10 Types of Natural Backlinks You Should Be Getting

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Chasing links feels exhausting, right? You send countless emails only to see minimal results. Here’s why: Google now rewards websites that earn links naturally, not those that actually beg for them. The secret lies in understanding the powerful types of natural backlinks. While 66% of pages get no links at all, you can stand out by creating content so valuable that others reference it without being asked.

Let’s explore how to build links that actually matter.

The Gold Standard: The 10 Types of Natural Backlinks You Can’t Ignore

Understanding and learning the types of natural backlinks helps you focus your energy where it counts. These backlinks form the foundation of sustainable SEO and are earned through credibility, not shortcuts.

Let’s explore the ten that matter most.

Let’s explore the ten that matter most and if you want a deeper breakdown, here’s a complete guide to backlink types that explains all 50 kinds in detail.

1. The Resource Round-Up: Earning Links by Being the Answer

Infographic explaining how resource page backlinks work in SEO.

Resource pages and “best of” lists are curated collections of helpful content within a niche. Getting featured here means your content is considered a go-to resource.

How to Earn These Links:

  • Create evergreen content that solves specific problems.
  • Reach out to editors of resource pages with real value, not spam.
  • Update your content frequently to stay relevant.

When your page becomes the answer people seek, resource curators naturally link back to it — boosting your SEO visibility.

2. The Expert Play: Leveraging Authority for Links

Conduct interviews or contribute to roundups, you earn backlinks through credibility when you share expert opinions. Journalists and bloggers are always looking for insights from credible professionals.

How to Do It:

  • Contribute to expert roundups in your niche.
  • Use platforms like HARO or Help a B2B Writer to respond to media queries.
  • Publish your own expert interviews to build authority.

This approach strengthens your personal brand while earning genuine editorial links.

3. Ride the Trend Wave with Timely Insights

Infographic showing how trending topics and newsjacking earn natural backlinks.

When big news hits your industry, be the first to break it down with your own smart take. This is called “newsjacking,” and it’s how you get in front of a massive audience.

  • Think of it like this: When Google announces a major update, you quickly publish a clear, helpful analysis. Reporters and bloggers scrambling to cover the story will find your piece and often link to it as a valuable source.

The key is to be fast, be useful, and give people a reason to cite you instead of your competitors.

4. The Data Dynamo: Winning with Original Research

Original data earns links faster than almost any other content type. When you release a study, survey or statistical report, other sites reference your data in their content.

Examples of Link-Worthy Data:

  • Industry trends or annual reports
  • Market research and case studies
  • Survey-based insights

Original research is evergreen and continually attracts backlinks over time. The more unique your data, the more citations you’ll receive.

5. The Relationship Builder: Networking Your Way to Links

Infographic showing how relationships with creators lead to natural backlinks.

Some of the most powerful backlinks come from genuine relationships — not outreach campaigns. Building authentic connections with journalists, bloggers and influencers often leads to unprompted mentions and citations.

How to Build These Links Naturally:

  • Engage on LinkedIn or niche forums.
  • Offer value before asking for anything.
  • Share others’ content to get noticed.

These relationship-driven backlinks compound over time, strengthening your site’s overall trust profile.

6. Team Up for Better Backlinks

Collaborate with other brands to create content that earns natural links from both sides.

  • Co-write articles or guides
  • Host joint webinars or podcasts
  • Swap guest posts with relevant brands
  • Choose partners with your target audience

When you partner wisely, you get valuable links and reach new customers naturally.

7. The Visual Magnet: Infographics and Visual Content

Infographic explaining how visuals like charts attract natural backlinks.

Infographics, charts and visual explainers remain one of the most linkable forms of content. They simplify complex information and are easily shareable.

Pro Tip: Include an embed code below your infographic, so every time someone republishes it, you automatically earn a backlink.

Visual assets increase engagement and help your brand become a recognized resource in your industry.

8. Become the Go-To Resource with In-Depth Guides

Forget short blog posts that get forgotten.When you create the ultimate guide on a topic, you become the internet’s answer to that problem. Other sites will link to your guide instead of writing their own, making it a link magnet that works for years.

  • Think: “The A-Z Guide to Local SEO” or “Everything You Need to Know About Email Marketing.”

9. Cash In on Your Unlinked Mentions

Did you know brands often get talked about online without getting a link? It’s like getting a shoutout without a website address. Using simple tools, you can find these mentions and kindly ask if they’d add a link. Most people are happy to do it—it’s an easy win that turns brand buzz into real SEO power.

10. The Guest Contributor: Adding Value Through Guest Posts

Guest posting still works when done with integrity. Instead of spammy exchanges, focus on contributing genuine expertise to authoritative websites.

When you write for quality publications, you gain exposure, traffic and backlinks that truly count.

Build Authority, Not Just Links

Forget chasing shortcuts. Lasting SEO power comes from earning the right types of natural backlinks.

Stop asking for links. Start creating the unique research and expert insights that make people want to cite you. That’s how you build a profile that Google trusts and competitors can’t buy.

Your move. Start building value and the links will follow..

People Also Ask

1. Everyone says ‘create great content’ for natural links, but mine isn’t working. What am I missing?

Great content isn’t just well-written—it has to be a unique resource people feel dumb not linking to, like an original study, a definitive guide or a tool that saves time.

2. “Is it really ‘natural’ if I’m the one reaching out to ask for a link?”

Yes, if you do it right. You’re not begging. You’re simply pointing out your resource to someone who would genuinely find it useful for their audience. It’s a helpful suggestion, not a transaction.

3. “I see competitors getting mentioned in articles without a link. How do I turn that into a backlink?”

This is a golden opportunity for you. Politely email the author to thank them for the mention and say, “By the way, if you’d like to link to the source for your readers, here’s the URL.” It works surprisingly often.

4. “My industry is boring. How am I supposed to get natural links about accounting software?”

Even “boring” industries have drama and data. Do a survey on the biggest client frustrations. Analyze a common industry practice that’s actually inefficient. You’re not linking about software; you’re linking about problems and solutions.

5. “A big site wrote about my topic but didn’t link to me. Is there anything I can do?”

Absolutely. Write an even more comprehensive post on the same topic, then gently inform the original writer. Say, “Loved your piece! I expanded on it with a detailed guide—thought it might be a useful resource for your readers.”

6. “How do I get natural links if I have zero budget?”

All you need to do is focus on your expertise, not your wallet. Answer questions on sites like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) and Quora. Offer your unique perspective for free to journalists and bloggers. Your knowledge is your currency.

7. “Are links from forums and Q&A sites like Reddit even worth it?”

For direct “link juice,” not really. But for discovery, absolutely. A popular Reddit thread can send traffic and, more importantly, be seen by a blogger who then writes about you and gives you a powerful, natural link.

8. “How long does it actually take to see results from natural link building?”

It’s a marathon, not a sprint. You might see your first real natural link in a few months. A steady, growing stream of them takes a year or more. But these are the links that never expire and can’t be penalized.

Final Words

Stop chasing links and start building a brand that deserves them. Lasting authority comes from mastering the right types of natural backlinks—the kind that signal true credibility to both Google and your audience.

Ready to earn links that actually drive growth? Partner with Postspack. We’ll help you build the content and connections that make your brand impossible to ignore.

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