How to Get High-Authority Backlinks from News Websites

Getting a backlink from a major news website is one of the most difficult and valuable goals in SEO.

Whether you are a startup founder, SaaS company, e-commerce brand, agency, or marketer, you have probably searched for terms like “Forbes India backlink,” “Moneycontrol backlink,” “Hindustan Times backlink,” “Livemint backlink,” or “how to get backlinks from high-authority news websites.”

The problem is that most advice online is either unrealistic (“send one email and get featured”) or risky (“buy 100 DA backlinks for ₹999”).

In this guide, I’ll explain the real methods businesses use to earn or acquire backlinks from trusted news and business publications, including journalist outreach, HARO-style opportunities, guest contributions, digital PR, and press release distribution. You’ll also learn the difference between dofollow and nofollow backlinks, why relevance matters more than raw domain authority, and how to build a sustainable media backlink strategy for long-term SEO and brand growth.

Quick Answer

The most reliable ways to get backlinks from high-authority news websites are:

• Earn editorial coverage through a newsworthy story
• Respond to journalist requests (HARO / Connectively)
• Publish expert guest contributions
• Run digital PR campaigns
• Distribute genuine press releases through relevant business and news publications

For most businesses, press release distribution is the fastest scalable method, while editorial coverage is the most valuable long-term method.

Why News Website Backlinks Matter

A backlink from a recognised news or business publication is very different from a backlink from a random blog or directory.

These publications are trusted by:

• Google
• Investors
• Customers
• Journalists
• Business partners
• Industry professionals

Because of that trust, media backlinks can contribute to:

• Higher search visibility
• Stronger domain authority
• Faster indexing of new pages
• Referral traffic
• Brand credibility
• Investor confidence
• Better conversion rates

For startups, SaaS companies, agencies, e-commerce brands, and even IPO-bound businesses, news backlinks are often both an SEO asset and a branding asset.

What Is a High-Authority News Backlink?

A high-authority news backlink is a link from a trusted publication such as:

• Hindustan Times
• The Economic Times
• Moneycontrol
• Business Standard
• Livemint
• Financial Express
• Outlook Business
• Firstpost
• The Print
• ANI
• PTI
• Forbes India

Many users specifically search for:

• Forbes India backlink
• Moneycontrol backlink
• Livemint backlink
• Hindustan Times backlink
• Business Standard backlink
• The Economic Times backlink
• ANI backlink
• PTI backlink

The important thing to understand is:

You do not simply buy a backlink from these publications.

What businesses usually purchase is a press release placement, sponsored article, brand feature, guest contribution, or another approved publication format. The backlink (if provided) follows the publication’s editorial and linking policy.

Do News Backlinks Help SEO?

Yes, but not every news backlink works the same way.

The biggest misconception

A nofollow link from a major publication can be more valuable than a dofollow link from a low-quality website.

Why?

Because it can generate:

• Real visitors
• Brand searches
• Mentions on other websites
• Social sharing
• Investor trust
• Journalistic discovery

Google’s modern ranking systems evaluate overall authority, topical authority, and E-E-A-T signals, not just the number of dofollow links.

Can You Get Dofollow Backlinks from News Websites?

Yes, some news websites provide dofollow backlinks, while others use nofollow or sponsored attributes.

The link type depends on the publication’s editorial and advertising policy, not on the buyer’s request.

When evaluating a publication, focus on:

• Relevance to your industry
• Real traffic
• Brand trust
• Indexing quality
• Editorial standards

A relevant nofollow link from a respected financial publication can often provide more long-term value than a dofollow link from a low-quality website.

The 3 Real Ways to Get Backlinks from News Websites

1. Earn Editorial Coverage (Best but Hardest)

This is the ideal method.

You create something genuinely newsworthy, and a journalist chooses to cover it.

Examples of newsworthy content

• Funding announcement
• Product launch
• Research report
• Industry survey
• Acquisition
• Partnership
• Major milestone
• Viral campaign
• IPO filing
• Technology breakthrough

Pros

• Highest trust
• Natural editorial backlink
• Can lead to multiple publications covering the story

Cons

• No guarantee
• Requires a strong story
• Can take weeks or months

If you are a startup founder, this should be your long-term goal, not your only strategy.

2. HARO / Connectively (Free Method)

HARO (now replaced by Connectively and similar journalist request platforms) allows experts to respond to media queries.

How it works

• A journalist asks a question.
• You submit a short expert response.
• If selected, you may receive a quote and a backlink.

Good for

• Founders
• Marketers
• SEO experts
• Finance professionals
• Healthcare experts
• Technology leaders

Reality check

This method is free but competitive.

You may send:

• 30 responses
• 50 responses
• 100 responses

and receive only a few published mentions.

It is excellent for building authority over time, but not ideal if you need media coverage urgently.

3. Press Release Distribution (Most Practical for Businesses)

For many companies, this is the most scalable and predictable approach.

A press release is a formal business announcement distributed to selected news and business publications.

Common press release topics

• Startup launch
• Funding round
• Product launch
• Expansion
• Partnership
• Award
• IPO announcement
• Technology update
• Business milestone

How backlinks happen

• Create a genuine business announcement.
• Choose relevant business or financial publications.
• The publication reviews and publishes the article.
• You receive a live article with a link or brand mention.

Important

The backlink type depends on the publication.

• Some provide dofollow links
• Some provide nofollow links
• Some provide brand mentions only

There is no universal rule.

This is why many businesses use digital PR and press release distribution services together.

If you are planning a company announcement, you can explore our Press Release Distribution Services and compare publication options based on link type, pricing, and turnaround time.

Press Release vs HARO: Which Should You Choose?

For businesses that need both branding and backlinks, press release distribution is often the most practical middle ground.

Which News Websites Are Commonly Used for Business & SEO PR?

Businesses often look for media visibility on publications such as Forbes India, Hindustan Times, Livemint, Moneycontrol, Business Standard, The Economic Times, Outlook Business, Firstpost, The Print, ANI, and PTI.

The right publication depends on the announcement type:

• Funding / IPO: Moneycontrol, Business Standard, Economic Times, Livemint
• Startups & technology: Forbes India, Firstpost, The Print
• National business visibility: Hindustan Times, Outlook Business
• Syndicated news reach: ANI, PTI

For IPO-related announcements, a specialised IPO Press Release Service is usually more suitable than a generic PR campaign.

What Makes a Newsworthy Press Release?

Weak

“XYZ is the best digital marketing company in India.”

Better

“XYZ Marketing expands to three new cities after serving 500+ businesses.”

Strong

“XYZ Marketing reports 120% revenue growth and launches AI-powered analytics platform for SMEs.”

Include these elements

• Clear headline
• Real business announcement
• Specific numbers
• Founder or executive quote
• Company background
• Contact information
• No exaggerated claims

A good press release should read like business news, not an advertisement.

Common Mistakes That Hurt News Link Building

Sending mass outreach emails

Journalists ignore generic pitches.

Using AI-stuffed or spun content

Low-quality content reduces acceptance chances.

Focusing only on domain authority

Relevance matters as much as authority.

Expecting guaranteed editorial links

Editorial coverage is never guaranteed.

Buying random “100 DA backlinks” packages

These are often low-quality, temporary, or risky.

A Practical 90-Day Strategy

Month 1 – Build Assets

• Publish 3 strong blog posts
• Create one original data piece
• Optimize your homepage
• Build a clear founder or company profile

Month 2 – Outreach

• Respond to HARO/Connectively
• Pitch 20 relevant journalists
• Publish 1–2 genuine press releases
• Share insights on LinkedIn

Month 3 – Scale

• Repurpose media mentions
• Build relationships with reporters
• Publish another newsworthy announcement
• Target industry-specific publications

This creates a natural and diversified backlink profile instead of relying on a single tactic.

Do Press Releases Still Work for SEO in 2026?

Yes—but not in the old spammy way.

Press releases work best when they are:

• Newsworthy
• Published on relevant publications
• Used for branding and visibility
• Part of a broader digital PR strategy

They are not a shortcut to unlimited dofollow backlinks.

Think of them as a way to earn:

• Media presence
• Brand authority
• Referral traffic
• Investor trust
• Potential backlinks depending on publication policy

Best Strategy for Startups & Businesses

If I were building authority for a startup or business website today, I would use this mix:

• 20% HARO / journalist outreach
• 20% Data-driven or thought leadership content
• 40% Selected press release publications
• 20% Industry guest posts and partnerships

This creates a diverse, credible, and relevant backlink profile that supports both SEO and branding.

For startups and founders, I would also combine this with a strong Startup PR strategy and consistent founder-led content.

Final Thoughts

Getting backlinks from high-authority news websites is possible, but it is rarely achieved through one email or one backlink package.

The free route—HARO, journalist outreach, and thought leadership—can earn powerful editorial links, but it requires patience and consistency.

The practical business route is to publish genuine company announcements through relevant business and news publications. Press release distribution can help you gain visibility, credibility, referral traffic, and, depending on the publication, a dofollow or nofollow backlink from an authoritative news website.

The smartest strategy is not to chase a single backlink from one famous website.

It is to build a diverse, relevant, and trustworthy media presence across business, financial, industry, and news publications over time.

That approach creates stronger topical authority, better E-E-A-T signals, sustainable backlink growth, and long-term search visibility for your business.

And if your goal is to combine SEO, branding, investor communication, and media visibility, digital PR and press release distribution are often the most scalable ways to start building authority from trusted news websites.