An editorial link is a hyperlink from another website to your own. But unlike acquired links, it’s not paid for or traded. Instead, it comes from a trusted source that has written about your product or service in the form of an article or blog post.
It is called an “editorial link” because its purpose is to provide additional information or context that adds value to the reader. Most editorial links are natural and come about organically. But, some businesses use them to strategically promote their content and products.
Understanding the significance of an editorial link and its compliance with Google's Spam Policies highlights its role as a cornerstone in SEO strategies. These links, seen as 'votes' by search engines, are crucial in determining the ranking of pages in search results.
The principle is straightforward: pages with a higher count of backlinks tend to rank more prominently. This dynamic underscores the importance of not just acquiring backlinks but ensuring they are of high quality and relevance.
Building editorial links is beneficial for a site owner in the following ways:
In a case study by SEOLeverage, the transformative impact of a meticulous link-building strategy, including editorial link-building and the creation of link-worthy content, on a website's organic traffic was highlighted.
By restructuring the site to enhance navigation and optimizing existing content to make it link-worthy, along with establishing a robust editorial backlinks system, the groundwork was laid for a notable increase in online visibility.
This example underscores the effectiveness of integrating quality editorial links within a link-building strategy. The key to success was consistency and a focus on relevant, authoritative backlinks, which not only improved the site's authority with search engines but also the overall user experience.
This holistic approach to link-building, emphasizing the importance of link-worthy content and strategic article distribution, highlights its significance in boosting website visibility and organic traffic.
The goal should be to acquire fewer, higher-quality links rather than many lower-quality ones. So how do you do this? This link-building strategy can be difficult, but it is possible if you follow the right steps.
Getting editorial backlinks involves publishing high-quality content people want to read and share. This content should be well-researched and cover topics that naturally attract readers.
The content must also be written in a clear, concise manner and free of any typos or grammar mistakes. The more attractive and useful your content is, the greater the chance it will get noticed by people who may link back to it.
These people have a large online following, such as bloggers or social media personalities. And they can help spread the word about your content.
Make sure you have something interesting or valuable to offer them before reaching out. Otherwise, they may not be interested in giving inbound links.
Join relevant online forums and communities related to your niche sites to increase exposure for your own content and gain more editorial links.
Become an active member of these communities by engaging with other members. Give helpful advice. Respond promptly to questions related to your business or industry. Doing so will help build trust within the community, so they are more likely to link back to your website when appropriate.
Follow these three steps! And you can eventually increase the number of editorial links pointing back at your website.
To amplify the impact of these links, integrating "contextual links" and "guest posts" into your link-building can be highly effective.
Contextual links embedded within the content in a way that feels natural and relevant to the reader enhance the user experience while reinforcing the content's authority and relevance. On the other hand, guest posts offer a strategic avenue for expanding your reach and establishing your presence within the industry.
By contributing valuable content to other authoritative sites, you not only gain backlinks but also tap into new audiences and boost its potential to rank higher in search results.
