In this article, you’ll learn how to add backlinks in WordPress.
Two types of backlinks can be added to a WordPress site: dofollow and nofollow links. This step-by-step guide will teach you how to create both backlinks so you can add the correct links to your content.
How to Add Backlinks In WordPress
Log Into WordPress
The first step in adding backlinks in WordPress is to log into the content management system (CMS) through the /wp-admin/ page on your website’s domain.
Open a Blog Post or Page
After logging into your WordPress site, you need to open an existing blog post or page (or create a new one) to which you want to add a backlink.
Highlight the Text to Add a Backlink to
Next, you need to highlight the text inside the Gutenberg content editor where you want to place a backlink. To do this, you need to follow these three steps:
- Left-click and hold your mouse down before the first letter in the first word you want to use for the backlink.
- Drag your mouse to the right while holding down the button to highlight in blue all of the words you want to use in the backlink anchor text.
- Release the button on your mouse after the last letter in the previous word for the anchor text.
Here’s an example image with the text highlighted in blue to insert a backlink:
At this stage, the text inside your WordPress blog post or page will be highlighted in blue. You should then click the link icon to bring up the hyperlink field.
Next, you want to paste the URL for the backlink into the hyperlink field to insert it as a link.
Here’s an example image of that process being performed with a red box outlining the link icon. Also, notice how the blue highlighting disappears. That is normal, and the highlighted text will still receive the hyperlink.
Add the Backlink URL
At this stage, the text inside your WordPress blog post or page will be highlighted in blue. You should then click the link icon to bring up the hyperlink field.
Next, you want to paste the URL for the backlink into the hyperlink field to insert it as a link.
Here’s an example image of that process being performed with a red box outlining the link icon. Also, notice how the blue highlighting disappears. That is normal, and the highlighted text will still receive the hyperlink.
Choose the Correct REL Attribute
After the URL has been pasted, the next step is to choose the correct REL attribute, which defines the relationship between a linked resource and the current document.
If you choose nothing, then the backlink will become a dofollow link that passes PageRank value to the target URL.
If you turn on any of the following REL attributes, the backlink will be a nofollow link, and search engines like Google may decide not to pass the PageRank value. (Nofollow attributes are a hint, not a directive.)
- Add “nofollow” to the link (for general links you don’t want to pass PageRank to)
- Add “sponsored” to the link (for affiliate and advertisement links)
- Add “UGC” to the link (for user-generated content links)
Here’s an example image with those options surrounded with a red box so you know how they can be turned on or off:
Click the Submit Button to Save the Backlink
To save the newly added backlink in WordPress, you need to click the submit button, which is the return arrow icon. If you don’t click this button, the link will not be saved, and you’ll have to repeat steps 3-5.
“Understanding what a backlink profile is is important for link building.”
Save the Blog Post or Page
Once you confirm that the backlink has been saved, you then need to keep the blog post or page for it to take effect on the website.
If editing an existing blog post or page, click the “Update” button. If creating a new article, click the “Publish” button.
Repeat to Add More Backlinks In WordPress
You can add as many backlinks as you want to a WordPress site’s content. To make more than one backlink on a page, repeat steps 3-7 so the changes take effect on the live site.
Adding Backlinks In WordPress Summary
I hope you enjoyed this guide on how to add backlinks in WordPress.
As you discovered, adding backlinks to a WordPress site is quite simple. All you have to do is highlight the text you want to turn into a backlink, add the URL, and choose the link you like: dofollow vs nofollow link. Once that’s all complete, you save the page for the backlink to take effect on the live WordPress site.
SAAD MUSHTAQ
Saad Mushtaq is an entrepreneur and founder of Techsponsor. He specializes in search engine optimization and digital marketing and has been fascinated with SEO since 2015. He aims to share the best tips and news about search engine marketing to help you get more website traffic.