Survey Reveals that 92% of SEOs Have Suspicions Regarding Competitors’ Link Purchasing
A recent survey conducted by Editorial.Link has revealed a shocking statistic – 92% of SEOs and link builders believe that their competitors are buying backlinks. This finding sheds light on the ongoing debate within the SEO community regarding the effectiveness and ethical implications of purchasing links.
The debate surrounding bought backlinks is centered around the question of whether they provide a shortcut to SEO success or if they pose a significant risk. In order to gain a better understanding of this topic, let’s delve into the strategy of buying backlinks and whether it is a viable option in 2024.
One of the main reasons why buying backlinks is seen as a risky move is due to Google’s guidelines. The search engine giant has made it clear that paid links can result in penalties and a significant drop in search rankings. Furthermore, paid links can undermine the integrity of search results. While some industries may find the allure of paid backlinks tempting, the risks associated with this strategy far outweigh any potential benefits. It is crucial for website owners to stick to organic link building practices in order to maintain their site’s credibility and long-term success.
Despite the risks, Ahrefs’ research has shown that buying backlinks is still a popular practice. This is because organic link building can be a difficult and time-consuming task. Many SEOs take the shortcut of purchasing backlinks, even though they are aware of the potential consequences, simply because naturally earning links is challenging. Ahrefs discovered that only 12.6% of the sites they reached out to were open to selling a link, and of those that did, about half requested a fee for guest posts. It is common for websites in competitive niches such as finance, insurance, and gambling to sell links. While this may lead to short-term success, the long-term consequences can be severe, including penalties and wasted investments.
The willingness of certain sites to sell links can be attributed to the belief that buying links is essential for achieving high rankings. Many website operators have realized the financial benefits of selling links and have seen significant revenue as a result. This trend of monetization has made it increasingly difficult to secure high-quality links without resorting to paid options. Ahrefs’ study found that niche edits average $361.44, while guest posts cost around $77.80. These figures reflect the ongoing demand for backlinks and the challenges faced by those seeking organic link building opportunities.
Editorial.Link conducted extensive research on the impact of buying backlinks, particularly in light of Google’s major algorithm updates in March. The results of this research paint a grim picture for those who engage in this practice. Over 40,000 websites that were selling links experienced substantial drops in traffic. The number of paid sites decreased from 44,276 in June 2023 to 31,388 in April 2024. Of these paid sites, 12,888 had server response errors, and 29% were dead sites. Among the remaining sites, 11,000 had less than 100 pages indexed by Google. Only 2,021 sites (6.6%) showed a positive traffic trend. These statistics indicate that many of the sites charging high fees for links have been severely penalized by Google’s algorithms.
The risks associated with buying backlinks are not limited to traffic drops and penalties. There is also the risk of manual actions, which can result in a significant decrease in traffic and make recovery a difficult process. However, if you have purchased paid links and are concerned about the impact on your site’s performance, there is a solution. Google’s disavow tool allows you to disavow these links and mitigate any potential harm. Surprisingly, a survey revealed that only 31% of SEOs use this tool, while 69% do not. Google’s John Mueller has reassured website owners that an extensive disavow file should not be a cause for concern and that removing the list will not harm the site’s performance.
In light of the risks and challenges associated with buying backlinks, it is clear that investing in ethical, organic link building strategies is the smarter and more sustainable choice. While paid links may seem like a shortcut to success, the potential consequences far outweigh any short-term benefits. It is important to prioritize the quality and transparency of sites when building a strong link profile. Additionally, tools like the Link Type Classifier developed by Editorial.Link can help verify if your link building services are acquiring links naturally or if they are purchasing them. This ensures that your strategies align with best practices and protect your site from potential penalties.
In conclusion, the statistics and research surrounding buying backlinks highlight the risks and challenges associated with this practice. The debate surrounding the efficacy and ethical implications of paid links continues within the SEO community. However, the consensus among industry experts is that focusing on organic link building is the key to sustainable success. By utilizing tools and strategies that prioritize quality and transparency, website owners can safeguard their site’s integrity and effectiveness in SEO efforts.
