7 Types of Backlinks You Should Know for Better SEO

Backlinks are one of the most discussed topics in SEO. If you are building a blog, trying to improve your search rankings, or learning off-page SEO, you will eventually come across terms such as dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, UGC, editorial, contextual, and resource page backlinks.

But what do these terms actually mean?

Are all backlinks equally valuable? Does a nofollow link have any value? Should you try to get only dofollow backlinks? What is the difference between sponsored and UGC links? And how can a beginner build backlinks without using risky SEO tactics?

Understanding these questions is important because successful link building is not simply about collecting as many links as possible.

A good backlink should be relevant, natural, and useful to people.

In this guide, we will explain 7 important types of backlinks in simple language. You will learn how each type works, where you may find it, what makes it useful, and what beginners should keep in mind when building backlinks.

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What Is a Backlink?

A backlink is a link from one website to a page on another website.

For example, imagine you have a blog about SEO. You publish an article called “How to Find Profitable Keywords for Your Blog.”

Another website writes an article about keyword research and links to your guide because it finds your explanation useful.

That link from the other website to your article is called a backlink.

In simple terms:

Website A → links to → Website B

Website B receives a backlink from Website A.

Backlinks are also called inbound links or incoming links.

They are different from internal links. An internal link connects two pages on the same website, while a backlink usually comes from a different website.

Simple Example

Suppose:

• Your website is Website A.
• Another SEO website is Website B.
• Website B links to your SEO guide.

You receive a backlink from Website B.

If the linking website is relevant and trustworthy, that backlink may be useful for both users and search engines.

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Why Are Backlinks Important for SEO?

Backlinks can help search engines discover pages and understand relationships between websites and topics.

They can also bring direct referral traffic.

For example, suppose a popular website publishes an article about beginner SEO tools and links to your detailed SEO guide. Some readers may click that link and visit your website.

This means the backlink can provide value even before considering its potential SEO impact.

However, there is an important point beginners should understand:

More backlinks do not automatically mean better rankings.

Ten relevant and naturally earned links can be more useful than hundreds of unrelated or low-quality links.

Google’s systems are designed to evaluate links in context, and attempts to manipulate rankings through artificial link schemes can create SEO problems.

Therefore, your goal should not be:

“How can I get thousands of backlinks?”

A better question is:

“How can I create something valuable enough that relevant websites and people want to reference it?”

That change in mindset can make your link-building strategy much healthier.

Google explains that links help it discover pages and understand their relevance, so following Google’s link best practices can help you create clearer and more useful links.

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7 Types of Backlinks You Should Know

There are several ways people categorize backlinks.

Some terms describe how a link is marked, while others describe where or why the link appears.

For example:

• Dofollow and nofollow describe link attributes.
• Sponsored describes a commercial relationship.
• UGC describes user-generated content.
• Editorial describes naturally earned links.
• Contextual describes links placed within relevant content.
• Resource page links come from pages that collect useful resources.

Now let’s look at each type in detail.

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1. Dofollow Backlinks

A dofollow backlink generally refers to a normal link that does not have a special rel attribute such as nofollow, sponsored, or ugc.

For example:

<a href="https://example.com">Learn more about SEO</a>

There is no special link attribute in this example.

Search engines can discover and follow the link, and the link can be considered as one of the signals used when evaluating the relationship and importance of pages.

Why Are Dofollow Backlinks Important?

Dofollow links are often discussed in link-building strategies because they can potentially contribute to a page’s authority and ranking signals.

For example, imagine you publish a detailed guide about technical SEO.

A respected SEO website finds your guide useful and naturally references it from one of its articles.

That editorial link can be valuable because:

• The topic is relevant.
• The link is placed naturally.
• Readers can benefit from the reference.
• The linking website has a reason to mention your content.

This is much more useful than simply receiving a random link from an unrelated website.

Example of a Useful Dofollow Backlink

Imagine a website publishes:

“Beginner’s Guide to Keyword Research”

While explaining keyword difficulty, the writer links to your detailed article about finding profitable keywords.

The link is relevant and helps readers understand the topic better.

That is the kind of backlink you would want to earn naturally.

Are All Dofollow Backlinks Good?

No.

This is one of the biggest mistakes beginners make.

A dofollow link from an irrelevant, low-quality, spammy, or suspicious website is not automatically valuable.

For example, imagine you have an SEO blog and receive hundreds of links from unrelated websites about gambling, random downloads, or unrelated products.

The fact that these links are technically dofollow does not make them good backlinks.

Relevance and quality matter.

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2. Nofollow Backlinks

A nofollow backlink contains the rel="nofollow" attribute.

Example:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="nofollow">Visit the website</a>

The nofollow attribute tells search engines that the site does not want the link treated as a normal editorial endorsement.

However, that does not mean a nofollow link is completely useless.

A nofollow link can still:

• Bring referral traffic.
• Increase brand visibility.
• Introduce your website to new readers.
• Help people discover your content.
• Potentially lead to other opportunities.

Example

Suppose you answer a useful question on a popular website and your answer includes a relevant link to a detailed article on your blog.

If that website uses nofollow links, the link may not be treated like a regular editorial link.

But someone can still click it.

If 100 interested readers visit your article through that link, the traffic itself can be useful.

Some of those readers may later mention your article elsewhere, share it, or link to it from their own websites.

Should You Avoid Nofollow Links?

No.

A natural backlink profile can contain different types of links.

If you focus only on obtaining links that appear to pass SEO value, your link-building strategy can become unnatural.

Instead, think about whether the link helps people and whether it comes from a legitimate context.

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3. Sponsored Backlinks

Sponsored links are used when a link is connected to advertising, sponsorship, or another paid relationship.

Google recommends using the rel="sponsored" attribute for paid links.

Example:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="sponsored">Sponsored product</a>

This tells search engines that the relationship is commercial.

When Are Sponsored Links Used?

Sponsored links may appear in situations such as:

• Paid advertising.
• Sponsored articles.
• Paid product placements.
• Commercial partnerships.
• Sponsored reviews.

For example, suppose a company pays a blogger to publish an article about its SEO software.

The link to that company’s website should appropriately indicate the commercial relationship.

Why Does This Matter?

Search engines want to understand the nature of links.

There is a major difference between:

“I naturally recommend this resource because it is useful.”

and

“This company paid me to include this link.”

Using the appropriate link attribute helps communicate that difference.

Sponsored Does Not Mean Bad

A sponsored link is not automatically a bad link.

The important thing is transparency and correct implementation.

If you have a genuine commercial relationship with a company, clearly identifying the link as sponsored is better than trying to disguise a paid placement as a natural editorial recommendation.

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4. UGC Backlinks

UGC stands for User-Generated Content.

The rel="ugc" attribute is designed for links placed within content created by users.

Example:

<a href="https://example.com" rel="ugc">Useful resource</a>

UGC links can commonly appear in places such as:

• Blog comments.
• Online forums.
• Community discussions.
• User-created posts.
• Discussion boards.

Example of a UGC Link

Imagine you run a discussion forum about blogging.

A member creates a post explaining how they started their blog and includes a link to a useful SEO guide.

Because the content was created by a user, the website may mark that link with the UGC attribute.

Why Is UGC Important?

User-generated areas can contain many links, and website owners may not have the same level of editorial control over every link.

The UGC attribute helps search engines understand that the link came from user-generated content.

For sponsored, user-generated, and other qualifying links, you can follow Google’s guidance on outbound links to use the appropriate link attributes.

Should You Build Hundreds of Forum Backlinks?

No.

This is an outdated approach that can easily turn into spam.

You should not join dozens of forums simply to drop your website link.

Instead, participate where you can genuinely contribute.

If someone asks:

“How do I understand keyword research as a beginner?”

and you have a detailed guide that genuinely answers the question, mentioning it naturally may be useful.

The goal should be to help first, link second.

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5. Editorial Backlinks

An editorial backlink is a link that a website includes naturally because the publisher considers your content useful, relevant, or worth referencing.

These links are often considered valuable because they are earned through content rather than simply obtained through a paid placement or artificial link-building scheme.

Example

Imagine you publish a detailed article:

“50 Practical SEO Tips for New Bloggers.”

Another blogger is writing an article about SEO mistakes and wants to support one of their points with a detailed resource.

They discover your guide and naturally link to it.

You did not pay them.

You did not ask them to insert a specific keyword-rich link.

They simply found your content useful.

That is an example of an editorial backlink.

Why Are Editorial Links Valuable?

Editorial links can indicate that another publisher considers your content worth referencing.

They can also generate:

• Referral traffic.
• Brand awareness.
• New relationships.
• Additional natural mentions.
• Potential future backlinks.

How Can You Earn Editorial Backlinks?

The best starting point is creating content that is genuinely useful.

For example:

• Original research.
• Detailed tutorials.
• Helpful statistics.
• Unique case studies.
• Useful calculators.
• Comprehensive guides.
• Original examples.
• Expert explanations.
• Free resources.

Think about what would make another writer say:

“I should link to this because it explains the topic better than I can.”

That is a strong content goal.

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6. Contextual Backlinks

A contextual backlink appears naturally within the main content of a webpage.

The link is surrounded by relevant information.

For example, suppose you are reading an article about keyword research.

The writer says that understanding search intent is important and links the phrase “search intent” to a detailed guide.

That is a contextual link.

Why Does Context Matter?

Context helps readers understand why a link exists.

Compare these two examples.

Example A:

Click here.

Example B:

Learn how search intent affects keyword selection.

The second example gives readers a clear idea of what they will find after clicking.

This is better for usability.

Contextual Links and Relevance

Suppose your website is about SEO.

A backlink from an article about keyword research, content marketing, or technical SEO is naturally relevant.

A backlink from a completely unrelated page may not provide the same value.

This does not mean every backlink must come from exactly the same niche.

But the surrounding context should make sense.

Don’t Force Exact-Match Anchor Text

Another common mistake is trying to use the exact same keyword in every backlink.

For example, if your target keyword is:

types of backlinks

you should not try to make every external website link to your article using exactly that phrase.

Natural links can use different wording, such as:

• types of backlinks
• backlink types
• this backlink guide
• learn more about backlinks
• this SEO resource
• the complete guide

Natural variation is better than forcing one phrase repeatedly.

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7. Resource Page Backlinks

A resource page backlink comes from a webpage that collects useful resources related to a specific subject.

For example:

“Best SEO Resources for Beginners”

A page like this may contain links to:

• SEO guides.
• Tools.
• Tutorials.
• Research.
• Courses.
• Helpful websites.

If your content is genuinely useful and relevant, it may be a candidate for inclusion.

Example

Suppose you create a detailed beginner’s guide to technical SEO.

A website maintains a page called:

“50 Free SEO Resources for Beginners.”

The publisher reviews your article and decides it is useful enough to include.

That creates a resource page backlink.

How Can You Get Resource Page Links?

Start by creating something worth including.

Then identify legitimate resource pages related to your subject.

For example, search for phrases such as:

• SEO resources for beginners
• blogging resources
• free SEO guides
• best SEO resources
• keyword research resources

If your article genuinely fits the page, you can contact the website owner and politely suggest it.

Do not send the same generic message to hundreds of websites.

Personalized and relevant outreach is much better.

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Backlink Types: Quick Comparison

Backlink Type	Main Purpose	Example
Dofollow	Normal link without special rel attribute	Editorial article link
Nofollow	Indicates the link should not be treated as a normal endorsement	Some user or external links
Sponsored	Identifies paid or commercial relationships	Sponsored article
UGC	Identifies user-generated links	Forum or comment link
Editorial	Naturally earned reference	Blogger cites your research
Contextual	Link placed within relevant content	SEO article links to your SEO guide
Resource Page	Link from a curated resource list	“Best SEO Resources” page

One important thing to remember is that these categories can overlap.

For example, an editorial link can also be contextual.

A resource page link can be a normal followable link.

A user-generated link can be marked with ugc.

So these are not always seven completely separate technical categories.

They describe different characteristics of backlinks.

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Dofollow vs Nofollow: What’s the Difference?

This is one of the most common questions beginners ask.

Dofollow

A normal link without special rel attributes can be considered by search engines as a standard link.

Nofollow

A link containing:

rel="nofollow"

signals that the website does not want it treated as a normal editorial endorsement.

Which One Is Better?

It depends on the situation.

A relevant editorial link can be valuable.

A nofollow link can still bring traffic and visibility.

So instead of asking:

“Is this link dofollow?”

also ask:

“Is this link relevant?”

“Is the website trustworthy?”

“Will people actually click it?”

“Does it make sense in this context?”

These questions provide a much better way to evaluate a backlink.

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What Makes a Backlink High Quality?

Not every backlink has the same value.

When evaluating a backlink, look at several factors.

1. Relevance

The linking website or page should have some logical relationship with your content.

If you publish an SEO guide, a backlink from another marketing or blogging website makes more sense than a completely unrelated website.

Relevance helps create a natural connection.

2. Useful Content

The page containing the backlink should provide real value.

A link from a useful article is generally more meaningful than a link buried on a page created only for links.

3. Natural Placement

A backlink should fit naturally into the surrounding content.

If the link looks forced, readers may ignore it.

4. Trustworthiness

Consider whether the website looks legitimate and maintains useful content.

Avoid building relationships with websites that exist mainly to sell backlinks or publish large amounts of low-quality content.

5. Potential Referral Traffic

Ask whether real people might click the link.

A backlink that sends interested visitors can have value beyond SEO.

6. Appropriate Anchor Text

Anchor text is the clickable text of a link.

For example:

Learn more about keyword research

Here, “Learn more about keyword research” is the anchor text.

It should describe the destination naturally.

Do not force keywords into every backlink.

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Good Backlinks vs Bad Backlinks

A good backlink usually has a genuine reason to exist.

For example:

• A blogger references your original research.
• A website recommends your useful guide.
• A resource page includes your tutorial.
• A relevant article links to your detailed explanation.
• A community member shares your guide because it answers a question.

A problematic backlink strategy may involve:

• Buying large numbers of links purely to manipulate rankings.
• Spamming blog comments.
• Creating automated links.
• Using irrelevant link networks.
• Hiding paid relationships.
• Creating pages only for backlinks.
• Repeatedly forcing exact-match anchor text.
• Participating in link schemes designed to manipulate rankings.

The key difference is intent and quality.

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Do You Need Thousands of Backlinks?

No.

This is one of the biggest misconceptions in SEO.

A website does not need thousands of backlinks simply because another website has thousands.

The number of backlinks required can vary depending on:

• Topic.
• Competition.
• Search intent.
• Content quality.
• Website authority.
• Existing reputation.
• Search results.

For a new blog, it is often better to focus on earning a small number of relevant, legitimate mentions rather than chasing huge backlink numbers.

For example, getting five relevant links from genuine websites can be a more useful achievement than getting 500 random links from low-quality pages.

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How Can a New Blog Start Building Backlinks?

If your blog is new, don’t make link building complicated.

Start with your content.

Step 1: Create Useful Content

Your first priority should be publishing content that solves real problems.

Examples include:

• Beginner guides.
• Step-by-step tutorials.
• Original comparisons.
• Checklists.
• Case studies.
• Helpful calculators.
• Data-driven articles.
• Detailed answers to common questions.

If the content is not useful, outreach becomes much harder.

Step 2: Build Topic Clusters

Instead of publishing completely unrelated articles, create groups of connected content.

For example, an SEO blog could create a backlink cluster:

Off-Page SEO for Beginners

↓

Types of Backlinks

↓

Dofollow vs Nofollow Links

↓

What Makes a Backlink High Quality?

↓

How to Build High-Quality Backlinks

↓

How to Get Backlinks Without Guest Posting

↓

Common Backlink Mistakes

This structure helps you cover a topic from different angles.

It also creates opportunities for internal linking.

Step 3: Promote Your Best Content

Once you publish a strong article, let people know it exists.

You can use legitimate channels such as:

• Social media.
• Online communities.
• Email outreach.
• Relevant discussions.
• Content promotion platforms.

The goal is not to spam your link everywhere.

The goal is to put useful content in front of people who may actually benefit from it.

Step 4: Look for Relevant Opportunities

Search for websites that already discuss your topic.

For example, if your article is about SEO tools, look for:

• SEO blogs.
• Marketing websites.
• Blogging resources.
• Beginner SEO guides.
• Resource pages.

Then consider whether your content genuinely adds something useful.

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How to Get Backlinks Without Guest Posting

Guest posting is only one possible link-building method.

You can also earn backlinks through:

Original Research

Publish information that other websites want to reference.

Free Tools

A useful calculator or simple SEO tool can attract natural links.

Statistics

If you organize useful data in a clear way, writers may reference it.

Helpful Guides

Comprehensive guides can become reference resources.

Digital PR

Interesting stories, original findings, or useful expert insights may attract mentions.

Resource Pages

If your content genuinely belongs on a resource page, you can suggest it.

Community Participation

Answer questions genuinely and share your content only when it adds value.

The best method depends on your niche and the type of content you can create.

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Common Backlink Mistakes Beginners Should Avoid

Mistake 1: Buying Cheap Backlinks in Bulk

An offer such as:

“Get 1,000 backlinks for a very low price”

may sound attractive.

But quantity does not equal quality.

Cheap bulk links can come from irrelevant or low-quality websites and may create an unnatural backlink profile.

Mistake 2: Focusing Only on Dofollow Links

A healthy link profile does not need to consist exclusively of links that you believe pass SEO value.

Nofollow and other appropriately marked links can still bring traffic and visibility.

Mistake 3: Using the Same Anchor Text Everywhere

Repeating exactly the same keyword across many backlinks can look unnatural.

Use descriptive and natural wording instead.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Relevance

A backlink from a website completely unrelated to your subject may not be useful simply because it exists.

Mistake 5: Spamming Comments

Commenting on dozens of blogs with the same website link is not a sustainable SEO strategy.

If you leave a comment, make it useful.

Mistake 6: Using Automated Link-Building Software

Automation can easily produce large quantities of low-quality links.

SEO should not be treated as a numbers game.

Mistake 7: Chasing Domain Authority Alone

Third-party metrics can be useful for research, but they are not the same thing as Google’s ranking systems.

Do not judge a backlink only by a single third-party score.

Look at the actual website, relevance, content quality, audience, and context.

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How to Check a Potential Backlink Opportunity

Before trying to earn a backlink from a website, ask yourself these questions:

Is the website relevant?

Does it discuss your subject or a closely related topic?

Does the website have real content?

Look at several pages instead of judging it from the homepage alone.

Would readers benefit from your link?

If the answer is yes, the link has a genuine reason to exist.

Does the website appear trustworthy?

Check whether it looks like a real publication, business, community, or resource.

Is the link placement natural?

A contextual mention inside a useful article can be more meaningful than a random link in a low-value directory.

Is the website selling large numbers of backlinks?

Be cautious if the entire website appears designed mainly to sell links.

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Backlinks and Internal Links Are Not the Same

Beginners sometimes confuse backlinks with internal links.

Internal Link

A link from one page of your website to another page on the same website.

Example:

Your article about SEO links to your article about keyword research.

Backlink

A link from another website to your website.

Example:

Another SEO blog links to your keyword research article.

Both are useful, but they serve different purposes.

Internal links help users navigate your website and help search engines understand relationships between your pages.

Backlinks can help people discover your website from other sites and can serve as external signals about your content.

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Can Social Media Links Count as Backlinks?

Links shared on social platforms can help people discover your website and may generate referral traffic.

However, you should not treat social profiles as a substitute for earning relevant editorial links.

Social media is better viewed as part of your overall content promotion strategy.

For example, if you publish a detailed SEO guide, sharing it on relevant social platforms can bring readers to the article.

Those readers may later mention your content on their own websites or communities.

So promotion can indirectly help your content earn more natural mentions.

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Should You Remove Every Nofollow or Low-Value Link?

No.

Do not panic simply because a backlink is nofollow.

Likewise, don’t assume that every link you consider low-value needs to be removed.

The internet naturally contains many different types of links.

Your goal should be to build a useful website and earn legitimate mentions.

If you notice obvious manipulative or harmful link patterns, you can investigate them carefully rather than reacting to every individual backlink.

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A Simple Backlink Strategy for Beginners

If you are completely new to link building, follow this simple approach.

Month 1: Improve Your Content

Focus on publishing useful, well-structured articles.

Create topic clusters rather than random posts.

Month 2: Promote Your Best Articles

Share your strongest content where your target readers are active.

Participate in relevant communities.

Start building relationships with other publishers.

Month 3: Begin Outreach

Find relevant resource pages, bloggers, publications, and websites.

Contact only those where your content genuinely fits.

Keep Doing This

Continue creating useful content.

Improve older articles when necessary.

Build relationships.

Promote original resources.

Avoid shortcuts promising hundreds or thousands of backlinks.

SEO is a long-term process.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Backlinks

What is the most important type of backlink?

There is no single backlink type that is automatically best in every situation.

A relevant, natural, trustworthy backlink can be valuable regardless of whether you are looking at its placement, purpose, or link attribute.

Focus on relevance, quality, context, and usefulness rather than chasing one label.

Are dofollow backlinks better than nofollow backlinks?

Dofollow links and nofollow links are treated differently by search engines.

However, a nofollow link can still bring referral traffic, visibility, and potential opportunities.

Therefore, do not ignore a useful link simply because it is nofollow.

Are sponsored backlinks bad for SEO?

No.

Sponsored links are appropriate when there is a paid or commercial relationship.

The important part is using the appropriate attribute and being transparent about the relationship.

What does UGC mean in backlinks?

UGC means User-Generated Content.

The rel="ugc" attribute is intended for links placed in content created by users, such as forum posts and comments.

How many backlinks does a new website need?

There is no fixed number.

The number of backlinks needed depends on the topic, competition, website strength, and quality of the content.

Do not set an arbitrary target such as 1,000 backlinks.

Focus on earning relevant links naturally.

Can one backlink improve rankings?

A single backlink can be useful, but SEO rankings are based on many factors.

You should not expect one backlink to automatically move a page to the top of Google.

Think about backlinks as one part of a broader SEO strategy.

Can I get backlinks without guest posting?

Yes.

You can earn backlinks through:

• Original research.
• Useful guides.
• Free tools.
• Resource pages.
• Digital PR.
• Community participation.
• Content promotion.
• Natural editorial mentions.

Are backlinks still important for SEO?

Backlinks remain an important part of how search engines discover and evaluate web content, but they are not the only factor that matters.

Content quality, relevance, user experience, technical SEO, search intent, and many other signals also matter.

Is buying backlinks safe?

Buying links specifically to manipulate search rankings can violate search engine spam policies and create risks.

If a link is part of a legitimate advertising or sponsorship arrangement, it should be appropriately identified.

Avoid services promising huge numbers of backlinks for extremely low prices.

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Final Thoughts

Backlinks are an important part of SEO, but successful link building is not about collecting the largest possible number of links.

The better approach is to understand why a link exists and whether it provides real value.

Dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, and UGC describe different ways links can be marked or understood by search engines. Editorial, contextual, and resource page backlinks describe other characteristics of how links are earned or placed.

For a beginner, the most important lessons are simple:

• Create useful content.
• Build relevant topic clusters.
• Earn links naturally.
• Focus on relevance rather than quantity.
• Do not spam communities.
• Avoid manipulative link schemes.
• Do not obsess over dofollow links.
• Use appropriate attributes for sponsored and user-generated links.
• Think about readers before thinking about rankings.

A strong backlink strategy starts with strong content.

If your article answers a question better, explains something clearly, provides original information, or offers a genuinely useful resource, you give other websites a real reason to reference it.

That is a much more sustainable foundation for SEO than chasing hundreds of artificial backlinks.

If you are new to off-page SEO, continue with our guide on Off-Page SEO for Beginners to understand how backlinks fit into a broader off-page SEO strategy.