Despite Google being openly against buying and selling links, link building resellers remain active – and people keep buying links from them, despite there being safer and more cost-effective ways to get backlinks.
In this article, we’ll walk through:
- What are link building resellers and how to spot them
- 6 reasons to avoid link building resellers
- A better way to build backlinks
Let’s get into it.
Link building cheat sheet
What is a Link Building Reseller?
A link building reseller is an intermediary who sells backlinks to websites aiming to enhance their SEO performance.
Rather than building the links themselves, these resellers usually purchase backlinks from various sources at a lower cost and then mark them up to sell to their clients.
While the idea of acquiring multiple backlinks without much effort sounds appealing, the practice is fraught with risks, primarily because it often involves dubious methods that go against search engine guidelines.
How to Spot a Link Building Reseller
Link building resellers openly advertise it on their website, and use a combination of digital marketing tricks like paid ads and even cold email outreach to offer you their links.
If you receive impersonal, templated emails promising to boost your SEO with high-quality backlinks, it’s likely from a reseller.
These emails tend to offer large quantities of links for a fixed price.
Any promise of search engine ranking or immediate boosts in your SEO is most likely a link building reseller trying to turn a profit on you.
Huge Google Guidelines Violation
One of the biggest risks of using a link building reseller is that it directly violates Google’s Webmaster Guidelines.
Google explicitly states that buying or selling links that pass PageRank can negatively impact a site’s ranking and is considered a “link scheme”.
This includes any behavior aiming to manipulate PageRank or a site’s ranking in Google search results to ensure the integrity of search.
The only exception to this rule is when the link is marked as Sponsored – but then it acts as a nofollow link and does not pass on any link juice.
The Links are Typically Lower Quality
Resellers often prioritize quantity over quality, resulting in backlinks from sites that may not be credible or relevant to your niche.
While this might bring a temporary surge in backlinks, these links often come from low-authority websites, link farms, or even Private Blog Networks (PBNs).
While some link building resellers will offer legitimate inks from real, relevant websites (such as a blog run by another business with strict linking guidelines), the bulk of their resources are either irrelevant or straight up link farms.
PBNs
A significant portion of the links provided by resellers may stem from Private Blog Networks (PBNs).
PBNs are networks of websites created primarily for the purpose of building backlinks to another site with the intent to manipulate search engine rankings.
It just makes perfect sense – if you already have a network of websites under your control, why not monetize them and sell links at exorbitant rates?
Though they might seem legitimate at first glance, these networks are closely monitored by search engines and can lead to severe penalties if detected.
Needless to say, you don’t want links from them.
No Control Over the Links
When you outsource your link-building efforts to a reseller, you relinquish a significant amount of control over the backlinks being created.
Even though you may be able to choose where to place your links, after the transaction is complete, you have no say in what happens with it.
Link rot is real, sites get taken down or migrated all the time, so it’s a waste of your budget to invest into buying links.
Link Building Reseller Prices are Excessive
One of the major drawbacks of using a link building reseller is the exorbitant prices they charge, especially given the often questionable quality of the links provided.
Higher-tier backlinks can cost anywhere from $300 to $500 or even more.
While this may seem like an investment in your SEO strategy, the reality is that you can get much more value for your money through alternative, more legitimate methods.
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on reseller links, you can invest in a tool like Respona.
With Respona, an in-house team member can conduct effective outreach and build high-quality, legitimate links.
This not only gives you control over the quality and relevance of the links but also allows for a more tailored approach to your link building strategy.
Another cost-effective alternative is to outsource to a freelancer SEO expert or SEO agency who specializes in link building.
These professionals will engage in proper link-building techniques like outreach, guest posting, and ABC link exchanges.
Unlike resellers that typically work on a one-and-done basis, a thoroughly-vetter freelancer can execute tailored cold outreach strategies and land links that will actually move the needle for you.
A Better Way for White Label Link Building
Most people who opt in for link building resellers view link building as something difficult and time-consuming.
But it doesn’t have to be – with the right toolset.
Even if you have no prior experience, you can start building your first white label backlinks within just a couple of hours.
Sounds hard to believe? It’s really not.
Check out our free link building video course with 15 best strategies broken down, step-by-step.
You will also learn a little bit of link building’s history, how to set up your email domain technically, along with some general best practices for fostering long-term collaborations.
Now Over to You
So, in conclusion, you should avoid link building resellers because the links they sell have little to no SEO value, and you pay tenfold.
Need help getting started with your own link building campaign?
Don’t hesitate to start your 14-day free trial with Respona to see how we can help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a link building reseller?
A link building service reseller is a third-party company or individual that offers backlink building to websites, usually at a premium cost.
SEO reseller services purchase links from various sources and then resell them to clients looking to boost their SEO through quick link insertion on a relevant anchor text.
Why should I avoid using a link building reseller?
Using link building resellers can be risky because Google views buying and selling links as a violation of their guidelines.
This can result in penalties and significant drops in search engine rankings if you’re caught.
This is not to say, however, that every link building agency will mess up your backlink profile.
How do I spot a link building reseller?
Common signs of a link building reseller include generic outreach emails, lack of transparency about their linking sources, and promises of high-quality links at low costs.
Often, the links they provide are from low-quality or irrelevant sites.
Additionally, they openly advertise it on their website as part of a link building package.
Are all the links provided by resellers low quality?
While not all links from resellers are low quality, many are.
Resellers often use Private Blog Networks (PBNs) or other risky techniques that can harm rather than help your SEO.
What are the safer alternatives to using link building resellers?
There are safer alternatives like creating high-quality, link-worthy content, engaging in guest blogging, and building genuine relationships with industry influencers.
Additionally, you can build links manually with tools like Respona.
These methods take more time but provide more sustainable and high-quality links that are within Google’s guidelines.
