The reality is that in order to thrive in the competitive digital landscape, it is essential for businesses to have a robust website equipped with a compelling backlink profile.
However, not every business possesses the immense amount of time and resources to develop and execute a successful link building strategy, as it is very time consuming task.
As a result, an increasing number of companies are turning to qualified agencies to outsource their link building efforts.
Still, many of these businesses are unsure about the details of outsourced link building and whether it is the right option for them.
That's why I always recommend chatting with an SEO professional first. They can help you figure out the ins and outs and make sure it's the best move for you.
If you don't have time to set up a meeting with any of them, this blog post will give you enough information about link building to help you make informed decisions and become more knowledgeable about it.
Before we fully jump in, just a heads up! Outsourcing link building isn't as simple as hiring someone and watching your website skyrocket in rankings. It may sound like a dream, but there's more to it than meets the eye.
In this article, we'll walk you through the steps of effective link building outsourcing, so you can do it like a pro. Don't fall for those claiming to be experts without truly delivering...
First of all, here is a concept about Link Building that would give you a clearer understanding of this service.
Link building is not always necessary, but it complements overall SEO efforts. Its importance depends on the status of your project/website.
Is it crucial for starting a new project? Yes, it is.
Is it important when you can't reach the top of Google? It depends on factors such as content quality, page loading times, and user experience.
However, link building should not be underestimated. A study conducted by Ahrefs, one of the leading SEO tools, revealed a strong correlation between the number of referring domains to a webpage and its search engine ranking position. In other words, having more quality backlinks increases your chances of ranking higher.
You might be thinking that this explanation hasn't provided a clear solution. And I will answer by saying that it has indeed provided valuable insights. SEO link building is a complex field that requires experience, understanding, and an analytical mindset.
I encourage you to instead of impulsively purchasing links, I highly recommend consulting with an honest professional who is genuinely interested in offering their expertise for a fee, and not just selling their services.
Here you have two different case studies, without and with link building:
Website achieving substantial growth by prioritizing high-quality content strategy and user experience design, without solely relying on link building.
Newer website achieving growth by focusing on high-quality link building after the initial setup.
Now, let's fully jump in, here you have the...
6 Steps to Properly Outsource Link Building
1- Ensure Your Website is Prepared
Remember, link building is just ONE component of an effective SEO strategy. To maximize its impact, it is necessary to ensure that all other aspects are also properly aligned.
Therefore, before considering outsourcing your link building efforts, it is crucial to evaluate whether your existing website is ready for it. Establishing a strong foundation is essential.
You Know How Link Building Fits into Your Strategy When
You have recently acquired a new website that would greatly benefit from implementing a comprehensive link building strategy. E.g. If your website has a solid structure, fast loading speeds, well-designed sales funnels, and a strong content strategy, but you're still ranking low (around position 10 or 12), it's a clear sign that you need to focus on link building. To confirm this, it's ideal to research your competitors, but in most cases, acquiring high quality links will be necessary (yes, high quality, not a ton of s#@tty backlinks).
When launching a new website and aiming for a rapid start.
If you're looking to boost an existing project.
To ensure maximum impact, it is important to have a well-defined strategy for building links, regardless of the reason behind it.
Usually, experienced website builders and SEO experts are more likely to have a strategy in place.
However, if you lack experience in this area, you may be uncertain about whether your website will benefit from links.
Here I will name some common indicators that suggest your website may indeed benefit from links.
While your content is ranking, it's not reaching the high positions you were aiming for.
While link building is important, the quality of your content is equally crucial. Even with a strong link building effort, if you do not bring any value to the community Google would give a s#*t about your links
(By the way, don't take it personally, I'm just trying to be straightforward with you, I want you to succeed).
So, as I said, if your existing website has content that ranks low on page one or within the top few pages of search results, it may be a sign that outsourcing link building is the way to go.
Given that your content is already ranking, now is a great opportunity to focus on link building. By acquiring more links, you can potentially boost your rankings since Google already trusts your content.
Website Authority is stronger among your competitors.
If your competitors consistently have higher website authority than yours, it may be an indication that link building could benefit you.
However, it's important to note that outranking them is still possible if your content is superior or more relevant to the search term. Nonetheless, their advantage in rankings is built-in.
In such a scenario, implementing link building strategies can help level the playing field and bring your website closer to the same level as your competitors.
The pages ranking higher than yours have more links.
Your website's ranking is influenced not only by your domain but also by the backlink profile of each individual page.
If you find that the pages above yours, targeting the same keyword, have a greater number of inbound links, it may indicate the need for link building specifically for that page.
For more detailed information on maximizing the benefits of link building, refer to our article on link building ROI.
If you're feeling like there's just too much to think about, no worries! You can totally hire us and we'll take care of everything for you.
2- Learn About the Link Building Process
Having some understanding of the process can help you evaluate an agency's results when outsourcing.
The purpose of outsourcing is to avoid the need for expertise, but it's useful to know what you're investing in when it comes to outsourced link building campaigns.
Check out these key factors to consider when building links - a handy reference guide!
Link Building Basics!!
Quality matters my friend: Links from high domain authority sites carry more weight than those from low authority sites. For example, a link from the reputable Forbes holds more value than a link from a newly created site.
Relevance is also key: If your business focuses on Immigration Attorney Services, a link from a related niche is more valuable than one from a Home Remodeling site. I know it seems pretty basic, but some people don't know.
Easy-to-obtain links generally don't carry much weight. Links from social media profiles or directory sites won't have a significant impact on your rankings. These types of links won't make a substantial difference. Also, links from companies that offer you 100 links for $90 in 7 days... BIG RED FLAG, trust me.
Basically, it's important to avoid links on spammy sites, like link farms.
These sites aren't legitimate and only exist to make money by linking to other websites. While they may have a high domain rating, there are few signs that can help you spot them.
Typically, they have low organic traffic and articles on various unrelated topics.
3- Think About Your Budget
Next, it's important to consider your budget. When it comes to outsourcing link building, it can be quite costly, especially if you prioritize quality.
Fortunately, there are various services available that cater to different budget ranges.
Recognized Companies like LinkBuilder start at $2,999 per month and rises to $9,999 per month for enterprise outreach.
If you have a limited budget ranging in the hundreds of dollars per month, you may want to consider buying individual links. Companies such as Kendall Development offer this option, with links priced starting at $124 each.
If your budget falls within the thousand dollars per month range, exploring a managed plan is a viable option. Think of it as hiring a dedicated team to gradually build links to your website. With a tailored strategy for your site, the long-term cost per link may be more affordable.
SEO agencies looking to outsource all of their link building activities should consider white label link building. Our services can save you the hassle of training an internal team for link building, ultimately saving energy and resources.
Factors Affecting the Price of Link Building
When you first see the prices, they may seem high. However, if you take into account the factors involved in link building, they become more reasonable.
There are four main factors that contribute to the overall cost:
Outreach: Link builders spend time reaching out to website owners to build relationships. This process requires specialized email outreach tools, which can be expensive.
Content Creation: Creating guest posts involves hiring a writer to craft high-quality articles that match your brand. Getting good-quality content comes at a price.
Strategy: Monthly outreach plans also include the cost of developing an effective link building strategy. These services work closely with you to create a plan that gets many quality links.
Placement Fees: Some websites charge a fee to place links, even if they are legitimate. Although you can choose to avoid paid links, certain industries like finance and casinos often require some form of payment for generating links.
4- Delegate to the Appropriate Professional
If you're considering outsourcing link building, there are two main options to choose from: hiring a freelancer or an agency.
Neither option is more superior, as both come with their own positives and negatives.
However, each type of outsourcing offers unique advantages and disadvantages.
Link Building Freelancer
Websites like Upwork and Fiverr are great platforms for finding freelancers. These sites provide real reviews from previous clients, giving you valuable insights.
On Fiverr, freelancers offer a range of services, allowing you to control the type of links you generate.
With Upwork, you can hire freelancers on an hourly basis. It's important to discuss their services beforehand as each person may offer something slightly different.
One advantage of freelancers is that they can be more cost-effective compared to agencies.
However, rates can vary significantly, as shown in the screenshot below.
One drawback of hiring a freelancer is the difficulty in assessing their quality. Additionally, some services offered by freelancers raise concerns about potential use of black hat tactics.
A clear example I've found was a highly-rated freelancer on Fiverr who advertises a service that quickly posts links to specific websites.
This raises a giant red flag, as it indicates that the linked website may be either a link farm (which is completely unhelpful) or have poor editorial standards (the context of the link does not align with the relevant keyword or niche).
Link Building Agency
When it comes to link building, agencies provide a range of services, including both long-term link building projects and one-off link placements.
The advantage of hiring an agency is the access to a wealth of expertise. Here at Kendall Development, we have a dedicated team of strategists, content writers, designers, and outreach specialists who work full-time.
When it comes to knowledge and expertise, using an agency offers a wider range of options compared to hiring a freelancer.
However, not all agencies deliver satisfactory results let me tell you. To find reliable link building services, it is advisable to seek out those that have a track record of success with reputable companies.
One drawback is the potential cost involved in hiring a link building agency, particularly if you opt for an all-inclusive plan.
5- Determine the Correct Service Type
Link building companies offer a range of services that cater to different needs and budgets.
These services commonly include the following plans:
Managed Link Building Plans:
With managed plans, the agency handles your entire link building campaign. You pay a monthly fee as they collaborate with you to develop a customized link building strategy aligned with your requirements.
These plans typically assist with:
Content creation
Determining the most suitable pages to link to
Optimizing anchor text
Identifying keyword opportunities
These plans involve long-term commitments where the agency focuses on building relationships to generate authoritative links.
Although these plans can be costly, they result in lower per-link costs. For example, we created 215 links for a Seeds eCommerce site over 12 months. If they had chosen our cheapest per link pricing plan, it would have amounted to over $33.798. However, the actual amount they paid for the links was much less.
Managed services often offer a more cost-effective solution compared to hiring an in-house team of link builders, which can exceed $165k annually.
Who Benefits from Managed Plans: These plans are ideal for websites seeking to enhance their site's authority gradually. They prioritize link building but lack the resources or budget to employ a dedicated team.
Pay Per Link Plans
If you're looking for a cost-effective way to outsource link building, pay per link plans are your best option. Simply select the desired number of links and place an order through the service.
The cost of these plans varies based on the authority of the targeted site, with higher authority links generally being more expensive than lower authority ones.
While pay per link plans provide guidance on factors like anchor text, they may lack the comprehensive strategic insight offered by managed plans.
Who Benefits from Pay Per Link Plans: These plans are beneficial for individuals or businesses with an existing SEO strategy who seek to enhance it with targeted links. They are also ideal for those looking for a cost-effective way to generate links.
Moreover, per link plans offer a solution for digital marketing agencies lacking link building expertise. They can utilize these plans to provide white label links for their clients.
6- Link Building Services
By this point, you should have a good understanding of the outsourcing process and the specific type of service you require.
The last step is selecting an agency or freelancer to handle your link building tasks. It's crucial to be aware of both positive indicators that signify a trustworthy business, as well as warning signs to watch out for.
Here are the key factors that our services prioritize at Kendall Development in order to address these concerns.
Factors that Inspire Confidence in Outsourced Link Building
✅ Testimonials: Testimonials from previous clients provide valuable insights into the quality of a service. Be sure to verify that the testimonials are from real people or brands.
✅ Case studies: Reviewing case studies is an effective way to evaluate a link building agency's performance. Look for detailed case studies that specify the strategies used, and take note of the websites the agency built links for. You can use SEO tools to verify the outcomes and effectiveness of these strategies. ✅ Willingness to communicate: Reputable link building agencies are open to discussing your requirements and strategies to ensure you make informed decisions.
✅ Links to the service's homepage: Examining the links directing to a service's website offers real-life examples of the types of links produced.
Big Red Flags of Low Quality Link Building Services
🚩 Low Cost: Similar to the previous point, extremely low prices indicate that the service may have access to websites for link placement purposes.
🚩 Rapid Turnaround: Authentic link building requires time and effort. If a service promises quick links within days, they are likely utilizing their own network of websites or a link farm.
🚩 Specific Guarantees: Link building inherently involves uncertainties. Specific guarantees might indicate that the agency intends to place your link on a PBN site or link farm.
🚩 Lack of Transparency: It is necessary to question a service that fails to provide examples of successful campaigns. While they might not publicize results on their website, they should be able to share examples privately.
Follow-up Actions for Outsourcing Link Building
To begin, I would recommend to research potential agencies for outsourcing your link building. Reach out to learn how they can boost your website's authority, enhance traffic, and strengthen your online brand.