The 7 Most Valuable Types of Backlinks for SEO in 2024
Not all backlinks are created equal. While the total number of backlinks pointing to your website still matters for SEO, it‘s even more critical to focus on acquiring the right types of high-quality links.
In fact, a single editorial link from an authoritative website can move the needle more than dozens of low-quality directory or forum links. Link building has also evolved over the years, with some tactics becoming less effective or even harmful for SEO.
As we head into 2024, which types of backlinks will give you the biggest rankings boost? How can you earn them through white-hat methods to future-proof your SEO strategy?
In this guide, we‘ll share the 7 most valuable types of backlinks for SEO based on industry research and case studies. You‘ll also learn proven tips and tactics to acquire these powerful links the right way.
1. Editorial Backlinks
Editorial backlinks are the holy grail of link building. These are organic links that you earn naturally when other websites find your content valuable and choose to link to it.
Google‘s John Mueller has stated that the search engine prefers "naturally gained links over links built manually." According to Ahrefs, the average number of referring domains to a top 10 ranking page is 9.8.
How can you earn more editorial links? The key is creating link-worthy content that other websites will want to reference, such as:
- Original research and case studies
- Detailed, ultimate guides on a topic
- Unique insights from subject matter experts
- Visuals like infographics, charts and videos
Andy Crestodina increased traffic to the Orbit Media website by 372% primarily through editorial link building. "Our content focuses on original research," he says. "When we publish new stats, bloggers and journalists want to cite it."
2. Guest Post Backlinks
Guest posting remains one of the most proactive ways to build high-quality backlinks. By contributing content to other relevant blogs and publications, you can include natural links back to your website.
However, guest posting at scale without careful screening can get you into trouble. Google warns against "large-scale article marketing or guest posting campaigns with keyword-rich anchor text links."
Focus on authoritative websites in your niche where you can add genuine value for their audience. Prioritize sites with high Domain Authority (DA 60+) and engaged readers.
Before doing outreach, get on the website‘s radar by linking to their content, commenting on posts, and engaging with editors on social media. Craft a compelling, personalized pitch explaining how your guest post will benefit their readers.
"Guest blogging works well if you‘re providing valuable insights to educate readers," says Sujan Patel. "If you‘re just trying to pop in a link to your website, people will see right through it."
3. Media Mentions & Features
Earning media coverage is not only great for brand awareness but also for SEO. Editorial links from trusted news and industry publications can significantly boost your website‘s authority.
Publishing proprietary data and expert insights is one of the best ways to attract media attention. For example, Fractl earned links from over 1,000 unique domains by creating and promoting original research.
You can also use services like HARO and SourceBottle to pitch helpful insights to journalists working on relevant stories. The key is adding meaningful value to the conversation rather than generic comments.
When your company launches a new product, partners with a notable brand, or receives significant funding, write a compelling press release and do targeted outreach to publications that cover your industry.
4. Broken Link Building
Broken link building is the process of finding relevant pages with broken outbound links, recreating that missing content, and reaching out to get your link included as a replacement.
This white-hat tactic allows you to build topically-relevant links while providing value to website owners by alerting them to broken links.
Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush or Check My Links to identify 404 errors on resource pages related to your industry. Plug the broken URLs into the Wayback Machine to see what content used to be there.
If you have similar content, reach out and suggest your link as a replacement. If not, consider creating a new asset that would make sense given the context of that page and surrounding links.
Broken link building led to a 15% increase in organic traffic for Snack Nation. They built 35 links from 30 unique referring domains and the average Domain Authority was 38.
5. Unlinked Brand Mentions
Reclaiming unlinked brand mentions may be the lowest hanging fruit in link building. These are instances where your brand is referenced on another website without linking back to you.
Since they are already mentioning you, it‘s usually not a big ask to get a link included. Monitor the web for unlinked brand mentions using tools like Ahrefs Alerts, Google Alerts, or BuzzSumo.
When you find an unlinked mention, send a friendly email to thank them for the mention and suggest adding a link for their readers to learn more. Make it easy by including the exact URL you‘d like them to link.
Siege Media increased their link acquisition rate from 5% to 12% by seeking out and converting unlinked brand mentions. For one client, they gained an extra 100 links per month using this tactic.
6. Niche-Relevant Directory Links
While most generic web directories provide little SEO value, appearing in selective, niche-relevant directories can help with rankings and traffic.
Focus on finding directories that are specific to your industry or local market. These should be directories that people actually use, not just pages full of spammy links.
For example, a lawyer could benefit from inclusion in directories like FindLaw, Avvo and Lawyers.com. A local business would want to claim their listing on Google Business Profile, Yelp, and local Chamber of Commerce sites.
Before submitting your site, evaluate the directory‘s Domain Authority, traffic estimates, and editorial standards. Avoid any directory that accepts listings without review.
Directory links alone won‘t skyrocket your rankings, but they can be a useful part of a diversified link profile, especially for local SEO. Well-known local business directories are trusted sources for search engines.
7. Earned Backlinks From Link Magnets
Link magnets are outstanding pieces of content that naturally accumulate links over time because of their quality or uniqueness. These can be ultimate guides, original research, free tools, or entertaining content.
While creating a true link magnet takes considerable effort, the payoff can be hundreds of earned editorial links. Backlinko‘s "Definitive Guide to Keyword Research" has attracted over 2,600 links from 800 unique domains.
What makes a great link magnet? Consider these attributes:
- Highly useful, actionable content
- The most comprehensive piece on the topic
- Proprietary data or insights
- Stunning visuals and interactivity
- Evergreen content that will stay relevant
Promote your link magnets heavily in channels where your audience spends time. Build an initial set of links through manual outreach, paid ads, and syndication to ignite a flywheel of earned links.
In one case study, Fractl created an animated educational piece that yielded 230 dofollow links from 80 unique domains. High-quality link magnets are expensive to create but can deliver outsized ROI.
Future-Proof Your Backlink Strategy
Building a diverse portfolio of high-quality backlinks is one of the most important factors for SEO success. However, not all links are worth pursuing and some tactics can even result in manual actions from Google.
As we move into 2024 and beyond, focus on earning editorial links from authoritative websites through outstanding content, strategic outreach, and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Guest posting is still effective if done with care and broken link building can help create a very natural link profile. Converting unlinked brand mentions and pursuing niche-relevant directory links are quick wins with high ROI.
Above all else, invest in creating true link magnets – best-in-class assets that will naturally earn links and authority over time. By prioritizing these 7 high-value link types, you‘ll be well-positioned to rise in the SERPs now and in the future.
For more SEO and link building insights, check out the SEO Starter Pack – a free kit with everything you need to start ranking higher in search engines.
