Written and reviewed by David Moris
David Moris is Co Founder of Editorial Backlinks and leads SEO strategy, campaign planning, quality control, reporting and long-term growth. Last reviewed July 29, 2026.
Definition
An editorial backlink is a link included in a publisher’s content because it helps explain, support or extend the article. The publisher or editor controls whether the link appears, how it is described and which attribute it receives.
What it is not
A link is not automatically editorial because it appears inside an article. Mass-produced guest posts, hidden paid placements, private blog networks and irrelevant links can mimic editorial formatting while lacking genuine editorial value.
Common routes
Editorial links can result from journalist source requests, proactive digital PR, original research, expert commentary, useful tools and resources, or high-quality contributed content. Each route has different control and disclosure requirements.
Quality signals
Review the publication, topical relevance, page quality, context around the citation, destination page, link attribute and the way the placement was acquired. No single domain metric is enough.
Realistic expectations
A backlink can support discovery and authority, but it cannot guarantee rankings, traffic or revenue. Its effect depends on the wider site, search competition and the quality of the linked page.