Oct 08, 2024
Casey Bjorkdahl is one of the pioneering thought leaders in the SEO community. In 2010, Casey co-founded Vazoola after working for a Digital Marketing Agency for five years in New York City. Vazoola is now one of the fastest growing and most widely recognized SEO marketing firms in the country.
Almost every aspect of backlink SEO has shifted over the years. This makes it necessary for the experts to align their focus and strategies to keep up with the changes. However, backlinks have remained important.
The amount and quality of backlinks to websites will affect your position in search as well as its authority.
Key Takeaways:
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Backlinks remain a crucial element of successful SEO strategies. They act as votes of confidence from one website to another, significantly influencing search engine rankings and establishing trust and authority around your brand.
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There are at least 40 distinct types of backlinks, which can be categorized as either beneficial or harmful to your site's SEO. Understanding these types helps in developing an effective link-building strategy.
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Beneficial backlinks include those from authoritative sites, contextual links, and natural backlinks. These types of links are valued for their ability to enhance site credibility, drive targeted traffic, and improve search engine rankings.
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Harmful backlinks include those from low-quality directories, auto-generated links, and links from spammy sites. Such backlinks can lead to search engine penalties and damage a site's reputation and ranking.
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Regularly monitoring your backlink profile is essential to maintain a healthy SEO standing. A balanced and diverse link profile, focusing on high-quality and relevant backlinks, is key to achieving sustained SEO success.
Table of Contents:
What Is a Backlink in SEO? (And How Do They Work?)
What is the backlink definition? What are backlinks, and how do they work?
An external backlink in SEO is created when one website mentions and links to another site on the web. It is akin to a vote for your site. They are also the backbone of SEO and play a huge role in how your website is ranked.
Backlinks come in various forms, sources and qualities. The precise backlink meaning of each varies based on its intent.
Keep reading as we break down 40 types of backlinks (some are synonymous with others) to help you build up your link-building and SEO vocabulary.
Wait: Do backlinks still work?
We often get the question: Do backlinks still work?
In our experience, the answer is a resounding yes! Backlinks remain a cornerstone of successful SEO strategies because they are a major ranking signal for search engines like Google.
When high-quality sites link to yours, they are essentially vouching for the credibility of your content, which can significantly boost your visibility in search results. More than just a tool for improving rankings, backlinks help establish a web of trust and authority around your brand.
How do backlinks affect my rankings?
Backlinks make search engines happy, but they are also beneficial to the end user. When someone lands on your site – if your content is relevant and helpful to them – they will stay longer and read.
If you also link to other sites covering the same topic, the connection adds value to your site for your visitor. The reverse situation is also true for relevant websites that link to content on your site.
40 Types of Backlinks
Keep in mind that not all links are created equal. The best backlinks for SEO are relevant and come from high authority sites.
The best link profile contains a mixture of various link types and comes from a variety of different sources. It’s not a numbers game where you should focus on acquiring as many backlinks as possible.
It is a time-consuming – yet highly valuable – ongoing task to build quality backlinks to your website.
Good Types of Backlinks SEO
Presented alphabetically, the following good backlinks are the types that significantly benefit your website’s SEO. Here at Vazoola, we consider them essential components of an effective SEO strategy since they contribute to improved search rankings and enhanced user experience.
Author Bio Backlinks
Author bio backlinks occur when a guest author’s brief biography includes a link back to their own website. Bio links boost SEO efforts because they naturally integrate links within content contributed by credible writers. These links provide a dual advantage of demonstrating authority and directing traffic from one reputable site to another.
Authoritative, Authority Backlinks
Authority backlinks are those from websites that have established a substantial degree of trust and authority on the internet. Authoritative sites often are characterized by high domain authority. A site’s authority typically involves metrics like domain age, size, and content quality. Authoritative backlinks are highly sought after in SEO because they significantly boost credibility and search rankings. To build these links, consider strategies like creating high-quality content or engaging in guest posting on well-regarded sites.
Badge Backlinks
Badge backlinks are created when websites award badges to other sites in recognition of quality or achievement. The awards typically include a link back to the original site. Badge links are considered a good type because they help build community recognition and trust, and they often come from reputable sources appreciating your content or business.
Blog Backlinks
Blog backlinks come from blog posts, but they shouldn’t be confused with blog comment links or links from Private Blog Networks. Blog backlinks are valuable in SEO because they usually are contextually relevant. They also often are embedded within quality content that supports your website’s theme or niche. These links boost SEO since they drive engaged traffic and elevate a site’s authority.
Brand Mentions
Unlinked brand mentions occur when a brand is mentioned on other sites without a hyperlink. This recognition presents a unique opportunity for natural backlinking because you can contact the site owner and request adding a link to the mention. This link-building method helps convert mere mentions into valuable backlinks, enhancing both visibility and SEO.
Business Profile Backlinks
Business profile backlinks refers to the links included in your business profiles on various platforms like LinkedIn, Crunchbase, or industry-specific directories. These are good types of links since they enhance your visibility. They also contribute positively to your site's SEO by linking from credible and frequently visited business directories.
Contextual Backlinks
Contextual backlinks are embedded within the content of a page that are contextually relevant to the content around them. They are considered high-quality links because they are more likely to be clicked by readers, thus driving direct traffic and enhancing the overall SEO performance. For a backlink example, a link from an article discussing marketing strategies that directs readers to a page offering marketing tools would be a contextual link.
Curated Backlinks
Curated backlinks occur when your content is included in a curated list, guide, or article that collects and shares high-quality resources on a specific topic. These backlinks are good types since they position your site as a trusted authority among other reputable sources, and they help attract a targeted audience.
Directory Listing Backlinks
When used correctly, being listed in a relevant, legitimate, and high-quality directory can provide quality backlinks and earn referral traffic. Make sure to get the metrics on any directory before you submit your link. Being included in a directory that is created for the sole purpose of building links is considered spam and not a place you want to be listed.
Do-Follow Backlinks (followed links)
Do-follow backlinks are those that allow search engines to follow them and pass on link equity to your site. These are highly beneficial as they directly influence your search engine rankings. While simple in concept, understanding the balance between do-follow and no-follow links can significantly impact your SEO strategy.
Editorial Backlinks
Editorial backlinks are highly valued and often given without asking. When an influencer in your niche includes a link to your website from their authoritative site, the single link can add tremendous SEO value. Editorial backlinks are seen as endorsements of your content’s quality and relevance, so they are one of the most powerful types of backlinks.
.Edu Backlinks
.Edu backlinks come from educational institutions. They are highly revered in SEO thanks to their authority and trust level. These valuable links are one of the good types because they come from reputed educational sources, often seen as non-commercial and thus more trustworthy. To obtain .edu links, consider offering scholarships or collaborating with educational institutions on projects.
Embedded Asset Links
Embedded asset links are included in sharable content like infographics, videos, or other multimedia. This link type generally is beneficial because the links naturally encourage sharing and distribution, extending your content’s reach and link-earning potential.
Forum Backlinks
Forum backlinks are acquired when you contribute to discussions within forums related to your niche and include links to your website. Forum links can be a good variety if the forums are well-regarded and the links are contextually relevant to the discussion. However, the links can be perceived negatively if they are seen as spammy or irrelevant. It’s therefore crucial to contribute value to conversations and not focus only on link placement.
.Gov Backlinks
.Gov backlinks come from government websites. These links are highly prized in SEO for their inherent trustworthiness and authority. .Gov links are the good type because they typically come from reputable sources. Thus, they can significantly enhance your site’s credibility and search engine ranking. Securing .gov backlinks often involves providing valuable resources or services that are useful to public institutions.
Guest Posting Backlinks
When you earn backlinks to your site from writing a post on another blog, you’ll also get brand recognition while reaching new audiences. Guest post backlinks are especially helpful if you are posting on authority websites. Find out more about how to find guest post opportunities.
High-quality Backlinks in SEO
A high-quality link is one that comes from a reputable, relevant source. It’is also naturally integrated into high-quality content. These links significantly affect your SEO by boosting your site's authority and improving your rankings. To learn more about what makes a link high quality, you can read our blog post on this topic linked from the Vazoola site.
Href Backlinks
Href backlinks are straightforward HTML links that use the href attribute to direct users to a target URL. These links are the fundamental building blocks of the web's link structure. They are good for SEO when they connect relevant, high-quality content in a way that provides value to the user. They can be bad, however, if used improperly, such as in link schemes or spammy contexts.
Image Backlinks
Image backlinks are acquired when an image on another site is linked back to your website. These links can be good if the image is relevant to your content and adds value to the hosting page because they can drive both traffic and improve engagement. However, beware if the images are not relevant or are used inappropriately. They can detract from the user experience, and search engines can view them negatively.
Influencer-Generated Links
Influencer-generated links are backlinks from influential people in your industry who share your content through their platforms. These are generally good link types because they come from respected sources with engaged followings. Thus influencer-generated links significantly amplify your reach and credibility. The key to success is forming genuine relationships with influencers whose audiences align with your target market.
Infographic Backlinks
Infographic backlinks are gained when you create and distribute infographics that other sites link to. Infographics are excellent for backlinking because they’re shareable, visually appealing, and they can convey complex information succinctly. They are particularly beneficial when they are well-designed and provide valuable information that others find worth linking to.
Internal links
Also called deep linking, a link from one piece of your own content to another on the same site can help distribute link juice to internal pages. Internal links help increase authority and improve your overall search engine optimization. Internal links do this by telling Google what pages on your site are the most important and still relevant. We cover internal linking best practices in a related blog post.
Natural Backlinks
Natural backlinks are those that are given without any direct action on the part of the page owner. They occur because someone found your content valuable and chose to link to it. These are beneficial because they are organic and are seen by search engines as genuine endorsements of the quality and relevance of your content.
Niche Edits Backlinks
Niche edits backlinks are inserted into existing articles rather than new posts, typically in relevant content within your niche. These link types can be good because they fit organically into established content, providing context and relevance. However, if not done properly, they can appear manipulative. They therefore should be approached with caution and transparency.
Pillow Links
Pillow links refer to a variety of foundational backlinks that help to diversify your link profile. These link types include social bookmarks, forum profiles, and other low-level links. Pillow links generally are good because they create a natural-looking backlink structure that enhances your SEO efforts. However, they must be used judiciously to avoid appearing as artificial link inflation.
Podcast Backlinks
Podcast backlinks come from mentions or contributions to podcast episodes. These links are obtained when hosts include a link to your website in the show notes or episode description. Podcast links are the good variety because they reach highly engaged audiences, and they can significantly boost your brand’s visibility and credibility among listeners interested in your niche.
Press Release Backlinks
Press release backlinks are acquired when you distribute press releases to media outlets, and they include links back to your website. These can be good links because they help disseminate news about your company and potentially reach a wide audience. However, if overused or distributed to low-quality sites, search engines can perceive press release links as spammy.
Profile Links
Profile links come from personal, professional, or business profiles set up on various platforms that allow a link to your website. These links are generally good since they help establish a broader web presence and provide additional pathways for traffic to reach your site. However, creating profiles solely for the purpose of linking can dilute their efficacy and should only be part of a broader strategy.
Social Media Backlinks
Although social media shares may not contribute directly to your search engine rankings, being active does give you more exposure for your content. The more visibility your brand gets, the higher is your perceived influence. Find out how to get backlinks from social media.
Social Media Backlinks
Although social media shares may not contribute directly to your search engine rankings, taking an active role on social media gives your content more exposure. The more visibility your brand gets, the higher your perceived influence. Effective social media engagement can indirectly lead to increased backlinks as more people discover and share your content.
Testimonial Backlinks, Customer Review Links
Testimonial backlinks are earned when you provide a testimonial for a product or service, and the company features your testimonial on their website with a link back to your site. Customer review links likewise can come from reviews you write with your profile linked. These links are good because they are naturally embedded within relevant content, and they can drive targeted traffic back to your site.
Video Backlinks
Video backlinks are links associated with video content, such as those placed in video descriptions or annotations. These links can be beneficial if the video content is relevant and engaging because they drive significant traffic and improve user engagement. Videos are a powerful medium for backlink building because of such high engagement and shareability.
Webinar Backlinks
Webinar backlinks are acquired by hosting or participating in webinars, where your website is linked either in the webinar description or shared during the presentation. These are good links because they target an engaged audience interested in your niche. This targeting often results in high-quality traffic and increased authority for your site.
White-Hat Backlinking SEO
White-hat backlinking involves ethical and widely accepted methods to obtain backlinks. These strategies might include producing quality content that naturally earns links, engaging in guest blogging, or participating in relevant industry forums. The approach is highly recommended because it aligns with search engine guidelines and builds lasting SEO value. Learn more about this on our black hat vs white hat SEO blog post.
Widget Backlinks
Widget backlinks are created when you provide a useful tool or widget that others can embed on their sites – complete with a link back to your site. These links can be good if the widget provides real value and is relevant to your content. However, if misused – such as embedding irrelevant links in widgets – they can be viewed negatively by search engines and potentially lead to penalties.
Bad Types of Backlinks to Avoid
Unnatural, irrelevant, or black-hat link building techniques can hurt your site’s ranking and get it penalized. The following types of links should be minimized or avoided.
Article Directories
Once the rage for link building and increasing online exposure, article directories have been devalued by Google as low-quality content. These links now get sites penalized.
Auto-generated Links
Auto-generated links are created using automated tools or scripts. They often appear in spammy contexts like comment sections or irrelevant sites. The links are considered bad because their unnatural placement and lack of editorial discretion can lead to search engine penalties, ultimately harming a site's credibility and rankings.
Black-Hat Backlinking
Black-hat backlinking involves unethical techniques that manipulate search engine rankings. Black-hat backlinks examples include using link farms, buying links, and hidden links. Named after the villainous attire in old Western movies, these practices are risky, and they can lead to severe penalties from search engines, damaging both rankings and reputation. Learn more about the risks and ethical alternatives by exploring the differences between black hat vs. white hat SEO.
Comments Links
Although they are easy to acquire, backlinks from commenting on others' blogs are typically nofollow links with low value. If using comment links, do so sparingly and balanced with other types of links.
Footer Links
Footer links occur when backlinks on a website are placed in the footer of a website, often repeated across many pages. While not inherently bad, they can become problematic if overused or used to manipulate search engine rankings. For example, adding keyword-rich anchor texts en masse can be perceived as manipulative.
Link Wheels
Link wheels occur when linking multiple related sites together to increase each of their influence, while also linking them to the primary site to drive traffic and SEO rankings. Link wheels are against Google’s Search Essentials, formerly known as Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.
Low-quality Website Backlink Types for SEO
There are many types of backlinks considered low-quality or black hat. Low-quality backlink examples include:
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Directory links from backlink sites with no editorial content and no relevance to your site
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Link farms whose sole purpose is to provide links from different locations
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Too many irrelevant or traded links with another source
You can identify low-quality links by checking for backlinks from sites that are not topically related to your content, have low domain authority, or exhibit spammy behavior.
Metrics and red flags to look for when evaluating backlink quality include high external backlinks to content ratio, low traffic, poor site design, and placements in non-contextual locations.
Rapid increases in backlink counts from dubious sources can also indicate low-quality link-building practices. Monitoring these metrics can help safeguard your site's SEO health by identifying and disavowing harmful links.
No-follow Website Backlinks
No-follow backlinks use a rel="nofollow" attribute that tells search engines not to pass SEO value – link juice – to the linked site. While they don’t boost search rankings, they still drive traffic and enhance brand visibility. Common sources include comments on blogs and some social media platforms.
Paid SEO Backlinks
Paid links, particularly in footers and sidebars, are discouraged by Google since they are seen as attempts to manipulate search rankings rather than genuine endorsements. The link placements often lead to penalties because of their non-editorial nature and potential irrelevance to the content. Avoiding such practices is crucial for maintaining site integrity.
Private Blog Networks (PBNs)
A PBN is a backlink website with pages grouped together to funnel link equity and manipulate search rankings. The networks are risky because they can lead to severe search engine penalties. Learn more about the dangers of PBNs and why they should be avoided in our specialized article.
Spam Links, Spammy SEO Backlinks
Spam links come from low-quality or irrelevant sites. They often are used to manipulate search results. Recognizable by their origin from link farms or through unnatural embedding techniques, spammy links can damage your site’s SEO health. Conducting a backlink profile audit is essential to identify and remove such links.
