12 Types of Backlinks Explained (and Which Ones Matter)
Editorial, guest post, directory, citation, forum, profile, discovery and more: 12 types of backlinks explained, with how much each one is worth for SEO.
"Get more backlinks" is vague advice because backlinks come in very different kinds. Some are earned editorial votes, some are simple listings, and some exist mainly to help crawlers find you. Knowing the type of link in front of you tells you how much effort it deserves and what it can realistically do.
Here are 12 common types of backlinks, roughly from most to least valuable for rankings.
1. Editorial backlinks
An editor or writer links to your page because it helps their readers. Nobody paid or asked. A journalist citing your survey, or a blogger recommending your tool, is an editorial link. These are the links Google's systems are designed to reward, and they are the hardest to get.
2. Digital PR and news mentions
When a news site covers your launch, data or expert comment, you often get a link. These come from high-traffic, trusted publications and can also bring real visitors. They take a story worth telling and some outreach.
3. Resource page links
Many sites keep pages like "useful tools for small businesses" or "GST resources". Getting your genuinely helpful page added to a relevant resource list is a solid, natural link.
4. Guest post links
You write an article for another site and include a link back to your own. Done on relevant sites with real readers, this is legitimate. Done at scale with keyword-rich anchors purely for links, Google's spam policies call it link spam. Quality and relevance decide which side you are on.
5. Broken link replacements
You find a dead link on someone's page, point out the problem, and suggest your similar page as a replacement. It is helpful to the site owner and earns an editorial-style link.
6. Partner, supplier and client links
Manufacturers list their stockists, agencies list their clients, and event organisers list their sponsors. These links are relevant and easy to ask for. If a link is part of a paid sponsorship, it should carry a sponsored or nofollow attribute.
7. Business directory and citation links
Listings on business directories and local platforms include your name, address, phone number and often a website link. For local businesses in India and elsewhere, consistent citations support local SEO. Choose real, moderated directories over link farms that accept anything.
8. Social profile links
The website field on your LinkedIn, YouTube, X, Instagram or GitHub profile is a backlink. These links are usually nofollow and carry little ranking weight, but they help people and crawlers connect your brand across the web.
9. Forum and Q&A links
A link in a helpful answer on a forum or Q&A site can send targeted traffic. Most of these platforms mark user links as nofollow or ugc. Posting links just to get links is spam and usually gets removed.
10. Blog comment links
Links in blog comments are almost always nofollow or ugc. They have little SEO value, and mass commenting is one of the classic spam patterns. Comment when you have something to add, not for the link.
11. Web 2.0 and user-generated pages
Free blogs and pages hosted on platforms that let anyone publish. A well-maintained one can support your brand, but thin pages created only to link back offer little and can look manipulative.
12. Discovery backlinks from lookup pages
Many websites generate a public page for any domain: traffic stats, WHOIS records, SEO analysis, archives. When one of these pages mentions your URL, it gives crawlers one more path to your site. These links are mostly nofollow, low in ranking value, and quick to create. Their main use is helping new or changed pages get discovered. Read what discovery backlinks are for the full explanation.
Which types matter most?
| Type | Typical ranking value | Effort | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial and digital PR | High | High | Authority and traffic |
| Resource page and broken link | Medium to high | Medium | Relevant authority |
| Guest posts on relevant sites | Medium | Medium to high | Authority and audience |
| Partner and supplier links | Medium | Low | Relevance and trust |
| Directories and citations | Low to medium | Low to medium | Local SEO and trust |
| Social, forum and comment links | Low | Low | Brand presence and referrals |
| Discovery backlinks | Low | Very low | Crawling and discovery |
The value column is a general guide, not a rule. A forum link in exactly the right thread can outperform a guest post nobody reads.
Dofollow, nofollow, sponsored and ugc
Any of the types above can be followed or carry a rel attribute. Google treats nofollow, sponsored and ugc as hints rather than strict instructions. The details are in dofollow vs nofollow backlinks, so we will not repeat them here.
A sensible mix for a new website
- Set up the easy foundations: social profiles, a Google Business Profile if relevant, and a few trusted directories.
- Create discovery mentions so crawlers find the domain quickly. Backlink Generator does this free, up to 100 links per run, and shows each page as it loads.
- Ask partners, suppliers and clients for links.
- Publish one or two genuinely link-worthy pages and promote them through outreach and PR.
Steps 1 to 3 take days. Step 4 is where long-term rankings come from.
FAQ
Which type of backlink is best?
Editorial links from relevant, trusted websites. They are freely given, sit inside real content and send both ranking signals and visitors.
Are directory backlinks still useful?
Reputable, moderated directories and local citation sites are still useful, especially for local businesses. Mass submission to low-quality directories is not, and Google's spam policies list low-quality directory links as a link spam pattern.
Do nofollow backlinks have any value?
Yes. They can send traffic, build brand visibility and help crawlers find your pages. Google may also choose to use them as hints. They just should not be your only kind of link.