Backlinks have always been the staple of a good strategy for SEO. Algorithms may advance, and tactics may change, but backlinks continue to drive traffic and improve your authority. If used correctly, backlinks may put you at the top of Google searches and improve your organic searches. 

Few people know that backlinks are not just one random link you put in any text. A backlink must be of a specific type, based on your needs and intentions, to be high quality. In this article, you will learn more about backlinks and the different types they are found in so that you can create an effective SEO strategy.

Why Are Backlinks Important?

Backlinks play quite an important role in search engine optimization, as they can put you potentially higher on the search engines. Whether you place the links yourself, use your in-house marketing team, or go for a guest blogging service, a well-placed backlink can direct people to your website. 

Backlinks from high-authority platforms can significantly drive your website’s referral traffic, leading to potential customers and conversions. The more visitors you get, the higher your credibility, labeling you as someone with authority. 

Types of Backlinks for Your SEO Strategy

Backlinks can take on multiple forms, the most popular being the following: 

1. Guest Post Backlinks

Guest post backlinks are links you add to a piece of content published on reputable websites. The host websites are often platforms that have to do with your domain. For example, if you have a fitness website, you can publish valuable content on reputable health websites. 

Guest posts can take quite some time to finalize, as you must write down the content yourself. For this reason, many business owners who do not have a well-set marketing department go for guest blogging services by EasyLinkStudio or similar collaborations.

2. Editorial Backlink

Editorial backlinks are links placed within the content of a high-authority website, linking back to your site. Unlike guest posts, which are usually written by the guest blogger, editorial backlinks are posted by the host. This happens because they found your content valuable and worthy of mentioning. 

For instance, a news outlet may cite your research by linking to your blog, creating a natural backlink. These are generally the most powerful form of backlinks because they are unsolicited and elicit the most trust. The best part is that you don’t have to pay for them!

3. Acknowledgment Backlink

Acknowledgment backlinks are formed after your website, or brand is mentioned on a different platform. Unlike editorial backlinks, these are often solicited as part of an event, partnership, or sponsorship. For example, if you sponsor a charity, they might write a “Thank You” piece of content to mention your brand. 

While acknowledgment backlinks are not as powerful as the other types for your SEO strategy, they do help increase your brand’s online visibility. This is especially true if it’s a reputable organization that looks reliable in Google’s books. Visitors are also more likely to trust you in this case because the organization they trust has deemed it fit to mention you. 

4. Comment Backlink

As the name suggests, comment backlinks are links leading to your website from forums or blog post comment sections. These can be placed in the website field or the comment, accompanied by relevant text. For instance, you may have accessed a forum where different people are looking for solutions to a health problem, and you may offer insight from your website.

Comment backlinks are the nofollow kind, meaning they will likely not be crawled by Google to improve your ranking. You may, however, see better traffic due to them, especially if you place them in a relevant context. Remember to stay relevant, meaningful, and natural; spamming could lead to reports and search engine penalties. 

5. Press Release Backlink

Press release backlinks are obtained after you publish a press release, which a blog or a news outlet picks out. These links bring high value to your website because they use reputable distribution services, deeming you a legit and trustworthy brand. You may write a press release to announce a company milestone, disclose a major collaboration, or discuss the launch of a new product.

Press release backlinks may not have as much influence as other SEO links, but they offer some brand exposure. To get the best results, you should offer valuable news information, as mere promotional releases often get ignored by news outlets.

6. Broken Link Replacement

At least 6% of links from articles dating back to 2018 are broken, and the percentage only gets higher the further back in time you go. With broken link replacement, you identify those links and then replace them with a working one. For instance, you may have found a blog post on a topic similar to your niche, but the links are inaccessible. You may contact the host and suggest a link to your website instead. 

This type of backlinking is convenient because you don’t have to write the blog posts yourself. You just need to find the time to find where those websites are, and if you already spend a lot of time reading such pieces, they can work to bring traffic to your website. 

The Bottom Line

Backlinks may efficiently drive traffic to your website, but knowing which type to choose is also essential. A mix of multiple types of backlinks can offer more exposure while bringing more traffic your way. By integrating natural-sounding links in the content, you’ll be more likely to turn a visitor into a buying customer.

Published by: Martin De Juan