Boost rankings in 2025 by using high-impact link building strategies like broken link building, HARO outreach, guest blogging, digital PR, and the skyscraper technique. Focus on earning authoritative backlinks, creating linkable assets, and reclaiming lost links to increase domain authority and improve rankings.
Key Takeaways
- Link building remains essential for SEO success, with backlinks acting as trust signals that improve search visibility and domain authority
- There are 17 proven link building types ranging from content-driven methods like guest blogging to technical approaches like broken link building
- The most effective strategies in 2025 focus on quality over quantity, prioritizing editorial links from high-authority sources
- Digital PR has emerged as the leading link building tactic, with nearly half of SEO professionals rating it most effective
- Success requires combining multiple link building types rather than relying on a single approach
Link building is the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own. These backlinks act as trust signals to search engines, indicating that your content is valuable and authoritative. While “link building” sounds technical, it’s simply about earning links from other sites to improve your visibility in search results.
There are multiple ways to build links, each varying by effort, resources required, and potential results. Some methods deliver quick wins, while others require patience and creativity to succeed. The key is understanding which strategies align with your goals and industry.
In this guide, we’ll go through 17 of the most effective link building types and how they work.
17 Types of Link Building
Link building methods vary significantly by effort, risk level, and effectiveness. Some are beginner-friendly and easy to start with, while others require time, relationships, or specialized knowledge. All methods fall under white-hat (ethical), gray-hat (moderate risk), or black-hat (risky) categories, but this guide focuses on sustainable, ethical approaches that deliver long-term results.
Here are 17 of the most effective link building types and how each can help your SEO.
1. Broken link building
Broken link building involves finding dead or non-functioning links on other websites and convincing webmasters to replace them with working links to your content. You identify broken external links on relevant websites using tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog. When a link returns a 404 error, you create similar content on your site and reach out to the site owner to suggest your content as a replacement. This method has a higher success rate than cold outreach because you’re providing value by helping webmasters fix their site.
Example: If you find a broken link to an outdated SEO statistics guide on an industry blog, you could create an updated version with current data and pitch it as a replacement.
2. Profile creation link building
Profile creation involves building links by creating profiles on forums, social platforms, business directories, and community sites where you can include a link to your website. You sign up for relevant platforms in your industry and complete your profile information, including your website URL. This is useful for new websites establishing initial online presence, but focus on quality platforms over quantity rather than spammy directories.
Example: Creating a detailed profile on industry-specific communities like GitHub for developers or Behance for designers can provide both links and credibility.
3. Unlinked mentions
Unlinked mentions occur when other websites mention your brand, product, or content without including a hyperlink. Converting these mentions into links is low-hanging fruit for link building. Use tools like Google Alerts, Ahrefs Content Explorer, or Mention to track when your brand is referenced online. When you find an unlinked mention, reach out to the author with a friendly request to add a hyperlink. This works best for brands with existing visibility.
Example: If a blog post mentions “According to Superlinks, backlinks remain a top ranking factor” without linking to your site, you can request they add a link to provide proper attribution.
4. Internal links
Internal links connect different pages within your own website, distributing authority and helping search engines understand your site structure. You strategically link from one page to another relevant page using descriptive anchor text, passing authority from high-performing pages to important pages needing a ranking boost. This should be part of every content strategy and is particularly effective when publishing new content or boosting conversion pages.
Example: A blog post about “SEO fundamentals” could internally link to your in-depth guide on “keyword research” or “technical SEO” when those topics are mentioned.
5. HARO link building
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) link building connects you with journalists seeking expert sources for their articles. You respond to media queries with valuable insights or quotes, and when selected, you earn high-authority backlinks from major publications. Journalists use HARO to find credible experts, and your responses can get you featured on sites like Forbes, HuffPost, or industry-specific publications. This method requires quick responses and genuine expertise but delivers some of the most valuable backlinks available.
Example: A journalist writing about remote work trends posts a query on HARO, you provide expert commentary about productivity tools, and your quote gets published with a backlink to your website in a major business publication.
6. Create linkable assets
Linkable assets are high-value pieces of content specifically designed to attract backlinks naturally through their quality, uniqueness, or utility. You create comprehensive resources like ultimate guides, original research, data studies, interactive tools, or visual content that provides significant value. These assets are so useful that other websites naturally want to reference them. This is one of the most sustainable long-term link building strategies for those who can invest in exceptional content.
Example: Creating an annual industry report with original survey data, publishing comprehensive beginner guides, or developing free tools like calculators or templates.
7. Editorial backlinks
Editorial backlinks are links that website editors and content creators add naturally because they find your content valuable and relevant to their audience. These links happen organically when you create exceptional content that serves as a credible source. Publishers, journalists, and bloggers discover your content and cite it as a reference without any outreach. You increase these chances by consistently producing high-quality, data-driven content and building brand visibility.
Example: Publishing original research or expert insights that journalists can reference when writing articles on trending topics in your field.
8. External links
External links (also called outbound links) are hyperlinks from your website pointing to other websites. While these don’t directly build your backlink profile, they improve content quality and credibility. This demonstrates to search engines that you’re creating comprehensive resources. Include external links whenever they genuinely enhance your content by providing supporting evidence or offering readers additional resources.
Example: When writing about SEO best practices, linking to authoritative sources like Google’s Search Central blog or research from credible studies.
9. Guest blogging
Guest blogging involves writing and publishing articles on other websites in exchange for backlinks to your own site, typically in the author bio or within the content. You identify relevant blogs that accept guest contributions, pitch topic ideas that align with their audience, and create high-quality articles. The host site benefits from free content while you gain exposure and links. This works best when focused on relationships and value, not just links.
Example: A marketing consultant writing a detailed guide about “content strategy frameworks” for a reputable marketing blog, with links to their agency and relevant resources.
10. Nofollow links
Nofollow links contain a rel=”nofollow” attribute that tells search engines not to pass authority to the linked page. While they don’t directly impact rankings, they can drive referral traffic and brand visibility. These links appear on platforms like social media, some blog comments, and user-generated content sites. A natural link profile includes both dofollow and nofollow links, so don’t ignore nofollow opportunities that provide traffic or relationship-building potential.
Example: Getting featured in a high-traffic online magazine that uses nofollow links can still drive valuable referral traffic and brand awareness.
11. Reclaim broken links
Reclaiming broken links means fixing backlinks to your own website that have become broken, typically due to URL changes, deleted pages, or site migrations. Use backlink analysis tools to identify backlinks pointing to 404 pages on your site, then either restore the missing content, set up 301 redirects, or contact site owners to update the links. This is essential during website redesigns or after deleting old content to preserve existing link equity.
Example: After reorganizing your site, discovering that 50 websites link to a deleted resource page, then creating a new version and redirecting the old URL.
12. Content marketing
Content marketing for link building involves creating and promoting valuable content designed to attract links, traffic, and engagement naturally over time. You develop high-quality blog posts, guides, videos, infographics, or other content formats that address your audience’s needs. Through strategic promotion and genuine value, these assets accumulate backlinks as people discover them. This is a foundational SEO strategy that’s particularly effective for building long-term authority.
Example: Publishing a comprehensive beginner’s guide that becomes the go-to resource in your niche, naturally earning links from industry blogs, forums, and educational sites.
13. Create infographics
Infographics are visual content assets that present data, processes, or concepts in an easy-to-understand graphic format, making them highly shareable and link-worthy. You design visually appealing infographics that condense complex information into digestible visual formats. When published with an embed code, other websites can easily share your infographic while automatically linking back. They work best for presenting statistics, step-by-step processes, comparisons, or data-heavy topics.
Example: Creating an infographic showing “The Evolution of SEO Algorithms” with key updates from 2010-2025, which industry bloggers then embed in their articles about SEO history.
14. Digital PR
Digital PR combines traditional public relations with link building by creating newsworthy content and pitching it to journalists, bloggers, and online publications to earn high-authority backlinks. You develop compelling stories, original research, data studies, or expert commentary and pitch them to relevant media outlets. When they cover your story, they typically link back as the source. Nearly half of SEO professionals now rate digital PR as the most effective link building tactic for building brand awareness while securing links from high-authority sites.
Example: Conducting a survey about remote work trends, publishing the results, and pitching the story to business publications like Forbes or TechCrunch, resulting in coverage and backlinks.
15. Embeddable widgets
Embeddable widgets are interactive tools, calculators, or visual elements that other websites can embed on their pages, automatically including a link back to your site. You create useful widgets like calculators, live data feeds, maps, or interactive tools with easy embed codes. When sites add these widgets to their content, they include a link back as the widget provider. This works well if you can create genuinely useful tools that solve specific problems for a target audience.
Example: A finance company creating a mortgage calculator widget that real estate blogs can embed, automatically generating backlinks each time it’s used.
16. Manual outreach links
Manual outreach involves directly contacting website owners, bloggers, or editors to request links to your content through personalized communication. You identify relevant websites and content creators in your niche, then craft personalized outreach emails explaining why your content would be valuable to their audience. Success requires genuine personalization and offering clear value to the recipient, and works best when combined with other strategies like guest blogging or promoting linkable assets.
Example: Reaching out to industry blogs that have published resource lists, suggesting your comprehensive guide as a valuable addition to their existing content.
17. Skyscraper technique
The Skyscraper Technique involves finding high-performing content that has earned many backlinks, creating a significantly better version, and reaching out to those linking to the original content. You use SEO tools to identify popular content with substantial backlinks in your niche, then create superior content that’s more comprehensive, updated, or better presented. Finally, you contact sites linking to the original piece and suggest they link to your improved version. This targets proven demand before you invest time creating content.
Example: Finding a 2020 guide on “Email Marketing Best Practices” with 500 backlinks, creating an updated 2025 version with new strategies and data, then reaching out to the 500 linking sites.
Bonus Link Building Methods
Beyond the 17 core strategies above, several additional approaches can complement your link building efforts:
Guest Posting: Write articles for other websites to gain backlinks and exposure to new audiences while building industry relationships.
Connect with Influencers: Build relationships with industry influencers who can provide mentions, links, or amplification of your content through their established audiences.
Acknowledgment Backlinks: Earn links by sponsoring events, providing testimonials for tools you use, or being recognized for contributions to industry initiatives.
Natural Links: Links that form organically when others find your content valuable enough to reference without any prompting or outreach from you.
Text Links: Contextual anchor text links placed naturally within related content, as opposed to image links or navigation links.
Choose the Right Link Building Type
Not all link building strategies are created equal, and different approaches carry varying levels of risk and effectiveness.
White-hat strategies like digital PR, content marketing, and guest blogging follow search engine guidelines and focus on creating genuine value. These methods are sustainable and carry no penalty risk.
Gray-hat tactics operate in ambiguous areas that may not violate guidelines explicitly but could be viewed skeptically. These require careful judgment and monitoring.
Black-hat methods like link schemes, paid link networks, and automated link building violate search engine policies and can result in severe penalties. Avoid these entirely.
Different industries and competitive landscapes favor different methods. B2B SaaS companies often succeed with digital PR and thought leadership content, while local businesses might focus more on local citations and niche directory submissions. Consider your competition level, available resources, and long-term goals when choosing strategies.
The most effective approach combines multiple link building types rather than relying solely on one method. This creates a diverse, natural-looking backlink profile while mitigating risk.
Final Thoughts
Link building remains a cornerstone of successful SEO strategies in 2025. The link building types covered in this guide offer various approaches to earn quality backlinks, from technical tactics like broken link building to creative strategies like digital PR campaigns.
Remember that link building should always prioritize quality over quantity. A single backlink from a high-authority, relevant source provides more value than dozens of links from low-quality sites. Search engines have become increasingly sophisticated at evaluating link quality, making authentic, earned links more important than ever.
Start small by selecting two or three strategies that align with your resources and industry. Master these approaches before expanding to additional tactics. Consistency and patience are key—link building is a long-term investment that compounds over time.
Ready to elevate your link building strategy? Explore what Superlinks has to offer in creating comprehensive link building campaigns that drive real results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do backlinks affect my rankings?
Backlinks signal to search engines that your content is trustworthy and authoritative, directly influencing where your pages rank in search results and helping you gain visibility for target keywords.
What are the benefits of using a link building service?
Professional link building services provide expertise, established relationships, and efficiency, helping you earn high-quality backlinks faster while avoiding risky tactics that could harm your site.
What types of link building strategies should be avoided when creating an SEO plan?
Avoid buying links, participating in link schemes, using automated link building tools, and pursuing links from irrelevant or low-quality websites that violate search engine guidelines.
What are some examples of bad or spammy link building strategies?
Spammy tactics include mass directory submissions, blog comment spam, link farms, private blog networks (PBNs), and any scheme designed to manipulate rankings rather than provide genuine value.
