Types of Backlinks to Get: The Top 17 for SEO

Last updated November 14, 2024

What type of backlinks are most important for SEO? How do they differ? In this article, I will provide you with the top 17 types of backlinks to get. Furthermore, you will find expert advice on how to obtain high-quality backlinks and improve search engine visibility. 

What is a Backlink?  
A backlink refers to a hyperlink that originates from one site and directs to another. 
 
Backlinks play a crucial role in SEO rankings, as Google relies on them to assess the website's credibility and authority.
 
Having a greater number of backlinks from reputable sources increases the likelihood of achieving higher rankings. 
You can consider using Semrush for your back-linking strategy. 
 
Semrush offers all the necessary tools you need such as the Backlink Analytics tool, Backlink Review tool, Backlink Gap tool, and the Link Building tool so you can control the entire link-building process from beginning to end. 
Why are Backlinks Important? 
Why are backlinks important for your website? Let's delve deeper to understand the significance of backlinks. 
1. Increased Domain Authority  
By obtaining links from pertinent and trustworthy websites, domain authority (DA) is enhanced over time. 
 
Moz created a scale that rates websites on a scale of 1 to 100. Increased scores suggest that your website's ranking on SERPs will be higher. 
 
Verify your website's domain rating using Moz then get inbound links from reputable websites having a Domain Rating of 40 or higher. Aim for DR 70+ websites to have the greatest effect on your search engine rankings. 
2. More Traffic and Leads Brought in Through Referrals  
Backlinks serve a purpose beyond just enhancing the performance of your website. Indeed, they have the potential to drive traffic from referrals and attract potential clients. 
 
This happens when an individual clicks on hyperlinks within a piece and is directed to the linked site's webpage. 
 
However, it's unpredictable which media outlet or blog post will result in a higher conversion rate and more website leads. Therefore, do not create links only for the purpose of increasing referral traffic. 
3. Improved Position in Search Results  
If your site receives top-notch backlinks, Google views it as a reliable source, ultimately boosting your rankings in search results.
 
Research have shown a clear connection between the amount of keyword rankings and referring domains. So, it is necessary for SEOs to concentrate on obtaining a large number of backlinks. 
 
However, note that having an abundance of poor-quality backlinks will not be effective as Google could view them as spam. What makes a quality backlink? 
 
A top-notch backlink is obtained from a reputable website with high domain authority, which is trusted by both search engines and users. 
 
With that being said, I recommend obtaining a smaller number of high-quality backlinks instead of focusing on quantity. 
 
Tools like Semrush's Backlink Analytics can help you assess your backlinks’ quality. 
 
Its Toxicity Score metric, combined with other features for analyzing backlinks, simplifies the process of assessing the health of your backlink. 
What are the Types of Backlinks to Get?
So, what are the types of backlinks to get? Here are the top 17 effective backlink types and strategies to acquire them. 
1. Dofollow Backlink 
Dofollow links enable search engines to track them, transferring link equity to the linked page. By defalt, all links are dofollow and don't need a rel="dofollow" attribute to be used. 
 
Having reputable websites linking to your content with "Dofollow" links boost your website's credibility and elevate its ranking in search engine results. Your domain and page rating will increase as well. 
2. Nofollow Backlink 
Nofollow links have the attribute nofollow (rel=“nofollow”), which tells search engines to not follow them and not pass link equity to the page. 
 
Even though nofollow backlinks do not have a direct effect on authority, they can still generate website traffic and enhance a natural link profile. 
 
When linking to a page that you do not wish to endorse or that is sponsored or user-generated, consider using "Nofollow" links.
3. Editorial Backlink 
An editorial backlink is a link that is naturally obtained when other sites view your content as valuable and choose to link to the content. 
 
They are highly sought after in SEO because they are acquired through high-quality, relevant content instead of being bought or asked for. 
 
Hence, editorial backlinks greatly enhance SEO results by indicating to Google and other search engines that a content is credible and authoritative.
 
Typically, such links are sourced from incredibly authoritative sites with 80+ DR. Websites like Forbes and various news sites are examples of such platforms. 
 
To obtain editorial backlinks, concentrate on producing genuine content containing "originality nuggets". 
 
Instances include content demonstrating expertise, studies, real-life examples, valuable resources, groupings of specialists, and trials. 
 
One easy method to acquire editorial backlinks is by utilizing platforms that connect experts with journalists. 
 
Present your distinct perspective supported by real data to be featured in publications. Every day, these platforms send questions and answers via email to a journalist and a source.
4. Social Media Backlink 
Backlinks from social media are links from a social media site or page to your own website. These can be inserted in a post, in the comments section, on user profiles, or shared directly on the feeds. 
 
Despite being "Nofollow," social media links can enhance SEO by increasing traffic and engagement on your website indirectly.
 
This results in improved rankings because it increases "time on page" and enhances user behavior. Both are factors that determine rankings. 
 
Utilize attractive images, engaging video content, and stimulating posts on your social media platforms, along with a link to your website. 
5. Influencer Backlink
Influencers have high authority, they are respected in their industries, and their recommendations are strong. 
 
When they mention or link to your website in their content, Google views these backlinks as a vote of confidence, especially in the era of the E-E-A-T algorithm.
 
Collaborate with influencers in your niche for round-ups, joint studies, etc. Ask for a product review or recommendation, and run a creative contest on their social media channels or website linking back to you.
6. Directory Backlink
Backlinks in directories are acquired by adding your website to online directories or business listings, usually including a link to your website. 
 
They have the ability to improve local SEO and add variety to your backlink profile. However, avoid submitting your website to numerous directories. 
 
Concentrate on trustworthy, industry-specific directories that are related to your business and have an engaged audience. 
 
Additionally, make sure that the information you provide is the same on all listings, as Google takes note of this for local businesses. 
7. Broken Backlink
The tactic includes finding broken links on related sites and proposing your own content as an alternative. By offering a solution, you are gaining a backlink. 
 
Generate remarkable content pieces in order to encourage webmasters to backlink to them. Just as editorial backlinks, web content containing originality nuggets yields optimal outcomes. 
8. Guest Post Backlink
Guest post backlinks are backlinks obtained by creating and sharing content on websites that belong to the same niche or industry as yours.
 
Guest posts enhance the credibility and significance of your website in your field, providing SEO benefits and attracting specific visitors simultaneously. 
 
Select trustworthy websites for submitting guest posts, and make sure your content is thoroughly researched and offers value to the readers of the host site. 
 
Reach out to a content marketer at a media outlet to submit your guest post, or find a guest post submission form.
9. Paid Backlink
Paid link building is the act of a website giving money to another domain in exchange for a do-follow backlink pointing toward the website. 
 
While the impact may be impressive, it is important to remember that purchasing links is considered a black-hat SEO strategy. Google considers them to be link schemes and a breach of search engines' guidelines. 
 
When participating in sponsored link building, make sure the links are related to your specific industry and originate from legitimate websites, not private blog networks (PBNs). Ideally, they should originate from a business-related blog.
10. Testimonial Backlink
Gain backlinks by offering testimonials or reviews for products, services, or companies. Both the business and the reviewer benefit from the situation, making it a win-win. 
 
For businesses, it is an important type of social proof that enhances their credibility and reputation. 
 
Conversely, the reviewer will receive a chance for link-building. Simply choose products and services that you use, promote them, and then write a testimonial. 
11. Forum and Comment Backlink
Backlinks obtained by commenting on blog posts are referred to as comment backlinks. Similarly, forum backlinks are sourced from forum discussions.
 
Although they are seen as a method for obtaining backlinks, they’re frequently linked with limited relevance and authority.
 
Search engines recognize spam and often approach comment backlinks cautiously. Therefore, you should be careful when using them because of the potential harm these links could create. 
 
The popular forums that you can use to enhance your backlink strategy include Quora and Reddit.
12. Press Release Backlink
You can acquire these links by sharing press releases regarding your company's events or updates. When executed correctly, it is an effective strategy to increase brand visibility and enhance your search engine optimization efforts. 
 
Employ these when you need to notify individuals about a major event your brand is hosting, introduce a new service or product, or simply want to draw attention to your brand. 
 
The most effective options are generic or branded anchors, CTAs, and naked URLs.
 
Even though the majority of press release backlinks are typically designated as "Nofollow”, you can effectively implement link-building through press releases. 
13. Video Backlink 
These backlinks are sourced from video descriptions, comments, or video credits upon uploading your videos on platforms such as YouTube. 
 
Note that all links in YouTube content are designated as "Nofollow." 
 
Even though backlinks on YouTube do not directly improve SEO rankings, they are still visible in YouTube searches and can help drive traffic to your content. 
 
So, enhance video titles, descriptions, and tags with appropriate keywords to increase their impact on your SEO. 
14. Niche Edits Backlink 
Niche edits also referred to as curated links or link insertion, involve adding backlinks to current articles, listicles, or pages on a website instead of generating new content like with guest posts. 
 
The main advantage of niche edits is the ability to incorporate contextual links into pages that are already indexed and rank high. This indicates that you will begin receiving link equity very quickly. 
 
On the other hand, if you create backlinks from fresh content like guest posts or press releases, you'll need to wait for the page to get indexed, a process that can range from two weeks to several months. 
15. Image Backlink
This is a linked image connected to a website or page. Research shows that webpages that incorporate images receive more high-quality backlinks. 
 
These are the typical kinds of images/visuals that often attract backlinks without much effort:

• Visual representations of information. 

• Visual representations of data. 

• Pictures of a product. 

• Cartography. 

• Visual representations that back up the written information. 

If you discover that someone is making use of your image without giving you credit, contact the website administrators to request a backlink. 
 
Also, increase the visibility of your images by producing unique, top-notch visuals and assigning detailed file names and alt tags. 
16. Podcast Backlink
Acquire backlinks by appearing as a podcast guest or having your website featured in podcast shows. 
 
It is an excellent method to create home page connections, improve your online visibility, and get industry acknowledgment. 
 
Find important podcasts and websites and connect by sending customized messages. Some of the well-liked podcast platforms are Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
17. Footer Backlink
Links in the footer section of a website are located at its bottom and can be found on all pages. 
 
Because the footer remains fixed, it can be seen on each page. Utilize your website's footer to insert links to crucial pages, making it simple for visitors to locate information. 
 
Google regularly monitors footer links in order to ensure that user experience is prioritized over SEO tactics. 
 
While the majority of links in footer are usually internal, there exists occasions where it is necessary to include links to external sites, such as giving credit to a brand that created your website.
Conclusion  
You can utilize various kinds of backlinks to enhance SEO campaigns. Understanding the intricacies of different types of backlinks is just as important as obtaining them. 
 
Ensure you integrate various link-building strategies with other SEO efforts to enhance your online presence. Having a clear understanding of backlinks in SEO will allow you to create a strong backlink profile.
 
Semrush offers a complete set of Backlink tools necessary for your needs including the Backlink Analytics tool, Backlink Examination tool, Backlink Gap tool, and the Link Building Tool so you can take control of your entire link-building process from beginning to end.