Here’s a fact: A high-quality backlink doesn’t lose value over time. The best ones, which are relevant, earned naturally, and placed on authority domains, keep lifting your rankings long after they go live. Now pair that with another pattern: most pages have seen a real traffic spike after the six-month mark.
Coincidence? Not really.
Long-term traffic and sustained SEO growth are earned through a well-structured backlinking strategy. If you want your visitor count to increase, focus on building backlinks that actually matter. Authority. Relevance. Optimization. That’s the winning combo.
What Are Backlinks and Why Are They Important?
Backlinks are like referrals. When another site links to yours, it’s voting for you despite a large pool of information providers. This sends a strong signal to Google, “This page is worth trusting.”
Think of it like reputation in real life. If a well-known expert backs you, people listen. Same deal here: the more credible sites link to you, the more search engines treat your site like a big deal.
Here’s how backlinks move the SEO needle:
- Climb Higher in SERPs: High-quality backlinks signal authority. Google rewards that with better rankings.
- Boost Domain Authority: Tools like Moz measure Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA). These parameters are mainly driven by these scores.
- Drive Referral Traffic: A link isn’t just SEO juice — it’s also a traffic lane sending real users to your site.
- Help Google Crawl Your Site: Backlinks guide search bots to discover and index your content faster.
Quality works more often than quantity. A strong backlink from a good source is far more valuable than 100 weak links. Bad links? They don’t just get ignored — they can drag your rankings down.
Top 20 Types of Backlinks That Boost Ranking
Not all backlinks are created equal. Some push rankings, others build trust, and a few do both. Here’s your no-fluff list of the 20 most impactful types of backlinks worth chasing:
1. Editorial Backlinks
Often renowned as the gold standard of backlinks, editorial backlinks are the most valuable and helpful type for your site.
- What they are: Natural mentions from authority sites like news or magazine websites, big blogs, or industry journals linking to your content.
- Why they matter: When you get editorial backlinks, Google sees them as strong endorsements of your content. This boosts your site’s authority and trust.
- How to earn them: Editorial backlinks are often earned by publishing original data, insightful guides, or detailed, stunning visuals. You can also offer insights to journalists using tools like HARO, which would help get featured.
2. Guest Post Backlinks
Writing for other reputable sites can provide you with these types of backlinks. Here you can include a link back to your site, often using the author bio or drifting in a citation back to your site.
- What they are: You write a blog for another site and drop your link naturally within the article or author bio.
- Why they matter: You reach out and borrow a new set of audience, flex your expertise, and with a link, you drive visitors back to your site.
- How to get them: Pitch real value to readers with reputable blogs in your niche to websites that accept guest posts. Here, don’t force your link—embed it smartly.
3. Resource Page Backlinks
If your website is positioned as a go-to resource for some topic and provides continuous value-driven content with trust and attention, you can gain a resource page backlink.
- What they are: These are links from curated lists of helpful, educational content.
- Why they matter: You’re seen as a go-to source for a specific topic.
- How to get them: Find resource pages in your space. Offer your content as a fresh, valuable addition.
4. Niche Directory Backlinks
Remember the directory log books with hundreds of numbers. A link to your website present in such online directories focusing on specific industries, locations, or types of business is a niche directory backlink.
- What they are: Listings from hyper-relevant industry directories.
- Why they matter: They help you show up in local or industry-specific searches.
- How to get them: Only use relevant and well-respected directories of your niche or location. Avoid generic, spammy ones.
5. Influencer & Blogger Backlinks
There is no better marketing than a personal one that happens through word of mouth. When influential people from your industry link out to your site, you get an influencer backlink.
- What they are: Links from industry voices like popular bloggers or social media experts who vouch for your content.
- Why they matter: Their audience already trusts them. That trust transfers.
- How to get them: Build actual relationships. Send your best work, pitch collaborations, or let them test your product.
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6. Webinar and Podcast Backlinks
Featuring in a webinar or podcast as a speaker can get you backlinks. These links help build an authority for your website over a certain niche.
What they are: Links in show notes or event pages when you’re featured.
- Why they matter: They connect through your brand with direct visibility to interested listeners, mostly promotional.
- How to get them: Be a guest. Offer actionable insights. Promote your site subtly but clearly.
- How to get them: Be a guest. Offer actionable insights. Promote your site subtly but clearly.
7. Business Profile & Social Media Links
These are credibility-boosting links from your official profiles on trusted platforms. They help search engines verify your business identity.
- What they are: Links from your profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, Yelp, Crunchbase, or Facebook.
- Why they matter: Even if they’re “nofollow,” they prove you’re real and trustworthy.
- How to get them: Complete every business profile. Be consistent. Add your URL wherever allowed.
8. Forum and Community Links
These come from platforms where real conversations between users take place. These are sites such as online forums, Q&A sites, or private communities.
9. Press Release Backlinks
When a media outlet or news site covers your brand or publishes your press release. They boost brand visibility and authority, especially when tied to newsworthy events or launches.
- What they are: Links from media coverage after you send a newsworthy update.
- Why they matter: High visibility and branding boost.
- How to get them: Announce real milestones. Use trusted distribution networks.
10. Testimonial Backlinks
It’s a low-effort, high-trust link that is often built when you’ve supported a business and feature your review on their site. You endorse them, and they return the favor.
- What they are: You say something nice about a tool or service, and they publish it with your link.
- Why they matter: Easy win. Build your brand credibility, too.
- How to get them: Reach out to companies you use and offer a thoughtful review.
11. Image Backlinks
Turn your visuals into link magnets. Original charts, infographics, and diagrams can earn you backlinks every time someone shares or embeds them.
- What they are: Links from visuals like infographics or data charts that others use.
- Why they matter: People love visuals. They link to what improves their content.
- How to get them: Design visuals that explain or wow. Add alt text. Ask for credit if reused.
12. Broken Link Building
Spot dead links on relevant sites and swoop in with your better content. You’re solving a problem and earning a link in return.
- What they are: Replacing dead links on other sites with your working content.
- Why they matter: You’re helping site owners while scoring a backlink.
- How to get them: Find broken links with tools like Ahrefs. Offer your content as the fix.
13. Dofollow Backlinks
These are the real power links. They pass authority and help boost your site’s rankings—exactly what Google loves.
- What they are: The default link type that passes authority (“link juice”).
- Why they matter: Directly influences rankings.
- How to get them: Focus on editorial and contextual links. Prioritize value.
14. Nofollow Backlinks
These backlinks drive traffic, diversify your link profile, and show Google you’re legit.
- What they are: These links carry a “nofollow” tag. They don’t pass link authority.
- Why they matter: Still valuable for traffic, branding, and natural link profile diversity.
- How to get them: Engage on big platforms, social channels, and comment sections.
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15. EDU & .GOV Backlinks
These are another gold standard for backlinks. Links from trusted institutions can supercharge your authority and search visibility.
- What they are: Links from education (.edu) or government (.gov) domains.
- Why they matter: These are trusted domains. Their data is used in academic research. Hence, they provide a major ranking power.
- How to get them: Create valuable resources or run scholarship campaigns that .edu or .gov sites might reference.
16. Unlinked Brand Mentions
When someone drops your name but forgets the link, follow up. These are easy wins hiding in plain sight.
- What they are: Your brand is mentioned, but no link.
- Why they matter: These mentions mean your site is valuable to them; you just need quick recitation.
- How to get them: You can directly ask the site owner politely for a link to your brand.
17. Acknowledgment Backlinks
Do something good, get mentioned for it. This is usually a thank-you gesture for a good relationship or contribution.
- What they are: Given when you sponsor, donate, or contribute to a project.
- Why they matter: This type of backlink often enhances brand trust and visibility.
- How to get them: Get involved. Be generous. Check if they link to sponsors or partners.
18. Badge Backlinks
Hand out digital awards or recognitions and watch people link back to show them off.
- What they are: Earned when you get a badge (e.g., Top Contributor, Certified Partner) and link back to the issuer. These backlinks are earned when you get a construct, certified, or
- Why they matter: Trust-building. Often from high-authority sites.
- How to get them: Create badge programs or win awards. Reach out to niche platforms.
19. Contextual Links (Niche Edits)
These are links embedded right inside relevant articles. They’re highly valued by Google and feel the most natural.
- What they are: Links placed naturally inside existing articles.
- Why they matter: Highly relevant and powerful. Google loves them.
- How to get them: Identify matching content on other sites. Pitch how your link enhances their piece.
20. Internal Backlinks
The simplest yet most overlooked backlink. Connect your content smartly to boost structure, navigation, and on-site SEO.
- What they are: Internal linking is a connection between your own site’s pages.
- Why they matter: They shape your site’s structure for the crawlers and keep users engaged.
- How to get them: Always cross-link to relevant pages using natural anchor text.
Each of these backlink types has a purpose. Mix them. Prioritize quality over volume. Always focus on user value first, backlink second. That’s how you win the long game.
Backlinks You Should Avoid
Not all backlinks are good news. Some are like spammy party crashers that wreck your SEO reputation. Google’s algorithms are smart enough to spot manipulation—and when they do, your site can drop like a rock in the rankings. Worst case? You get hit with a manual penalty and vanish from search results.
Avoid these toxic link types at all costs:
1. Paid Dofollow Backlinks
Paying for “dofollow” links is against the guidelines of Google. If it catches up, you risk a penalty or even deindexing of the page.
Pro Tip: If you’re sponsoring content, always use rel=”sponsored” or the nofollow tag.
2. Link Farms & PBNs (Private Blog Networks)
These networks exist solely to manipulate rankings by linking to low-quality, fake sites. They might promise fast results, but they’re a ticking time bomb. Google’s spam team loves to nuke these.
Bottom line: If a network offers hundreds of backlinks overnight, run.
3. Spammy or Irrelevant Links
- Auto-generated blog comments
- Links from shady forums
- Random directories with no niche focus
- Sites with zero topical relevance
These links don’t just look bad. They are bad. They dilute your site’s authority and confuse search engines about your actual niche.
Final Thoughts: Backlinks That Attract Traffic
Strong SEO doesn’t come from racking up links. It comes from earning the right ones. A high-impact backlink profile is built on three pillars: quality, relevance, and variety.
Focus on content that’s worth linking to. Build authentic connections with credible websites in your niche. And skip the shady shortcuts — they do more harm than good.
Play the long game. Solid backlinks pay off for months, even years, after they’re earned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Backlinks are the digital referrals or recommendations that link from one website to another. They often signal to search engines that your site has valuable, credible, and relevant information regarding a topic.
Spammy or irrelevant backlinks do more harm than good. Paid dofollow links, link farms, and PBNs can trigger search engine penalties, hurt your rankings, or even get your site removed from Google’s index entirely. Quality always beats shortcuts.
Building a strong backlink profile takes time, strategy, and consistency. Some links, like contextual niche edits, may pass SEO value quickly. But real authority and rankings grow over time as your backlink profile becomes more trusted and diverse.
