When it comes to SEO, backlinksare often considered the “votes of confidence” for your website. Search engines like Google use backlinks to determine the relevance and authority of your website.

The more high-quality backlinks your website has, the more likely it is to rank higher in search engineresults pages (SERPs). To know more about why backlinks are relevant to your website ranking, let us talk about the types of backlinks that boost SEO.

Understanding The Two Categories Of Backlinks

When it comes to backlinks, there are two categories that you need to be aware of: dofollow and nofollow. Understanding the difference between these two types of backlinks is crucial in building a successful SEO strategy.

Dofollow Backlinks

Dofollow backlinks have the following characteristics:

• Search engine crawlers can follow the link and index the linked-to website.
• These types of backlinks pass on SEOvalue from the linking website to the linked-to website.
• When a website links to your website with a dofollow link, it indicates to search engines that your website is relevant and authoritative.
• Backlinks from high-authority websites in your industry are more valuable than backlinks from low-quality or irrelevant websites.

Nofollow Backlinks

Nofollow backlinks have the following characteristics:

• Search engine crawlers are instructed not to follow the link and not to give any SEO value to the linked-to website.
• Websites use the rel="nofollow" attribute to mark a link as nofollow.
• Nofollow backlinks do not pass on any SEO value to the linked-to website.
• However, they can still be valuable for driving referral traffic to your website.
• Nofollow backlinks can help diversify your backlink profile and make it look more natural to search engines.

10 Types Of Backlinks That Boost SEO

Backlinks are a crucial component of any successful SEO strategy. They refer to the links that point to your website from other websites. The quality and quantity of these backlinks can have a significant impact on your search engine ranking and online visibility.

However, not all backlinks are created equal. Some can have a positive effect on your SEO, while others can hurt your rankings. Let's explore the types of backlinks that can help boost your website's SEO.

1. Editorial Backlinks

Editorial backlinks are links that are given naturally by other websites. They are the most valuable type of backlink as they indicate that other websites find your contentuseful and informative. These links are not easy to obtain, but they can significantly boost your SEO if you do.

Example:

• A journalist includes a link to your website in an article they wrote about your business.
• A blogger links to your website in a post they wrote about a topic related to your industry.

2. Guest Blogging Backlinks

Guest blogging is a popular SEO tactic that involves writing an article for another website in your industry. In return, you get a backlink to your website in the author bio section or within the content. These backlinks are valuable because they come from relevant and authoritative websites.

Example:

• You write an article for a popular industry blog and include a link to your website in the author bio section.
• You contribute a guest post to a relevant website and include a link to your website within the content.

3. Broken Link Building Backlinks

Broken link buildinginvolves finding broken links on other websites and offering a replacement link to your content. This tactic requires some effort, but it can be highly effective in building high-quality backlinks to your website.

Example:

• You find a broken link on a website in your industry and offer a replacement link to your own content.
• You reach out to website owners and inform them of a broken link on their website, then suggest a replacement link to your content.

4. Social Media Backlinks

Social mediaplatforms can also be a great source of backlinks. When your content is shared on social media, it can attract links from other websites. Additionally, social media profiles can also serve as a valuable source of backlinks.

Example:

• Your content is shared on Twitter, and other users include links to your website in their tweets.
• Your content is shared on Facebook, and other users include links to your website in the comments.

5. Business Directory Backlinks

Businessdirectories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Google My Business can also provide valuable backlinks to your website. Make sure to list your business in relevant directories in your industry to boost your SEO.

Example:

• You list your business in a relevant online directory like Yelp, and they include a link to your website in your listing.
• You create a Google My Business profile for your business and include a link to your website in the profile.

6. Forum Backlinks

Participating in online forums relevant to your industry can also be a great way to build backlinks. By including a link to your website in your forum signature or within your posts, you can attract relevant traffic and build high-quality backlinks to your website.

Example:

• You participate in an online forum related to your industry and include a link to your website in your forum signature.
• You participate in a discussion on a relevant forum and include a link to your website within your post.

7. Image Backlinks

Images can also be a valuable source of backlinks. If you create high-quality images related to your industry, they can be shared on other websites, along with a link back to your website.

Example:

• You create a high-quality infographic related to your industry, and it is shared on other websites with a link back to your website.
• You create an original image related to your industry, and it is shared on social media with a link back to your website.

8. Competitor Backlinks

Analyzing your competitors' backlinks can provide valuable insights into your own backlink strategy. By identifying the websites that are linking to your competitors, you can reach out to those websites and offer them a link to your own content.

Example:

• You analyze your competitor's backlinks and find a website that is linking to them. You reach out to that website and offer them a link to your content instead.
• You analyze your competitor's backlinks and find a website that is linking to multiple competitors. You reach out to that website and offer them a link to your content as well.

9. Blog Comment Backlinks

Leaving comments on other relevant blogs can also be a valuable source of backlinks. When leaving a comment, make sure to include a link back to your website within your comment, but make sure that it is relevant and adds value to the conversation.

• You leave a valuable comment on a blog related to your industry, and you include a link to your website within your comment.
• You participate in a discussion on a blog related to your industry, and you include a link to your website within your comment.

10. Press Release Backlinks

Press releases can also provide valuable backlinks to your website. By creating a press release and distributing it through various channels, you can attract links from news websites and other relevant sources.

Example:

• You create a press release about a new product or service your business is offering, and it is picked up by multiple news websites with a link back to your website.
• You create a press release about a significant achievement or milestone for your business, and it is shared on multiple websites with a link back to your website.

It's important to note that not all backlinks are created equal, and some types of backlinks can actually hurt your SEO.

For example, backlinks from low-quality or irrelevant websites can hurt your search engine ranking and online visibility.

When building your backlink profile, it's important to focus on obtaining high-quality backlinks from relevant and authoritative websites.

This can involve creating high-quality content that other websites will want to link to, reaching out to other website owners and offering them a link to your content, or participating in relevant online communities and forums.

Backlink Types in SEO

People Also Ask

How Do I Know If A Backlink Is High-quality?

High-quality backlinks come from authoritative and relevant websites. You can use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to analyze the backlink profile of a website and determine the quality of its backlinks.

How Many Backlinks Do I Need For Good SEO?

The number of backlinks you need for good SEO varies depending on the competitiveness of your industry and the quality of your backlinks. Generally, it’s better to focus on obtaining high-quality backlinks rather than a high quantity of low-quality backlinks.

Can I Buy Backlinks To Boost My SEO?

Buying backlinks is not recommended as it violates Google’s guidelines and can result in a penalty or a ban. Instead, focus on building high-quality backlinks through natural and ethical tactics.

How Often Should I Check My Backlink Profile?

It’s recommended to check your backlink profile regularly to ensure that your website is not receiving any harmful backlinks. You can use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to monitor your backlink profile and identify any low-quality or spammy backlinks.

How Can I Earn Editorial Backlinks?

Earning editorial backlinks can be challenging, but it’s possible if you have high-quality content that provides value to your audience. Make sure to create content that is informative, engaging, and relevant to your industry. You can also reach out to other websites in your industry and offer to collaborate on content or guest blog.

How Can I Find Broken Links On Other Websites?

You can use tools like Ahrefs, Broken Link Checker, or Check My Links to find broken links on other websites. Once you have identified broken links, you can offer a replacement link to your content.

Can Social Media Profiles Impact My SEO?

Social media profiles do not directly impact your SEO, but they can indirectly affect your search engine ranking. Social media profiles can provide valuable backlinks, referral traffic, and brand exposure, which can all contribute to improved SEO.

Conclusion

Backlinks are an essential part of any successful SEO strategy. The quality and quantity of these backlinks can have a significant impact on your search engine ranking and online visibility. Make sure to focus on obtaining high-quality backlinks that come from relevant and authoritative websites.