7 Effective Link Building Services You Can Trust

Backlinks enhance your site’s authority and drive organic traffic. Link building can be challenging, and many website owners and SEO experts find it hard to justify the time and resources it requires. I’ve made many mistakes in this area, but you don’t have to.

Need high-quality backlinks but don’t have the time to build them yourself?

You’re in the right place. In this post, I’ll show you 7 link building services that work in 2024. These services save you time and focus on tactics that bring quality backlinks to your site.

Note

Your link building strategy should prioritise quality over quantity. Toxic backlinks can harm your SEO and reduce your domain authority.

We’ll begin by highlighting some link building services you should avoid to prevent risking your rankings and potential Google penalties, which can be tough to recover from.

Let’s dive in…

First, 5 Link Building Services To Avoid At All Costs

Over the years, I’ve tried over 25 different SEO service providers. Most of them were disappointing. That’s why I decided to learn SEO myself.

However, some link building services simply do not work. Before sharing my favourites, here’s what to avoid.

Anything on Fiverr/Cheap Options

Fiverr is a huge waste of money for SEO. I know because I’ve bought 855 Fiverr gigs. Most of them, especially SEO-related ones, were useless.

Private Blog Networks (PBNs)

I used to rely on PBNs and even built my own. They worked until 2017 when Google started cracking down on them. Now, PBN backlinks are filtered out by the algorithm, and Google manually deindexes networks that get detected. Avoid them.

Paid Guest Posts

Guest posting has a place in white hat SEO, but not paid guest posts. Sites that charge for guest post placements are usually shady, and paying for links violates Google’s Webmaster Guidelines, risking penalties for your site.

“Push Button” Backlinks

These include blog comments, article directories, Web 2.0 sites, and directories. If you can buy 100+ backlinks with a single click, they are likely spammy links that can harm your site. Avoid most “link building packages.”

Press Releases

Press releases were great for link building, but those days are over. Now, most press release links are nofollowed, and Google has stated they ignore these links.

Negative SEO Links

Negative SEO aims to decrease competitors’ organic traffic by using toxic backlinks and other harmful tactics. Site owners should follow Google’s webmaster guidelines and regularly audit backlinks to minimise the impact of SEO attacks.

Now, for the good stuff: the 7 best link building services for 2024.

1. Featured

What It Is:

Featured connects subject-matter experts with journalists and publishers to provide ready-to-publish Q&A content.

How it works:

Sign up as a source on the Featured website to access a dashboard with questions from journalists. Respond with relevant quotes, statistics, strategies, or case studies to increase your chances of being featured.

Cost:

Plans range from free to $199/month. The free plan is suitable for occasional responses, while paid plans offer benefits like early access to queries, editorial support, and domain rating filters.

Pros:

– Secure backlinks from reputable news sites and blogs.

– Affordable compared to other services.

– Links are from legitimate sites, reducing the risk of penalties.

– Quick setup and implementation.

Cons:

– Requires continuous effort to respond promptly to queries.

– No automated option; involvement from your team is necessary.

– Links typically point to your homepage rather than internal pages.

2. Digital PR Agency

What It Is:

A PR agency specialised in securing media coverage for businesses.

How it works:

PR agencies collaborate with clients to craft compelling stories for pitching to media outlets. These stories can focus on noteworthy products or industry studies published by the client.

Cost:

PR agencies typically operate on a monthly retainer basis. Costs for small businesses can range from $2,000 to $15,000 per month. Some PR professionals offer one-off packages such as press kits.

Pros:

– Potential for high-quality backlinks from well-known sites like Forbes and Fast Company.

– Agencies handle the entire pitching process, saving clients time and effort.

– Access to established networks of contacts at major publications.

Cons:

– Links are not always guaranteed; placements may not include direct links back to your site.

– Results can vary; success may mean extensive coverage or limited exposure.

– PR services tend to be more costly compared to SEO-focused agencies.

3. Content Marketing Agencies

What It Is:

An agency specializing in creating content specifically for company blogs.

How it works:

Content marketing agencies typically operate in two main ways:

Clients pay a monthly fee for a specified number of articles. This could range from several 500-word posts to a comprehensive, in-depth guide.

Alternatively, clients can pay a fixed fee per piece of content, such as $2,000 for a single long-form blog post.

Cost:

Costs vary widely, starting from at least $1,000 per month. Depending on the scope and requirements, fees can exceed $20,000 monthly.

Pros:

– Effective for building quality backlinks through valuable content.

– Focuses on ethical practices, avoiding strategies that could lead to long-term penalties.

– Generates additional benefits like increased social media traffic and enhanced brand visibility.

Cons:

– Content marketing services do not typically include SEO tasks like keyword research or on-page optimisation.

– Quality can vary; some agencies may produce generic content that fails to stand out.

– Content promotion may not be included in the fee, requiring additional effort from the client to drive visibility.

4. Blogger Outreach Services

What It Is:

An individual or agency focused on promoting your content through manual link building and blogger outreach.

How it works:

These agencies handle the grunt work of identifying suitable bloggers, obtaining their contact details, reaching out to them, and following up. Some even offer access to their network of bloggers and editors.

Cost:

Most link building agencies charge a flat fee per link they secure, typically around $200 for a high-quality link. Alternatively, some may opt for a monthly retainer or hourly rate.

Pros:

– Ideal for obtaining backlinks specifically.

– Email outreach is a reputable method for link building, assuming it’s done without spamming.

– Provides high-quality, ethical links favoured by Google, particularly from relevant sites.

– Payment is based on results, ensuring you get value for your investment unlike some SEO and content agencies.

Cons:

– Limited to link building and lacks comprehensive SEO services.

– Beware of providers who may sneak links onto private blog networks (PBNs) disguised as legitimate outreach.

– Requires quality content on your site before starting outreach; bloggers prefer linking to valuable content.

5. SEO Agency

What It Is:

A comprehensive agency that manages all aspects of your SEO strategy, including link building.

How it works:

When you engage the agency, they handle the entire process of optimising your website for search engines, typically incorporating a link building strategy.

Cost:

Costs vary widely. You can find budget SEO agencies starting from $200 per month, or opt for high-end agencies servicing Fortune 500 companies, charging between $20,000 to $50,000 per month. Most SEO agencies charge between $500 to $5,000 monthly.

Pros:

– They handle all aspects of SEO, from content creation to keyword targeting, streamlining the process for you.

– Agencies tailor their strategies to meet your SEO objectives, ensuring content is designed to attract links while aligning with your target keywords.

Cons:

– Many SEO agencies deliver subpar results, focusing on basic optimizations and providing mediocre content and links.

– Link building may not be their primary focus, as agencies also manage other SEO components like mobile optimization and content creation, dividing your budget across multiple areas.

6. Guest Posting Services

What It Is:

An agency that handles the creation and publication of guest posts on your behalf, including a backlink to your site.

How it works:

Guest post services manage the entire guest posting process, from finding suitable sites that accept guest posts to pitching ideas, communicating with editors, writing the content, and ensuring publication.

Cost:

Most guest post services charge a fixed fee per guest post, typically ranging from $100 to $500 depending on the Domain Authority of the target site. For instance, The Hoth charges $200 for a single DA 30 link.

Pros:

– You acquire genuine links that can positively impact your SEO. While Google discourages excessive guest posting, strategically placed guest posts on relevant sites can enhance your search rankings.

– Guest posts on prominent sites within your industry can generate significant referral traffic. For example, publishing a guest post on a site like Buffer can lead to noticeable spikes in website traffic.

– Pay-per-link model ensures you only pay when a guest post is successfully published, providing cost-effectiveness.

Cons:

– There’s a risk of encountering fake guest posts. Some services may submit low-quality content to sites within their private blog networks (PBNs).

– Guest posting at scale is discouraged by Google, potentially risking penalties if a substantial portion of your backlink profile is composed of guest post links.

7. Infographic Design Company

What It Is:

A service that specializes in creating infographics or visual content aimed at generating backlinks.

How it works:

Most infographic agencies handle the entire process, from conceptualizing topics to sourcing data and designing the infographic itself. Alternatively, you can hire a graphic designer to transform your content into an infographic.

Cost:

For a comprehensive infographic service, prices typically range from $2,000 to $4,000.

If you only need infographic design services, expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,000.

Pros:

– Infographics remain effective for building backlinks, despite their declining popularity.

– There’s no ongoing commitment or monthly retainer; payment is usually per infographic produced.

– It’s a hands-off process, requiring minimal client involvement.

Cons:

– Many infographic services do not include promotional efforts, leaving the task of spreading the word up to the client.

– Success with infographics can be unpredictable; while some may go viral, others may fail to gain traction, often requiring multiple attempts to achieve significant results.

Conclusion

Here are my top 7 recommended link building services, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. These options represent some of the best choices available. I’d love to hear about your experiences with outsourcing link building—whether positive, negative, or somewhere in between. Share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.