Should You Buy A Link Building Package?
TL;DR: No. Most link building packages (and SEO packages) Suck. Below, we explain why that is and look at the psychology that drives consumers to buy packaged solutions.
At Stellar SEO, we stand by a foundational principle: the success of an outreach campaign is deeply rooted in a strategy tailored to each client’s unique needs and goals.
Since 2012, our commitment to personalized link building has guided our approach, ensuring that each strategy is built on a bedrock of thorough research, meticulous planning, and a wealth of experience.
This bespoke method has consistently produced stellar results, firmly establishing us as specialists in custom link building campaigns.
What Makes Custom Outreach Better Than Link Building Packages?
Even the best link building packages have a hard time keeping up with the strategic and advantageous custom link outreach campaigns
Custom Link Building Services
Our custom link-building campaigns stand out as they empower our specialists to develop a bespoke, data-informed strategy that secures high-quality backlinks underpinned by an extensive and effective link-building strategy.
This method suits businesses seeking a comprehensive solution tailored to their unique objectives, challenges, and historical SEO performance.
Conversely, our pay-per-link model offers marketing agencies and seasoned in-house marketing teams the flexibility to augment their existing strategies with high-quality baclinks.
This approach supports and enhances their developed strategies, driving increased organic traffic, elevating search engine rankings, and generating more leads.
If you are not an agency or do not have an in-house team to conduct competitive research and planning, a service like blogger outreach isn’t typically the best fit. However, we are open to looking at your pages and advising if you want to test out the service but lack a proper strategy.
Here at Stellar SEO, we have a multi-stage process that allows us to better understand your goals, competition, and build an effective plan.
Our custom link building service includes the following stages, offering full transparency along the way:
- Intake Meeting & Detailed Marketing Questionnaire Completion
- Content Assets Review
- Link & Anchor Text Profile Review
- Competitor Link Prospecting & Segmentation
- Competitor Link & Anchor Gap Analysis
- Initial Prospect List Built & Segmented
- Strategy & Tactics Finalized
- Outreach Begins
- Tracking, Reporting, & Adjusting As Needed
Of course, this is just a high-level overview; each point involves many smaller processes. Taking the time to conduct thorough research and turn that into an action plan is a critical step.
An SEO link building package is unlikely to provide that level of customization.
Link Building Packages
Pre-packaged links offer a one-size-fits-all approach that fails to account for your business’s distinctive goals, obstacles, or historical SEO endeavors.
In contrast, Stellar SEO’s custom outreach campaigns are designed with your goals in mind, ensuring that every link acquired is a strategic step towards achieving your marketing objectives.
This personalized approach improves efficiency, avoids wasted spending, and increases the average ROI our clients see.
With such clear benefits of using a strategic approach, it begs the question: Why does anyone opt for a link-building package?
Why Do People Fall for Monthly Link Building Packages?
Marketers capitalize on various psychological factors—from the allure of a good deal signified by charm pricing to the simplification of choice and the persuasive power of social proof—to attract consumers.
Understanding these underlying principles helps explain why businesses and marketers often buy link building packages as a compelling solution for their SEO needs despite the potential benefits of a more customized approach.
Perception of Value
The psychology of pricing highlights how consumers evaluate offers based on perceived value rather than just the price.
In the context of backlink packages, a package’s comprehensive nature, which combines several services at a discounted rate, appears to be a better deal than purchasing services separately. This perceived added value encourages consumers to opt for packages, hoping to maximize their investment.
Charm Pricing
The tendency for prices ending in 9 to be more appealing, known as charm pricing, can make a link building package priced at, say, $499 seem more attractive than a round number like $500.
This strategy subtly suggests a bargain, nudging consumers toward choosing packages for their perceived affordability.
Simplified Decision-Making
Price bundling simplifies the purchasing decision by offering a single, comprehensive package rather than multiple individual services.
This reduces decision fatigue and makes purchasing more straightforward for consumers looking to enhance their website’s SEO without the hassle of evaluating numerous separate services.
Leveraging Cognitive Biases
The anchoring effect, where the bundled price sets a reference point, makes the individual components of the link package seem like a bargain.
Furthermore, depicting these bundles as time-sensitive deals allows establishments to leverage the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). This prompt causes businesses to take swift action to avoid losing out on what they perceive as valuable.
Social Proof and Influence
Including testimonials or endorsements within the package offering leverages social proof, where others’ positive experiences influence potential buyers.
This is particularly effective in link building, where the quality and effectiveness of the service are paramount. Seeing others succeed with a particular link package can be a powerful motivator for decision-making.
So, if you have slipped up and ordered backlink packages in the past, don’t feel bad. Many really smart people spent an equally impressive amount of time determining how to influence your decision-making process.
Thankfully, you have found this article, and we can help you escape the Matrix.
Now that you have been awoken – here’s what to do instead.
Advancing Beyond Link Building Packages: A Strategic Framework
Link builders and site owners unite, cast aside DIY link building, and start getting quality backlinks backed by a proper strategy.
Beyond Monthly Link Building Packages: The Need for Depth in Link Building
While straightforward, the usual strategy of relying on monthly link building packages often fails to meet the SEO demands necessary for campaign success.
They lack depth and traction and fail to provide the true boost required for long-term results.
The crucial need for better link building service is further backed by the evolving algorithms of search engines. These now prioritize quality, relevance, and context of backlinks over how many links you have.
Businesses must move beyond one-size-fits-all packages to excel. The solution applies a unique and nuanced approach that targets specific audiences and integrates seamlessly with advanced marketing and SEO efforts.
Strategizing for Success: The Custom Approach
A custom approach is the true recipe for success. It surpasses the limitations of the seemingly right link building package by enabling tactics that closely align with specific business objectives.
This strategic plan involves an in-depth look into a company’s unique market position, competitive landscape, and target audience.
How does this prove successful?
By focusing on high-quality links from web pages that are authoritative and trustworthy within the same niche, businesses can drive more traffic and enjoy greater brand visibility.
And that is not all.
Custom strategies enable flexibility while boosting brand credibility, which is the perfect response to the ever-changing search engine algorithms and dynamic digital markets.
Key Considerations for a Custom Link Building Plan
Assessment of SEO Goals and Objectives
Defining clear, measurable goals is pivotal for guiding your link building efforts. Start by pinpointing what you hope to achieve through link building.
This could be better keyword rankings, increasing website traffic, or enhancing domain authority.
Next, specify achievable outcomes. One example is a specific percentage increase in organic traffic within a defined timeframe.
Remember that clarity and direction will not only ensure link building campaign success, but also help you communicate your expectations exactly to the agency you hope to work with.
Why Link Building Packages Are a Gamble
Once you have clear goals, the next step is thoroughly auditing your digital presence and backlink profile. This task involves analyzing your website’s existing content, identifying the best pieces, and understanding the quality and source of your current relevant links.
Analyzing the health of your digital ecosystem allows you to bridge gaps while understanding what areas require improvement. Overall, a solid foundation will be the flag-bearer for your digital strategy.
According to Ahrefs, the average top-ranking page also ranks in the top 10 search results for nearly 1,000 other relevant keywords. This should be your push to understand the importance of a comprehensive digital audit for improvement and expansion.
Competitor Analysis
Personal analysis is excellent and definitely necessary, but competitor analysis is even more crucial. To identify valuable, high-quality links, start by examining your competitors’ backlink profiles.
Make sure to check competitors that rank exceptionally well for your target keywords. You can then look for potential partnership opportunities. This analysis will further help you find tactics used by competitors that can be added to your campaign.
The better you do this, the greater the opportunity to gain a competitive edge in your target market.
Building Your Custom Link Building Strategy
Creating High-Quality Content
Creating high-quality content is the cornerstone of fruitful link building. Informative, engaging, and valuable content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience will acquire high-quality links.
Conduct accurate research, create complete guides, and develop trending content on relevant industry topics. Compelling and engaging content significantly boosts your chances of being linked by authoritative sites. Note that these efforts also help with content marketing.
An interactive blog post that includes images receives 94% more views than content that does not have any. Adding visual elements to keep visitors hooked is another strategy you do not want to miss out on.
Identifying Potential Link Partners
Picking out relevant, authoritative sites for potential partnerships is crucial for effective link building. Begin by noting websites that share your target audience but are not direct competitors.
You can use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to help you discover where your competitors are obtaining their backlinks. This will help you create an initial outreach list.
Additionally, look for industry blogs, forums, and directories that your community respects. The goal is to pinpoint sites that will provide a backlink and drive relevant traffic to your website.
Outreach and Relationship Building
Reaching out to potential link partners or site owners to build lasting relationships is vital to sustainable link building. Personalize your outreach emails by applauding specific content you found valuable on their site. Explain how your content can add value to their audience and why they should collaborate.
Since the goal is to build quality links and a mutually beneficial relationship, ensure you are open to help them in return. The best practices include following up respectfully, providing clear contact information, and maintaining a professional tone.
Over time, these cultivated relationships can lead to greater organic link building strategies and content marketing opportunities.
Measuring Success: KPIs and ROI of Custom Link Building
Navigating the success of custom link building requires a deep dive into relevant KPIs and understanding the nuances of ROI.
This journey begins with recognizing the pivotal role of high-quality links, which are instrumental in propelling landing page conversion rates beyond the average benchmark. Interestingly, a hurdle where many marketers find themselves stuck, with conversion rates often not exceeding 10%.
In custom link building, the triumph is also vividly reflected in the scaling of organic search rankings for targeted keywords. There’s a shared optimism among marketers, with a substantial 75% anticipating that the integration of AI within search engines will significantly amplify their site’s traffic, marking a pivotal shift in SEO dynamics.
Another cornerstone metric, conversion rate optimization (CRO), emerges as a crucial yardstick for success. Highlighted by over one-third of marketing leaders, optimizing conversion rates is not just a goal but a testament to a strategy’s effectiveness.
By tailoring link building strategies to specific business aims, companies can carve out a clear path toward measurable success. This customized approach doesn’t just aim for incremental improvements but ensures each link acquisition is a calculated step towards fulfilling broader marketing objectives.
Staying Ahead: Adapting Your Strategy Over Time
Staying proactive in your SEO endeavors means regular reviews and adjustments. This iterative process, driven by performance data and the ever-evolving SEO techniques, ensures your efforts align with the latest best practices and search engine algorithms.
Unlike standardized link building packages, which often lack monitoring and adaptability, a customized strategy thrives on flexibility, allowing for on-the-fly adjustments based on real-time analytics and content marketing trends.
Hiring A Managed Link Building Agency
When considering external help for your link building, timing and strategy are crucial for boosting your campaign’s effectiveness.
Look for SEO and link building experts known for their transparency, communication, and ability to tailor their strategies to fit your needs. Given that over 41% of businesses find link building to be one of the most challenging aspects of SEO, enlisting the help of professionals can simplify this process.
By partnering with the right experts, you will ensure your link building strategy is both effective and adaptable, helping you to stay ahead in the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing.
Crafting Your Path to Link Building Mastery
Switching from the static world of one-size-fits-all link building packages to dynamic custom strategies marks the beginning of a journey toward SEO mastery.
If you’re ready for a more robust digital presence, it’s time to ditch the cookie-cutter methods. This path will not only align closely with your specific goals but also enable your campaign to grow and evolve over time.
Ready to transform your SEO game and carve out a dominant spot in the digital realm?
Stellar SEO can help. Reach out and let’s create something stellar together!
FAQs
How Much Should I Pay for Quality Links?
The cost per link will vary by industry, quality standards, and agency. We prepared a comprehensive guide on link-building costs; check it out.
What Are Private Blog Networks?
A PBN is a network of sites someone owns and uses to secure a link placement for themselves or their clients. Google frowns upon this, so PBN links should be avoided.
What Are Link Farms?
Link farms are sites whose only purpose is to provide (typically sell) links. These are generally considered spammy links and can cause ranking issues.
What’s The Difference Between Backlinks and Referring Domains?
Backlinks are individual links from one website to another while referring domains are the unique websites from which these backlinks come. To maximize SEO value, you should aim for links from unique RDs vs. getting multiple links from a single site.
Are Low-Quality Links Harmful?
Yes, low-quality links are not suitable for your site. Most sites have some naturally occurring spammy links pointing to them, which is OK. Website owners encounter issues when they end up with more low-value links than good ones.
Does High Domain Authority Mean A Site is Good?
Whether you hire an agency to build links or decide to launch a DIY link building project, focusing solely on DA or DR is a recipe for disaster. While it is a good starting point, you should complete several secondary checks to confirm the site is of good quality.
How Many Link Placements Do I Need?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for this.
As part of your link outreach planning, keyword research will allow you to uncover the appropriate competitors and determine how many links they have. This method is far more accurate than giving generic link estimates.
