Page Contents
- 1 Difference Between Editorial Backlinks and Other Backlinks
- 1.1 Natural Citations Create Most Editorial Backlinks
- 1.2 Related Posts
- 1.3 What Is a Guest Post Backlink?
- 1.4 What Is a Sponsored or UGC Link?
- 1.5 What Is a Nofollow Backlink?
- 1.6 Independent Judgment of the Publisher Defines Editorial Backlinks
- 1.7 Editorial Backlinks Can Have Various Formats
- 1.8 Content Adds Value to the Relationship
- 1.9 Editorial Backlinks Often Fit Into the Context of the Content
- 1.10 Why Editorial Backlinks Matter
An editorial backlink is a link included because the publisher, editor, writer or content creator believes another page is worth mentioning.
It’s important here to highlight that what makes an editorial backlink different from other backlinks is how it is obtained. In other words, the inclusion of an editorial backlink is determined by editorial considerations, not by requirements, agreements, requests, or anything like that.
Difference Between Editorial Backlinks and Other Backlinks
This distinction is what sets editorial backlinks apart from all other types of backlinks.
Editorial Links Are Obtained As a Result of the Independent Judgment of a Publisher
The concept of an editorial backlink lies in the independence of the publisher’s judgment.
As a publisher studies available information on a certain topic and selects sources which he thinks would help him create good content, some references are found and links to sources are obtained.
The publisher links to the sources he finds during the creation of the content he is writing.
Natural Citations Create Most Editorial Backlinks
The majority of editorial backlinks are created through citations.
When writers cite information or references, they do it for different purposes, such as supporting their claims, citing research or acknowledging original information. These citations often serve as editorial backlinks.
The publisher may not be motivated by SEO in such cases; the main goals might be accuracy and attribution. However, these citations often become editorial backlinks.
Independent Judgment of the Publisher Defines Editorial Backlinks
What makes editorial backlinks special is the independent judgment of the publisher.
While the publisher assesses the available information and makes judgments about the usefulness, credibility or relevance of sources, he decides which sources he wants to use.
That is why the act of linking reflects editorial consideration.
Search engines have been recognizing such references for a long time since such a decision shows that the link is chosen independently when the content is created.
Editorial Backlinks Can Have Various Formats
Editorial backlinks don’t have any particular format.
Some editorial backlinks may be included in detailed research articles while others can appear in industry commentary, educational materials, news reports, opinion pieces or guides. What really matters is the reason behind including the reference in the content.
The common characteristic is that the reference was selected by the publisher because it was needed for the content the publisher is creating.
That is why it is hard to say whether you are looking at an editorial backlink just from its appearance. Editorial backlinks are distinguished by the nature of the linking decision.
Content Adds Value to the Relationship
The reasons behind linking are usually that the destination adds value to the discussion.
The content on the destination can provide original information, research, expert insights, evidence, resources, or additional explanations.
The publisher sees the value of the content on the destination and includes the reference in his content.
Thus, the link becomes a by-product of the usefulness of the content rather than a result of a linking campaign.
Editorial Backlinks Often Fit Into the Context of the Content
Because the references are made based on the decision of the publisher, they usually fit into the context of the content perfectly.
The reference usually serves the purpose of the article.
Also, the reader usually sees the reason why the source was used as a reference because it fits the topic discussed in the content.
Why Editorial Backlinks Matter
Editorial backlinks are often mentioned in discussions regarding SEO.
The publisher recognizes value in the destination page and decides to include the link.
From the perspective of careful analysis, this creates a relationship based on the independent decision of the publisher.
Thus, editorial backlinks are not a particular kind of page placement but a particular kind of linking decision.
