Natural vs. Unnatural Backlinks: What’s the Difference?
Are you struggling to figure out why your website isn’t ranking well, even though you’re building backlinks? The problem might not be the number of links but the type of links you’re using. Most people don’t realize there’s a big difference between natural and unnatural backlinks, and choosing the wrong kind can seriously harm your SEO.
In this article, we’ll break down the differences between natural and unnatural backlinks in the simplest way possible. You’ll learn how each one impacts your website, why natural links are the safe bet for long-term growth, and how to avoid the risky shortcuts that could get you penalized by Google. Whether you’re new to SEO or trying to fix past mistakes, this guide will help you stay on the right track.
What Are Natural Backlinks?
Natural backlinks are links from other websites that you didn’t ask for. They happen when people find your content helpful and choose to link to it on their own. It’s like getting a shout-out from someone who genuinely appreciates your work.
Why Are Natural Backlinks Important for SEO?
Natural backlinks are crucial to improve your website’s ranking in search engines. Here’s why they matter:
- They Build Trust: When you get natural backlinks, it signals search engines that your content is trustworthy. This helps you get better rankings.
- They Boost Authority: If highly authoritative websites link to you, the more authority your website gains. This helps your website stand out on the search result page.
- They Drive Steady Growth: As more people find and share your content, you’ll keep getting natural backlinks, leading to consistent traffic over time.
How Can You Get Natural Backlinks?
You can’t build natural backlinks yourself, but you can set it up so that people have a reason to link to you. Here’s how:
- Make Helpful Content: Provide content that provides solutions, answers, and useful insights. If people find it valuable, they will want to link to it, naturally.
- Promote on Social Media: Posting things like Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook pages allows people to see more. The more people who discover your content, the more likely they are to give you natural backlinks.
- Connect with Others in Your Industry: Build relationships with bloggers, website owners, or influencers. When they know and trust your work, they’re more likely to link to it naturally.
What Are Unnatural Backlinks?
Unnatural backlinks are links that are created in ways that go against search engine rules. Unlike natural links, which are earned because people find your content valuable, unnatural links are often forced or paid for, just to manipulate search rankings.
Leaving a comment on a blog that says, “Great post! Check out my site for cheap SEO services – www.spammy-link.com.”
This kind of link doesn’t add anything helpful to the conversation. It’s just there to try and trick search engines, and it’s the kind of link Google may penalize.
Why Are Unnatural Backlinks Bad for SEO?
Unnatural backlinks can harm your website more than help. Here’s why they’re a problem:
- They Manipulate Search Rankings: These links are made to trick search engines into ranking a site higher, even if the content isn’t valuable.
- Risk of Penalties: Search engines like Google are smart. If they find unnatural backlinks, your site could face penalties, causing your rankings to drop.
- Damage to Reputation: While natural links build trust, unnatural ones can make your site look untrustworthy. This can harm both your SEO and your brand image.
How to Find and Remove Unnatural Backlinks
Identifying and removing such suspicious or bad backlinks is essential to maintaining the health of your website. Here’s what you should do:
- Use SEO Tools: Tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Search Console help you identify suspicious links pointing toward your site.
- Monitor Your Link Profile: Just like a health check-up, checking your backlinks can detect harmful links as soon as possible.
- Disavow Bad Links: If you find spammy or unnatural links, you can disavow them using Google’s Disavow Tool. This tells Google to ignore those links when evaluating your site.
Natural vs. Unnatural Backlinks: A Clear Comparison
Let’s break down the differences between natural and unnatural backlinks so you can ensure your link-building efforts are safe, effective, and aligned with Google’s best practices.
1. How Are You Getting the Links?
First, think about how you’re getting those links. Are people linking to your site because they like your content? That’s a natural backlink. Maybe you wrote a helpful article, and someone found it useful enough to share. Or maybe you wrote a guest post for a website in your industry, offering valuable tips. That’s still natural because it’s honest, helpful content.
Now, if you’re paying random sites to link to you or trading links just to get better rankings, that’s not natural. If the link doesn’t help real people but is only there to fool Google, it’s unnatural.
2. Are the Sites Relevant to Your Business?
Next, look at where your links are coming from. Do the websites that link to you make sense for your business? If you run a health blog and other wellness or fitness sites link to your articles, that’s natural. It’s normal for similar websites to share helpful content with their audience.
But if a website has no relation to your subject, that’s bad. So, for instance, if you have a bakery and you’re getting links from a technology blog or a casino site, that isn’t good. Google picks up on this, and it can damage your rankings.
3. How Does the Link Look in the Content?
When they link to your site, what are they linking with? This is referred to as anchor text—it’s the text you click on. If the link is linked with various phrases such as your company name, a generic “click here,” or a normal sentence about your subject, that’s a good indication. This type of variety appears in order to search engines.
But if most of your links are using the same exact phrase, especially if it’s stuffed with keywords, that’s not natural. For example, if every link says “best cheap SEO services” or “buy backlinks fast,” Google will see that as a sign you’re trying to cheat the system.
4. What Kind of Websites Are Linking to You?
Pay attention to the quality of the websites linking to yours. Are they trustworthy, popular websites with good content? If yes, that’s great. Maybe you wrote a guest post for a respected blog in your industry, or your content got mentioned by a well-known website. These are the kinds of links that help your website grow.
But if your links are coming from low-quality, spammy websites that exist just to sell links, that’s a problem. These sites usually have poor content, lots of random links, and don’t attract real visitors. Being linked to these sites can do more harm than good.
5. What Happens to Your Rankings Over Time?
You will see steady growth in your ranking if links are earned naturally. This will not happen overnight but will take some time. You will see more traffic from people clicking the links as they want to know more.
But if you are using unnatural links, you can see a sudden spike in your rankings. But it will drop soon. Google is smart with it’s algorithms and will catch you if you are using shady tactics. This will lead to penalties, and your website may disappear from search results.
Stick to strategies that make sense, help your readers, and follow the rules. Your website will thank you in the long run.
Quick Comparison Table
How to Spot a Safe, Natural Backlink?
Natural backlinks are real, honest connections between websites. They help your site grow because they come from valuable content, not tricks. Here’s how to tell if a backlink is safe and natural.
1. Where the Link Appears
The place where the link is on the page matters.
- In the Main Content: A natural link is usually in the main part of the content, like in an article or blog post—not hidden in sidebars or footers.
- Not Lost in Too Many Links: If a page is crammed with links, it might look spammy. A natural link stands out because it’s placed thoughtfully.
2. What Kind of Link It Is
The way a link is added to a page tells you a lot.
- Editorial Links: These are links added by the website owner or editor because they think the content is helpful. Even if it’s part of a guest post or niche edit, if it’s useful and relevant, it’s natural.
- Not Forced or Spammy: Natural links aren’t jammed into random content just to trick search engines. Even with services like guest posting or blogger outreach, the link should feel like it belongs.
3. Is the Link Relevant?
A good backlink makes sense with the content around it.
- Matches the Topic: The link should relate to the topic. For example, if the article is about fitness, a link to a workout guide fits. A link to a car repair site doesn’t.
- Helpful to the Reader: A natural link gives readers more information, useful tools, or helpful guides. It’s there to improve the content.
4. What’s Around the Link?
The words and content around the link matter, too.
- Fits Naturally: The link should blend into the sentence or paragraph. It shouldn’t feel out of place.
- Clear and Honest: The link shouldn’t be hidden or misleading. Readers should know where the link will take them.
A safe, natural backlink isn’t just about where the link is—it’s about why it’s there. If the link fits the topic, is placed thoughtfully, and helps readers, it’s natural. Focus on creating great content and building real connections, and the right backlinks will follow.
We Don’t Build Links—We Earn Them (And So Can You)
At Outreach Monks, we don’t just build links—we earn them. With deep expertise across industries, we create high-quality, natural backlinks that feel authentic, not artificial. Whether it’s through guest posting, niche edits, SaaS link building, blogger outreach, or white-label link building, our strategies are designed to blend seamlessly into content while boosting your site’s authority.
We know what works. Our links don’t just look natural—they are natural, following best practices that prioritize relevance and long-term SEO growth. No spammy tactics. No shortcuts. Just real, earned links that drive real results.
Want to see how natural link-building can transform your rankings?
FAQs on Natural vs. Unnatural Backlinks
Can Guest Posts Be Considered Natural Backlinks?
Yes, definitely! Provided that guest posts are placed on relevant, high-quality websites and provide actual value to readers, they're natural. It's unnatural only when you're keyword-stuffing them or posting them on spammy, unrelated sites to obtain a link.
How Do I Know If I’ve Been Penalized For Unnatural Backlinks?
If you see a sudden drop in traffic or ranking of your website, you might have been penalized. You can also check the Google search console for any manual actions taken. If Google detects unnatural links, they'll inform you there.
Are Paid Links Always Unnatural?
Not always, but most of the time. If you’re paying for links on spammy sites or just to boost your rankings, that’s unnatural. But if you’re paying for content marketing services like high-quality guest posting or niche edits on relevant sites, and the content is valuable, it’s considered natural.
Do Unnatural Backlinks Always Lead To Penalties?
Not always right away. But Google’s algorithms are getting smarter. You might see a temporary boost in rankings, but sooner or later, Google will catch on, and your site could face penalties or drops in rankings
Can I Fix My Website If It Has Unnatural Backlinks?
Yes, you can easily fix your website. Start by finding the bad links using tools like Ahrefs. Then, reach out to the website owner and ask them to remove the links. If this doesn’t work, use Google’s Disavow Tools to give search engines a hint to ignore these links when ranking your site.
How Many Backlinks Do I Need To Rank Higher?
It’s not about how many backlinks you have—it’s about how good they are. A few high-quality, natural links from trusted sites are much better than hundreds of spammy or irrelevant ones.
Can Social Media Links Help My Seo Like Natural Backlinks?
Not directly. Links from social media sites don’t count as backlinks for SEO, but they can help drive traffic to your site. More traffic means more chances for people to discover your content and link to it naturally.
Are Directory Submissions Considered Natural Backlinks?
It depends on the directory. If it’s a trusted, niche-specific directory that’s relevant to your business, it can be natural. But if it’s a spammy, low-quality directory that lists hundreds of random businesses, it’s likely unnatural.
How Often Should I Check My Backlinks?
It’s a good idea to check your backlinks every couple of months. Regular checks help you spot any harmful links early before they cause problems. Use tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google Search Console to keep track.
What’s The Safest Way To Build Backlinks?
Focus on creating helpful content, building real relationships, and using ethical link-building strategies like guest posting, niche edits, and blogger outreach on reputable sites. When done right, these methods earn you natural backlinks that help your site grow safely.
Ekta Chauhan
