How to get a backlink from Imgur
Backlink signals
Editorial estimates for comparing this provider.
- Dofollow links Usually nofollow
- No : We set this after checking whether the recommended backlink method on this provider typically outputs a dofollow link in the page HTML. If attributes vary by page type, we use the realistic default for that path and explain the nuance in the guide.
- Authority rating Editorial estimate
- 18/100 : We score the actual backlink surface—not the provider homepage—using Domain Authority when available, otherwise a conservative Backlink Badger editorial estimate. This approximate comparison number may not match third-party tools or the live page's real strength.
- Spam rating Lower is better
- 2/100 : We use spam score when we have a defensible value for the relevant domain or surface, otherwise a conservative Backlink Badger editorial estimate from platform quality and spam patterns. Treat it as an approximate comparison guide, not a guarantee of how search engines evaluate the site.
- Acquisition difficulty Lower is easier
- 35/100 : Backlink Badger assigns this 0–100 score from editorial review of signup friction, content requirements, approval gates, and account trust for the recommended path. It is an approximate comparison estimate, not a measured difficulty metric.
- Time estimate Typical setup
- ~20 min : We estimate the minimum minutes a prepared user needs to sign up, set up, and publish or submit the backlink, including obvious waiting steps we can reasonably predict. This Backlink Badger estimate is approximate—your first attempt or extra verification may take longer.
- Free option No required spend
- Yes : We mark Yes when the recommended backlink path can be completed without paying the provider for access, placement, or a required plan. If only paid tiers unlock the link, or payment is commonly required in practice, we mark No.
Imgur can host a backlink when the URL is part of a useful public image or album description. Treat it as a nofollow community/referral link: the goal is to support visual content that deserves to be shared, not to submit a thin SEO listing.
Best method: add a URL to a public image or album description
- Create or sign in to an Imgur account from Imgur sign up.
- Start from Imgur upload and add the image, GIF, or album you want to publish.
- Write a description that explains the image and includes the external URL naturally. A naked URL in the description is linkified on the public post.
- Publish or share the post publicly. Before relying on it, open the public Imgur URL in a logged-out or private browser and confirm the description is visible.
- Avoid dumping a promotional link under unrelated media. Imgur users can downvote, report, or ignore obvious link drops.
A current public example shows a creator linking to their own recipe site, YouTube channel, and Instagram profile from an Imgur post description: https://imgur.com/gallery/my-first-pizzas-in-my-new-oven-heQggCC
Link attribute notes
The raw page data for the example includes the external URLs, and the rendered page turns them into clickable anchors. In the rendered DOM, the website link appeared as rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow", and the YouTube and Instagram links used the same rel tokens. Set expectations accordingly: Imgur can still send referral traffic and make a visual asset easier to share, but it should not be counted as a dofollow authority link.
When Imgur is worth using
Use Imgur when the image itself is the asset: screenshots, diagrams, memes, before-and-after photos, recipes, tutorials, build logs, or other visual proof that benefits from a short contextual description. If your only goal is to place a keyword-rich backlink with no real image context, choose a more relevant provider instead.
Provider overview
Imgur is an image and album hosting community where public posts can include linkified URLs in their descriptions. The link path is useful for referral traffic and visibility around visual content, but the rendered outbound links are nofollow.
Minimum requirements to get a backlink from Imgur
- Imgur account
- Image or album
- Public description
Key challenges to get a backlink from Imgur
- Nofollow links: Public description URLs render with `rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"`, so this is not a clean dofollow backlink.
- Content fit: Imgur is a community, not a directory; purely promotional uploads can be ignored, downvoted, or moderated.
- Public visibility: The backlink only helps if the image or album is published where people can see the description.