{"id":15784,"date":"2022-10-21T12:49:30","date_gmt":"2022-10-21T12:49:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/buying-seo-backlinks\/462856\/"},"modified":"2022-10-21T12:49:30","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T12:49:30","slug":"buying-backlinks-for-seo-yes-this-is-still-a-thing-via-sejournal-ab80","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketingnewsbox.com\/?p=15784","title":{"rendered":"Buying Backlinks For SEO: Yes, This Is Still A Thing via @sejournal, @ab80"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It wasn\u2019t long from the time when search engine optimizers first realized the important role backlinks played in search rankings until some enterprising soul came up with the idea of selling links.<\/p>\n

Of course, it wasn\u2019t long before bad actors started abusing it, just like nearly every other ranking hack in SEO. And Google, doing what Google does, began cracking down on the process.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s not much in the way of a gray area regarding Google\u2019s position on the issue.<\/p>\n

The first bullet point in Google\u2019s Webmaster Guide about link schemes<\/a> states that buying or selling links that pass PageRank will negatively impact your site\u2019s ranking. This includes \u201c\u2026exchanging money for links, or posts that contain links, exchanging goods or services for links, or sending someone a \u2018free\u2019 product in exchange for them writing about it and including a link.\u201d<\/p>\n

And as good, white hat SEOs, of course, none of us would ever dream of doing such a thing. Except a lot of sites still do. It\u2019s not openly discussed in our field, but the practice is still alive.<\/p>\n

This, of course, raises some questions. Namely, what\u2019s the benefit of paying for links? And is it worth the risk?<\/p>\n

In this piece, we\u2019ll answer these questions and take a closer look at the buying and selling of links.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: The author and Search Engine Journal in no way promote, condone, and\/or endorse link buying. This post is for informational purposes only, and if you choose to do so, you do so at your own risk.<\/em><\/p>\n

What Is & Isn\u2019t A Paid Link?<\/h2>\n

Before we begin, let\u2019s address the elephant in the room: What exactly is a paid link?<\/p>\n

When I start talking about paid link building, this is the most common question I get asked.<\/p>\n

Google\u2019s definition is clear. Any exchange of money, goods, and\/or services for a link is verboten.<\/p>\n

In other words, sponsored guest posts and paid reviews are paid links. These are standard practices, but Google is cracking down on them daily.<\/p>\n

As you read this article, you should be aware that even \u201csafer\u201d paid link-building strategies risk being considered part of a link scheme and violate Google\u2019s terms and conditions.<\/p>\n

Why Do Some Professionals Still Buy Links?<\/h2>\n

Right now, you may be asking, why are websites still doing it if paying for links is so frowned upon? For the same reason people speed in their cars \u2013 it\u2019s faster, and some view it as worth the risk.<\/p>\n

It reduces the workload building links requires (e.g., creating quality content, prospecting for link opportunities, and building relationships) and significantly cuts down the time it takes to start seeing results.<\/p>\n

With this in mind, many SEO professionals don\u2019t mind taking a chance. And believe it or not, paying for links has not always been frowned upon.<\/p>\n

In the early 2000s, buying and selling links wasn\u2019t just in vogue \u2013 it was considered good business. Directories that let you pay for reviews and service companies that allowed you to buy or \u201crent\u201d links sprung up like dandelions on a lawn.<\/p>\n

Then Google brought out the weed whacker \u2013 enabling users to report paid links<\/a> \u2013 which forced link buyers and sellers to get sneakier or change tactics.<\/p>\n

Over the past two decades, buying links has become increasingly risky because Google\u2019s ability to seek and destroy the SEO value of paid links has become uncannily accurate. That\u2019s the critical risk.<\/p>\n

If you pay for a link, there\u2019s a good chance the algorithms will quietly ignore it.<\/strong> You\u2019ll have no idea whether you just threw money into a pit.<\/p>\n

That said, Google isn\u2019t foolproof. Some companies still resort to paid link building because it\u2019s easier, it\u2019s all they know, or it\u2019s standard practice in their industry.<\/p>\n

Today, the rise of organic link building<\/a> and content marketing<\/a> has more or less nullified the need for buying links in the SEO industry at large. But that doesn\u2019t mean the practice has disappeared.<\/p>\n

The Reality Of Buying Links<\/h2>\n

So, here\u2019s the rub: You most definitely 100% should not be giving a website owner $500 to link to your site. This is a shady practice and is likely to get you burned. But there is a correct way to buy links.<\/p>\n

One way is outsourcing linking to a reputable agency that can earn you links (keyword: EARN). When done correctly, this isn\u2019t paying for links as defined by Google.<\/p>\n

Paying for the work of creating resources, performing outreach, and building relationships aren\u2019t against Google\u2019s guidelines.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s a big difference between paying someone to build links for you and participating in a link scheme. If you choose to do the latter, beware. There are a lot of low-quality link sellers out there. And Google usually knows about them.<\/p>\n

That said, there are links worth buying outright. For example, if you\u2019re looking to boost awareness (independent from your SEO efforts), you should pay to be featured on reputable websites with properly attributed and nofollow links. These can be a great addition to your public relations strategy \u2013 don\u2019t expect them to help you climb search engine rankings.<\/p>\n

Bad link buying practices include anything Google\u2019s been working diligently to stamp out over the past few decades.<\/p>\n

These include link farms and PBNs (private blog networks). If your paid links yield a large volume of low-quality links, watch out, you\u2019re at serious risk of receiving a penalty.<\/p>\n

A few recommendations:<\/p>\n