Understanding every ranking factor that search engines use can be pretty tough, but we know links are a big deal.
There are many types of links, but in this guide, we’ll focus on editorial links, also known as niche edits. We’ll cover:
- What exactly are editorial links?
- How do bought links differ from editorial ones?
- Six benefits of using editorial links
- A step-by-step process to get these links
So, let’s dive in!
What are Editorial Links?
Editorial links are natural backlinks that usually come from major publications, but they can also show up on niche websites.
In other words, editorial links are ones you didn’t ask for.
Wouldn’t it be great if all backlinks were like that?
Big, well-known websites usually get these links easily because of their reputation and brand. Smaller sites, on the other hand, might find it takes more effort and time.
The best way to get editorial backlinks is by posting high-quality, attention-grabbing content. We’ll talk more about how to get these links later.
For now, just remember that editorial links happen organically. You don’t need to actively chase them or spend a lot on building them.
A good example of an editorial backlink is when it’s included in expert roundups, like this one from Savology.com about managing student debt.
Each expert shares their advice this way, and the website links back to their own page.
Simple, right?
Now, let’s dive into the difference between acquired links, which are the complete opposite of editorial links.
Editorial Links vs Acquired Links
The main difference between acquired and editorial links is that acquired links can be gotten through trade, payment, or request, while editorial links cannot.
Simply put, editorial links happen naturally because a website creates great content that other sites want to link to.
This way, the website can save money on outreach efforts by building connections with bloggers and editors through social media and email.
On the other hand, acquired links are backlinks that a website actively seeks out.
What does that mean?
It means the website uses strategies like broken link building, link exchanges, guest posting, and more to get links from relevant and reliable websites.
Any link that is actively pursued is an acquired link, even though Google doesn’t approve of some link-building methods.
Now that we’ve covered editorial links, let’s look at the benefits they offer to any website that uses them.
6 Benefits of Editorial Links
As mentioned, we’ll go over the main benefits of editorial links in this section.
Let’s start with the first one.
Benefit #1: Higher rankings
One of the main benefits of an editorial link is the SEO value, or “link juice,” it gives you.
When building links, remember that quality matters more than quantity. A few high-quality links from authoritative, relevant websites with a high Domain Rating (DR) are far more valuable than many low-quality links from unreliable sites.
High-quality editorial links can boost your domain authority and improve your link profile, helping you rank higher.
Sounds like a link builder’s dream, right?
Benefit #2: More traffic
Higher rankings often lead to more organic traffic, making this benefit closely linked to the previous one.
Plus, the visitors who come to your site and learn about what you offer are likely to be part of your target audience.
Whether it’s an infographic or a blog post, high-quality, informative content will naturally attract readers and boost traffic to your site.
So, your traffic will increase both from higher search rankings and from the authoritative links pointing to your site.
Also Read: Why Your Link Building Fails
Benefit #3: More authority
Editorial links boost your authority with both users and search engines just like any other high-quality backlink.
Why?
Because when a well-known and reputable website links to yours, Google sees you as a reliable source. This means more people will naturally find your content.
For example, Forbes has a Domain Rating (DR) of 98 out of 100. Getting a link from such a high-authority site makes Google pay attention to you even more.
Therefore, you will also have more authority if you acquire higher-quality editorial links.
Benefit #4: Low cost
Building links is a proven off-page SEO strategy, but it can be time-consuming and sometimes expensive.
So, what’s better than getting editorial links naturally by just creating high-quality content?
Editorial links are very appealing to website owners because they cost little to nothing, especially if there’s no budget for email outreach and active link building.
The only downside is that you can’t control who links back to you, so low-quality websites might affect your link profile.
In active link building, you can choose which sites you want to link back to you, but it takes time and effort.
Still, editorial links are a great option, especially for small websites.
Benefit #5: You build relationships
Even though getting editorial links doesn’t involve reaching out to people, doing so can still help you build connections with editors, bloggers, influencers, and others.
For example, you can contact someone who mentioned your website in a forum or directory and thank them for including you.
You can also share similar content online to catch the attention of those who might link to you on social media.
Even one editorial link can benefit your future link-building efforts by saving time and money.
How does that work?
When you get high-quality editorial links, you can reach out to the website owner to ask for more backlinks.
Using a service like Respona, you can automate the process of finding authoritative and relevant websites, saving you valuable time.
As we mentioned earlier, this helps you network with people in your industry and saves you time!
Benefit #6: Brand building
Building your brand is another great benefit of editorial links, and it definitely deserves a mention.
Strong editorial links show that you’re an authority in your industry, which helps build your brand.
When people see your brand name as a link in something they’re reading, they’ll likely do one of two things:
- Click the link to visit your website.
- Connect your brand with the content they’re reading, which reinforces your authority.
Either way, an editorial link helps readers learn more about you and recognize your brand more easily in the future.
So, those are the main benefits of editorial links for your website.
Now, let’s dive into how you can get these kinds of links.
8 Ways to Get Editorial Links
While editorial links occur organically, there are a few strategies you can use to draw them in.
Way #1: Create valuable content
The first and most important step in getting editorial links is creating valuable content.
It might sound obvious, but the key to getting any type of link, including editorial ones, is to produce original content that grabs readers’ attention and provides real value.
Use all your on-page optimization strategies and anything else that can make your content interesting and link-worthy.
Remember, to create great content, you need to position yourself as a thought leader and share your unique perspective.
Way #2: Create link-worthy content
Your content should not only be full of useful information but also be something that others want to link to.
In other words, why would someone choose to link back to it?
Here are some types of content that people often link to:
- Infographics
- Case studies
- Surveys and statistics
- Tools and calculators
- Awards and rankings
These are known as “linkable assets” and are great for getting mentioned in blog posts with a link back to your site.
Way #3: Create evergreen content
For content to keep attracting links over time, it needs to be evergreen.
Evergreen content stays relevant to readers long after it’s published and continues to attract organic traffic.
For example, if you have a well-researched paper with interesting stats from years ago, why would anyone link back to it now? If the data is outdated, it’s less likely to get links.
Author’s Tip: Avoid including dates in your URLs to keep your content looking fresh and relevant.
Way #4: Be open to collaborations
A great way to get editorial links is by collaborating on projects like expert roundups and interviews.
You can even start a few partnerships on your own to grab attention and show that you’re eager to get involved.
Try adding a contact form for interviews on your website and letting people know on social media that you’re available.
Way #5: Promote your content
Even though it might seem obvious, many people overlook content promotion as a top off-page SEO strategy.
Content promotion means sharing your material across different channels, including:
- Paid ads
- Digital PR
- Social media
- Email marketing
You can’t just create great content and leave it at that—you need to promote it and get as many eyes on it as possible.
This not only helps drive traffic but also increases your chances of getting editorial links from readers who find your content valuable.
In short, content marketing should be a key part of your overall strategy.
Way #6: Don’t underestimate PR
Public relations (PR) can boost your online presence, help you rank higher on Google, and grow your business overall.
Creating and sharing press releases is a great way to grab media attention and earn backlinks during important events.
Also, when you have something newsworthy to share, think about how online publications might want to cover it and tailor your strategy to fit their preferences.
Way #7: Connect with journalists
Another great strategy is to build relationships with journalists and become a go-to source for their stories.
HARO (Help a Reporter Out) is a tool that connects journalists with potential sources for their news stories. It’s a simple way to get media coverage.
You just need to check the three HARO emails that come out daily (Monday through Friday) and reply to any relevant requests.
If a journalist finds your response useful, they might include you in their story.
HARO isn’t just for journalists, though; bloggers, influencers, editors, and others can use it too.
Way #8: Monitor unlinked mentions
When a website mentions your brand but doesn’t include a link back to your site, that’s called an unlinked brand mention.
You can use tools like Google Alerts to track these mentions and find out which ones don’t include a link.
Once you find one, just reach out and ask them to add a link to your website.
Pretty simple, right?
This is a great way to make the most of people talking about you online and potentially get some valuable links.
So those are the methods for getting editorial links.
No matter which one you choose, always stick to white-hat SEO techniques to avoid any trouble with Google.
Now Over to You
And that’s a wrap!
We’ve covered everything about editorial links—their benefits and how to get them.
Link building can take a lot of time, so using the right tools to automate tasks is super important.
If you want to learn more, book a live demo with Respona. We’ll give you a step-by-step tour of our tool.
Pingback: How to Recover from Google Penalties - BackLinkHub.net