They are natural recommendations from other domains that endorse the quality and relevance of your content.
But how do you get these valuable links?
This guide will explore some effective strategies to win them over and maximize their impact on your school principals email database website's success.
What are earned links?
Earned links, also known as natural or editorial links , are hyperlinks that point to your website from another domain without any action on your part to make this happen.
They are the result of creating engaging, high-quality content that others find worthy of reference.
The hallmark of an earned link is its organic nature – it is not the result of promotional efforts or incentives such as giveaways or exchange requests. Rather, they are a testament to content that stands out within its niche, attracting attention and endorsements without anyone asking for it.
Why Earned Links Are Important for SEO
Now, you might be wondering, “Why should I pursue these types of backlinks ?”
The simple answer is that they are directly correlated with improved search engine rankings.
Google places a high value on editorial judgment of content by other websites. Natural mentions demonstrate that your content is not only relevant, but also meaningful and useful to your audience.
Since the main goal of search engines is to deliver the best possible results to users, having a strong portfolio of editorial links is a powerful indicator of your website's credibility and can significantly contribute to your SEO.
Plus, they are difficult to manipulate, signaling to search engines that they are a true vote of confidence in your content. This can lead to a more stable, long-term online strategy that doesn't rely on continually adapting to algorithm changes meant to punish manipulative link-building practices.
Examples of earned links
What is the definition of a great link?
According to John Mueller , head of Google's search relations team:
A good link... what I mean is a good traditional link is someone who comes across your website and thinks it's a fantastic website and recommends it to other people with a link.
In other words, a good link is freely given and earned through the quality and value of your content.
This could come from a blog post or article recommending your website as a trusted resource, an influencer in your industry sharing and endorsing your content, or even a satisfied customer including your website in their review.
Now, to fully understand the concept, it is useful to explore some examples of how they work and the forms they can take.
Blog and forum recommendations
A high-profile blogger stumbles upon your tutorial that provides exceptional value to their readers.
Decide to include a link to your content in one of your articles as recommended reading. This gesture not only attracts traffic, but also improves your site's backlink profile.
For example, a Moz author mentioned my article on featured snippets and decided to mention it in his post on " A Timeline of Bing and Bard Features ":
Earned link example
Mentions in leading sector publications
Imagine a leading publication in your industry writes an article about emerging trends and includes a reference to a research paper you published on your site.
That hyperlink becomes an earned link, signaling to search engines and readers the importance of your findings.
Citations in academic or research papers
In academia, your data analysis becomes a key reference in a seminal research paper within your field, leading to a citation endorsed as valuable and trustworthy by the community.
These are just a few of the countless ways editorial links can manifest, highlighting their diversity and importance across various online platforms and industries.