10 Types of Backlinks for Your Link Building Campaign

What is backlinks

Backlinks are links from other websites that point to yours. But in the world of SEO, they’re one of the most important signals Google looks at when deciding how valuable your site is.

Let’s say a well-known blog links to your article. That’s like them saying, “Hey, this is worth reading”. Google notices that. The more trusted sites that link to you, the more you start looking like a legit source. But not all backlinks are equal.

There are several types of backlinks in off-page SEO, and knowing the difference is key. Some help, some do nothing, a few can actually hurt. We’ll break them down so you know exactly what to focus on.

10 Types of Backlinks for Your Link Building Campaign

Not all backlinks types in SEO are worth your time. Here’s a breakdown of the most effective backlink types, with straight-up pros, cons, and what you’re getting into.

1. Editorial Backlinks

These show up when someone links to your content without being asked. It usually happens when your content is actually helpful, well-written, or cited as a trusted source.

• Pros: Come from credible sites. They tend to stay live and carry real weight;
• Cons: Hard to get unless your content already has reach;
• Cost: Free if organic; $300+ if you’re using outreach to help it along;
• Difficulty: High — people only link to content they believe is worth sharing;
• Efficiency: Very high — one of these can be more valuable than a dozen average links.

2. Guest Post Backlinks

You offer a guest article to another website and include a link to yours in the content or author bio. This is one of the most common ways to build links that still works.

• Pros: You choose the topic, write the content, and control how the link fits in;
• Cons: Time-consuming, and a lot of sites aren’t worth posting on;
• Cost: Free if it’s a true exchange; $50–$500+ if you’re paying for a spot;
• Difficulty: Medium — takes some writing skill and solid outreach;
• Efficiency: High — if the site’s good, it’s often worth it.

3. HARO / Journalist Backlinks

You respond to a journalist’s request — usually through HARO — and if your answer works, you get quoted and linked. These can land you on big-name sites.

• Pros: Strong links from high-authority domains. Helps with trust and visibility;
• Cons: Lots of people answering the same pitch, and you need to stand out fast;
• Cost: Free on your own; $500–$1,500/month with agency help;
• Difficulty: High — answers need to be specific and genuinely helpful;
• Efficiency: Very high — one good placement can beat dozens of smaller links.

4. Business Directory Backlinks

You put your business info into sites like Google Maps, Yelp, or whatever directory. It’s mostly to show you exist — don’t expect it to help you rank.

• Pros: Takes 10 minutes; makes you look like a real company if someone Googles you;
• Cons: Google barely counts these; half the sites are full of junk;
• Cost: Usually free, unless you fall for “premium exposure” upsells;
• Difficulty: None — it’s data entry;
• Efficiency: Very low — good to have, but isn’t a miracle.

5. Broken Link or Resource Page Backlinks

You find a dead link on someone’s site, let them know, and suggest your page as a replacement. It’s slow, manual, but totally worth it when it lands.

• Pros: You’re being helpful, and the link actually makes sense on the page;
• Cons: You’ll send 50 emails to maybe get 1 link;
• Cost: Free if you do it yourself; not so free (depends) if you hire someone;
• Difficulty: Medium — takes time, tools, and decent outreach;
• Efficiency: Moderate — quality over quantity, but slow return.

6. PR Backlinks

You pitch a story — maybe a launch, a trend, or some data — and if it catches, a news site writes about it and links to you.

• Pros: Huge authority, real traffic, and serious credibility;
• Cons: No story means no link — and fluff won’t cut it;
• Cost: Free if you’re pitching yourself; thousands if you bring in PR;
• Difficulty: High — needs timing, relevance, and a proper hook;
• Efficiency: High — one of these can beat 50 random guest posts.

7. Social Media Backlinks

You post a link on something like Twitter, Reddit, or LinkedIn. Doesn’t help your rankings, but it gets the page out there.

• Pros: Quick, free, and might bring some clicks or shares;
• Cons: Google ignores most of them. SEO value is basically zero;
• Cost: Free;
• Difficulty: None — takes 10 seconds;
• Efficiency: Low — good for visibility, not link equity.

8. Image and Infographic Backlinks

You make something visual — a stat graphic, a how-to, a chart — and people use it with a link back. It’s one of the few link tactics that can run on autopilot if you get it right.

• Pros: Can pick up links passively if it spreads;
• Cons: Making good visuals takes time or money, and most still need promotion;
• Cost: $50–$300+ depending on design and topic;
• Difficulty: Medium — it’s half content, half marketing;
• Efficiency: Moderate — great when it works, dead weight when it doesn’t.

9. Testimonials and Reviews Backlinks

You write a testimonial for a product or service you actually use, and they link back when they post it on their site. No one talks about it, but it’s one of the easiest clean links out there.

• Pros: Super low-effort; shows up on high-authority pages;
• Cons: You don’t control the link or the anchor;
• Cost: Free;
• Difficulty: Low — just write something real;
• Efficiency: Moderate — not scalable, but a nice trust signal.

10. Forum and Community Backlinks

You drop a link in a forum thread, comment section, or niche group — ideally when you’re actually adding value. Most are nofollow, but they can still drive real traffic if you don’t spam it.

• Pros: Quick way to get links and eyeballs in tight communities;
• Cons: Almost no SEO value; easy to look spammy if you overdo it;
• Cost: Free;
• Difficulty: Low — just don’t be a clown;
• Efficiency: Low — good for niche traffic, not rankings.

Bonus points:

11. Link Insertions (Niche Edits)

You ask a site owner to add your link into a page that already exists — usually in exchange for something. Fast, effective, and very common behind the scenes.

• Pros: Gets your link into aged, indexed content with authority;
• Cons: Can get shady fast if you’re buying links from garbage sites;
• Cost: $100–$500 per link, depending on quality;
• Difficulty: Medium — outreach matters, and you’ve got to be selective;
• Efficiency: High — solid results if done right.

12. Profile Backlinks

You create a user profile on a site and add your link in the bio or settings. Super easy, but don’t expect it to move rankings.

• Pros: Takes two minutes; adds brand signals and link diversity;
• Cons: Most are nofollow and low-value; rarely seen by anyone;
• Cost: Free;
• Difficulty: Very low — point, click, done;
• Efficiency: Low — good for foundation, not results.

13. Link Exchange Backlinks

You link to them, they link to you — that’s the deal. It still happens all the time, but Google’s not a fan when it’s obvious.

• Pros: Quick to set up; mutual benefit if done right;
• Cons: Can look spammy fast; Google devalues obvious trades;
• Cost: Free — just an agreement;
• Difficulty: Low — basic coordination;
• Efficiency: Low to moderate — works better in niche, low-volume cases.

Conclusion

You’ll hear a lot of debate about how many types of backlinks in SEO there are — and which ones “work”. Truth is, most links won’t do much on their own. A handful really matter. The rest? Nice to have, but not worth losing sleep over.

What actually helps is getting a few great links from the right places — not trying to collect every type just to check a box. Focus on quality, stay consistent, and skip the shortcuts.