Struggling to find the time and resources for effective link building? You’re not alone. That’s why this guide is here—to explain how outsourcing can streamline the entire process, save you time, and still deliver the results you’re after, or even better!

Link building is one of today’s most effective strategies for boosting SEO, but it’s no walk in the park. It is incredibly time-consuming and requires a team with different skill sets, from finding prospects to establishing relationships and outreach.

In fact, most of the link building experts I have spoken to say it took them at least a month to a full year to see significant results from manual link building services.

Who has the time and patience for that?

That’s where OUTSOURCING comes into play!

This guide will cover:

• What outsourcing link building means for your business.
• The benefits, risks, and costs involved.
• Most importantly, the practical steps for outsourcing the right link building services and partners.

Ready to save time and boost your rankings? Let’s get started.

What is Link Building, & Why Does It Matter?

Let me help explain link building in the simplest way.

Think of link building as getting “votes of confidence” from other websites. When they link to your site, they practically convey a message to their readers that implies, “Hey, this blog post is worth checking!” 

This action signals to search engines that your content is relevant and of good value, worthy enough for these respectable websites to recommend your link to their valued readers. 

In context, the more quality websites link to you, the more Google and other search engines find your site TRUSTWORTHY.

So, why do building backlinks matter so much? Well, they’re still one of the top factors that impact your website’s search engine rankings. 

Getting links from reputable websites in your industry shows Google that you are indeed a reliable source of information, granting you better rankings and visibility. Consequently, this means more people can find you when they search for topics related to your business.

Here are some ways quality backlinks impact your website:

• They bring new visitors directly to your site; when someone clicks on a link to your content from another website, that’s FREE traffic coming your way.
• They help search engines like Google discover new pages on your site faster, which means your content gets crawled and indexed more quickly.
• They boost your website’s authority, making it easier for your other pages to rank better.

I’ve seen many websites climb to the top of Google simply because they got links from the right places. But always keep in mind that the concept of “quality over quantity” prevails here.

A few good links from high-quality, reputable websites in your industry are way more worthy than dozens of random links from irrelevant or spammy sites. It’s like in real life—a recommendation from an expert carries more weight than hearsay from someone who doesn’t know much about your business.

What Does Outsourcing Link Building Mean?

Outsourcing link building essentially means hiring third-party link experts (be it an established agency or freelance professionals) to help you acquire valuable backlinks for your website. 

As we know, link building can be time- and labor-intensive. Thus, outsourcing can sometimes be a wise and even practical move for your business. By delegating this tedious task to experienced individuals or teams, you can better focus your time, effort, and resources on other important matters, like growing your business.

With the RIGHT people or teams, outsourcing link building can give better results faster. These established professionals know the best strategies and trends and, most importantly, have already built connections to key personalities and brands in the industry that can help secure high-quality backlinks relevant to your business. 

Benefits of Outsourcing Link Building

Outsourcing link building can make a huge difference, especially if you’re trying to manage other priorities. Or if you are still not that confident with your SEO skills. Don’t worry; there’s absolutely no shame in seeking assistance from those more well-versed with the ins and outs of the link building process. 

After all, it’s wiser to stay humble than pretend to know everything and risk your business, right?

Let me lay out the benefits of high-quality backlinks outsourcing:

1. Time-Saving

It’s not a secret that building high-quality backlinks will consume a lot of time. Not a couple of days or weeks, but months after months of persistently finding prospects, building connections, pitching, negotiating, and following up until you finally get the link and then tracking its progress. It’s a continuous process, I must say!  

By delegating this taxing task to an external party, you give your in-house team the time and the chance to focus on work that requires better attention, like creating value-rich content, improving your website, or strengthening your customer service.

2. Access to Industry Expertise

When you work with a link building agency, you tap into its experience and network. They’ve already figured out what works and often have established relationships with reputable websites, brands, companies, or personalities to secure high-quality backlinks. 

For you, this means:

• Faster results because they know what they’re doing.
• Better-quality links that help your site rank higher.
• Strategies that are proven to work.

3. Scalability

Link building is a complex and lengthy process that requires a dedicated team of at least two or three staff members with multiple skill sets. Outsourcing this team enables you to save time and money, plus the benefit of experience and expertise, without the full-time commitment of hiring additional personnel.

If you’re growing your business, outsourcing lets you scale up your link building efforts without overloading your team. Whether you need ten links or fifty, an agency can handle the workload for you. 

4. Cost Efficiency

Building an in-house link building team can get expensive. In addition to the mandatory employee benefits, you’d need to hire people, train them, and provide the necessary tools.

Outsourcing is often more budget-friendly because you’re paying for expertise without the long-term investment of a full team. You can scale up or down anytime according to your business’s demands without dealing with HR issues.

Risks of Outsourcing Link Building

Outsourcing link building can be a game-changer, but as always, it’s NOT without risks. 

Here’s what you need to watch out for:

1. Low-Quality Backlinks

Not all providers are created equal. Some may cut corners using spammy or black-hat techniques to deliver “instant” results. These bad links could hurt your site’s ranking or get you penalized. 

So, make sure to ask about their methods before committing. Understand how they approach their link building strategies to get assurance and a better picture of what to expect.

2. Lack of Transparency

Sometimes, it’s hard to know what you’re paying for. If the agency doesn’t share clear reports or details about the links they’re building, you could end up with low-quality or irrelevant backlinks. 

Look for providers who regularly update. Remember, you are in collaboration, and you need open communication to translate your set targets into tangible results.

At The Blueprints, we remove this barrier by sharing sites prior to purchase, allowing our clients to make informed decisions before proceeding.

3. Brand Misalignment

Every business has its own unique voice and goals. Some “know-it-all” SEO outsourcing companies don’t take the time to understand your brand or your objectives. 

Such strategies might secure links on sites that don’t align with your values or audience, making the backlinks less effective or even damaging your reputation.

Best Link Building Services To Outsource

Here are some common outsource SEO services:

1. Guest Posting: Agencies can help you write articles for other websites that include links back to your site. It’s great for reaching new audiences and building your site’s authority.
2. Niche Edits: This involves adding your link to a website’s existing relevant content. Getting backlinks is quicker since the content is already published and indexed.
3. Content Marketing: Some agencies excel at creating engaging and shareable content like infographics, videos, and blog posts. These high-value pieces will likely drive more traffic, thus naturally attracting backlinks.
4. Influencer Outreach: Some agencies connect with influencers in your niche to secure backlinks from their blogs or social media platforms.
5. Digital PR: This focuses on getting your business mentioned in online news outlets or blogs. These backlinks are an excellent means of boosting your site’s visibility and credibility.
6. Broken Link Building: Agencies search for broken links on relevant websites and propose replacing them with backlinks to your content. This is a win-win situation: You help them fix their issue while earning you a backlink.
7. Local Citations: Listing your business on local directories and platforms is another effective way to improve visibility, especially in local research. 

Each link acquisition service has its own distinct strengths. You can reach out to our team here, who can help you find the most suitable options for you or your client.

Practical Steps on How to Outsource Link Building Services

Outsourcing link building services can save you time and help your site grow faster—but only if done RIGHT!

Here’s what you should know before getting started:

1. Set Clear Goals & Expectations

Before hiring someone, figure out what you want. 

Ask yourself:

• Do you need more traffic, higher rankings, or both?
• How many links are you aiming for?
• What’s your expected timeline for this project?
• What’s your budget?

Define your goals and expectations upfront. Don’t be ashamed to lay out your demands. You’re paying for the services anyway, so you should be vocal about your goals and the specific results you are expecting from them.

If you’re unsure of these goals, a good link building partner can help you understand where the site currently stands and what is needed.

2. Choose the Right Partner

Not all link builders are created equal. 

Look for:

• Proven experience and case studies.
• Transparency about their process (no shady tactics!).
• Reviews or recommendations from others in your industry.
• Alignment with your business goals and values. 
• Effective communication and regular updates.

Taking time to vet your partner ensures you invest in quality services that deliver lasting results. A good partner will work with you hand in hand to develop a customized link building strategy that fits your specific needs and objectives.

3. Stay Involved & Monitor Progress

Even though you’re outsourcing, you shouldn’t disappear.

Be persistent with:

• Setting up regular check-ins to track progress.
• Asking for reports showing the links they’ve built.
• Reviewing their work to make sure it fits your standards.

Use SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to assess the link’s quality and relevancy and ensure it conforms to your strategies. 

If you encounter issues along the way, don’t hesitate to express your concerns. This is one effective way to stay on top of your link building strategies and ensure the outcome will be what you want it to be. 

By following these simple but practical steps, you can improve the efficiency of your outsourced link building efforts and achieve better SEO results.

Helpful Questions to Ask When Looking for the Right Link Building Company

Picking the right link building freelancers or agencies can feel overwhelming, but knowing what to look for and asking the right questions can lead you to the most suitable person or team.  

Questions to Ask:

Before signing any contracts, here are a few helpful questions to ask:

Strategy and Process	Quality Assurance
What is your process for identifying websites for link placement?Do you use outreach campaigns? If so, how are they conducted?How do you tailor your strategy to fit my business goals?	How do you ensure the websites you work with have high domain authority or relevance?Do you perform a manual review of potential link sources?How do you handle broken or removed links?
Transparency and Reporting	Compliance and Ethics
Will you provide regular progress reports?What metrics will you track and share (e.g., traffic, rankings, domain authority)?Can I see a list of links you’ve built each month?	How do you avoid black-hat techniques or spammy practices?What’s your approach to handling penalties if they arise?
Collaboration and Customization
How much input will I have in the link building process?Can you work with my existing team or content?Do you offer custom link building plans based on my needs?

Red Flags to Avoid:

• Promises of “guaranteed” rankings—we are not Gods; no one can control search engines.
• Low-cost bulk link packages—premium links equal premium pay, so if they’re offering way too cheap packages, they’re most likely giving you spammy and low-quality backlinks.
• Unclear or overly secretive processes—if they’re not open about what they do and how they do it, it’s clearly a bad sign!

Choosing the right agency takes time, but it’s worth it! The right partner will help your website GROW with high-quality, relevant backlinks using white label link building to maintain your brand’s reputation.

When Should You Consider Outsourcing Link Building?

Outsourced backlink services can be a smart move for your business in several situations:

1. Limited In-House Resources: Outsourcing can fill that gap if your team lacks the time or expertise to build quality backlinks. There is no need to worry about hiring extra in-house employees and training them for link building.
2. Need for Quick Scaling: You get access to a team that can help almost immediately and deliver results in a short period of time.
3. Stagnant Rankings: If your website’s search rankings have plateaued, professional link building services can offer fresher insights and varying strategies to enhance visibility.
4. Desire for High-Quality Backlinks: Agencies often have established relationships and proven link building strategies to secure high-quality backlinks faster and more effectively.
5. Cost Efficiency: As previously mentioned, building an in-house link building team can be expensive. Outsourcing is often more budget-friendly because you’re paying for expertise without the long-term investment of a full team.

Cost of Outsourcing Link Building

Source: Unsplash

The cost of link building services in the U.S. varies based on factors like link quality, industry competitiveness, and link volume. 

Here’s a breakdown to help you understand the typical expenses:

Per-Link Pricing:

Low-Cost Links	The cheapest pricing tier often offers links from lower-authority or niche sites. It approximately costs between $100–$200 per link.
Mid-Range Links	Affordable link building services, typically involving guest posts on reputable sites, offer good value for money without compromising quality. Mid-range links often cost around $200–$500 per link.
High-End Links	Premium links derived from highly authoritative domains rightfully demand premium prices. Expect high-end backlinks to cost $500 and above per link.

Monthly Retainer Models:

Specialist Link Building Agencies	Monthly fees range from $500 to over $15,000, depending on the scale and complexity of the campaign.
Major Content Marketing Agencies	Single campaigns cost approximately $15,000 and $30,000, especially with top-level companies in major cities.

Factors Influencing Costs:

• Link Quality: Higher domain authority and relevance increase costs.
• Industry Competitiveness: Sectors like finance, gambling, and real estate often face higher link building expenses due to increased demand and risk. 
• Link Volume: Larger campaigns with more links generally require a bigger budget.

Understanding the costs and value of link building services is essential to making the right investment for your SEO goals. By weighing factors like quality, industry competitiveness, and link volume, you can plan a strategy that maximizes your budget and delivers impactful results.

Final Thoughts:

Outsourcing link building isn’t always easy, but it can really help if you’re short on time or just starting out. 

I’ve seen many people try to do everything themselves and burn out quickly. There’s no shame in getting help! Just remember to pick your partners carefully and be clear about what you want. 

Yes, it costs money, but think of it as an INVESTMENT in your website’s GROWTH. The key is to stay involved and keep an eye on the work being done, even when someone else is handling it for you.

If done right, outsourcing can save you tons of headaches down the road. So, thank me later!