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    10 Types of Backlinks That Boost SEO and Authority

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    ·May 3, 2025
    ·17 min read
    10 Types of Backlinks That Boost SEO and Authority

    Backlinks help your website rank better on search engines. They show search engines that your content is useful and trustworthy. Here’s why backlinks matter:

    1. 93.8% of experts care more about link quality than quantity.

    2. Backlinks are the third most important ranking factor, after good content and page setup.

    3. Studies say over 90% of content gets no backlinks, so building links is very important.

    Getting dofollow links from trusted websites can boost your SEO and bring more visitors to your site.

    Key Takeaways

    • Backlinks help your website rank higher on search engines.

    • It's better to have a few good links than many bad ones.

    • Make interesting content so people share it and link to you.

    • Write guest posts to get links and grow your brand.

    • Fix broken links by offering your content as a replacement.

    1. Editorial Backlinks

    Editorial backlinks are very important for your website. These links come from good content where your site is mentioned naturally. They show search engines that your site is reliable and useful.

    Benefits of Editorial Backlinks

    Editorial backlinks help your website in many ways:

    • Improved Rankings: Websites with these links rank higher on search engines. Backlinko found top-ranking pages have 3.8 times more backlinks than lower ones.

    • Increased Organic Traffic: These links bring visitors from trusted sites with big audiences.

    • Enhanced Credibility: Links from trusted websites make users and search engines trust your site.

    • Broader Keyword Reach: Ahrefs says more backlinks help your site rank for more keywords.

    Study/Source

    Findings

    Semrush 2024 Study

    Better content and unique domain links improve rankings.

    Backlinko Study

    Top pages have 3.8x more backlinks than lower-ranked pages.

    Internet Marketing Ninjas Study

    85% of page 1 sites have over 1000 backlinks from unique domains.

    Ahrefs Data

    More backlinks mean ranking for more keywords.

    How to Earn Editorial Backlinks

    Getting editorial backlinks takes planning. Here’s how you can do it:

    1. Set Clear Goals: Decide what you want, like growing traffic by 21% in 3 months.

    2. Create High-Quality Content: Write helpful and interesting content that people want to share.

    3. Develop a Strong Outreach Strategy: Send personalized emails to bloggers and influencers. Show why your content is valuable.

    4. Leverage Broken Links: Find broken links on websites and suggest your content as a fix. This helps build connections too.

    5. Monitor and Measure Progress: Use tools like Ahrefs to check how new backlinks improve your SEO.

    Editorial backlinks are key to building your website’s authority. By making great content and connecting with others, you can earn these valuable links.

    2. Guest Post Backlinks

    Guest post backlinks are a great way to build links. These links come from articles you write for other sites. They help you get noticed and gain trust in your field.

    Advantages of Guest Post Backlinks

    Guest post backlinks have many benefits for your website. Here’s why they are important:

    • SEO Improvement: Over half of pages with guest post backlinks rank better.

    • Increased Traffic: Guest posts bring five times more backlinks and visitors.

    • Enhanced Brand Visibility: Posting on trusted sites shows your content to more people.

    Advantage

    Statistic

    Source

    SEO Improvement

    56.4% of pages have at least one backlink from a guest post

    OutreachMonks

    Increased Traffic

    Guest posts typically bring in 5X more significant backlinks

    Truelist

    Enhanced Brand Visibility

    Backlinks from authoritative sites expose content to a broader audience

    Brandwell

    Guest post backlinks also help you connect with other bloggers. These connections can lead to more chances for teamwork and link building.

    Tips for Effective Guest Blogging

    Follow these tips to get the most from guest post backlinks:

    1. Set Clear Goals: Know what you want, like more traffic or better authority.

    2. Focus on Quality Content: Write helpful and interesting articles. Don’t overuse keywords.

    3. Promote Your Posts: Share your guest posts on social media and emails.

    4. Choose the Right Sites: Pick websites that are trusted and match your topic.

    5. Monitor Performance: Use tools to check traffic, clicks, and shares.

    Pro Tip: Always try to include a dofollow link in your guest posts. If only nofollow links are allowed, they still help by making your site more visible.

    Guest blogging takes time but is worth it. By writing good content and building connections, you can improve your backlinks and SEO.

    3. Backlinks from Niche Directories

    Why Niche Directory Backlinks Matter

    Niche directory backlinks help your website rank higher. These links come from directories focused on specific topics or industries. They show search engines that your site is reliable and useful.

    Links from trusted websites in your niche tell Google, 'This site is trustworthy.'

    Domain Authority (DA) and Domain Rating (DR) explain why niche backlinks are important. Websites with higher authority often rank better. Niche directory links help boost your site's authority.

    Here’s why these backlinks are helpful:

    • They make your website rank better on search engines.

    • They bring visitors who care about your content, lowering bounce rates.

    • They connect you with the right audience, leading to more sales.

    Using good niche directories can improve your SEO and link-building strategy.

    Steps to Submit to Niche Directories

    Follow these steps to get listed in niche directories:

    1. Find the Right Directories: Look for directories that match your industry. For example, dentists can use healthcare directories.

    2. Check Directory Quality: Pick directories with high authority and a good reputation. Avoid bad-quality ones.

    3. Prepare Your Details: Write a short description of your business. Include your website link, contact info, and anchor text.

    4. Submit Your Website: Follow the rules for submission. Some directories charge fees, while others are free.

    5. Keep Listings Updated: Check your listings often to make sure your info is correct.

    Business Name

    What They Did

    Benefits

    Dr. Smith’s Family Dentistry

    Added to a dental directory for better visibility.

    Got more traffic, higher bookings, and improved visibility.

    Green Earth Landscaping

    Listed in an eco-friendly directory to reach specific customers.

    Connected with the right audience, gained credibility, and received more inquiries.

    TechGeeks Computer Repair

    Joined a tech directory to compete with big companies.

    Improved reputation, gained more conversions, and stood out against competitors.

    Submitting to niche directories gives you dofollow backlinks that improve SEO. Only use nofollow directories if they offer great branding or visibility.

    4. Backlinks from Resource Pages

    Resource pages are lists of helpful tools or content on topics. Getting backlinks from these pages can improve your website's SEO and authority.

    Why Resource Page Backlinks Are Important

    Resource page backlinks are great for boosting your site's trust. These links come from pages that share top-quality resources. Here’s why they are useful:

    • They make your site more trustworthy by linking to reliable sources.

    • Links from resource pages help your site rank higher and get more visitors.

    • Resource pages focus on good content, so their links are powerful.

    • These backlinks often have high Domain Authority (DA) and Page Authority (PA), which help with SEO.

    Pro Tip: Look for resource pages that match your topic. Relevant links are more valuable for your audience.

    How to Get Backlinks from Resource Pages

    Follow these steps to get listed on resource pages:

    1. Find the Right Pages: Search for "best [your topic] resources" or "top [your field] tools."

    2. Check Page Quality: Look at the DA and PA of the page. Avoid bad-quality ones.

    3. Make Great Content: Create guides, tools, or infographics that people find useful.

    4. Contact Page Owners: Email the owner with a message about how your content fits their page.

    5. Follow Up Later: If they don’t reply, send another polite email. Being persistent helps.

    Note: Some resource pages give dofollow links, while others give nofollow links. Both types can help your site by improving visibility and trust.

    By focusing on resource pages, you can get strong backlinks that boost your SEO and bring the right visitors to your website.

    5. Backlinks from Social Media Profiles

    Social media profiles are important for building links. These platforms let you create backlinks that boost your site’s visibility. Even though most links are nofollow, they still help by driving traffic and growing your brand.

    How Social Media Backlinks Help SEO

    Social media backlinks can improve your SEO in indirect ways:

    • Studies show more social engagement often leads to better rankings.

    • Active social profiles bring more backlinks, which help with SEO.

    • Websites with active profiles get up to 31% more visitors.

    • Brands with strong social media see a 22% rise in visibility.

    Being active on social media can attract visitors. These visitors may share your content, creating more links to your site.

    Tips to Optimize Profiles for Backlinks

    To get the most from social media backlinks, follow these tips:

    Tip

    How It Helps

    Improve your content

    Makes your posts more visible and engaging.

    Use engagement strategies

    Boosts interactions, leading to more sales and traffic.

    Analyze your performance

    Helps you adjust to what your audience likes.

    Add keywords to profiles

    Makes it easier for people to find your page.

    Include your website link in your bio or about section. Use anchor text that matches your brand or keywords. Post good content often to keep followers interested. These steps will help you build strong backlinks through social media.

    Pro Tip: Nofollow links from social media can still bring traffic and grow your brand.

    By staying active and improving your profiles, social media can become a great tool for SEO and link building.

    6. Forum Backlinks

    Forum backlinks are helpful for improving your website’s SEO. These links come from online discussions about specific topics. Most forum backlinks are nofollow, but they still help your site grow.

    Benefits of Forum Backlinks

    Forum backlinks help your website in many ways:

    • Boost EEAT: Links from trusted forums improve your site’s trust and authority. Google uses these factors to rank websites.

    • Relevance Signals: Links from topic-related forums show search engines your site is useful.

    • Community Engagement: Joining forums builds trust. Answering questions makes people see you as an expert.

    • Traffic Generation: Forum visitors can click your links, bringing more people to your site.

    By being active in forums, you can gain trust and useful backlinks.

    Guidelines for Using Forums

    Follow these tips to get the best from forum backlinks:

    • Focus on Users: Write posts that help others. Don’t just promote your site.

    • Optimize Links: Use nofollow links to guide search engines without harming user experience.

    • Craft Meta Descriptions: Add short descriptions to your profile or posts. This helps search engines show your content.

    • Specify Preferences: Pick www or non-www versions of your site for linking. This keeps links consistent.

    • Submit Sitemaps: Share your Sitemap to help search engines understand your site better.

    Pro Tip: Use anchor text that matches your content when adding links. This makes your backlinks stronger and easier for search engines to understand.

    By following these steps, you can create strong forum backlinks that improve your website’s authority and SEO.

    7. Backlinks from High-Authority Websites

    Backlinks from high-authority websites are very valuable for SEO. These links come from trusted sites with strong domain authority. They tell search engines your content is reliable and deserves a higher rank.

    Why High-Authority Backlinks Are Important

    High-authority backlinks greatly improve your website’s SEO and performance. Here’s why they are important:

    • Backlinks are key for SEO success, especially from many trusted sites.

    • Websites with more backlinks get more visitors from search engines.

    • Top-ranking pages on Google have 3.8 times more backlinks than others.

    • Links from trusted sites boost your site’s credibility and trust score.

    These backlinks not only help your rankings but also make your site more trustworthy. For example, the top result on Google often has many more high-authority backlinks than its competitors. This shows how important quality backlinks are for better SEO.

    How to Get High-Authority Backlinks

    Getting backlinks from high-authority websites takes effort and planning. Try these methods:

    1. Make Great Content: Create unique and helpful content that people want to share.

    2. Write Guest Posts: Post articles on respected blogs in your field to gain backlinks.

    3. Fix Broken Links: Find broken links on trusted sites and suggest your content as a fix.

    4. Reach Out to Influencers: Build relationships with influencers in your niche for backlinks.

    5. Use the Skyscraper Method: Improve popular content in your field and share it to earn links.

    Pro Tip: Use clear and descriptive anchor text for your backlinks. This helps search engines understand your links and improves your SEO.

    By using these strategies, you can get high-authority backlinks that boost your site’s rankings and visibility. Always focus on quality over quantity when building links.

    8. Backlinks from Infographics

    8. Backlinks from Infographics
    Image Source: unsplash

    Infographics are great for getting backlinks. They look nice and explain hard ideas simply. This makes them easy to share, helping your SEO.

    How Infographics Generate Backlinks

    Infographics get backlinks because they are fun to look at. They turn hard data into simple visuals people like to share. When others find your infographic helpful, they link to it, giving you natural backlinks.

    Factor

    Explanation

    Visual Appeal

    People love sharing good-looking infographics.

    Simplification

    They make hard ideas easy to understand.

    Increased Shareability

    More shares mean more backlinks and visitors.

    Infographics also work as "link bait." If they cover timeless topics, they keep earning backlinks. For example:

    1. Infographics get links because they are interesting and useful.

    2. They make tricky info simple, so people share them more.
      3. Search engines like links, so your rankings improve when infographics are shared.

    Pro Tip: Add a code snippet to your infographic. This helps others embed it easily and gives you backlinks.

    Tips for Creating Shareable Infographics

    To make infographics that people share, follow these steps:

    • Know Your Audience: Find out what your audience likes and make it for them.

    • Use a Catchy Title: Pick a title that grabs attention and makes people curious.

    • Work with a Designer: A designer can make your infographic look professional.

    • Set Goals: Decide what success looks like, like shares or clicks.

    Step

    Description

    1

    Make an infographic that looks great and is helpful for your audience.

    2

    Create a code snippet so others can easily share it.

    3

    Earn backlinks as websites post your infographic.

    Infographics are perfect for social media. They bring more visitors and make your brand more visible. Their design naturally attracts backlinks, helping your SEO.

    Note: Even nofollow backlinks from infographics can boost your brand's trust and reach.

    By making awesome infographics and sharing them well, you can get more backlinks and grow your website’s authority.

    9. Backlinks from Testimonials

    Testimonial backlinks are a smart way to boost your website’s trust. These links come from reviews you give to other businesses. They help improve your SEO and show others your brand is reliable.

    Why Testimonial Backlinks Work Well

    Testimonial backlinks have special advantages that make them stand out. Here’s why they are effective:

    • They use your existing connections, making it simple to get links.

    • Testimonials act as proof that your brand can be trusted.

    • Links from well-known brands make your site more credible.

    • They build relationships with businesses, opening doors for more links.

    Testimonials and case studies also share real success stories. High-authority websites often link to them, especially when they show clear results. Blogs and experts like linking to this type of content because it shows expertise and builds trust.

    Tip: Write honest reviews for products or services you truly like. Being genuine makes your testimonials stronger.

    Steps to Create Testimonials for Backlinks

    To get quality backlinks from testimonials, follow these steps:

    1. Pick the Right Businesses: Choose companies whose products you use and enjoy.

    2. Share Specific Details: Talk about features or results that helped you.

    3. Add Measurable Results: Use numbers like “boosted sales by 25%” to make it convincing.

    4. Use Good Anchor Text: Make sure the link text matches your website’s content.

    5. Check Back Later: Confirm the business added your link after you send your testimonial.

    Pro Tip: Even nofollow testimonial links can increase your brand’s visibility and trust.

    By writing clear and honest testimonials, you can earn valuable backlinks. This method not only helps your SEO but also builds strong connections with other businesses. It’s a win-win for growing your authority and reputation.

    10. Backlinks from Broken Link Building

    Broken link building is a smart way to boost SEO. It means finding broken links on websites and offering your content instead. This helps you get backlinks and connect with website owners.

    Benefits of Broken Link Building

    Broken link building has many benefits for your site:

    • You can earn quality backlinks from trusted websites. For example, Ahrefs contacted 515 site owners and got 36 backlinks. Out of these, 21 were from high-authority sites. This helped their article rank #1 on Google.

    • A good strategy can increase your organic traffic. One campaign gained 230 backlinks in four months, boosting traffic by 214% and improving keyword rankings.

    • It raises your domain authority by getting links from trusted sources.

    This method also helps website owners fix broken links, making their pages better. It’s a win-win for both sides.

    Steps to Execute a Broken Link Strategy

    Follow these steps to succeed with broken link building:

    Step

    What to Do

    1

    Find broken links that are valuable.

    2

    Make great replacement content.

    3

    Reach out to website owners.

    • Use tools like Ahrefs’ Broken Link Checker to find broken links in your field. Focus on resource pages in your industry for better results.

    • Create content that is as good or better than the original. High-quality content improves your chances of success.

    • Send personalized emails to website owners. Explain how your content can replace the broken link and help their readers. Response rates are usually 5-10%, but building relationships can improve this.

    Spend about 8-10 hours weekly on this strategy. With consistency, you can see better search rankings in 3-6 months.

    Pro Tip: Use clear anchor text for your backlinks. This helps search engines understand your content and improves SEO.

    Broken link building is a great way to grow your website’s authority. By following these steps, you can turn broken links into valuable backlinks for your site.

    Backlinks are important for making your website rank better. Good links from trusted sites tell search engines your content is valuable. Research shows this:

    Study Source

    Key Findings

    Backlinko

    Pages at the top have many more backlinks than lower ones.

    SEMRush

    More backlinks help websites rank higher on search results.

    Rankings.io

    Websites with more referring domains get more traffic.

    Ahrefs

    More backlinks mean more visitors from search engines.

    Work on getting different types of links from trusted websites. Follow the tips in this guide to build strong backlinks and improve your website’s success.

    FAQ

    1. What’s the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks?

    Dofollow backlinks help your site rank better on search engines. Nofollow backlinks don’t boost rankings but still bring visitors. Both types are helpful for building a strong link profile.

    2. How can you tell if a backlink is good?

    Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to check its quality. Good backlinks come from trusted sites with lots of visitors. Avoid links from spammy or low-quality websites.

    3. Are social media backlinks useful?

    Yes, even though most are nofollow, they still help. Social media links bring visitors and make your brand more visible. Active profiles can also lead to more shares and natural links.

    4. How many backlinks does a site need to rank?

    It depends on your topic and competition. Quality matters more than quantity. A few strong backlinks are better than many weak ones. Check your backlinks often to stay on track.

    5. Can broken link building hurt your site?

    No, it’s safe if done the right way. Make sure your content is good and fits the topic. Don’t send too many generic emails, as this can harm your reputation.

    See Also

    The Role of Backlinks in Improving Organic Search Rankings

    Defining the Characteristics of Quality Backlinks

    The Importance of Anchor Text in Backlink Strategy