Backlinks are the foundation of any successful SEO strategy. They help search engines determine the credibility, trustworthiness, and authority of a website. However, when it comes to acquiring backlinks, many website owners and marketers face a common dilemma: Should they buy cheap backlinks in bulk or invest in high-quality backlinks?
The temptation to buy cheap backlinks is real—after all, who wouldn’t want thousands of backlinks for a fraction of the cost? But do these links actually help with rankings, or do they pose more risk than reward? On the other hand, high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites are known to drive sustainable results, but they come at a higher price.
If you’re looking for trusted, high-quality backlinks, LinksPedia provides manually built, white-hat backlinks that improve rankings safely and effectively.
In this guide, we’ll explore:
- What cheap backlinks are and why they seem attractive
- What high-quality backlinks are and why they matter
- The risks of buying low-cost backlinks
- The long-term value of investing in premium backlinks
- How to build a strong backlink profile that actually boosts rankings
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of which type of backlinks are worth investing in and how to improve your website’s rankings without risking penalties.
What Are Cheap Backlinks?
Cheap backlinks refer to low-cost links that are usually sold in bulk. You’ll often find SEO services offering “1000 backlinks for $10” or “Instant DA 50 backlinks for cheap” on freelancing platforms or shady SEO websites. These backlinks are typically spammy, irrelevant, and artificially created using automated software.
Types of Cheap Backlinks
Automated Backlinks from Software & Bots
- These backlinks are generated using tools like GSA Search Engine Ranker, Scrapebox, and Xrumer.
- They place thousands of low-quality links across random blogs, forums, and comment sections.
Private Blog Networks (PBNs) with No Real Authority
- PBNs are groups of fake websites created to manipulate rankings.
- Google’s algorithms easily detect PBN footprints and devalue or penalize them.
Spammy Blog Comments & Forum Links
- Randomly posting comments with backlinks on blogs and forums is an outdated SEO tactic.
- Most blog comment links are now nofollow, meaning they don’t pass any SEO value.
Low-Quality Directory Submissions
- Some cheap SEO services submit websites to hundreds of low-authority directories.
- Google has devalued most directory links, making them ineffective.
Link Farms and Reciprocal Links
- Some websites exist solely to sell backlinks, placing hundreds of links on the same page.
- These sites have no real content or authority, making their backlinks worthless.
Why Cheap Backlinks Seem Attractive
- Low cost – You can buy thousands of backlinks for a few dollars.
- Fast results – These links are created instantly using automation.
- Easy to acquire – No need for outreach, guest posting, or content creation.
But just because something is cheap and fast doesn’t mean it’s effective.
The Risks of Buying Cheap Backlinks
Cheap backlinks often do more harm than good. Instead of helping your website rank higher, they can actually trigger Google penalties and hurt your rankings.
1. Google Penalties & Algorithm Updates
- Google’s Penguin Algorithm is designed to detect and penalize spammy, unnatural backlinks.
- Websites with low-quality link profiles often experience massive ranking drops.
- If Google flags your site for link spam, it may receive a manual penalty.
2. Decrease in Search Rankings
- Google prioritizes high-quality backlinks from trusted sources.
- Cheap backlinks from spammy, irrelevant websites do not help rankings.
- If your competitors are using legitimate white-hat backlinks, they will outrank you easily.
3. High Spam Score & Poor Link Profile
- Tools like Moz, Ahrefs, and SEMrush measure a website’s spam score based on its backlink profile.
- A website with too many low-quality backlinks will have a high spam score, which negatively affects rankings.
4. No Real SEO Value or Authority Boost
- Google ignores or devalues backlinks from irrelevant or low-quality websites.
- Even if your backlink count increases, your SEO performance won’t improve.
5. Waste of Time & Money
- Since cheap backlinks don’t help rankings, you’ll end up spending more money fixing the damage.
- Disavowing spammy links and recovering from Google penalties takes months of effort.
Instead of wasting money on low-quality backlinks, investing in high-quality links is a much smarter strategy.
What Are High-Quality Backlinks?
High-quality backlinks come from trusted, authoritative websites that are relevant to your industry. These links are manually placed through real relationships, guest posts, and editorial mentions.
Characteristics of High-Quality Backlinks
- Come from High DA/DR Websites
- Websites with Domain Authority (DA) 40+ and Domain Rating (DR) 50+ pass strong SEO value.
- Are Contextual & Relevant
- Backlinks placed within high-quality, relevant content hold more SEO weight than sidebar or footer links.
- Are DoFollow & Indexed by Google
- DoFollow links pass link juice and help improve rankings.
- The linking page should be indexed and rank-worthy.
- Come from Real Websites with Organic Traffic
- A good backlink comes from a site with real traffic and engaged visitors.
- Are Earned Through White-Hat SEO Methods
- High-quality backlinks are manually acquired through guest posting, PR, and outreach.
Where to Get High-Quality Backlinks?
- Guest Post Backlinks – Write for authoritative websites in your niche.
- Editorial Links from News Websites – Get featured in news sites like Forbes, TechCrunch, or Business Insider.
- Niche-Specific Directories – Submit your website to trusted directories in your industry.
- HARO (Help a Reporter Out) – Provide expert quotes for journalists and get high DA backlinks.
- Competitor Backlink Analysis – Find where your competitors get links and replicate their strategy.
If you’re looking for trusted, high-quality backlinks, LinksPedia offers premium white-hat backlinks from real, high-authority websites.
Final Verdict: Cheap Backlinks vs. High-Quality Backlinks
| Factor | Cheap Backlinks | High-Quality Backlinks |
| Cost | Very low | Higher cost, but worth it |
| Effectiveness | Little to no ranking improvement | Significant SEO impact |
| Google Safety | High risk of penalties | 100% safe and white-hat |
| Long-Term Value | No lasting benefit | Long-term SEO growth |
| Traffic Potential | No real traffic benefits | Brings referral traffic |
| Spam Score | High | Low |
Which One Is Worth It?
If you’re serious about long-term SEO success, high-quality backlinks are the only way to go.
- Cheap backlinks: Might give a quick boost, but come with high risks.
- High-quality backlinks: Cost more, but deliver sustainable results.
If you want permanent, white-hat backlinks that actually improve rankings, LinksPedia provides the best SEO-friendly backlinks for long-term success. Additionally, for those pursuing certifications, Exam Questions offers top-notch study materials and practice exams to help you succeed and enhance your career.
