10 Ways to Earn High PR Backlinks Through Press Coverage in 2025
Sep 1, 2025
The global PR market is worth over $107 billion as of 2024, with a growth rate of 6.6% from last year. Yet most companies still can't earn high PR backlinks from trusted media outlets like The New York Times, BBC, or Wall Street Journal. It matters because, when you earn backlinks from trusted media outlets, Google sees this as a strong signal of your website's credibility.
These are endorsements from sources that Google already trusts. This can lead to a 40% growth of organic traffic of your company's total revenue, with B2B companies generating twice as much revenue from organic search as all other channels combined. However, securing these high PR backlinks requires more than hoping a journalist will stumble across your content.
You need a strategic approach, compelling stories, and the right relationships. This blog covers eight specific steps to earn high PR backlinks, valuable press coverage that strengthens your domain authority, drives referral traffic, and positions your brand as a trusted voice in your industry.
What Makes High PR Backlinks So Powerful?
High PR backlinks come from websites that Google already trusts and respects. Though Google no longer publicly displays PageRank scores, this algorithm still influences how websites rank. When sites like Forbes, TechCrunch, or major industry publications link to your content, they vouch for your credibility.
Research shows that 96.3% of websites ranking in the top ten positions have more than 1,000 linking domains. Quality high PR backlinks share three essential characteristics:
Natural: They're earned through valuable content, not manipulated through link schemes
Reputable: They come from sources people actually read and trust
Relevant: They make sense in the context of your industry or expertise
The higher a site's domain authority, the more "link juice" it passes to your pages. A single link from The Wall Street Journal carries more SEO weight than dozens of links from random blogs.
How High PR backlinks differ from regular link building
Traditional SEO backlinks usually come from guest blogging, link exchanges, and directory submissions. Whereas PR backlinks originate from media pitches, press releases, and journalist relationships.
The major difference: PR backlinks focus on earning links from major news outlets and high-authority publications. These links are exceptionally valuable because Google's algorithms increasingly prioritize quality over quantity. A few links from respected publications can outperform hundreds from random websites.
Plus, PR backlinks offer something traditional link building can't: brand credibility. When TechCrunch writes about your startup or Forbes quotes you as an expert, that builds trust with potential customers beyond just SEO benefits.
Why press coverage boosts your SEO authority
Pages in position 1 on Google have an average of 3.8 times more backlinks than positions 2-10. An average-performing digital PR campaign earns links from 42 unique domains, with 82% being follow links that pass SEO value.
But there's more happening behind the scenes. Press mentions contribute to Google's Knowledge Graph, which stores information about brands and products. This helps Google better understand who you are and what you do.
Most importantly, appearing in trusted publications builds credibility with both users and search engines. This supports Google's E-E-A-T guidelines (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) that protect sites from penalties and algorithm changes.
What Are the Benefits of Earning High PR Backlinks?
Let's look at the specific advantages that high PR backlinks deliver for your website:
Improved domain authority and search rankings
Websites with high domain authority rank better in search results. Research confirms that a website's domain authority strongly correlates with higher rankings. When you earn backlinks from trusted media outlets like Forbes or TechCrunch, these links send strong trust signals to search engines about your website's credibility.
As these authoritative backlinks accumulate from PR activities, your domain authority climbs, serving as a tangible indicator that search engines view your site as increasingly relevant.
High-converting referral traffic
Beyond SEO benefits, high PR backlinks direct high-intent users to your website. Unlike other traffic sources, referral visitors from respected publications demonstrate better conversion rates plus longer session lengths.
Here's why this traffic is so valuable: it remains unaffected by algorithm updates or SEO fluctuations, providing stability to your traffic sources. Since visitors come from publications they already trust, this wipes out skepticism, speeding up their buying cycle.
Improved brand credibility and industry authority
Media coverage positions your brand as an authority in your industry. According to research, being quoted on respected sites enhances both search visibility alongside prospective client credibility.
Through repeated mentions across reputable sources, your brand gradually embeds itself into industry discussions, establishing thought leadership status. This social proof becomes particularly valuable as industry leaders share your content, creating earned media that accelerates your reach among relevant audiences.
6 Steps to Earn High PR Backlinks Through Press Coverage
Let's walk through the exact process for earning high PR backlinks. Below is a detailed breakdown of the steps you need to take to secure valuable press coverage:
1. Identify relevant media outlets
Start by building a targeted media list of publications that align with your industry or niche. Create a spreadsheet that includes outlets whose audience overlaps with yours. Here's what to prioritize:
Journalists writing on topics relevant to your brand
Publications with readers matching your target demographics
Outlets that regularly cover companies like yours
You can use tools like Cision, Meltwater, or Google News to identify appropriate publications. Don't just focus on reach. Instead, relevance matters more than size when it comes to earning quality backlinks.
2. Create newsworthy content or data
Journalists love exclusive data and original research. This is your opportunity to develop content that provides real value to their readers. Focus on creating:
Original surveys and research studies
Data-driven stories with unique insights
Expert commentary on current events
Industry reports with actionable findings
According to industry findings, data visualizations and infographics rank second as the most used multimedia by journalists. The key is offering something genuinely newsworthy that other publications haven't covered.
3. Craft a compelling press pitch
Your pitch needs to grab attention immediately. Avoid marketing jargon, which causes more than half of journalists to block PR professionals. Structure your pitch for skimming, using short paragraphs and bullet points highlighting key information. Keep it brief and ideally between 100-300 words. Here's the structure that works:
Start with an attention-grabbing subject line
Open with your most newsworthy finding
Explain why it matters to their audience
Include key data points or quotes
4. Reach out to journalists and editors
Email is the preferred contact method, with 96% of journalists preferring it over other methods. But personalization is important for success. Generic pitches get deleted. Whereas personalized ones that show you understand their beat get responses. Before sending your pitch:
Reference the journalist's previous work
Explain why your story fits their coverage area
Include all necessary company details upfront
Provide a clear media angle
5. Follow up and build relationships
Timing your follow-up correctly can make the difference between getting coverage or being ignored. Remember, you're building relationships for the long term, not just trying to get one piece of coverage. Follow these guidelines:
Wait 2-4 days before following up (30% of journalists prefer this timeframe)
Limit yourself to one follow-up (62% of journalists advise following up once only)
Keep your follow-up shorter than your original pitch
Quickly summarize why the story matters to their audience
6. Track and promote earned coverage
Once you secure high PR backlinks and coverage, your work isn't done. You need to monitor and maximize your results.
To track your success:
Use backlink monitoring tools to receive automated updates when coverage appears
Monitor your domain authority to measure the impact
Track referral traffic from each placement
To amplify your coverage:
Share it across your social media channels
Include it in your newsletter
Add it to a "Press" page on your website
This promotion maximizes the impact of each placement and strengthens the backlink's value over time.
7. Avoid low-quality press release services
Many cheap providers will hurt your SEO more than help it. Choosing less reputable providers often results in links from spammy websites that can harm your SEO efforts.
Despite promises of wide distribution, many services simply blast your story to low-quality sites with minimal impact. Therefore, focus on quality over quantity. Carefully select distribution partners that reach genuine media outlets, not link farms disguised as news sites.
8. Use HARO and media databases effectively
Help a Reporter Out (HARO) connects you directly with journalists seeking expert sources. With a success rate of 5-10% on pitches, HARO offers access to prestigious publications like Forbes and The New York Times. Here's how to make it work:
Track everything systematically using spreadsheets to optimize your approach
Use comprehensive media databases like MuckRack (300,000+ contacts), Roxhill (ideal for UK outreach), or BuzzStream's ListIQ
Target the right contacts based on beats, publications, and previous coverage
9. Repurpose content for more high PR backlinks
One piece of content should work harder for you. Transform your PR content into multiple formats to maximize its reach. A well-performing blog post can become a press release, while key insights from whitepapers make compelling infographics.
When repurposing for digital PR, link your existing infographics to dedicated data pages on your site. This encourages journalists to include backlinks in their published content. This approach creates synergy across channels while extending your content's lifespan without starting from scratch every time.
10. Combine digital PR with traditional SEO
Digital PR and traditional SEO work better together. While traditional SEO focuses on technical optimization, digital PR generates high-quality backlinks from authoritative sites.
Whereas digital PR emphasizes storytelling and expertise to enhance your brand's reputation. Think of journalists as influencers with massive reach, and establish those connections early.
Pro tip: Include hyperlinks directly in your pitches rather than requesting them afterwards. This integrated approach strengthens your domain authority while maintaining ethical practices that align with Google's evolving algorithms.
3 Tips to Build Relationships with Journalists and Media
75% of journalists prefer working with PR contacts they already know and trust. This is about building genuine relationships before you need them. Most businesses approach PR backwards.
They craft the perfect pitch, send it to 100 journalists, and wonder why no one responds. The companies that consistently earn high PR backlinks focus on relationships first.
1. Find the right journalists in your niche
Start with a targeted approach. Create a media list for your specific goals rather than blasting everyone. Use tools like Meltwater, Muck Rack, or Google News to identify journalists who cover topics relevant to your brand. Before reaching out to anyone, verify three details:
Are they still at the same publication? Journalists move around frequently.
Do they cover your industry? Don't pitch a tech story to a lifestyle writer.
Have they covered similar topics recently? This shows current interest in your area.
This research takes time, but it's the difference between a 1% response rate and a 20% response rate.
2. Tips to pitch stories that get picked up
Journalists are drowning in pitches. Half receive over 50 pitches weekly, yet only 7% are relevant. The journalists don't respond to generic pitches anymore.
Personalize every pitch by referencing their previous work. Show you read their articles.
Keep it concise (200-400 words maximum). Busy journalists skim everything.
Include multimedia elements, 72% of journalists use images, while 34% utilize data visualizations.
Lead with exclusive data that strengthens their story.
3. Maintain long-term media relationships
Track journalist relationships like you would sales prospects. Don't only reach out when you need coverage. Offer value consistently. Share industry insights, promote their articles on social media, or send relevant data even when you're not pitching anything.
Quarterly check-ins work well for staying connected without being overwhelming. A simple message like "Saw your piece on [topic], really insightful take on [specific detail]" goes much further than most people realize.
The companies that consistently earn high PR backlinks understand this: relationship quality matters more than pitch quantity.
Conclusion
Earning high PR backlinks through press coverage is one of the most effective ways to boost your website's authority and visibility. You should identify the right publications, create data-driven content journalists want, craft personalized pitches, and focus on building genuine relationships rather than sending mass emails.
Remember that successful PR link building requires patience and consistency. You won't land coverage in Forbes or The New York Times overnight. But when you do earn these high-authority backlinks, they deliver long-term SEO benefits that traditional link building simply can't match. Building high-quality PR backlinks takes time, expertise, and the right media relationships.
FAQ
How to get high PR backlinks?
Guest Posting: Write articles for authority blogs in your niche.
HARO (Help a Reporter Out): Respond to journalists’ queries to get featured with backlinks.
Press Releases: Publish PRs on credible distribution networks for branded backlinks.
Editorial Mentions: Earn links by creating unique, data-backed content that media/industry blogs cite
Resource Pages: Get listed on “best tools,” “guides,” or “resources” pages in your niche.
Broken Link Building: Find broken links on authority sites and suggest your content as a replacement.
Digital PR Campaigns: Create newsworthy content (reports, surveys, infographics) to attract coverage.
What are PR backlinks?
PR backlinks come from press releases or high-authority websites. They improve your website’s visibility, trust, and ranking. When a press release or news article mentions your brand and adds a link, that is a PR backlink. People also use the term to mean “high PageRank backlinks”, which are links from strong, trusted sites.