Without backlink-worthy linkable assets to showcase, building links will be a challenging experience in 2025.
Why?
First of all, Google has been cracking down on questionable link-building practices, like excessive link exchanges and buying links. If you could freely do these 10 years ago, the same practices could get you penalized today.
Secondly, SEOs are becoming more mindful about their external linking efforts, which means they would think twice before giving you that coveted backlink.
Linkable assets are non-negotiable to support your link-building campaign.
This begs the following questions:
- What are linkable assets?
- Why are they essential for SEO?
- Which linkable assets are best to build in 2025?
Stay tuned because we’ll answer them today.
What are Linkable Assets?
Linkable assets refer to high-value content pieces or resources that are specifically created to attract backlinks from other websites.
These assets serve as valuable resources for several reasons, like providing data-driven insights, being helpful online tools, and being freely downloadable.
For example, consider this Google indexing study piece I wrote for IndexCheckr, which discussed the time it takes for Google to index/deindex websites and the possible underlying reasons:
A few days later, Search Engine Journal—yep, the big SEO marketing news website—featured the article on their site, sending a backlink in the process:
What does that tell us?
When you create linkable content, other creators and websites would naturally want to reference or share it.
By extension, this builds your authority and improves your search engine positioning thanks to the generated backlinks.
Now, let’s enumerate the specific benefits offered by linkable assets. Keep reading.
Why are Linkable Assets Important for SEO? (5 Reasons)
Creating linkable assets must always be a priority when running any SEO campaign. Earlier, we’ve glossed over a few benefits of having these link-worthy resources on your website. But how exactly can these pages specifically serve your SEO goals?
Here are 5 ways:
Reason #1: They attract high-quality backlinks naturally
Link-worthy content give other people a reason to reference your site without you having to ask.
When your content is genuinely useful, like a tool, infographic, or original study, others are more inclined to link to it as a trusted source.
Plus, Google prefers backlinks that are “organically built,” which means you didn’t have to ask for it or buy the backlink, it just happened naturally. As a result, you are rewarded with a better ranking and more credibility.
Reason #2: They increase website traffic over time
Linkable assets drive traffic to your website in two ways:
First is referral traffic. This happens when other websites link to you and their visitors click your link, sending them to your page.
The second, and more important way, is via organic traffic. Linkable pieces often gets cited in other blog posts, which transfers link juice from source pages to your website.
In theory, more link juice translates to better SERP performance, which also translates to higher clickthrough rate.
Over time, a single well-made asset can become a reliable organic traffic engine. This helps you grow consistently without constantly creating new content.
Reason #3: They position you as an authority in your niche
High-value resources allow you to demonstrate your expertise, as if to tell people, “I know my stuff.”
Whether it’s original research or an expert guide, these assets elevate your brand as a go-to source for trusted information.
In addition to attracting backlinks naturally, being recognized as an authority also opens doors to partnerships, possibly press features, and social shares. It’s a powerful way to stand out in a crowded SEO space.
Reason #4: They support other content and internal linking
Linkable assets aren’t just great for earning backlinks from external sources, they also strengthen your internal linking efforts.
These resources are good cornerstone pieces to link to and from related blog posts, creating a solid internal linking structure.
While building internal links manually is doable for smaller websites, it isn’t scalable. Even with a strong linkable resource, if your site is flooded with too many pages, building internal links can quickly become overwhelming and inefficient.
This could bottleneck your linkable asset’s potential. For this reason, it could be helpful to use internal linking tools like LinkStorm that automatically build contextually relevant links across your site.
A solid internal linking structure means search engines can better understand your site architecture while guiding users through a more intentional journey.
Reason #5: They provide long-term seo value
Unlike trending posts or short-lived campaigns, linkable assets tend to remain relevant for years. Once they gain traction, they continue to earn backlinks and search visibility on autopilot.
This evergreen quality makes them a smart investment since they deliver SEO returns long after they’re published.
In the long run, one great asset can outperform dozens of average blog posts.
10 Best Linkable Assets to Secure High-quality Backlinks
Wondering which linkable asset is best to create for your website? Here are 10 you can try:
1. Original research and data studies
One of the most powerful link-worthy resources you can create is original research and data studies.
When you publish unique stats, surveys, or industry benchmarks, other websites naturally want to do one of two things:
- Create a dedicated piece built on your findings
- Feature your research in their content as a support resource
Either way, this may result in a backlink. Moreover, this positions your brand as a trusted source of information, which builds credibility.
For example, consider our case study on link decay.
Prior to publishing that piece, we had to monitor the development, changes, and lifespan of backlinks for over 7 years. We even had to partner with a statistician to analyze the data on our behalf, making sure it was free of errors:
I recently analyzed our case study’s backlink performance using Linkody and found that it had a total of 41 backlinks (35 are dofollow) to date. It even earned backlinks from popular industry websites, such as TechTarget and ITPro Today.
Beyond being a linkable asset, having original data adds depth to your content. Unlike other competitors who simply regurgitate generic pieces or build on other creators’ content, you set your brand apart, elevating your business from the noise.
Basically, it’s a long-term investment with compounding returns.
2. Online tools and calculators
Online tools and calculators are incredibly effective linkable assets because they offer instant, practical value.
Always remember that people love resources that help them get quick answers or solve a problem as soon as they encounter it.
Since they are interactive and easy to use, other websites feel more compelled to link to them as helpful references for their audiences.
The best part? Tools are evergreen. That means they can attract backlinks and traffic for years.
For example, Linkody has a free backlink checker that shows up to 100 referring domains, and includes other metrics, like domain authority, trust flow, and citation flow:
Upon analyzing our tool’s backlink performance on Linkody, it had 103 total backlinks, of which 77 are qualified as dofollow.
It also earned backlinks from popular sites like Webflow and the Scoop.It blog, as shown below:
If you create a tool that’s genuinely useful and niche-specific, it won’t just earn links but boost your brand’s authority.
3. Comprehensive guides
Comprehensive or complete guides are link-worthy goldmines because they offer deep, well-structured insights that answer your audience’s most burning questions.
Since they are comprehensive, they leave no stone left unturned, which means audiences need not to look any further.
When you create an all-in-one resource on a specific topic, like a beginner’s guide, a step-by-step walkthrough, or a big list of whatever, other content creators may link to it as a trusted reference.
These guides are also long-form in nature, which means they can target more keywords and rank well in search. They tend to become cornerstone content on your site.
We once created a big list of white hat backlinks in 2016,a nd it continues to collect backlinks to this day.
When looking at the page’s backlink performance on Linkody, we found it to have 39 backlinks pointing to it. We also redirected another page (covering the same concept) to this resource, which had about 13 backlinks. This gives it a total of 52 backlinks!
Below shows the backlink analysis via Linkody:
Comprehensive guides become especially powerful when supported by internal links, visuals, and real-world examples. Of course, a helpful guide doesn’t just earn backlinks; it actually serves the audience who needs it.
Remember: Quality always beats quantity in long-form content.
4. Infographics
Infographics simplify complex information by transforming texts into digestible, easy-to-understand graphics. This makes them highly shareable and link-worthy.
We’re not new to featuring infographics from other creators when they truly serve their purpose.
Case in point: We recently published an article about content repurposing several weeks back from the time of writing.
One of the items talked about infographics, and we featured one example from LinkStorm’s article on anchor texts. Here it is:
Source: LinkStorm
The infographic managed to integrate the different types of anchor texts, while also including the definition and a few examples for each item. All while keeping the graphic easy on the eyes.
People love visual content because it is quicker to absorb, especially when trying to explain data, trends, or even processes.
When done well, other creators may include the infographic in relevant blog posts. Each mention links back to the original source—you.
5. Industry reports and forecasts
Industry reports, trends, and forecasts offer forward-looking insights that give readers a snapshot of where the industry is headed.
While an effective linkable asset, it isn’t everyone’s game. To create an industry trend analysis, you need to develop some sort of authority or brand recognition in your niche to give your statements more credence or gravity.
Once you’ve developed a decent following, writing industry forecasts becomes more believable.
Creators typically use these reports as references for blog posts, whitepapers, and presentations. They also reinforce your brand as a thought leader that stays ahead of the curve.
Here’s the kicker: if your data is credible, valuable, and well-presented, people will return to your site every year to see the latest stats. That means new backlinks annually.
One good example of an industry trend content piece is Conductor’s annual “State of SEO Report,” which doubles as a lead magnet!
6. Expert roundups
Expert roundups bring together insights from multiple industry professionals in one valuable, highly shareable resource.
The beauty of roundups lies in its diversity. Since you’re featuring quotes, opinions, and tips from respected voices, you offer diverse perspectives in one place—something readers would enjoy!
In addition to boosting your credibility, you also expand your reach since each expert has their target audience. And contributors often share the piece on social media, which drives a decent amount of referral traffic.
These assets also build strong relationships with influencers in your niche, which could open doors for future collaborations.
A good place to start creating expert roundups is using HARO, or Help a Reporter Out:
This connects you to various experts, where you can simply feature their answers on your content and inform them upon publication. It falls on them to feature your piece in their website or share it on their social media.
When done right, expert roundups serve as both a backlink magnet and a trust-building tool for your brand.
7. Free downloadable templates
Everybody loves everything that’s free. The same principle applies to SEO.
When you offer freely downloadable templates, especially if they are high-quality, it can be a strong, evergreen linkable asset that people appreciate.
In the context of SEO, templates could be one of the following examples:
- Content calendars
- Email outreach scripts
- SEO checklists
- Keyword research templates
- SEO audit checklist
Whatever form they take, these ready-to-use resources save time and make users’ lives easier.
As a form of thanks, and since they offer instant value, other websites may link to them and share it with their audience.
One popular free template is the on-page SEO checklist from HubSpot and Search Engine Journal:
This template is also a lead magnet since you need to input your email before downloading, making it a win-win—HubSpot gets to add value and potentially earn a backlink, they also grow their email list.
8. Controversial or opinion-based articles
Let me preface this by saying taking polarizing stances can have a double-edged effect on your website. How? Well, readers might not appreciate your stance, which, by extension, can hurt your credibility.
You don’t want that, so do this at your own risk.
Controversial articles is more relevant when you are a recognized voice in your niche. If you’re someone just starting out, taking the opposite side of the public wouldn’t garner much attention. Matter of fact, not many might even bat an eye to hear what you have to say.
So, why is controversy good? Simple. It sparks conversations.
That is exactly what makes them link-worthy.
When you take a bold stance or challenge common industry beliefs, people are more likely to reference, debate, or even share your viewpoint.
These pieces stand out in a sea of generic content and often attract backlinks from blogs, forums, and news outlets looking to highlight different perspectives.
Of course, back your opinions with something tangible like logic, data, or experience. These foundational elements keep your credibility intact, so you can defend your stance better and position you positively despite the negative light.
For example, take this hot take from Joe Procopio that he wrote for Inc., which is a follow up on another hot take he published on the same website 5 months prior:
Some might agree. More might argue against. The winner? Himself, and his email newsletter.
9. Cheat sheets
If you’ve ever played a game before, you know how cheat codes make you breeze through the game with ease, albeit in a not-so-fun way anymore. Cheatsheets do the exact same thing!
Instead of reading through walls and walls of text, cheat sheets give the answers right away. That’s the beauty of it. Life isn’t a game and efficiency is paramount, which makes cheat sheets incredibly link-worthy.
Whether it’s a Google search operators cheatsheet, or a big list of SEO ranking factors, people love things they can quickly glance at while working.
Because of this innate practicality and digestibility, websites often link to them as helpful resources for beginners and pros alike.
If you made one that’s truly, truly valuable, you can generate so many backlinks. Take for example, Backlinko’s big list of 200 Google ranking factors, it has a whopping 19k backlinks pointing to it, coming from 6.3k referring domains:
See those numbers? Enough to make an SEO retire, smoke cigars, stare into the sunset, and utter under his breath, “I made it.”
10. Niche-specific tools
By niche-specific tools, I mean the toolkits or software that are especially relevant to a specific industry and the people in it.
Let’s not go any further than SEO. Search engine optimization has many moving parts and components, like content creation, link-building, technical SEO, and whatnot.
All of these areas have corresponding tools that make their activities easier to perform, like:
- For example, Linkody—yes, this website you are on—is a backlink monitoring tool.
- Ahrefs and Semrush are all-around SEO powerhouses that specialize in keyword research.
- LinkStorm and Link Whisper are AI-powered internal linking tools.
The point is that these tools give ongoing value that users return to and talk about. Since they are purpose-built and fill a gap in workflows, people naturally link to them in blog posts, listicles, tutorials, reviews, and resource pages.
If you have the budget and development team, a useful tool could earn you backlinks. More importantly, increased revenue for every purchase or subscription.
So, Ready to Build Your Own Linkable Asset?
Not every linkable asset will be a perfect fit for a website, and that’s okay!
What works, say, for an SEO agency might flop for an ecommerce brand. Or, a thought leader might have better odds at earning backlinks from a controversial piece than a startup trying to bank on polarizing content.
The key is assessing which asset best aligns with your audience, niche, and available resources.
Do you have access to unique data? Start with original research.
Are you great at simplifying complex topics? Try a cheatsheet.
Got some digital editing chops? Maybe an infographic is doable.
Choose one that feels both relevant and build from there. Once your asset is alive, the job isn’t over yet. Time to track its performance.
Tools like Linkody make it easy to monitor who’s linking to your content, so you can measure success and refine your strategy over time.