Backlinks remain one of the most powerful off-page SEO strategies. That’s why you should discover 8 types of backlinks to use in your publications.
Even with changes in search engine algorithms, backlinks continue to be one of the pillars of search rankings. They work like a vote of confidence — the more relevant sites that point to your content, the higher the perceived credibility.
Not all referral links are created equal. Each one plays a specific role in the link-building structure and influences organic performance differently.
Here’s how each type of backlink works and when to use it to maximize your SEO results.
A broad view of the types of backlinks
There are several link-building strategies that can boost a page’s ranking.
One important backlink strategy is the guest post, writing for another website and including links to your own content. This way, you not only contribute to the other page but also attract a qualified audience interested in the specific topics on your site.
Of course, to create a quality backlink, the referring site should be:
- Relevant;
- Authoritative;
- Linked naturally within the content;
- Carry the dofollow attribute.
Understanding the different types of backlinks
While learning how to build high-quality backlinks can be challenging at first, as you begin analyzing sites more critically, you can identify which types of backlinks they use.
Broadly, they can be classified as:
- Dofollow Backlinks: hyperlinks that allow search engines to crawl the linked page. They are considered votes of confidence. Here, link juice occurs, with a third-party site transferring part of its authority to your domain.
- Nofollow Backlinks: site owners indicate to search engines not to follow these links. In other words, no authority is transferred to the linked page.
- Sponsored Backlinks: these are purchased backlinks using the “sponsored” attribute, which tells search engines the link was paid for. While they can drive traffic and increase brand awareness, they do not transfer authority via link juice. Additionally, sponsored links should be used with caution, as their practice has specific rules and can lead to legal consequences if misused.
Types of backlinks to use in your SEO strategies
Broken link backlinks: recover lost opportunities
This involves replacing a broken link (caused by deletions or URL changes) with your own content that is relevant to the topic.
In practice, you can use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to search for broken links on websites in your niche. Then, you either create or find content that fits the context of the third-party publication and contact the site owner suggesting it as a replacement.
Social media backlinks to boost organic reach
As the name suggests, these are links shared on social media platforms. To create them, publish shareable content such as videos, infographics, and articles, including links that drive the audience to your website.
The foundation of link building here is encouraging your followers to share and engage with your content.
This also includes backlinks created by users themselves — links placed in comments, forums, blogs, and social media. However, these links are typically nofollow, so it’s important to add value by commenting on posts with meaningful content. Still, you must be careful to avoid spam and direct self-promotion.
Podcast backlinks: visibility in new formats
This backlink type comes from hyperlinks included in the descriptions of episodes you participate in, which can generate qualified traffic if the podcast has a solid audience.
To use this strategy, reach out to podcasts in your niche and offer to be a guest, highlighting the inclusion of links in the episode’s description or show notes.
Resource page backlinks
These backlinks come from pages that list useful resources on a specific topic, providing strong contextual and relevant authority for your niche.
Use Google’s advanced search operator (inurl:resources + keyword) to find specific terms as a basis for creating valuable materials. Then, email the websites suggesting your content be added as a useful resource.
Editorial Backlinks for Natural Mentions
These are backlinks added spontaneously. They are extremely valuable because they are considered natural recommendations.
To be referenced in this way, your content must be useful and informative. Invest in in-depth studies, guides, and data. Additionally, promote your content within your industry and build long-term relationships that will make future mentions more likely.
This is one of the best practices for obtaining high-quality backlinks for free. It refers to the practice of writing articles as a guest author on other websites and including links that direct readers to your page.
To use this strategy, find partner sites, send a proposal, and write material aligned with the theme, ensuring the links to your site are natural.
Paid backlinks: a strategic investment
This method is based on acquiring links by paying the site owner or service provider. One caveat: these backlinks will only be high quality if used correctly.
When applying this approach, negotiate only with trustworthy and relevant sites. Insertions must be natural and follow best practices. A golden rule to protect your brand’s credibility is to avoid link networks or generic sites.
Reciprocal backlinks with trusted partners
As the name suggests, this is a partnership where domains reference each other. However, this strategy should be used in moderation to avoid penalties.
Look for sites within your niche and establish transparent criteria for the exchange, always prioritizing quality and relevance.
How we apply different types of backlinks in our SEO content marketing strategies
Our SEO-focused content marketing agency strategically applies different types of backlinks to:
- Increase the client’s website authority;
- Improve organic ranking;
- Generate qualified traffic.
Below, I explain how this works in practice, with the main types of backlinks and how each one is used:
1. Editorial (natural) backlinks
How our agency applies them:
- We create valuable content (posts, infographics, original research, complete guides) that other websites reference spontaneously.
- We publish materials on relevant blogs and portals with content that answers common questions or brings new data.
- We invest in Content PR strategies to secure mentions in press outlets or authoritative websites.
Our goal:
Increase domain authority and strengthen reputation through naturally earned links.
Example:
Above, an example of a table inserted into the content produced by our team of SEO copywriters. In addition to being SEO-optimized text, it also aligns with UX (User Experience) strategies. It’s complete, addresses the reader’s pain points, and therefore has a high chance of being linked to by reputable portals.
2. Guest Posts
How the agency applies them:
- We reach out to partner blogs and portals or sites within the same niche to publish original articles with contextualized backlinks to the client.
- We produce useful content that makes sense for the target audience of the partner site.
- We maintain the natural flow of the link, respecting SEO guidelines.
Goal:
Generate relevant and controlled backlinks from domains with strong reputations, increasing authority and traffic.
Example:
The image above shows content created by our team and published on the partner portal UAI. We naturally inserted a backlink for our client Wondershare UniConverter, as shown in the image.
Because it’s a website with excellent metrics, the chances of the reader clicking on the link and being redirected to the client’s page are high. This helps increase visibility on the client’s portal and boosts their conversion rate.
3. Forum and community backlinks
How our agency applies them:
- We participate in forums such as Quora, Reddit, and technical or niche-specific communities.
- We answer questions in a helpful way, inserting links only when relevant and allowed by forum rules.
- We use signature links in specialized forums (when applicable).
Goal:
Generate qualified traffic and position the client as an authority with contextual links.
Important note:
A serious agency avoids toxic or indiscriminately purchased backlinks. It:
- Monitors link quality using tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Google Search Console.
- Removes or disavows harmful backlinks.
- Works long-term to build a strong, natural backlink profile.
Now that you know the 8 most important types of backlinks, it’s time to apply these strategies and build a digital presence with greater authority, traffic, and results.
Need help putting these strategies into practice? Contact our SEO specialists and strengthen your SEO with high-quality backlinks.