The strategies for acquiring links have constantly evolved throughout the history of SEO. The days of link farms and exchanges, once popular, are long gone.

Today, link building is about earning links through outreach and creating high-quality content. It’s much less about spammy techniques designed to trick search engines.

While link building remains an effective strategy for increasing organic reach and visibility, many businesses and marketers struggle to implement it effectively.

Why Is Link Building So Challenging?

A decade ago, it was easy. You could buy links or create dozens of your own websites and interlink them. A few hundred dollars or a few hours of work could propel your site to the top of search results.

The problem was that link building was too easy. If everyone could easily get links, everyone would be doing it (and they were).

Today, link building is hard. But with the right tools and knowledge, you can unlock its full potential.

In this article, you’ll find 50 different types of links and strategies for acquiring them.

Remember, there’s no easy way to build links, and not every link type will make sense for every business. But I’m confident you’ll find at least a few new link strategies to implement.

50 Types of Links and Strategies for Acquiring Them

1. .edu Links: These sites often have high domain authority, making their links valuable. Allow students to guest post (ideally research in your industry) and encourage them to share with professors and peers. Consider offering student discounts.
2. .gov Links: Similar to .edu, these sites often have high authority. Partner with veterans’ organizations, offer discounts/training, and contact local government organizations (e.g., VA, SBA) to inform them of your program.
3. .org Links: These links offer similar benefits to .gov and .edu but are easier to obtain. Sponsor a charity program, offer your services/products for free, etc.
4. Natural Links: Earn these by publishing high-quality, engaging content. Develop a content marketing plan to maximize these opportunities.
5. Media Links: Create research or a resource that journalists will cite. Use HARO to answer reporters’ questions, but be aware it can be time-consuming.
6. Internal Links: The easiest links to obtain. If you use WordPress, install the Related Posts plugin to find more internal linking opportunities.
7. Links from Adjacent Businesses: These businesses may have a similar target audience but don’t directly compete with you. Exchange guest posts, write a review of their product/service, or develop a joint marketing campaign.
8. Competitor Links: Create a job board or conduct valuable research that competitors will want to reference.
9. Niche Forum Links: The value of these links lies in the audience – people directly related to your industry. Find leading niche forums and engage with them. Offer something valuable before sharing links.
10. Social Media Profile Links: Add your website to all your social media profiles. It’s a simple step but often overlooked.
11. Social Media Post Links: Share new content on your social channels.
12. Reddit Links: Reddit requires a careful approach. Users dislike being sold to, but it’s possible to do it subtly and thoughtfully.
13. LinkedIn Company Page Links: Create a LinkedIn company page and add your website link.
14. Relevant Industry Directories: Focus on high-quality, authoritative directories. (Provide a link to a resource for finding niche directories.)