Dofollow vs nofollow (and friends)
The most important distinction is the link attribute. Dofollow links pass authority; nofollow, sponsored and UGC links generally don't, though a natural profile contains a mix. Full breakdown in dofollow vs nofollow backlinks.
High-authority & contextual links
High-DA backlinks come from powerful domains; contextual backlinks sit inside relevant article text and carry the most weight. Edu and gov backlinks are prized for their trust.
Links by where they come from
- Web 2.0 backlinks — branded mini-sites on established platforms
- Profile backlinks — from high-authority profile fields
- Forum & comment backlinks — community links (use sparingly)
- Guest post & editorial links — the gold standard for relevance
How to build the right types free
Focus your energy on relevant, contextual, editorial links and use a free backlink exchange to scale them. Use foundational types (profiles, citations) for breadth, not as your whole strategy. See the full method in backlink creation.