Editorial Backlinks (2025) : Everything You Need to Know

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In SEO, backlinks are the currency of trust. Backlinko’s study found that Pages With More Backlinks Tend to Rank Higher Than Pages With Fewer Backlinks. But here’s the brutal truth: not all backlinks are created equal.

Editorial backlinks are different. These are organic mentions from respected publications where editors reference your content because it genuinely serves their audience.

The challenge: Majority of journalist pitches get deleted unread. Building authentic media relationships takes months.

In this guide, you’ll discover:

✓ What Are Editorial Backlinks

✓ What makes editorial backlinks fundamentally different from guest posts or paid links

✓ Why they’re so valuable for SEO in 2025

✓ The types of editorial backlinks you can earn

✓ The challenges of getting them on your own

✓ How editorial backlink service providers work

✓ A comparison of top providers (so you know your options)

Let’s dive in.

What Are Editorial Backlinks?

An editorial backlink is a link placed naturally within high-quality content because an editor, journalist, or author decided your site was worth referencing. You didn’t pay for it directly. You didn’t force it in. It was earned.

Examples of editorial backlinks:

• A marketing blog citing your case study in an article.
  
• A journalist linking to your survey data in a Forbes story.
  
• An industry roundup quoting your insights with a link back.
  
• A niche SaaS comparison page referencing your tool as a resource.
  

This makes them fundamentally different from other link types.

Editorial vs Guest Post vs Paid Links

Type of Link	How It Works	Pros	Cons	Risk Level
Paid Links	You pay for placement on a site.	Fast, scalable.	Risky, against Google’s rules, penalties likely.	🔴 High
Guest Posts	You write content and include your own link.	Safer, more control.	Still self-promotion, not truly earned.	🟡 Medium
Editorial Backlinks	Independent mentions from trusted publishers.	Strongest authority signal, 100% natural.	Hard to get, time-intensive.	🟢 Low

👉In Essence : editorial links are one of the strongest signal of authority. They’re the difference between “you said you’re good” and “the industry agrees you’re good.” Read Google’s Link Guidelines.

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Why Editorial Backlinks Are So Valuable for SEO

Google’s algorithm is built on trust. Editorial backlinks are the clearest signal that other respected voices vouch for you.

Key Benefits of Editorial Backlinks for SEO

1. Rankings Boost
   Search engines treat editorial links as high-value endorsements. A handful of them can outperform hundreds of weak links.
   
2. Domain Authority Growth
   Links from DR70+ publishers transfer serious trust to your domain.
   
3. Referral Traffic
   Unlike PBN links nobody clicks, editorial links actually send real readers to your business.
   
4. Future-Proof SEO
   White-hat and safe from penalties. Editorial backlinks align with Google’s long-term vision of rewarding value.
   

Do-Follow vs No-Follow Editorial Links

• Do-Follow: Passes ranking power (“link juice”) directly.
  
• No-Follow: Doesn’t pass authority, but adds credibility and referral traffic (especially from media sites like Forbes, Entrepreneur, TechCrunch).
  

Even no-follow links from tier-1 publishers often drive brand searches — which indirectly improves SEO.

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4. Types of Editorial Backlinks

Not all editorial backlinks look the same. Here are the main categories:

1. Natural Mentions
   Your content is so good, others cite it without you asking. Examples: stats, infographics, industry benchmarks.
   
2. Expert Contributions
   Being quoted in HARO (Help a Reporter Out), Qwoted, or expert roundups.
   
3. Content-Driven Editorial Links
   Original data, research reports, and thought leadership pieces others want to reference.
   
4. Media & PR Backlinks
   Mentions in online newspapers, magazines, or niche industry news outlets.
   

👉 The rarer the source, the bigger the impact. A backlink from TechCrunch, Harvard Business Review, or Search Engine Journal carries exponentially more value than 50 random blog posts.

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The Challenges of Getting Editorial Backlinks

If editorial backlinks were easy, everyone would have them. Here’s why they’re tough:

• Quality Dependency: You need standout content worth citing.
  
• Editor Gatekeeping: Journalists get 200+ pitches daily. Yours must stand out.
  
• Networking Required: Cold outreach rarely works. Relationships matter.
  
• Time-Consuming: One authentic editorial link can take weeks to land.
  
• Risk of Scams: Many providers sell fake “editorial links” from PBNs disguised as real sites.
  

This is why many businesses either:

• Struggle to build them DIY, or
  
• Waste money on shady providers.
  

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How to Get Editorial Backlinks – Method A- DIY Approach

You can build editorial links on your own, but it’s a grind. Here’s the DIY roadmap:

1. Publish Link-Worthy Content
   
   • Data reports, case studies, surveys
     
   • Long-form guides that act as reference pieces
     
   • Unique research (even small datasets)
     
2. Pitch Journalists
   
   • Use HARO, Qwoted, JournoRequest
     
   • Respond fast with clear, valuable quotes
     
3. Run PR Campaigns
   
   • Newsworthy product launches
     
   • Opinionated thought leadership
     
   • Stories tied to trending topics
     
4. Network With Editors & Bloggers
   
   • Build genuine relationships
     
   • Offer collaboration before asking for links
     
5. Be an Industry Expert
   
   • Share stats, predictions, and insights journalists crave
     

Reality check: DIY works — but it requires persistence, resources, and months of effort.

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How to Get Editorial Backlinks – Method B – Hire a Service Provider

Building backlinks the DIY way is tough and time consuming. This is where a professional partners (Editorial backlinks service providers comes in picture.)

Instead of reinventing the wheel, you tap into their network, expertise, and proven process.

Advantages of Using a Service Provider

• Pre-built publisher relationships → Saves months of cold outreach.
  
• Content expertise → We know what editors want.
  
• Guaranteed placements → High DR/DA sites only.
  
• White-hat & compliant → No shady tactics, no risk.
  
• Scalable solution → Get consistent links that fuel long-term SEO growth.

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What to Look for in an Editorial Backlinks Service Provider

Not all services are legit. Here’s your checklist before hiring:

✅ Transparency: Do they show site lists and metrics upfront?
✅ Relevance: Are links industry-specific, not random lifestyle blogs?
✅ Content Quality: Are links placed inside real, contextual content?
✅ Proof: Do they share case studies or client results?
✅ Clear Pricing: Avoid “100 editorial links in 7 days” gimmicks.

🚩 Red Flags:

• PBNs disguised as real sites
  
• Vague promises with no publisher names
  
• Too-cheap bulk packages
  

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Some Prominent Editorial Link Service Providers

If you’re looking for trusted providers of editorial backlinks, here are some well-known names in the space.

Provider	Specialty
Badass Backlinks (Our site)	Premium editorial link building, guest posts, and niche edits from real sites — built for SaaS, eCommerce, and agencies that care about results. One of the top link building agencies.
Editorial.Link	Focuses exclusively on true editorial backlinks, securing placements in genuine articles on relevant, high-authority websites.
uSERP	Combines digital PR with SEO outreach to land editorial mentions on top publications like Forbes, HubSpot, and Entrepreneur.
Page One Power	A long-established link-building agency specializing in manual outreach and contextually relevant editorial placements.
LinksThatRank	Provides vetted, high-authority editorial links with a focus on niche relevance and long-term ranking impact.
Sure Oak	Offers editorial backlinks as part of broader SEO campaigns, with emphasis on sustainable growth and link quality.
Loganix	Editorial placements, citations, and SEO packages tailored for agencies looking for scalable, white-label solutions.
Siege Media	Content marketing powerhouse that earns editorial links through large-scale, high-quality content campaigns.
Fat Joe	High-volume guest posting and editorial link placements with a streamlined, fast-delivery process.

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Closing Words

Editorial backlinks remain the most sustainable approach to building search authority because they align with search engines’ fundamental goal of identifying trustworthy content. While challenging to earn, they provide lasting value that justifies the investment in content creation and relationship building.

Success in editorial link building requires patience, consistency, and genuine value creation. Whether pursuing DIY approaches or working with professional services, focus on developing resources that genuinely serve your industry rather than simply pursuing link acquisition.

The publishers and journalists who control editorial placements seek partners who contribute meaningful insights to industry conversations. By positioning your organization as a reliable source of valuable information, editorial opportunities naturally emerge as part of broader thought leadership development.

Remember that editorial link building is fundamentally about building relationships and providing value. The links themselves are a byproduct of successful positioning as a knowledgeable, trustworthy industry participant rather than the primary objective of your efforts.