Where to Buy Backlinks: Reddit Users Share Top Sites

Introduction — based on Reddit discussions

This article summarizes and expands on a long Reddit thread where SEO practitioners shared where they buy backlinks, the services they trust, and the pitfalls to avoid. Below you’ll find the consensus, disagreements, specific tactics mentioned by Reddit users, and expert commentary to turn that collective wisdom into an actionable strategy.

Reddit consensus: categories of places people buy links

Across the thread, commenters mostly grouped link sources into a few clear categories. Most experienced contributors agreed that the category matters more than a single vendor name.

• Outreach & guest post services — agencies that do blogger outreach and place contextual links inside editorial content.
• Marketplaces/freelancers — platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or independent bloggers selling posts directly.
• Guest post networks and link networks — services that run many blogs and sell posts (some reputable, some low-quality).
• PBNs (Private Blog Networks) — mentioned frequently; some users swear by them, others warn of Google penalties.
• Press and PR services — press release distribution and PR agencies for editorial links.

Where Reddit users specifically recommended buying links

Redditors shared names and techniques repeatedly. The most commonly referenced are:

• Outreach agencies — providers that handle blogger outreach and guest-post placements. These were often recommended for quality and scale.
• Freelancers on marketplaces — many suggested starting with trusted freelancers on Fiverr or Upwork who already have a track record of placements.
• Established vendors like The Hoth / FatJoe style services — users named well-known white-label services that focus on guest posts and outreach, noting their convenience.
• Forum communities (like BlackHatWorld) — some users said they source PBNs and custom link deals through SEO forums, but with caution.

Note: Commenters often varied on which exact vendor was “best,” but the pattern above held: outreach/guest-post services and vetted freelancers got the most positive mentions.

Areas of disagreement on Reddit

Several hotly debated points emerged:

• PBNs — effective or toxic? Some users praised PBNs for quick ranking gains. Others warned PBNs are high-risk: Google can deindex networks, and recovery is expensive or impossible.
• Metrics to trust — many argued Domain Authority (DA) alone is misleading; others still use DA as a quick filter. There was consensus that real organic traffic and topical relevance are better indicators.
• Scale vs safety — some favored aggressive link velocity and volume; many experienced SEOs pushed back, recommending gradual link-building to avoid suspicion.

Specific tips and tactics from the thread

Reddit users shared many pragmatic tips you can apply right away:

• Vet sites manually: Check real organic traffic (via Ahrefs/SEMrush), look at the site’s content quality, and ensure relevant topical context before paying.
• Ask for screenshots and live URLs: Always get the exact placement URL and confirm the link is live and dofollow if that’s what you paid for.
• Diversify anchors: Avoid using only exact-match anchors. Mix branded, naked URLs, and long-tail phrases to look natural.
• Start small: Test with a few links first to measure impact before scaling purchases.
• Prefer contextual links: Links embedded in editorial content performed better than sidebar or footer placements according to many commenters.
• Look beyond DA: Check referring domains, organic traffic trends, and whether the domain has been penalized previously.
• Watch link velocity: Rapid spikes in backlinks can trigger manual or algorithmic action. Build links at a pace that matches natural growth.
• Keep records and invoices: Track purchases, placements, and vendor communications in case you need to disavow or dispute later.

Red flags Reddit users warned about

• Very cheap links promising high DA and rankings — often low quality or part of aggressive link networks.
• Sites with thin content or heavy interlinking — signs of PBNs or link farms.
• No real traffic despite high DA — suspicious metrics manipulation or expired-domain games.
• Refusal to provide placement URLs — vendor is hiding poor placement or reusing the same URL for many clients.

How to decide whether to buy backlinks at all

Reddit users emphasized assessing your goals and risk tolerance. Consider these questions:

• Is this for a long-term, branded site or a short-term affiliate play?
• Do you have a content and technical SEO foundation in place?
• Can you reinvest if something goes wrong (e.g., recover from a penalty)?

If you run a long-term brand site, many recommended prioritizing organic outreach and relationships. For short-term projects, some accepted higher risk for faster results.

Expert Insight #1 — Vetting checklist (go beyond Reddit)

From experience, here’s a practical checklist to vet any link vendor or site before purchase:

• Check organic traffic trends (3–12 months) using Ahrefs/SEMrush. High DA with zero traffic is a red flag.
• Open 5 recent posts — do they look editorially coherent? Are there many client links sprinkled through each piece?
• Look for author profiles and external linking — quality sites have diversified outbound links and identifiable authors.
• Inspect backlink patterns — use tools to see if the domain is heavily interlinked with a small cluster (PBN indicator).
• Ask for a sample placement and request at least one live example on a similar topic.

Safer alternatives to buying links

Many Reddit users and top SEOs agree: if you can, focus on earning links rather than buying them. Consider these approaches:

• Blogger outreach — pitch genuinely useful content, offer expert commentary, or propose collaboration pieces.
• HARO and expert roundups — earn press links through contributed insights.
• Content-driven campaigns — data studies, tools, or original research attract natural links.
• PR and brand partnerships — press coverage can deliver high-authority editorial links.

Expert Insight #2 — Measuring impact and mitigating risk

Buying links should be an experiment with defined KPIs. Track:

• Referral traffic from the placement URL.
• Keyword rankings over 30/60/90 days — expect varying timelines.
• New referring domains and anchor distribution in link reports.

If you suspect a purchased link causes harm (manual action or traffic drop), immediately document placements, contact the vendor for removal, and prepare a disavow file as a last resort. Maintain receipts and communications; these records are invaluable during recovery.

Practical buying workflow (step-by-step)

1. Define goals and budget: rankings, traffic, or PR.
2. Shortlist vendor categories: outreach agency, freelancer, or marketplace.
3. Run the vetting checklist above on candidate sites.
4. Purchase a small batch of links (3–5) with varied anchors.
5. Monitor KPIs for 90 days and decide whether to scale or pause.

Final Takeaway

Reddit users provide a useful, experience-based view: if you choose to buy backlinks, prioritize outreach-based placements, vet sites by traffic and content quality, diversify anchors, and start small. PBNs can work fast but carry significant risk. Wherever possible, combine paid placements with earned strategies like content campaigns and PR to create a more sustainable, lower-risk link profile.

Read the full Reddit discussion here.