15 Types of Backlinks: A Simple Breakdown

Backlinks matter. But with so many different backlink types, how do you know which ones are helping your SEO?

That’s why we’ve put together this guide. It includes a detailed analysis of 15 types of backlinks—so you know which ones to focus on and which to avoid.

Let’s get started!

15 Types of Backlinks Every SEO Professional Should Know

Backlinks are a key part of SEO, but not all are created equal. Here are 15 types of backlinks you definitely need to know about.

Here’s the breakdown.

Do follow Backlinks

Do follow backlinks are links from other websites that tell search engines to follow them and pass ranking power to your site. 

This is what a do follow link looks like in the page code:

<a href=”https://www.example.com”>15 Types of Backlinks You Should Know</a>

When it comes to different types of backlinks, do follow links stand out because they pass ranking power to your site. As a result, you rank higher, get more traffic, and become more visible online. 

That’s why the first thing we do when a backlink is live is check if it’s do follow. If it is, we know we’re helping our clients’ websites to grow.

No Follow Backlinks

No follow links are links with a rel=”nofollow” HTML tag, which don’t pass authority and ranking power to the website they are linking to.

Here’s what a no follow link looks like in the page code:

One of the most common link building questions is whether nofollow links can harm your website, and the answer is no. 

While no follow links don’t improve your SEO directly, they still have value. A healthy backlink profile has a mix of two types of links —  do follow and no follow. If all your links are do follow, it could raise a red flag with search engines.

The good news is, that no follow links usually come naturally, so you don’t have to spend time and effort building them.

SaaS Backlinks

SaaS backlinks are links from companies that provide software as a service (SaaS). 

Think of project management tools like Asana or Trello. If one of these companies links to your website, you get a SaaS backlink. 

Among the different types of backlinks, SaaS backlinks from SaaS websites are particularly valuable. It’s because these companies take their website SEO seriously. As their sites grow, your backlink grows with it, helping your site get more visibility.

Not convinced yet? Take a look at our case studies. We’ve helped several SaaS companies improve their rankings by building valuable SaaS backlinks, and yours could be next.

News and Magazine Website Backlinks

News and magazine backlinks are links from websites that cover a variety of topics and content. 

At first glance, these sites may seem like a great source for backlinks thanks to their high SEO metrics. However, there’s a catch we’d like to point out.

Many of these sites are created primarily to sell backlinks. While they may seem valuable because of their impressive metrics, they often lack good and helpful content or long term SEO strategies. 

As a result, these sites may experience a drop in rankings or disappear from search results completely. 

So, while a backlink from a news or magazine site might look appealing, it’s important to keep in mind that their value can decrease as they focus on quick fixes over sustainable growth.

Guest Post Backlinks

Guest post backlinks are links you get by writing and publishing articles on other websites.

Thanks to guest posting you can improve your SEO and get more people to know about you. It’s a win-win—better rankings and better brand awareness.

However, guest posting comes with the following challenges:

• It’s time-consuming: Writing and pitching to relevant websites takes a lot of time.
• Slow turnaround: It might take weeks (or even months) for your guest post to be published.
• Scaling is tricky: Finding legit sites to work with consistently isn’t easy.
• It’s hard to predict outcomes: You never know how many guest posts will actually get published.

Despite these downsides, guest posts are still a proven way to build links and grow your brand—if you’re ready to put effort.

Niche Edits or Link Insertions

Niche edits, also called link insertions, are backlinks that you add to existing content on a relevant website. 

Why are niche edits great?

• Easy outreach: Link building outreach for niche edits takes less time (if automated) and is much more straightforward. 
• No content creation needed: Unlike guest posts, you don’t have to spend time writing anything new.
• Instant results: Since the content is already indexed, your link can start working for you right away.

However, link insertions also have a few challenges. For example, website owners may remove your link due to content updates. So, your backlinks depend on someone else’s decisions, which can be unpredictable.

Even with these risks, niche edits are still an effective way to grow your backlinks if done right.

Pro tip: For better results, focus on niche relevant backlinks to get the most value and improve your SEO.

The good news is that if you qualify these links with a rel=”nofollow” or rel=”sponsored” attribute value to the <a> tag, Google won’t count them as a ranking signal, reducing the risk of penalties.

However, paid links make sense in certain situations. For example, SaaS or agency websites often build links through exchanges with other reputable businesses. But for industries like casinos, cannabis, or crypto, the story changes. In these niches, finding legitimate businesses willing to exchange links is difficult, if not impossible. Even if you can, it’s not scalable.

This is where paid backlinks can make sense. In the crypto niche, for instance, it’s ideal to get links from real businesses, but when that’s not possible, news or magazine websites that regularly cover crypto topics can be a practical alternative.

The more niche or regulated your industry, the more logical it becomes to invest in paid backlinks. Just make sure not to use them excessively to avoid penalties.

Comment Section and Forum Backlinks

Comment section and forum backlinks are links you get by posting comments or participating in discussions on forums. 

While they used to be a popular tactic for building backlinks, we think this approach has become outdated and ineffective for SEO. 

In fact, comment section or forum backlinks can actually do more harm than good, and here’s why:
Many comment sections and forums are filled with spammy posts that don’t add real value to the conversation. As Google filters out spammy links, using comment and forum backlinks can actually hurt your SEO strategy.

Moreover, there’s a risk of being penalized by Google, as such links are against its guidelines. 

In short, we recommend avoiding such links and instead prioritizing backlinks from reputable and relevant sites for better SEO results.

Directory Backlinks

Directory backlinks are links from online directories where you can add your business information, such as your contact info, services, and products.

While it’s a good way to boost your visibility, don’t expect any SEO benefits. These links won’t do much to improve your rankings.

So, think of them more as a way to get your name out there rather than a strategy for increasing your online presence.

Footer and Author Bio Backlinks

Author bio backlinks are links placed in the author’s bio section, typically at the end of an article.

These links usually point to the author’s personal website or business, providing a great way to gain valuable backlinks.

The good news is these backlinks do offer SEO value and there’s nothing wrong with using them, as long as they’re relevant and naturally integrated.

Footer backlinks, on the other hand, are links placed in the footer of a website.

While these can also provide value, getting them requires a bit more creativity.

For footer backlinks, it’s important to ensure that the link points to something useful, like a tool or widget that adds value to the website. 

Without a strong reason or benefit, it will be quite difficult to get a footer backlink approved.

Wrapping Up

Link building can be tricky with so many types of backlinks out there. But knowing which ones to focus on makes it easier.

While quick strategies might seem appealing, it’s the relevant backlinks that really make a difference.

Stick with the best backlinks for SEO, and you’ll see your efforts pay off!

FAQ about types of backlinks