Assess editorial placement of backlinks to gauge their natural context.
- Assess editorial placement of backlinks to gauge their natural context1 cited source1 category
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Why this matters
Editorially placed links within main content are more valuable and less likely to be considered manipulative.
Hypothetical standard operating procedure
Adapt this example to your site, access, tools, and change process. It is our suggested procedure, informed by the sources below.
- Inspect the HTML source of linking pages to locate backlink placement.
- Classify links as editorial (in-article) or non-editorial (sidebar/footer).
- Prioritize retention of editorially placed backlinks.
- Document placement type as part of link quality assessment.
Watch for
Links in footers, sidebars, or sitewide blocks may carry less value or risk penalties.
Definition of done
Backlinks predominantly appear in editorial body content rather than peripheral site sections.
Sources & attribution
Original checklist wording and example SOP by Best SEO Checklist, using source-grounded AI assistance. Editorial contact: Ted Kubaitis, @tedkubaitis on Teams. Check current source guidance before implementation.