Google’s June 2024 Link Spam Update penalized low-quality link tactics, notably in the SaaS sector. Key red flags include irrelevant guest posts, exact match anchor text, AI-written content, and high DR sites with no traffic. Listicle and roundup posts appear increasingly devalued due to Read more

Promotion (this includes link exchange, purchased links, and organic mentions.) was the most common way sites gained links over the past year. Promotion also stands out as the most penalized strategy, with 12 sites. 28 sites appeared to get hit by the Link Spam Update. 13 sites were hit Read more

Average guest post link costs $365; high-quality posts average $930 based on traffic and DA/DR benchmarks. Link insertions average $141 but are rarely offered by high-quality, high-traffic sites. Digital PR links cost $1,250–$1,500 per link and remain the most valuable for authority and rankings. Read more

Digital PR secures high authority, editorial links that Google trusts. Traditional tactics, such as guest posts and link insertions, are devalued and often flagged by Google’s AI-driven SpamBrain system. Helpful Content (and potentially AI Overviews) reward digital PR assets, such as data Read more

Broken link building remains effective but should be used as a supportive, not primary, SEO tactic in 2025. Focus on replacing broken links from high-traffic, high-authority pages with relevant, valuable content. Use tools like Ahrefs and Archive.org to identify broken content and assess backlink Read more

ABC link exchanges and private networks carry rising SEO risks due to increasing algorithm scrutiny and potential “bad neighborhood” associations. Natural, relevant link exchanges may still be safe, especially when paired with high-quality, human-written content on authoritative sites. Avoid Read more

Buying backlinks poses real risk—Google’s SpamBrain can devalue or penalize manipulated links. Common red flags include exact match anchors, “Write for Us” pages, AI content, and link pricing pages. High-quality news backlinks cost $1,500–$2,500; digital PR often delivers better ROI Read more

Link reclamation targets previously removed backlinks to maintain SEO equity and traffic flow. Prioritize “Link Removed” entries in Ahrefs’ lost links report for highest ROI outreach. Confirm the link's relevance and context using Wayback Machine before emailing site owners. Use tools Read more

Interest in link building is at an all-time high Digital PR interest is also at an all-time high Backlinks and DR are less correlated with appearing in AI Overviews than brand mentions Digital PR is rated the most effective link building tactic 65% of users still click on traditional Read more

Email outreach is essential for digital PR, link building, and content promotion—even in a spam-conscious environment. Targeted prospecting and personalization are crucial under new 2024 Google/Yahoo spam guidelines. Use tools like BuzzStream and Hunter.io to streamline contact discovery, Read more