Premium Link Building: Backlinks That Actually Work

Ever wondered why some websites burn through their link-building budget without seeing any real impact? To avoid that pitfall and discover the 'what,' 'how,' and 'why' of Premium Link Building, stick around.

This isn’t your everyday link-building tactic - this is the elite approach that actually delivers results. Think of it as the difference between fast food and fine dining in the SEO world.

🔍 What is Premium Link Building?

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the words “premium link building”?

Something next-level, right?

Well, that’s how it’s supposed to be.

After all, this type of link building is surely not about cranking out a bunch of cheap links. It’s quite the opposite of link farms that might work today but can wreck your site tomorrow (after Google drops another update).

With premium backlinks, you’re in the clear—safe and white-hat all the way.

Now, is it hard to build premium links?

Absolutely.

Link building, in general, is already one of the hardest parts of SEO (as confirmed by 52% of 113 surveyed SEO experts in our 2024 State of Link Building report).

🚀 What Makes a Backlink Premium?

So, what makes a backlink premium? It comes down to securing links that truly benefit your site, not just any random link out there.

Here’s what sets these links apart.

Authority from trusted sites

A premium backlink comes from a site that’s already well-known and trusted in your industry. These sites have their own authority, and when they link to you, it tells Google your content is worth checking out.

Google then starts to see your site as a more reliable source, which can help push it up in the rankings.

Relevance to your niche

As mentioned earlier, premium links aren’t random—they come from sites that are closely related to your industry or topic.

What matters is the relevance of the site linking to you. The more closely related it is to your industry or topic, the more value that link adds to your SEO.

Naturally earned links

These links aren’t bought or forced—they’re earned because your content is good enough to attract attention.

Premium backlinks are often (but not always) organic, meaning they come from people naturally sharing or referring to your site. Google loves this because it shows real value.

Context matters

Where the link is placed on a page matters, too.

Premium backlinks aren’t hidden in footers or sidebars—they’re naturally part of the content. When a link fits smoothly into a relevant article, it carries a lot more weight.

☝️ Why Isn't Everyone Building Premium Backlinks?

Building premium backlinks sounds great, but it’s not something you can do easily. After all, if you want to get links that work, you will need some serious time and effort.

For starters, you need content that provides value. Not the run-of-the-mill stuff, but something that answers questions or solves problems for users.

Then, there’s the challenge of getting your content out there. This means personalized outreach, spending resources to share your content with the right people, and making sure it lands on the right sites.

And on top of that, your content has to be expert-level if you want high-authority sites to link to it.

✔️ 6 Link-Building Tips for Earning Premium Backlinks

Getting premium backlinks requires effort and strategy. Here are seven effective methods you can use to build top-tier links.

Linkable assets

Creating linkable assets is a proven way to attract premium backlinks. These are high-value pieces of content that naturally draw links.

For example, our recent State of Link Building 2024 report is packed with data the SEO community finds useful, which helped it gain quite a bunch of natural backlinks already.

The more valuable your content is, the more people will want to link to it.

Unlinked mentions

Sadly, sometimes websites mention your brand but forget to link back. However, such unlinked mentions can become an easy opportunity for backlinks.

All you need to do is reach out to the site owner and ask for a link. Since they’ve already mentioned you, they’re usually willing to add the link 😉

🔗 Related article: How to Find Unlinked Brand Mentions

Digital PR link building

Digital PR link building helps you get mentioned in the media, online publications, or by influencers. This isn’t just for PR—it’s one of the best ways to earn high-quality backlinks.

By the way, according to 67.3% of experts, digital PR is the most effective tactic.

It can get your site linked by top media outlets, boosting both your authority and visibility.

Broken link building

Broken link building is simple but powerful. You track down links on top-tier sites that are no longer working. Then, you offer your content as the fix. The site owner benefits from cleaning up their broken link, and you score a backlink. Clean.

Keep in mind, however, that this tactic works best if your content is high-quality and truly adds value. The more seamless your replacement, the higher the chances you’ll get that premium link.

Relationship-based link building

This strategy implies creating genuine connections with site owners and editors. The more you engage and build trust, the more likely you are to earn organic backlinks over time.

It's not a fast-track method, but the links you gain are more valuable because they’re built on trust and mutual respect. These premium backlinks are earned naturally and last longer.

Skyscraper technique

The Skyscraper Technique is simple: you find content in your niche that’s already doing well, make it better, and then reach out to the sites linking to the original. Next, you offer them your improved version as a better alternative.

This method can help you grab premium backlinks by showing you’ve taken something good and made it even more valuable. Though competitive, when done right, this is a powerful approach.

How Much Do Premium Backlinks Cost?

You’ve probably come across those juicy offers claiming to “get you premium backlinks fast”—like 2,500 links for $999, right?

Those mass offers and low-quality backlinks can hurt your site, you know? At best, you'll be getting a few high-quality links per month, not thousands.

Premium backlinks don’t come cheap.

It’s common for a single link to cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on the authority of the site. Check our detailed guide on link building pricing for more insights.

🔴 We also have our own link building statistics report, which cost us thousands of dollars to make. It’s the result of a dedicated team of SEO specialists, outreach experts, designers, and developers all working together.

Going with cheap services that send out mass email blasts usually means you’ll end up with random, low-quality links. These can damage your site's reputation.

So your best bet is to invest in a personalized approach that fits your SEO goals and supports your brand. That’s the right way to go.

How Many Premium Backlinks Do You Need?

The number of premium backlinks you need isn’t set in stone; it depends on your SEO goals and existing backlink profile. Sometimes, a single link from a highly authoritative site can make a substantial impact.

For instance, we secured a link from hive.com for our client Jake Ward from Byword.ai on a page with 12.6K monthly traffic. This provided both SEO benefits and referral traffic.

Another client, Sitechecker, gained a relevant link from a HubSpot page with 40K monthly traffic, resulting in immediate clicks and registrations.

Another example of a premium link is one from Forbes, where I provided a quote and received a link.

Even if a link doesn't drive direct traffic, connections from authoritative sites like Forbes or Entrepreneur help establish crucial credibility for Google's EEAT criteria (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness).

Here’s another dofollow link that I secured from Entrepreneur in May 2024:

How to Choose a Premium Link Building Service

With so many options out there, how do you find the right premium link-building service? How do you know which one’s worth your time (and money)?

Feels tricky, right? Well, at least you can check them first.

Do they share their strategy?

First off, ask them exactly how they’re getting those links.

A professional agency won’t hide behind vague answers—they’ll walk you through their process and give you a clear idea of where your links will come from.

Any red flags?

If they’re not giving you specifics about which sites your links will land on, that's a huge warning sign.

You want those links placed on strong, relevant sites that align with your niche. If something feels off, trust your gut and move on.

What others are saying?

It’s always smart to see what other businesses are saying about the agency. Reviews on platforms like Clutch or G2 can tell you about how true they are to their promises.

At Editorial.Link, we keep things transparent.

You’ll get to approve every link placement before it goes live, and we don’t make you commit to any contracts upfront. You can even start with a single test link and only pay once you’ve seen the results.

Final Words

You could throw your budget at tons of low-quality links and hope for the best. However, one high-quality premium link can make a much bigger difference in your SEO metrics than dozens of junk links.

Focus on building strategic alliances, personalized outreach, and maintaining a strong emphasis on quality.

Moreover, 83.2% of experts believe that the effects of link building on rankings and traffic become noticeable within two weeks or more. That’s actually why investing in premium backlinks is a smart move for achieving long-term success.