PBN backlinks (Private Blog Network backlinks) are links created from a system of websites controlled by an individual or organization, in order to increase the main website’s ranking on Google. The PBN backlink method has long been controversial in the SEO community because of its effectiveness as well as the risk of being detected and penalized by Google.
The question is: Should we use PBN backlinks for SEO? Let’s analyze it in detail with Jeenam!
What Are PBN Backlinks?
PBN backlinks are links created from a system of websites intentionally set up to transfer link juice to a main website, in order to increase trust and ranking on Google.
More specifically: PBN backlinks are essentially artificial links created through a network of websites controlled by a single entity. These websites, often referred to as “private blogs,” are typically low-quality and lack genuine content or website traffic. Their sole purpose is to inflate the backlink profile of a target website, making it appear more authoritative in the eyes of search engines.
Many people use PBN backlinks because they can help increase website rankings quickly. PBNs provide more control over anchor text and link placement compared to natural methods. In the world of black hat and gray hat SEO, this method is often used. However, the effectiveness of PBN backlinks has decreased significantly.
In the past, many websites were successful in using PBNs to improve their rankings in a short time. But with the development of Google algorithms, especially Penguin and SpamBrain, artificial backlink creation behaviors are increasingly being tightly controlled. Google can detect and handle websites using PBNs, leading to the risk of being penalized or losing all rankings in search results.
Why Do People Build PBN Backlinks?
PBN backlinking strategy will normally hurt websites. However, some black-hat SEO providers still sell PBN backlinks, and there are still buyers for them. Why do people invest in buying such links when they actually know the potential dangers? Below are four important reasons why people still buy PBN backlinks.
Insufficient Understanding
A study shows that about 57% of businesses in North America do not have a proper SEO strategy. This statistic really shows how many business owners are unaware of the importance of SEO and how it can help their online visibility. This ignorance opens up avenues for spammers to sell black-hat SEO services to uninformed businesses.
Many who are unfamiliar with PBN backlinks may unknowingly fall victim to scams, that is the reason why you should hire a good link-building specialist for better trust. However, Google’s penalties for using PBN backlinks can significantly harm a website’s credibility and rankings. Business owners must rely on trustworthy sources to learn effective and ethical SEO practices.
Desire For Quick Outcomes
Building high-quality backlinks requires significant time and effort to achieve long-term benefits. Some people and businesses try to cheat the algorithm by using PBN backlinks as a quick way to inflate their link number.
The focus on backlinks as a foundation for strategy often makes impatient individuals experiment with PBN backlinks, hoping for fast results. They overlook the fact that achieving authoritative links organically, such as through blogger outreach, may take months or even years but is far more sustainable.
Perceived Cost-Effectiveness
Others resort to PBN backlinks due to their affordability. These kinds of links, generated on link farms, are commonly sold at a cheap or even very cheap price. This is why inexperienced marketers get drawn to it.
These “cheap” backlinks are really dangerous, though. Spammers gain from the services of making PBN backlinks for several clients with one and the same link farm. As for the clients, they just get Google penalties that can lead to a ban or lost rankings.
Uncertainty Around Technical Terminology
Scammers don’t target just SEO beginners, people with some basic knowledge of SEO also get misled.
Black-hat SEO sellers use complicated-sounding jargon, such as “footprints” to falsely claim that their PBN backlinks will not get penalized. The terms “in-house blogging network” or “privately managed sites” are often used to make the vendors sound credible and experienced. These technical terms confuse business owners who have little knowledge of SEO and may lead them to buy bad backlinks.
To avoid such scams, you should approach SEO services with care and avoid service providers that use unclear or uncommon terminology. Always work with trusted experts who believe in White Hat ethical SEO practices.
How To Generate PBN Backlinks?
There are mainly two ways to build PBN backlinks
1. Building Your Own Network
In this method, you build a private blog network yourself and then use it to rank your own websites. Since you will keep the network hidden, you can strategically link to your sites, and the PBN will remain undetectable. If done correctly, these networks can work for temporary gains.
2. Buying Links from an Established Network
You can also purchase backlinks from any existing PBN. The good thing with this approach is that you get many links in a very short time. However, owners of such networks are usually less cautious. They might even disclose the list of websites in their network to buyers.
The lack of caution drastically lowers the effectiveness of such networks. In reality, many of these networks are link-building scams designed to exploit buyers, offering no real value and potentially causing harm to their websites.
Should You Build PBN Backlinks?
In most situations, creating PBN links is not recommended. However, let’s weigh the advantages and disadvantages to provide a balanced perspective.
Advantages
The PBNs have many advantages that you should not ignore:
- PBNs offer a straightforward way to generate backlinks for your website.
- You have control over the specific pages where the links are directed.
- You can choose the most suitable anchor text for each link.
- PBNs allow for large-scale link creation.
- If you own the network, generating links doesn’t cost extra.
- PBNs may be useful for temporary traffic boosts in certain scenarios.
Disadvantages
However, PBN links also possess some potential drawbacks that you should consider when using them:
- PBN links carry the risk of significant penalties from Google.
- Establishing a PBN is costly, requiring the purchase of expired domains and the creation of new content.
- Purchased PBN links are often ineffective and lack value.
- Any ranking improvements might disappear once Google identifies the PBN.
- Websites relying on PBN links can be difficult to sell.
Google’s Position
Google is clear that it frowns upon PBN links. While the search engine’s Webmaster Guidelines do not directly mention PBNs, they cover many of the behaviors of these networks. In December 2022, Google released a link spam update that directly targeted links from this type of website.
Google vs. SEOs
Google explicitly mentions that any link “intended to manipulate PageRank or a site’s ranking in Google search results may be considered part of a link scheme and a violation of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines”. In this respect, it’s better to not use PBN links at all in order not to break Google’s regulations.
Our Perspective
There are many points where Google’s guidelines deviate from common SEO practices. For instance, paid links violate technically Google’s rules but have become more common as webmasters seek additional sources of revenue, and they often work well.
However, with PBNs, it’s wiser to align your link building with the policies of Google. The search engine is highly skilled in finding these networks, and many websites using these kinds of links have gotten into severe penalties.
How to Remove and Manage PBN Backlinks After a Google Penalty
If your website is penalized by Google due to PBN backlinks. The first step is to check your backlink list using tools like Ahrefs or Google Search Console to identify problematic links. Then, you should contact the webmasters of the websites that placed the backlinks directly to request removal. In case you cannot remove them manually, use the Google Disavow Tool to disavow toxic links. Finally, monitor your website performance and implement sustainable SEO strategies to recover your search rankings.
Bottom Line
PBN backlinks offer a tempting shortcut but ultimately lead down a dangerous SEO path. Focusing on white-hat SEO strategies like creating high-quality content, guest blogging on relevant websites, and building genuine relationships within your industry will lead to a more sustainable and successful SEO strategy.
Remember, search engines prioritize websites that users find valuable, and PBNs simply don’t fit that bill. Invest in developing a website worthy of attracting organic backlinks, and then organically watch your SEO performance improve.
