Backlinks are one of the most powerful ranking factors in SEO. They act as digital “votes of confidence,” showing search engines that your website is trustworthy and authoritative. But here’s the catch: not all backlinks are created equal. Do you know the Types of backlinks?
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Some can dramatically boost your rankings, while others can damage your SEO if done wrong. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the different types of backlinks, how many exist, and which ones are worth your effort in 2024. The Link Velocity Curve: How to Build Backlinks Without Risk
In this guide, we’ll break down every type of backlink, show you which ones truly matter, and reveal the types of content that naturally attract backlinks—especially for SaaS, B2B, and enterprise websites. Skyrocket Your Rankings with Powerful Contextual Backlinks – A Wonbolt Exclusive
When SEOs ask “how many types of backlinks are there?” the answers can be confusing. Some guides claim there are 3 main types, others list 10+ types, and some SEO gurus say there are even 50 types of backlinks.
Here’s the truth:
- Broad categories: There are 3 main types (Dofollow, Nofollow, Sponsored/UGC).
- Subcategories: Within these, we have contextual, editorial, guest post, profile, directory, resource page, and more.
- Extended lists: If you break them down further (like image backlinks, comment backlinks, sidebar links, etc.), you can reach 30–50 different types.
👉 Key Insight: Whether you say “3 types” or “50 types,” the most important thing is understanding which backlinks bring the most SEO value and which ones to avoid.
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The Main Types of Backlinks in SEO
Backlinks come in many forms, but here’s a breakdown of the most common and important types every SEO professional should know in 2024.
1. Dofollow Backlinks
- Default type of backlink unless marked otherwise.
- Passes “link juice” from the linking page to your site.
- Example: A marketing blog links to your SEO tool guide in their article.
👉 Best Practice: Prioritize earning dofollow backlinks from high-domain-authority sites. Avoid dofollows from spammy or irrelevant sites, as they can harm your rankings.
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2. Nofollow Backlinks
- Introduced by Google in 2005 to combat spam.
- Uses
rel="nofollow"attribute to signal search engines not to pass authority. - Common on blog comments, social media links, and forums.
👉 Best Practice: While they don’t directly boost SEO rankings, they bring referral traffic, brand exposure, and trust signals. A natural backlink profile includes a healthy mix of nofollow and dofollow. Global SEO Services Explained: Everything You Need to Go International
3. Sponsored Backlinks
- Must be tagged with
rel="sponsored". - Examples: Paid advertorials, sponsored blog posts, influencer promotions.
👉 Best Practice: If you pay for a backlink, always use the sponsored tag. Google penalizes untagged paid links, which could hurt your entire domain authority.
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4. UGC (User-Generated Content) Backlinks
- Introduced in 2019 with the attribute
rel="ugc". - Found in forums, comment sections, and community-driven platforms.
- Examples: A Quora answer linking back to your article, a Reddit discussion citing your tool.
👉 Best Practice: UGC backlinks aren’t as strong as editorial links, but they’re great for community-driven traffic and brand awareness.
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5. Contextual Backlinks
- Placed naturally within relevant content.
- Example: A cybersecurity blog mentioning and linking to your SaaS tool inside their “Top Tools” article.
👉 Best Practice: Google values these links the most because they are contextually relevant, harder to manipulate, and provide actual value to readers.
Skyrocket Your Rankings with Powerful Contextual Backlinks – A Wonbolt Exclusive
6. Editorial Backlinks
- Earned when someone naturally cites your content as a reference.
- Example: A journalist linking to your research in a Forbes article.
👉 Best Practice: These are the gold standard of backlinks—no manipulation, purely based on value. To earn them, invest in original research, insightful content, and thought leadership.
7. Guest Post Backlinks
- Links placed in articles you write as a guest author.
- Can appear in the content body or author bio.
👉 Best Practice: Focus on relevant, authority sites in your niche. Avoid low-quality guest posting farms—Google is smart at spotting patterns.
8. Profile Backlinks
- Created when you register your business or brand profile on websites.
- Examples: LinkedIn, Crunchbase, AngelList, and SaaS review directories.
👉 Best Practice: Great for local SEO, brand presence, and trust signals. However, profile links alone won’t move rankings—they work best when paired with contextual backlinks. Global SEO Services Explained: Everything You Need to Go International
9. Directory & Citation Backlinks
- Listings on online directories and local citation sites.
- Example: Yelp, Yellow Pages, G2, Capterra, and niche-specific SaaS directories.
👉 Best Practice: Excellent for local businesses and SaaS companies targeting specific markets. Avoid spammy directories; focus only on relevant, high-quality listings.
10. PBN (Private Blog Network) Backlinks
- Built using a network of sites created only for backlinking.
- Risky strategy that violates Google’s guidelines.
👉 Best Practice: Not recommended. PBN backlinks might bring temporary boosts, but once Google detects them, penalties can cause long-term damage.
The Best Types of Backlinks for SEO in 2024
In 2024, backlinks are not about quantity but quality, relevance, and authority. The best-performing backlinks today are:
- Contextual backlinks – Natural links inside content.
- Editorial backlinks – Earned through high-value content.
- HARO & PR backlinks – Journalists and publications linking to your brand.
- Niche guest posts – From sites within your industry.
- Resource page backlinks – From curated “Best Of” or “Tool List” pages.
- Free tool mentions – If you build SaaS tools, they often get cited naturally.
👉 Pro Tip: Instead of chasing 500 low-quality links, aim for 10–20 high-authority backlinks from relevant sites. One link from a site like HubSpot or TechCrunch can be more powerful than hundreds of weak links.
Types of Content That Attract Backlinks (Especially for SaaS & B2B)
If you want backlinks to come to you, you need to create content that people naturally want to reference and share. In the SaaS and B2B space, the following content types work best:
1. Original Research & Industry Reports
- Example: “2024 State of SaaS SEO.”
- Journalists, bloggers, and marketers love citing original statistics.
👉 Best Practice: Conduct surveys, analyze industry data, and publish detailed reports.
2. Case Studies & Whitepapers
- Example: “How XYZ SaaS increased leads by 250% with SEO.”
- B2B decision-makers and marketers frequently cite case studies.
👉 Best Practice: Showcase results with numbers, visuals, and step-by-step methods.
3. Infographics & Visual Content
- Visuals get shared and linked to more often than plain text.
- Example: Infographic explaining “Types of Backlinks in SEO.”
👉 Best Practice: Create embeddable infographics that other blogs can use (with attribution).
4. Free Tools & Calculators
- SaaS companies thrive by offering free tools.
- Example: HubSpot’s Website Grader or Ahrefs’ Free Backlink Checker.
👉 Best Practice: Even a simple calculator (ROI calculator, keyword density checker, etc.) can become a backlink magnet.
5. Ultimate Guides & Tutorials
- Evergreen guides consistently earn backlinks.
- Example: “The Complete Guide to Off-Page SEO in 2024.”
👉 Best Practice: Create content that’s 10x better than existing guides—more depth, more visuals, more value.
Types of Backlinks in Off-Page SEO
Backlinks are at the core of off-page SEO, which focuses on improving a site’s authority and trust outside its own domain.
Natural vs. Built vs. Earned Backlinks
- Natural Backlinks: Earned organically (editorial mentions).
- Built Backlinks: Created via outreach (guest posts, link exchanges).
- Earned Backlinks: Attracted by valuable content (tools, data reports).
White-Hat vs. Black-Hat vs. Grey-Hat Backlinks
- White-Hat: Ethical, Google-compliant methods (guest posting, HARO, resource pages).
- Black-Hat: Manipulative tactics (PBNs, hidden links, paid untagged links).
- Grey-Hat: Tactics that aren’t explicitly against rules but risky (excessive link exchanges).
👉 Takeaway: For sustainable rankings, stick to white-hat strategies.
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FAQs About Types of Backlinks
1. How many types of backlinks are there?
There are dozens of backlink types used in SEO. At the highest level, backlinks are divided into dofollow and nofollow. But under those categories, you’ll find editorial links, guest post links, niche edits, directory submissions, forum links, profile links, blog comments, and more. In practical SEO, marketers focus on 15–20 major backlink types that really influence rankings.
2. How many types of backlinks are there in SEO?
In SEO, backlinks can be categorized into white-hat backlinks (earned naturally), gray-hat backlinks (moderately safe but manipulative), and black-hat backlinks (against Google guidelines). Within white-hat SEO, the most common are editorial links, guest blogging links, HARO links, niche edits, and resource page links.
3. What are the types of backlinks?
The main types of backlinks include:
- Dofollow backlinks (pass SEO value)
- Nofollow backlinks (signal trust but don’t pass authority)
- Editorial backlinks
- Guest post backlinks
- Resource page backlinks
- Directory backlinks
- Profile backlinks
- Forum backlinks
- Social media backlinks
4. What are the three types of backlinks?
The three basic types are:
- Dofollow backlinks – boost rankings directly.
- Nofollow backlinks – bring traffic and credibility.
- UGC/Sponsored backlinks – tagged links that signal user-generated or paid placements.
5. Different types of backlinks in SEO – what are they?
SEO professionals often talk about different backlink strategies, such as:
- Editorial mentions
- Guest posts
- Q&A backlinks (Quora, Reddit)
- Scholarship backlinks (.edu)
- Business listings
- Infographic backlinks
Each type works differently, but editorial and contextual backlinks are the most powerful.
6. What are the most valuable types of backlinks for enterprise websites?
Enterprise websites benefit most from high-authority editorial backlinks, digital PR mentions, and links from reputable industry publications. These not only increase rankings but also enhance brand authority and trust.
7. What are the best types of backlinks for SEO?
The best backlinks are contextual, dofollow, and from authoritative sites within your industry. Examples:
- A mention in Forbes or TechCrunch (for SaaS/tech companies)
- A backlink from a government (.gov) or university (.edu) site
- Niche-specific resource backlinks
8. What types of backlinks are there in off-page SEO?
Off-page SEO backlinks include:
- Guest blogging links
- Forum and community links
- Social sharing links
- Local business directory backlinks
- Influencer collaboration backlinks
9. What types of backlinks should I avoid?
Avoid:
- Spammy directory submissions
- Automated forum links
- Paid links without “sponsored” tags
- Private Blog Networks (PBNs)
These can trigger Google penalties.
10. What types of content can generate backlinks for a SaaS site?
For SaaS, the most link-worthy content includes:
- Original case studies
- Research reports
- How-to guides
- Comparison articles (e.g., SaaS A vs SaaS B)
- Free tools or calculators
11. What types of content attract backlinks in the B2B tech space?
In the B2B tech sector, backlinks are usually attracted by:
- Industry research papers
- Data-driven insights
- Thought leadership articles
- Ultimate guides and tutorials
- Whitepapers
12. What types of content perform best for social shares and backlinks?
Content that works for both shares and backlinks includes:
- Infographics
- Trending topic explainers
- Statistics posts
- “Ultimate guides”
- Expert roundups
13. What types of blog content attract the most backlinks?
The blog content that gets the most backlinks is:
- Comprehensive guides
- Research-driven content
- Listicles (Top 50 Tools, etc.)
- Case studies
- Opinion pieces with unique insights
14. What types of content are more likely to earn backlinks?
Content with unique value (such as original research, expert insights, or a free tool) earns backlinks more than generic articles.
15. What types of content are most likely to attract high-quality backlinks?
The content most likely to get high-quality backlinks is data-backed content, industry trend reports, and expert-led opinion pieces.
16. What types of content attract the most backlinks in the SaaS sector?
SaaS companies earn backlinks with:
- Comparison guides (e.g., “Best CRM Tools for 2025”)
- Benchmarks and reports
- Customer success stories
- Freemium tools and templates
17. How many types of backlinks to needed in 2025?
In 2024, SEO experts recommend focusing on:
- Dofollow contextual backlinks
- Guest post backlinks
- Editorial mentions
- Resource page backlinks
- Niche-relevant backlinks
18. Are all types of backlinks equally valuable?
No. Quality matters far more than quantity. A single backlink from Forbes or HubSpot can outweigh 1,000 low-quality links.
19. Can social media backlinks improve SEO?
Yes and no. Most social backlinks are nofollow, so they don’t pass PageRank, but they boost visibility, referral traffic, and trust signals, which indirectly support SEO.
20. What’s the difference between types of backlinks in SEO vs. AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)?
In SEO, backlinks boost rankings. In AEO, backlinks improve your chances of appearing in featured snippets and AI-generated answers. Both strategies require high-quality editorial backlinks.
Conclusion: Focus on Quality Backlinks for Long-Term SEO
Backlinks remain a cornerstone of SEO in 2024, but the game has changed. Google is smarter at spotting manipulative link building, so the only safe strategy is quality and relevance.
For SaaS, B2B, and enterprise websites, the best backlinks come from valuable content—original research, case studies, free tools, and guides—combined with strategic outreach.
👉 Need high-quality backlinks for your website?
Contact Wonbolt at infowonbolt@gmail.com for professional link-building services tailored to your business.r Long-Term SEO
Backlinks are the backbone of SEO, but not all of them are equal. In 2024, the winning strategy isn’t about collecting thousands of random links—it’s about earning high-quality, niche-relevant backlinks that build authority and trust.
For SaaS, B2B, and enterprise sites, the best approach is creating valuable content—original research, case studies, tools, and guides—that naturally attracts links. Pair this with ethical outreach, and you’ll build a powerful backlink profile that stands the test of time.
👉 Need high-quality backlinks for your website?
Contact Wonbolt at infowonbolt@gmail.com for professional link-building services tailored to your business.
