Backlinks can be generated through individual measures, such as commenting on different blogs and platforms, or they can be purchased. However, the purchase of backlinks should be approached very carefully. This can be associated with certain risks if used incorrectly. The success is all the higher if it is carried out correctly.
Is buying backlinks Google compliant?
Google is basically of the opinion that an interesting website receives backlinks over time through recommendations. Unfortunately, the truth is often different. Many websites that are of high quality and offer real added value do not receive backlinks without further action. Often, it is precisely these websites that can be found at the bottom of Google.
To put it in a nutshell: buying backlinks is not Google-compliant and violates Google’s guidelines. At the same time, every SEO, web designer and online marketer is aware that it is definitely not possible without (strong) backlinks. Whether a backlink is created naturally or unnaturally is irrelevant in this sense, as it is not possible for Google to distinguish a “bad link” from a “good link”.
For Google, the trustworthiness of a domain is what counts first and foremost. Indicators for a high level of trust are provided by very specific SEO metrics. The higher the domain trust, the stronger the links are weighted.
Where can I buy backlinks?
The purchase of backlinks is possible, for example, via so-called link marketplaces. However, these are a thorn in Google’s side. The operators of these platforms often argue that they see themselves merely as intermediaries between publishers (link sellers) and advertisers (link buyers). If you look at this argument superficially, this is completely correct.
Now comes the BUT: The contact between a publisher and an advertiser would not be possible through such a platform, unless you invest a lot of time and write to a website owner in a “natural” way (this is not always well received!). On these platforms, on the other hand, you can be sure that both parties are only pursuing this one goal.
And it is precisely for this reason that Google sees the operator of a link marketplace as being responsible. Incidentally, two large link marketplaces were recently penalised. Some sites report that customer domains are also affected by the penalty. So you should be careful before registering on a link marketplace!
The perfect backlink
A perfect backlink fulfils these characteristics:
- The backlink is on a topic-relevant website.
- The backlink is on the homepage.
- The backlink is in the content. (not in the sidebar or in the footer).
- The backlink is in the topic-relevant text. (e.g. in a blog post)
- The anchor text (link text) of the backlink contains the most important keyword.
- The website contains a maximum of 20 outbound links in addition to the backlink.
- The website has high domain authority, is trustworthy and has relevant SEO metrics.
Of course, a backlink can also be advantageous if it only fulfils some of the characteristics. However, it should be ensured, especially when buying backlinks, that these criteria apply. This ensures that a website benefits from the full link power (link juice). Only then does the purchase of backlinks make sense.