You dedicate yourself to creating outstanding content. Every guide, every article, every piece of research is carefully crafted to deliver genuine value. Your focus is entirely on the content—no distractions, no shortcuts.

And because your content is exceptional, people start linking to it. They reference your work, share it widely, and recognize it as a trusted resource. This is the magic of editorial links—organic endorsements from others who truly appreciate the quality you bring.

In this article, we’ll share how to create great content that naturally earns valuable links.

What Are Editorial Links?

An editorial link is a link to your website that you didn’t ask for. It’s added naturally by someone because they find your content useful or valuable. These links are not paid or exchanged—they happen on their own. Search engines see them as a sign of trust and quality.

Editorial links are important because they show search engines that your content is reliable and deserves a higher ranking.

Benefits of Editorial Links

Here’s how editorial links can improve your website and SEO strategy:

1. Lower Your Risk of Google Penalties

Editorial links are earned naturally and follow Google’s guidelines. Unlike paid or spammy links, they reduce the risk of penalties that can harm your website’s rankings. Search engines trust editorial backlinks because they are authentic and unbiased.

2. Build Brand Awareness

When your content gets linked by the best editorial websites, it increases your visibility. Readers discover your brand through credible sources, helping you reach a wider audience and leave a lasting impression.

3. Boost Search Engine Rankings

Editorial links are highly valued in SEO because they show search engines that your content is reliable and relevant. A single high-quality link can improve your keyword rankings significantly, enhancing your overall SEO strategy for editorial links.

4. Drive Targeted Referral Traffic

Editorial backlinks from authoritative editorial websites bring in visitors who are genuinely interested in your content. This targeted traffic often has a higher engagement rate, leading to more conversions and better results for your business.

5. Establish Industry Authority

When trusted sources link to your website, it positions you as a leader in your niche. By earning editorial links, you demonstrate expertise and build trust with both readers and search engines.

6. Increase Content Longevity

Editorial links have long-term value. Unlike short-lived paid campaigns, these natural links continue to drive traffic and provide SEO benefits as long as the linked content remains relevant.

How to Earn Editorial Links

Earning editorial links takes a combination of creating valuable content, building relationships, and promoting your work effectively. Here’s how you can succeed:

1. Share Original Research and Data

Create content with fresh data, statistics, or industry insights. Research reports, surveys, and detailed analyses are highly valuable to editorial websites, making them more likely to link back to your work.

An excellent example of earning editorial links through original research is the Search Engine Journal’s article “History of Google Algorithm Updates.” According to Ahrefs, it has attracted nearly 3,000 backlinks by providing unique, high-value information that others naturally reference. This shows the power of original data in securing editorial backlinks.

2. Leverage PR for Visibility

PR is a powerful way to secure editorial backlinks by attracting media attention. Here are three strategic methods to help you succeed:

1️⃣ Announce Something New
Launch a product, update a feature, or introduce a new service. Even if you’re a small brand, pitching relevant news to the right editorial websites can help you stand out. Focus on what makes your announcement unique and valuable.

2️⃣ Run Creative Campaigns
Engage your audience with exciting campaigns.

• Host competitions or challenges related to your niche.
• Launch fun or meaningful initiatives that appeal to the media.

Creative efforts like these can spark curiosity and earn natural links.

3️⃣ Publish Exceptional Content

Publishing exceptional content with a strong PR strategy can lead to natural backlinks from authoritative sources.

When Airbnb released its Airbnb Economic Impact Study, it showcased detailed insights about how the platform contributes to local economies worldwide. The data was compelling, visual, and easy to share. Major publications like The New York Times and Forbes picked up the story, leading to hundreds of high-quality backlinks.

High-quality content is often picked up by editorial websites, bringing valuable backlinks.

3. Optimize for Media References

Make your website a resource hub for media outlets. Include high-quality visuals like infographics, charts, and downloadable resources. Ensure your branding and information are clear so editors feel confident linking to your content.

4. Showcase Case Studies and Success Stories

Highlight detailed success stories or real-world examples. Case studies are excellent for earning editorial backlinks because they provide unique, practical insights others want to reference in their content.

At Outreach Monks, we showcase detailed case studies of our clients’ success. These case studies explain their growth through in-depth stats, strategies, and insights. By sharing this level of transparency, we build trust with potential clients and collaborators.

This approach not only demonstrates our expertise but also attracts editorial links from authoritative sources and editorial websites. Clear and actionable success stories encourage others to reference our work, leading to increased visibility and SEO benefits.

Adding a case study section to your website can help establish credibility, foster trust, and earn natural editorial backlinks.

By combining these approaches, you’ll position your content as a valuable resource and naturally attract high-quality editorial links.

Acquired Links vs. Editorial Links

Acquired Links are intentional backlinks obtained through outreach or specific link-building strategies. They require proactive effort and are not gained naturally.

In contrast, Editorial Links are earned organically when other websites link to your content because it’s valuable and relevant. These links are given freely without any request.

Ways to Obtain Acquired Links

Here are some practical strategies for building acquired links:

• Niche Edits: Reach out to website owners to include a link to your content in their existing articles. These are often paid placements or negotiated collaborations.
• Guest Posting: Write high-quality articles for other websites and include a link back to your site. To succeed with this approach, the content must offer real value to the audience.
• Broken Link Building: Identify broken links on other websites and suggest your content as a replacement. This benefits both parties: the website owner maintains quality, and you gain a backlink.
• Sponsored Content: Collaborate with websites to publish content that features your link in exchange for sponsorship. Be mindful of disclosure policies to ensure compliance with search engine guidelines.

These methods can help you build acquired links while complementing your efforts to earn editorial ones naturally.

Measuring the Impact of Editorial Links

Tracking the performance of editorial links is crucial to understanding their role in your SEO success. Follow these steps to evaluate their impact effectively:

Step 1: Use Tools to Track Backlinks

Identify where your editorial backlinks are coming from using reliable tools:

• Ahrefs: Analyze the number of backlinks, referring domains, and their quality.
• SEMrush: Get detailed reports on your backlinks and their contribution to keyword rankings.
• Moz: Evaluate the domain authority and spam score of websites linking to you.

These tools help you pinpoint which editorial websites are linking to your site and assess their value.

Step 2: Monitor Key Performance Metrics

Measure how your editorial backlinks are influencing your website’s performance by focusing on these metrics:

• Domain Authority (DA) & Domain Rating (DR): A rise in your website’s DA and DR indicates stronger credibility, often a result of high-quality editorial links.
• Organic Traffic: Check if traffic from pages linked by editorial websites has increased. Quality links often drive engaged visitors.
• Keyword Rankings: Monitor your keyword positions in search results. Editorial backlinks often improve rankings for linked pages or relevant keywords.

Step 3: Evaluate Link Quality

Not all links provide the same value. Assess the quality of your editorial backlinks by considering:

• Relevance: Links from editorial websites in your niche carry more weight.
• Authority: High-domain authority websites offer stronger editorial backlinks.
• Natural Anchor Text: Ensure the anchor text of the link looks organic and adds value to the reader.
• Traffic Source: Links from websites with genuine traffic bring more value and credibility.

Step 4: Continuously Optimize Content

To maintain and grow the impact of your editorial links, focus on consistently creating valuable, high-quality content. Content that solves problems shares unique insights, or provides resources naturally attracts clean editorial links over time.

Conclusion: Editorial Links

Editorial links are the gold standard in link building. They are natural, trustworthy, and signal to search engines that your content is valuable. By focusing on creating high-quality, unique, and engaging content, you can attract these links and boost your SEO. However, earning editorial links isn’t always easy, especially in competitive industries.

If you’re creating great content but still struggling to get the recognition and links you deserve, it might be time to seek expert help. At OutreachMonk, we specialize in ethical and effective strategies to help you secure high-quality backlinks.

Contact us today to take your content and SEO to the next level. Let’s turn your hard work into long-term success! 🚀

FAQs About Editorial Links