What Are Editorial Links?
Editorial links are backlinks that are earned naturally when a website or publication references your content or brand in their articles, blog posts, or other editorial content. These links are given voluntarily because the content is valuable, relevant, or authoritative.
For example, if a tech blog writes an article about “Top SaaS Tools for 2025” and includes a link to your SaaS product, that’s an editorial link. These links are highly trusted by search engines like Google because they’re seen as genuine endorsements of your content or brand.
Why Are Editorial Links Important?
Editorial links are a big deal for SEO and digital marketing. Here’s why:
- Boost Search Rankings: Google considers editorial links as a strong signal of trust and authority. Websites with high-quality editorial links tend to rank higher in search results. And with higher (targeted) traffic comes higher SEO-driven revenue.
- Drive Referral Traffic: When a reputable site links to you, their audience is likely to click through to your site, bringing you targeted traffic.
- Build Brand Credibility: Being featured on authoritative sites enhances your brand’s reputation and positions you as an industry leader.
- Improve Domain Authority: Editorial links from high-domain-authority sites can significantly boost your own domain authority, making it easier to rank for competitive keywords.
How to Earn Editorial Links: 6 Actionable Strategies
Here’s how you can earn high-quality editorial links for your SaaS business:
1. Create Link-Worthy Content
The foundation of earning editorial links is creating content that others want to reference. Focus on producing:
- Original Research: Publish data-driven studies or surveys that provide unique insights into your industry. Here’s an excellent example from rep.ai:
.
- Comprehensive Guides: Write in-depth guides that cover a topic thoroughly.
- Visual Content: Infographics, charts, and videos are highly shareable and often attract editorial links.
2. Build Relationships with Journalists and Bloggers
Networking with journalists and bloggers in your niche can lead to organic editorial links. Here’s how:
- Engage on Social Media: Share their content, comment on their posts, and build genuine relationships.
- Offer Exclusive Insights: Provide them with unique data or expert commentary they can’t find elsewhere.
- Pitch Story Ideas: Suggest topics that align with their audience’s interests and include your content as a resource.
3. Use the Skyscraper Technique
The Skyscraper Technique involves creating content that’s better than what’s already ranking for your target keywords.
Here’s how it works:
- Identify Top-Performing Content: Find articles that are ranking well for your target keywords and have earned backlinks.
- Create a Better Version: Improve on the existing content by making it more comprehensive, up-to-date, or visually appealing.
- Outreach to Linkers: Contact websites that linked to the original content and suggest they link to your improved version instead.
4. Participate in Industry Events and Awards
Being featured in industry events, conferences, or award lists can earn you editorial links. For example:
- Speak at Conferences: If you’re a speaker, the event website will likely link to your profile or company.
- Win Awards: Awards often come with press coverage and links from industry publications.
5. Convert Brand Mentions into Links
Many websites mention your brand without linking to it.
Use tools like Google Alerts or Mention to track these mentions, then reach out and politely ask for a link.
For example:
- “Hi [Editor’s Name], I noticed you mentioned [Your Brand] in your recent article. Would you consider adding a link to our website for your readers’ reference?”
6. Publish Expert Roundups
Expert roundups are articles that feature insights from multiple industry experts. By contributing valuable insights, you can earn a link when the roundup is published.
Pro Tip: Reach out to bloggers and offer to participate in their roundups. For example, “I’d love to contribute to your upcoming article on SaaS trends. Here’s my insight on [Topic].”
Challenges of Earning Editorial Links
While editorial links are highly valuable, earning them isn’t always easy. Here are some common challenges and how to overcome them:
- High Competition: Many brands are vying for the same editorial links. To stand out, focus on creating unique, high-quality content that offers real value.
- Outreach Fatigue: Journalists and bloggers receive countless pitches daily. Make your outreach personalized and relevant to increase your chances of success.
- Time-Consuming Process: Earning editorial links takes time and effort. Stay consistent with your content creation and outreach efforts.
FAQs About Editorial Links
1. What’s the difference between editorial links and paid links?
Editorial links are earned naturally when a website references your content because it’s valuable or relevant. Paid links are purchased, often through sponsorships or ads, and are considered less trustworthy by search engines.
2. How many editorial links do I need to improve my SEO?
Quality matters more than quantity. A few high-authority editorial links can have a bigger impact on your SEO than dozens of low-quality links.
3. Can I earn editorial links from small blogs?
Yes! While links from high-authority sites are ideal, links from smaller, niche-relevant blogs can still boost your SEO and drive targeted traffic.
4. How long does it take to earn editorial links?
It depends on your content quality, outreach efforts, and industry competition. Some links can be earned quickly, while others may take months of consistent effort.
5. What if my outreach emails get ignored?
Follow up politely after a week or two. If you still don’t get a response, move on to other opportunities. Persistence is key, but don’t spam.
6. Can I earn editorial links without creating new content?
While creating new content is the most effective way to earn editorial links, you can also earn them by:
- Updating and republishing old content to make it more relevant.
- Sharing exclusive data or insights with journalists and bloggers.
- Participating in expert roundups or interviews.
7. What’s the best way to track editorial links?
Use tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to monitor your backlink profile and track new editorial links.
