What Types Of Backlinks Help Improve Your SEO Ranking

Backlinks are incoming links from other websites that can significantly improve your search engine rankings when earned from trusted sources. At Eclipse Marketing, we understand that there are four main types of backlinks: standard backlinks that search engines follow, blocked backlinks that engines skip, paid backlinks that engines discount, and user-created backlinks that need special marking. The most valuable backlinks for SEO come from news publications, industry blogs, and authoritative websites in your field. These editorial backlinks carry more ranking power than directory listings, social media links, or guest post backlinks. Avoid paid standard backlinks and spam comment links as they violate Google’s guidelines and can result in ranking penalties. Focus on creating high-quality content that others naturally want to reference, building relationships with industry website owners, and monitoring your backlink profile regularly using tools like Google Search Console.

Understanding Backlinks Simply

Backlinks are connections your site receives from other websites. We call them “backlinks” since they “connect back” to your site.

Visitors use backlinks to explore other useful pages.

Search engines also use backlinks to:

• Navigate to the connected page and analyze its content.
• Determine that the connected page appears trustworthy and might deserve better rankings.

Why Backlinks Are Important for SEO

Getting more backlinks from trusted sources makes your website appear more credible to search engines. This credibility boost can help your site rank higher. Research on ranking factors shows that top-ranking websites typically have more backlinks than lower-ranking sites.

What Makes Backlinks Valuable for Your Site

Backlinks can boost your search rankings when they meet these key requirements:

The backlink allows search engines to follow it: Standard links let search engines treat them as endorsements. They don’t contain special codes that block this process. We’ll explain this concept further ahead.

The backlink comes from a trusted website: When respected sites link to your page, search engines view your content as more credible. This trust can improve your rankings through effective SEO services.

The backlink uses descriptive anchor text: Anchor text is the clickable words in a link. Clear anchor text helps search engines understand what your linked page covers.

The backlink appears on related websites: Search engines may ignore links from unrelated sites as spam. A gardening site linking to truck content looks suspicious without good reason.

The backlink fits naturally within the content: Links should connect smoothly with surrounding text. Links randomly placed at paragraph ends without context appear spammy to search engines.

The source of your backlinks also affects their worth. Editorial sites, forums, and social media each offer different value levels.

We’ll explore these sources next. First, let’s examine the main backlink categories.

The 4 Essential Backlink Types

Standard Backlinks That Search Engines Follow

Standard backlinks are regular links without special blocking codes in their HTML structure. Most website links work this way by default according to Google’s official guidelines.

When you link to another site without changing any code, you create a standard backlink.

These backlinks show you support the linked page. They also help search engines find and potentially rank those pages higher.

Standard links appear in HTML code like this:

<a href=”https://example.com/”>Visit ACME’s homepage</a>

Use standard backlinks when:

You’re connecting to other pages on your own website. This helps search engines find and list these pages. You’re linking to helpful resources on other websites.

Blocked Backlinks That Search Engines Skip

Blocked backlinks contain special code that tells search engines to ignore them. They won’t help with rankings or endorsements.

Blocked links appear in HTML code like this:

<a href=”https://example.com/” rel=”nofollow”>Visit ACME’s homepage</a>

Using blocked backlinks tells Google you don’t want to connect your site with the linked page. This works well when linking to competitor pages.

Paid Backlinks That Search Engines Discount

Paid backlinks contain special markers showing someone might earn money from the link. They use different code to identify this arrangement.

Here’s how a paid backlink looks:

<a href=”https://example.com/” rel=”sponsored”>Check the latest flight prices (affiliate link)</a>

Search engines typically ignore paid backlinks when determining page rankings.

The reason is simple.

These links seem less reliable to search engines.

The person adding the link might do so for money rather than genuine helpfulness.

User-Created Backlinks That Need Special Marking

User-created backlinks appear in content that regular people make themselves. This means unpaid content from individuals rather than companies.

Common examples include:

• Social media posts
• Forum discussions
• Blog comment sections

User-created backlinks use special code that looks like this:

<a href=”https://example.com/” rel=”ugc”>Visit my website</a>

These backlinks tell search engines to be cautious about following or endorsing the linked pages.

This approach helps prevent link abuse.

Someone trying to boost their rankings might flood forums with poor-quality comments containing their website links.

If you manage a blog where users can add content, mark their links with this special code.

Backlinks That Actually Improve Your SEO Rankings

Here are backlink types that can genuinely boost your search performance.

Remember that these work best as standard backlinks that search engines can follow.

News and Blog Publication Backlinks

Publication backlinks come from news sites and blogs that aim to inform and educate their readers. These platforms often create content designed to provide valuable insights, and they may link to your content when it enhances their discussion or serves as a credible source. For instance, Bankrate’s mortgage calculator received a backlink from Slate, a well-known online magazine, as part of a relevant citation.

Earning standard backlinks from publications can significantly improve your search rankings. However, the value of these links largely depends on the reputation and topical relevance of the publication. Backlinks from highly respected websites within your niche carry more ranking power and are favored by search engines.

Given the importance of these links, it’s crucial to monitor the quality of your current backlink profile through comprehensive marketing services. Use backlink analysis tools by entering your website address to evaluate your overall link health. Look at your link toxicity score: a “Low” score indicates most of your backlinks are from trustworthy sources, while “Medium” or “High” scores suggest you may need more quality backlinks from reputable websites. In the next section, we’ll discuss proven strategies to help you earn these valuable publication backlinks.

Photo Credit Backlinks

Photo credit backlinks come from images or text that credits the image creator. These links connect back to the photographer’s or designer’s website.

For example, Space.com included a photo credit in one of their articles.

This credit gives the photographer a backlink from Space.com. This connection can boost their website’s authority and search rankings.

Video Credit Backlinks

Video credit backlinks connect to the video creator’s website or profile. They work similarly to photo credits but for video content.

The Claridge Hotel provides video credits on their website pages.

These credits link directly to each video creator’s site. The creators now have valuable backlinks from the hotel’s domain.

Backlinks With Limited SEO Value

These backlinks won’t build authority like the previous types. However, they can still provide other benefits.

Guest Article Backlinks

Guest article backlinks come from articles you write for other websites or blogs. These are posts you create specifically for someone else’s platform.

Guest posting helps you reach new audiences and promote your brand. It also creates backlink opportunities for your site.

For example, when writers contribute articles to Forbes, they receive backlinks in their author biography sections.

Google suggests marking guest post backlinks as blocked links that search engines should ignore.

This happens because contributors intentionally place these links in their own content. This makes the endorsements appear less genuine to search engines.

Blocked guest post backlinks still offer real value though. They can drive website traffic and generate leads for contributors. They might even increase sales directly.

Press Release Backlinks

Press release backlinks appear in news announcements that companies send to media outlets. These releases announce new business developments and often include links to additional details.

For example, UserWay’s press release announced their solutions were available on Semrush’s App Center. The release included a direct link to that platform.

Like guest article links, press release links are usually blocked from search engine ranking calculations. This means they probably won’t boost your search positions.

However, they can still send visitors directly to your website. They might also increase branded searches for your company later.

Comment Section Backlinks

Comment section backlinks appear in forum discussions, blog comments, and social media responses. These links come from user interactions rather than official content.

Online comments count as user-created content. Websites often mark these links with special blocking codes. Sometimes they use multiple blocking methods together.

Include links in comments only when they genuinely help other users. The information should be truly valuable and relevant to the discussion.

Business Directory Backlinks

Business directory backlinks come from listing sites like Google, Yelp, and Tripadvisor. These platforms help customers find local businesses and services.

For example, Tripadvisor’s listing for Spanish restaurant Arroceria Maribel includes a direct link to their website.

Directory links don’t boost SEO rankings like publication backlinks do. However, they can send steady referral traffic to your site.

Google checks for consistent information across your business listings. This consistency helps verify your site’s trustworthiness. It can significantly improve your local search results.

Social Media Profile Backlinks

Social media profile backlinks connect from social platforms and posts to other websites. These links appear in user profiles, business pages, and individual posts.

For example, healthy drink retailer Innocent added a website link in their Instagram biography section.

Social media platforms usually add blocking codes to links on their sites. This makes these backlinks less valuable for direct SEO rankings.

However, they generate consistent referral traffic to your website. They also increase brand recognition that can boost your search visibility over time.

Backlinks That Actually Damage Your SEO

Backlinks designed to manipulate search rankings will hurt your website’s performance.

Paid Standard Backlinks: Never pay for standard backlinks that search engines can follow. This breaks Google’s spam policies. It can result in penalties that drastically reduce your search visibility. Payment doesn’t always mean money either. Giving someone free products for reviews that link back also counts as payment. When you work with websites on sponsored content, those links must be marked as blocked or paid links.

Spam Comment and Forum Backlinks: Comments and forum posts with useless backlinks or too many links won’t improve your rankings. They might actually damage your SEO performance when it’s obvious you’re trying to manipulate search engines. When adding backlinks to forum posts and comments, include only links that genuinely help the discussion. Use them rarely. Remember that forums will likely mark your backlinks with special user-content codes anyway.

Hidden Widget Backlinks: Widgets are small apps that users can add to websites by copying a few code lines. When you create widgets, they shouldn’t contain hidden links back to your site from websites using your widget. However, your widget can link to your website as proper credit. The link must be visible and marked as blocked from search engines. Tomorrow.io’s widget demonstrates this approach correctly.

This prevents websites using your widget from accidentally endorsing your site through hidden connections.

How to Get Quality Backlinks for Your Website

Want to earn useful, legitimate backlinks for your site?

Try these proven strategies:

Create Valuable Content That Others Want to Reference

Publishing original research and high-quality studies helps you earn standard backlinks from news publications. These sites regularly cite data and expert sources in their articles.

Consider this pricing study from OpenView Venture Partners as an example.

The study earned over 170 backlinks since February 2023 publication. About 147 of these are standard backlinks that boost search rankings.

Creating visual content like infographics offers another path to earning backlinks from other websites. Professional web design services can help create compelling visual assets that naturally attract links.

Follow these infographic best practices to improve your search performance beyond just earning backlinks:

Use descriptive filenames like “content-marketing-funnel.png” instead of generic names like “Infographic1.png.”

Include alternative text descriptions that explain what the image shows for accessibility.

Build an image sitemap to help search engines find and rank your visual content.

Connect with Industry Website Owners

Building relationships with others in your industry, especially those who run trusted websites, is a key part of effective link building strategies. When you establish strong connections, website owners are more likely to link to your content if it aligns with their needs. To identify potential partners, use backlink research tools to find high-authority websites worth connecting with. Start by entering your website address and setting up a new outreach project. Follow the guided steps to properly configure your link building campaign.

Once the tool finishes analyzing your site, check the “prospects” section for a list of potential link partners. Pay attention to each domain’s authority score: higher scores typically indicate more trusted websites that can significantly boost your search rankings. Also review the quality rating for each domain, which is usually ranked from one to five stars. Use both the authority score and quality rating to prioritize which websites to approach first.

Next, select the most promising domains using the provided checkboxes and move them to your active outreach list. Before reaching out, research each site thoroughly to understand its content style and target audience. Then, review your own content to find pages that genuinely offer value to their readers. Draft personalized outreach emails that share your relevant content and politely request a backlink. Email outreach tools can help you find contact information and track your outreach progress to stay organized and improve your campaign over time.

How to Track Your Website’s Backlinks

How many backlink types have you earned? Where are these links coming from exactly?

Discover this information using backlink monitoring tools.

Google Search Console for Basic Backlink Data

Google Search Console provides free backlink tracking for site owners, offering key data on traffic and link performance.

Follow these steps to check your backlinks:

Set up Google Search Console for your website first. Then click the “Links” option in the main menu.

Find the “Top linking sites” section on the Links page.

Click “More” at the bottom to view detailed information, including:

Total detected backlinks to your website. This count includes only unique links since the tool counts duplicate links just once.

List of websites linking to you most frequently.

Select any website from this list to discover:

• How many backlinks that specific website has given you
• How many of your pages that website connects to
• Which exact pages on your site they’ve linked to

Advanced Backlink Analysis Tools

Professional backlink analysis tools give detailed reports on your full link profile. They go beyond Google Search Console, offering deeper insights like:

• The anchor text used in your backlinks
• Whether backlinks are followable by search engines (dofollow or nofollow)
• Whether backlinks are currently active or have been removed

Enter your website address into the analysis tool and start a scan. Once it’s done, head to the backlinks section to view a summary of your backlink count, types, and technical details.

Review individual backlinks to see the linking page’s URL, authority score, and anchor text. If any links are missing, the tool usually explains why.

To sharpen your strategy, filter for standard backlinks that help rankings. Then, identify which content attracts top links and use that insight to create similar pages to share with your industry contacts. Professional Google consulting services can help analyze this data and develop strategic recommendations for markets like Las Vegas or New Brunswick.

Conclusion

Building a strong backlink profile requires understanding which links actually help your SEO rankings. Focus on earning standard backlinks from trusted publications, news sites, and industry authorities. Avoid paid links and spammy practices that can damage your search visibility. Create valuable content that others naturally want to reference and cite. Build genuine relationships with website owners in your industry for long-term linking opportunities. Monitor your backlinks regularly using free tools like Google Search Console and professional analysis platforms. Track which content attracts the most quality links and replicate that success. Remember that earning valuable backlinks takes time and consistent effort. Start implementing these strategies today to improve your website’s authority and search rankings over time. Contact us to learn how we can help accelerate your link building efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a backlink valuable for SEO? 

Valuable backlinks come from trusted websites that use standard link codes. They appear naturally within relevant content and use descriptive anchor text. The linking site should have good authority and relate to your topic. Respected publications carry more ranking power than directory links.

How many backlinks do I need to rank higher? 

There’s no magic number for better rankings. Quality matters more than quantity in modern SEO. One backlink from a trusted publication outweighs dozens of low-quality links. Focus on earning backlinks from authoritative sites rather than chasing high numbers.

Are paid backlinks always bad for SEO? 

Yes, paying for standard backlinks violates Google’s guidelines. This includes giving free products for reviews with links. Paid links can result in penalties that hurt search visibility. However, properly marked sponsored links won’t harm your site.

How long does it take to see results from backlinks? 

Backlink results typically appear within weeks to months after publication. Search engines need time to discover and assess new links. High-authority backlinks show faster results than lower-quality ones. Patience and consistent efforts produce the best results.

Should I remove bad backlinks pointing to my site? 

Yes, remove harmful backlinks that could hurt your SEO performance. These include links from spam sites and irrelevant directories. Use Google Search Console to identify toxic backlinks regularly. Contact owners for removal first, then use Google’s disavow tool.