Google uses them as trust signals when ranking pages. Each backlink passes different amounts of ranking power, often referred to as link juice, based on the source site’s authority, relevance, and link attributes.

Think of backlinks as votes of confidence, when authoritative sites in your niche link to your content, they signal to search engines that your information is trustworthy and valuable. 

One link from a major publication outranks hundreds of directory links because editorial standards matter more than volume. For maximum SEO benefit, it’s important to get backlinks to relevant pages on your site.

The quality factors that determine backlink value include domain authority of the linking site, topical relevance between sites, placement within content (contextual vs sidebar), anchor text used, and whether the link is dofollow or nofollow.

Editorial backlinks are links that are obtained from purely having a site that produces good quality content.

Technical Classifications You Need To Know

Link Attribute Types Compared

Link Type	HTML Tag	Passed PageRank?	Best For	Example Use Cases
Dofollow	No special tag	✅ Yes (Full)	Editorial links, guest posts, citations	News articles, blog references, resource pages
Nofollow	rel=”nofollow”	⚠️ Hint only (since 2019)	User content, untrusted sources	Social media, Wikipedia, some news sites
Sponsored	rel=”sponsored”	❌ No	Paid placements, ads	Sponsored posts, affiliate links, advertisements
UGC	rel=”ugc”	❌ No	User-generated content	Forum posts, blog comments, user reviews

Google changed nofollow to “hints” in 2019 rather than strict directives . This means Google may still credit certain nofollow links if they appear editorial and natural, particularly from authoritative sources like major news outlets.

External vs Internal Backlinks

External backlinks come from other domains and build domain authority through third-party endorsement. Google aggregates these votes to determine site authority across the web. 

More high-quality external backlinks equals stronger rankings for competitive keywords. Building relationships with website owners is essential for securing these backlinks, as outreach and collaboration can lead to guest post opportunities or content placements.

Internal backlinks connect pages within your website. They help search engines discover pages, understand site structure, and distribute link equity across your domain. When you link from a high-authority page to a newer page, you pass ranking power internally.

The 10 Most Effective Backlink Types

Quick Comparison: All 10 Backlink Types

Type	What They Are	Authority Level	Difficulty	Time to Results	Best For
📰 Editorial	Natural links from journalists/publishers	Very High	Very Hard	2-4 weeks	Maximum authority ​
🎤 HARO/PR	Expert quotes in media	Very High	Hard	2-6 weeks	Fast authority wins
✍️ Guest Posts	Contributed articles with links	High	Medium	4-8 weeks	Scalable growth ​
📚 Resource Pages	Links from curated lists	High	Medium	6-12 weeks	Long-term stability ​
🔧 Niche Edits	Links added to existing content	High	Medium	4-8 weeks	Aged page authority ​
🔗 Broken Link	Replacing dead links	Medium-High	Medium	4-10 weeks	Win-win outreach ​
🎓 Scholarship	.edu links from programs	Very High	Hard	8-16 weeks	.edu authority ​
🛠️ Free Tools	Calculators/resources that attract links	Very High	Very Hard	3-12+ months	Passive long-term ​
🎙️ Podcasts	Guest appearances with show notes	Medium-High	Medium	2-6 weeks	Brand + links
⭐ Testimonials	Customer reviews with links	Medium	Easy	1-4 weeks	Quick wins

Other types of backlinks to consider: 

• Press Release Backlinks
• Badge Backlinks
• Footer Links
• Blog Comment Links
• Article Directory Links
• Image Backlinks
• Video Backlinks
• Forum Backlinks
• Social Media Backlinks

Business profile and directory links are crucial for local SEO and verifying business legitimacy.

Now let’s dive into each type with actionable strategies.

1. Editorial Backlinks

Editorial links happen when journalists, bloggers, or publishers link to you naturally without payment or requests. These deliver the most SEO power because they’re genuine endorsements from sources that maintain editorial standards.​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

Editorial backlinks come from content creators who discover your site organically and decide to reference it in their work. Sites like The New York Times, TechCrunch, or Harvard Medical School only link to authoritative sources they trust. 

These high-authority backlinks from major publications deliver significantly more ranking power than lower-tier placements because of strict editorial oversight.

The value comes from editorial merit rather than relationships or outreach. When a journalist cites your research in an article, or a blogger references your case study, they’re validating your expertise to their audience and to Google.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Create original research with unique data that journalists want to cite. 
2. Run industry surveys and publish the results publicly. 
3. Develop comprehensive statistics pages that become go-to references in your niche. 
4. Build a media kit on your site making it easy for journalists to find statistics, expert bios, and contact information. 
5. Data-driven storytelling beats generic thought leadership for earning editorial placements consistently.

2. HARO and Digital PR Backlinks

HARO connects journalists seeking expert quotes with sources who can provide insights. You respond to relevant queries and land mentions in major media outlets with backlinks. A single 

HARO placement in Forbes or Entrepreneur delivers more ranking impact than dozens of guest posts .​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

HARO (Help A Reporter Out) sends three daily emails featuring journalist requests for expert sources. 

When you respond with valuable insights, journalists may include your quote along with a backlink to your site in their published articles. 

Digital PR extends this concept through proactive journalist outreach, press release distribution, and the use of press releases as a method for acquiring backlinks. 

Press release backlinks are obtained by distributing press releases to news outlets, journalists, and online publications; while most are ‘nofollow’ and have limited direct SEO value, they help with brand awareness, publicity, and referral traffic.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Sign up for HARO’s free tier and receive daily emails. 
2. Respond within 1-2 hours with specific, concise insights (journalists get dozens of responses). 
3. Lead with your most compelling point immediately. 
4. Success rates hover around 5-15% as of 2024-2025, requiring consistent effort
5. Respond to 3-5 queries per day and track which types of requests convert best.

3. Guest Blogging Backlinks

Guest posting means writing articles for other websites in exchange for author bio or contextual links. It’s scalable when targeting relevant, authoritative sites with engaged audiences and editorial standards.​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

Guest post backlinks come from contributed articles on industry blogs and publications. You provide quality content to sites with existing audiences, and they credit you with author bio links or contextual links within the article. 

Guest post bio links are included in the author’s bio section, which is especially useful when backlinks are not allowed within the main content. 

Quality guest posts deliver referral traffic, brand exposure, and publisher relationships beyond just backlinks. The effectiveness of guest post backlinks depends on the authority and relevance of the host site.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Find blogs accepting contributions using searches like “write for us [topic]” or “guest post guidelines [industry]”. 
2. Review their existing content to identify gaps. 
3. Pitch 3-5 specific article ideas with brief outlines showing clear value. 
4. Deliver publication-ready content requiring minimal editing. 
5. Follow their style guide precisely and build relationships with editors for repeat placements.

4. Resource Page Backlinks

Resource pages are curated lists of helpful links on specific topics. They’re common on .edu sites, industry associations, and comprehensive guides. 

Getting listed means contextual backlinks from trusted sources that vet quality before linking. Linking to relevant pages within your niche or industry ensures maximum value from these resource page backlinks, as search engines prioritize contextually appropriate connections.​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

Resource pages compile the best tools, guides, and content on specific subjects. Universities maintain resource pages for students. 

Trade associations create directories of industry tools. These pages exist to help visitors find high-quality information quickly, so inclusion signals that your content meets quality standards.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Find them using search operators like “keyword + resources”, “keyword + intitle:resources”, or “keyword + helpful resources site:.edu” to target educational institutions. 
2. Review existing resources listed to understand quality standards. 
3. Craft personalized outreach emphasizing how your resource fills specific holes in their current list. 
4. Avoid generic “please add my link” requests, as they fail immediately.

5. Niche Edit Backlinks (Link Insertions)

Niche edits mean inserting your link into existing content on relevant websites. This tactic targets high-performing pages with established authority. 

Since pages already exist and have age, this can pass stronger link equity than new content.​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

Niche edits involve updating existing articles to include your link where it provides genuine value. 

The advantage over guest posting is efficiency, as no content creation is required, and you gain links from pages that already rank and have authority.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to find ranking content in your niche mentioning related topics. 
2. Look for comprehensive guides with outdated statistics, broken links, or missing resources you can provide. 
3. Reach out highlighting specific sections where your resource adds value. 
4. Frame it as helping them improve their content rather than just requesting links.
5. Expect 5-10% success rates on cold outreach.

6. Broken Link Building

Broken link building finds dead links on relevant websites, then suggests your content as replacement. 

Webmasters appreciate notifications since broken links hurt user experience and SEO, creating openness to your suggested substitutions.​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

This identifies 404 errors and dead pages that sites currently link to, then offers your relevant content as replacement. 

In this process, you are specifically replacing a broken link to a particular linked page with your own content, ensuring the new link points to a relevant and valuable resource. 

This works especially well on resource pages, link roundups, and older comprehensive guides where link rot naturally occurs. 

The tactic provides mutual value and you gain a backlink while helping webmasters fix quality issues.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Use tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Check My Links (Chrome extension) to scan sites for broken external links. 
2. Verify broken links manually before outreach. 
3. Email the webmaster with a helpful subject line like “Found a broken link on [page name]”. 
4. Point out exactly where the broken link appears, then suggest your content as a relevant replacement. 
5. Keep emails brief and helpful rather than salesy.

7. Scholarship Backlinks

Scholarship backlinks come from offering educational scholarships that colleges list on financial aid pages. 

These .edu backlinks carry exceptional authority because educational institutions are highly trusted domains in Google’s algorithms.​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

Scholarship link building involves creating a legitimate scholarship program, typically offering awards of $500 to $2,500, and contacting university financial aid offices to request inclusion on their scholarship resource pages. .edu domains carry unique authority because they represent established educational institutions with strict domain requirements.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Create a scholarship program webpage on your site with clear eligibility requirements, application process, award amount, deadlines, and selection criteria. 
2. Make it legitimate with genuine intent to award funds. 
3. Compile a list of universities using searches like “submit scholarship opportunity site:.edu”. 
4. Submit through their preferred method (often online forms or email). 
5. This works best for businesses with genuine commitment to education and budget for annual awards.

8. Free Tool and Resource Backlinks

Creating free tools, calculators, or templates that solve real problems generates passive backlinks as users discover and reference them. 

Think mortgage calculators, ROI calculators, or template generators attracting natural links.​

🤔 How Do They Work? 

Tool-based backlinks come from creating genuinely useful resources that solve specific problems in your industry. 

Once created, these attract links passively as users discover and reference them organically. Successful tools address specific pain points with functionality users can’t easily replicate.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Identify repetitive calculations or processes in your industry that frustrate users. 
2. Design tools that are simple to use but genuinely helpful. 
3. Build the tool on your site with clean design and clear instructions. 
4. Share it initially on Reddit, niche forums, and social media to seed usage. 
5. Reach out to bloggers writing roundup posts about industry tools. 
6. Track backlinks over time using link building software to measure ROI. 

Successful tools compound value over years, making this one of the highest ROI long-term strategies.

9. Podcast and Webinar Backlinks

Podcast and webinar backlinks come from appearing as a guest expert on industry shows. 

These are often referred to as podcast backlinks and video backlinks, which are specific types of backlinks obtained from podcasts and video-related content. 

Hosts typically link to guests in show notes, transcripts, and promotional materials, creating natural backlinks from engaged audiences. 

Video backlinks are links obtained from video-sharing platforms such as YouTube, Vimeo, or Dailymotion.

🤔 How Do They Work? 

When you appear on podcasts or webinars, hosts usually create show notes pages with guest bios and links to your site. 

The value extends beyond backlinks to brand exposure, authority building, and direct traffic from listeners interested in your expertise. Podcast audiences are often highly engaged niche communities.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Search for podcasts in your niche using “[industry] podcast” or “[topic] podcast guests”. 
2. Use podcast directories like Apple Podcasts or Spotify to find shows. 
3. Look for episodes featuring similar guests or covering topics where you have expertise. 
4. Reach out to hosts with compelling pitches highlighting your unique perspective. Reference specific episodes showing you understand their audience. 
5. Suggest 3-5 talking points or questions.

10. Testimonial and Review Backlinks

Testimonial backlinks come from providing reviews or case studies for products and services you actually use. 

Companies often display customer testimonials on their sites with links back to reviewers’ websites, creating easy backlink opportunities. 

Badge backlinks are another way to earn links, these are obtained when a website displays a digital badge or seal, often as recognition or certification, that links back to your site. 

🤔 How Do They Work? 

When you use B2B software, services, or tools, many companies request testimonials from satisfied customers. 

In exchange for your feedback, they feature your testimonial on their site with a link back to your company. The best testimonial links come from well-known tools and services in your industry.

✍️ How to Build Them: 

1. Make a list of every software tool, service, or product you genuinely use in your business. 
2. Check if those companies have testimonial or case study pages. 
3. Reach out to account managers offering to provide a testimonial. 
4. Write 2-3 paragraphs describing specific results or benefits you’ve experienced. 
5. Include concrete metrics when possible (improved efficiency, cost savings, performance gains). 
6. Offer to participate in detailed case studies for multiple backlinks.

Which Backlink Types Should You Prioritize?

Focus on high-value editorial backlinks, HARO placements, and free tool backlinks for maximum long-term authority gains. 

Scale with guest posts and resource page outreach for consistent monthly growth.

Prioritization Framework

Priority Level	Backlink Types	Why Prioritize	Action Plan
🔥 High Priority	Editorial, HARO/PR, Free Tools, Scholarship	Maximum authority transfer, highest long-term ROI	Respond to 3-5 HARO queries daily, create 1 linkable asset per quarter
✅ Medium Priority	Guest Posts, Resource Pages, Niche Edits, Broken Link, Podcasts	Scalable strategies with consistent results	2-3 guest post pitches monthly, 5-10 resource outreach emails weekly
⚡ Quick Wins	Testimonials	Easy to execute, fast implementation	Submit 5 testimonials this month to tools you use
❌ Avoid Completely	PBNs, Link Farms, Comment Spam, Sitewide Links	Risk penalties, zero long-term value	Focus budget on quality over quantity

Timeline Expectations:

• Expect 3-6 months to see measurable ranking improvements from quality link building campaigns.
• Editorial and HARO links can deliver results within weeks when placed on major publications . 
• Guest posts typically show impact within 4-8 weeks. Passive strategies like free tools compound over years.
• Track your backlink profile using link building software like Ahrefs or Semrush. 
• Monitor referring domain growth quarterly rather than obsessing over daily changes. 
• Learn how to check your website rank to measure direct impact of link building efforts.

Toxic Backlink Types to Avoid

Paid link networks sell backlinks explicitly for SEO, directly violating Google’s policies. These networks offer packages like “50 high DA backlinks for $99,” using Domain Authority metrics to disguise low-quality placements. 

Google’s algorithms detect unnatural link velocity, shared hosting footprints, and network patterns. 

Additional toxic link types to avoid:

❌ Spammy backlinks – Low-quality or irrelevant links from suspicious or unrelated sites can harm your SEO and trigger penalties.

❌ Paid links – Buying links or using paid placements, especially from non-reputable sources, violates search engine guidelines.

❌ Private blog network (PBN) backlinks – Links from PBNs are easily detected and penalized by search engines.

❌ Article directories and content farms – Sites like EzineArticles were decimated by Google’s Panda updates

❌ Sitewide links – Footer or sidebar links on every page look manipulative

❌ Comment spam – Blog comments with optimized anchor text provide zero value

❌ Irrelevant niche links – Random links from unrelated industries signal manipulation

❌ Excessive link exchanges – “I’ll link to you if you link to me” at scale creates obvious patterns

Low-quality or manipulative links can harm your SEO and lead to penalties. Risky practices like buying links or using Private Blog Networks can result in search engines penalizing or even deindexing your site. 

To maintain a healthy backlink profile, it’s important to regularly monitor your backlinks and disavow low-quality or toxic links.

Get Professional Backlinks 🚀

Understanding backlink types is just the first step. The key to sustainable SEO growth lies in building a diverse backlink profile that combines editorial links, HARO placements, guest posts, and resource page mentions over time.

Ready to build high-authority backlinks without spending months on manual outreach?

If you’re looking for a professional link-building agency specializing in acquiring high-quality backlinks across multiple types, check out BuildingBacklinks.

Choose from niche edit packages, guest post placements, digital PR campaigns, or custom strategies mixing the most effective backlink types based on your niche and ranking goals. 

Frequently Asked Questions