Manual Link Building Service: Meaning, Explanation, Strategies

The debate regarding the benefits of manual link building when there are many automated solutions is still live among many link builders. Considering the rise of AI SEO Tools, it seems like automated link building might have a chance. But is it really so?

SEO G.O.A.T.’s team gathered expert insights from our professionals to share their opinions on manual link building services. We explain why it’s better than automated solutions for Tier 1 links, how to do manual link building, and what to consider when choosing a partner. Read on for more insights!

Key Takeaways on Manual Link Building

• Manual link building prioritizes quality: unlike automated methods, manual link building ensures high-quality & niche-relevant backlinks that comply with search engine guidelines;
• Automated link building is best for tier 2 or 3: automation can quickly produce a high volume of backlinks but lacks the quality and authority required for impactful tier 1 links;
• Guest posting is the gold standard: publishing well-researched content on niche-relevant websites remains the most effective manual strategy for generating top-tier backlinks;
• Link insertions save time: adding your backlink to existing & indexed content is a quick and cost-effective way to boost your SEO without creating new articles;
• Free directories diversify backlinks: while not as impactful as other strategies, using directories and forums provides an accessible way to supplement your backlink profile;
• PR-based link building delivers authority: creating newsworthy content and leveraging HARO can secure high-authority backlinks from reputable media outlets;
• SEO G.O.A.T. offers proven results: with a fully manual approach, tailored strategies, and transparent reporting, SEO G.O.A.T. specializes in delivering profitable backlink solutions;

What is Manual Link Building?

Manual link building is an SEO strategy where backlinks are created through direct human effort. It involves identifying relevant websites, reaching out to website owners, and negotiating link placement. A manual process ensures high-quality & niche-relevant links that improve search engine rankings, drive organic traffic, and enhance domain authority. 

What is Automated Link Building?

Automated link building is an SEO strategy that software like GSA, Xrumer, or RankerX to generate backlinks in bulk. These tools automate the process of identifying websites, creating links, and placing them across various platforms: forums, directories, blogs, etc.

While it can quickly produce a high volume of backlinks, the quality and relevance of these links are often low. This increases the risk of search engine penalties. Automated link building is typically used for lower-tier links (Tier 2 or Tier 3) to support primary backlinks, but is unsuitable for building high-quality & authoritative backlinks for long-term SEO success.

Manual vs Automated Link Building

Both manual and automated link building have their unique benefits and drawbacks. Based on SEO G.O.A.T.’s experience, we gathered a detailed comparison to help you choose the best approach for your website. Spoiler: building backlinks manually is better in terms of quality.

Pros of Manual Link Building

Advantages	Explanation
High quality	Links are carefully selected and manually placed, ensuring relevance and authority.
Search Engine Compliance	Aligns with search engine guidelines, reducing the risk of penalties.
Customizable Strategies	Allows for tailored anchor texts, placements, and niche-specific targeting.
Organic Growth	Backlinks are naturally integrated into content, enhancing the user experience.
Brand Reputation	Builds trust and authority by associating with reputable websites.

Cons of Manual Link Building

Disadvantages	Explanation
Time-Intensive	Requires significant effort for outreach, negotiation, and placement.
Higher Initial Costs	Manual processes can be more expensive compared to automated methods.
Scalability Challenges	Hard to scale quickly due to the time and effort required for each link.

Pros of Automated Link Building

Disadvantages	Explanation
Speed	Generates a high volume of backlinks quickly, saving time.
Cost-Efficiency (Short-Term)	Often cheaper initially, as it minimizes manual effort.
Tier 2 & 3 Link Building	Suitable for building supporting backlinks to strengthen primary links.

Cons of Automated Link Building

Disadvantages	Explanation
Low Control	Link quality and relevance are often terrible.
High Risk of Penalties	Search engines can easily identify automated links, leading to penalties or bans.
Technical Complexity	Requires expertise to set up and manage tools like GSA and Xrumer effectively.
Not Suitable for Tier 1 Links	Automated methods are rarely ideal for high-quality and authoritative backlinks.

Manual Link Building Strategies

SEO G.O.A.T. gathered the best manual link building strategies based on our team’s experience in the industry. Each approach is time-proven as an effective way to increase your backlink profile manually, maintaining quality and avoiding problematic websites.

1. Guest Posting via Outreach

Guest posting is one of the most common and effective methods for manual link building. It involves publishing content on someone else’s website with a backlink to your own. That’s SEO G.O.A.T.’s specialty, as guest posting is our main way of generating top-tier backlinks.

You will typically have to complete the following steps for guest posting.

1. Find Target Websites

You’ll have to analyze them for:

• Niche relevance;
• Domain authority (at least 30+ is great);
• Audience engagement;
• Guest post guidelines.

2. Research and Personalize Outreach

You’ll have to conduct some research before contacting the webmaster:

• Find contact information.
  • It’s usually located on a “Contact Us” page or the website’s social media;
• Create a personalized email.
  • Keep a short subject line, introduce yourself, ask about the guest post requirements, and suggest possible topics.

3. Propose and Finalize Content

Once the webmaster answers your request, you should discuss the possible topics and terms. The website might not have certain content guidelines, so the webmaster can provide you with their explanations in terms of word count and style. Also, the anchor text and backlink must be agreed on.

4. Write a High-Quality Guest Post

Deliver a well-researched, engaging, and original article that adds value to the host website’s audience while demonstrating your company’s expertise. It’s necessary to create a native link referring to your website, ensuring it doesn’t look too promotional.

Consider these elements when preparing your content:

• Unique perspective and reports;
• Natural integration of your backlink;
• SEO optimization with target keywords;
• Visual elements like images, infographics, and videos.

5. Submit and Follow Up

After completing the article, submit it to the host site for review and publication. The best way to send your article is via a shared Google Doc. You might have to include some changes after the webmaster’s initial review: it’s totally normal. If you don’t get a response within a week, send a polite follow-up email.

6. Promote the Published Post

Once your guest post is live, promote it to maximize its reach and impact. This is an extra step that is necessary when publishing on a high-quality and recognizable website. It drives traffic to the guest post, proves authority to your readers, and increases all possible benefits.

Looking for High-Quality Guest Posts?Contact SEO G.O.A.T. now!

2. Link Insertions

Link insertions, also known as niche edits, involve adding your backlink to an existing article or piece of content on a relevant website. This strategy is highly effective because it leverages already-published content, saving time and ensuring that the link is placed in a well-established and indexed post.

Here’s how link insertions work:

1. Find relevant articles.
2. Get in touch with webmasters.
3. Negotiate placement terms.
4. Now your link is placed.

Link insertions save a lot of time and money as you don’t have to create content from scratch. Also, considering the articles are already indexed, you’ll typically get a faster SEO impact.

3. Free Directories and Forums

Publishing backlinks in free directories and forums is an accessible and cost-effective way to diversify your backlink profile. While less impactful than guest posts or PR-based strategies, it can still provide value when executed thoughtfully.

Follow this step-by-step guide:

1. Find free platforms.

Search for reputable directories and forums where you can publish links. Focus on platforms relevant to your niche or industry. You can find a list of high-quality free directories and forums for backlinks here.

2. Evaluate websites.

Carefully assess the websites to ensure they meet quality standards:

• Domain authority: choose websites with higher DA scores;
• Relevance: ensure the platform aligns with your industry;
• Traffic: look for active user engagement or significant traffic metrics;
• No-follow vs. do-follow links: determine if the platform allows Do-Follow links, which directly influence SEO.

You can learn more about choosing a website for backlink placement in our detailed guide.

3. Register and Pass Moderation.

You’ll usually be required to sign up and complete the moderation process. Don’t start posting links right away on the forums: this is typically a red flag. Follow the platform’s rules and act as a regular user. Try adding your backlink somewhere where it provides value for the readers to avoid deletion.

Consider these best practices when choosing a free placement:

• Domain authority: at least 30+ DA for credibility;
• Relevance: alignment with your niche;
• Traffic: the website must be “alive” for people;
• Spam-free: avoid low-quality websites, or you’ll have to disavow your links in the future;
• Do-follow: get only do-follow links for SEO impact;
• Platform reputation: ensure your platform’s reputation is good enough for your links.

Remember that this approach is typically used as a supplement for other high-impact link-building strategies. So you shouldn’t focus solely on free directories.

4. PR-Based Outreach

PR-based link building involves earning backlinks by creating newsworthy content that gets picked up by journalists, bloggers, or online publications. While it requires significant effort and compelling content, it can result in free high-authority backlinks from reputable websites. It’s the most impactful link-building method.

This is how you can use PR-based link building:

1. Use HARO (Help a Reporter Out).

HARO connects journalists looking for expert quotes or data with professionals in various fields. You can get links from media outlets by answering questions with useful info.

2. Direct outreach to journalists.

Reach out to journalists, bloggers, or editors at relevant publications with a pitch. Offer unique content, data, or an exclusive story that aligns with their audience. Their contacts are usually indicated on news websites and social media.

3. Create newsworthy content.

Develop compelling content such as:

• Research reports: share unique data, studies, or statistics;
• Infographics: provide visually engaging and sharable resources;
• Insights or trends: offer expert opinions on trending topics in your industry.

Journalists will publish your content for free if it provides value and interesting facts for their target audiences. All you should do is ensure it gets into their hands when you publish it.

4. Have a strong hook.

Your content must provide a clear reason for publication, such as:

• Unique insights or exclusive findings;
• Addressing a timely topic or trending issue;
• Offering expert commentary on relevant news.

If your content is worthy of discussion, it will get all the attention it deserves.

How to Choose a Manual Backlinks Service

Finding a reliable manual backlinks service is quite the challenge. You’ll need a team that is interested in working with you long-term, providing measurable results over time. Let’s see what options have you got.

Professional SEO Agencies

There are 1000+ SEO agencies providing all kinds of services online. However, only a small part of them provide high-quality solutions that bring value to their customers. SEO G.O.A.T.’s team is among them. Here’s what you’ll get with us:

• 100% manual approach: no automation, ensuring only the most relevant and high-quality links;
• Custom strategies: we tailor our efforts to your industry, goals, and target audience;
• Transparent reporting: detailed reports keep you informed of every link built;
• Proven results: our clients consistently see improved rankings and organic traffic.

Looking for High-Quality Backlinks?Contact SEO G.O.A.T. now!

Link Exchanges

If you prefer to manage the process yourself, platforms like Collaborator offer an alternative. These platforms allow you to:

• Choose websites: access a database of websites, filtering by niche, traffic, and authority;
• Prepare your content: write articles, plan anchor texts, and determine link placement;
• Manage campaigns: handle the link placement and ensure compliance with your SEO strategy.

Recommendation: while these platforms are useful, they require expertise. If you lack experience, consider working with professionals like us to ensure the best results. This will be the perfect decision to use your budget effectively and appropriately.

Boost Your Backlink Profile with SEO G.O.A.T.

SEO G.O.A.T.’s team is your perfect choice for manual link building based on 4+ years of experience and 100+ successful projects. You’ll be the next customer to leave a 5/5 on our Clutch profile. Partner with our professionals today to get high-quality backlinks and all kinds of SEO services. 

FAQ

• Why is manual link building better than automated methods?
  • Manual link building prioritizes quality, relevance, and compliance with search engine guidelines, reducing the risk of penalties.
• How long does manual link building take?
  • Timelines depend on your campaign goals, but a well-executed manual link building strategy typically takes several weeks to yield results.
• Are manual backlinks expensive?
  • While the upfront cost may be higher than automated methods, the quality and sustainability of manual backlinks make them a worthwhile investment.
• What types of links do you build?
  • We specialize in guest posts, link insertions, and PR-based links from high-authority sites relevant to your niche.
• How can I monitor the results?
  • We provide detailed reports for every campaign, including placement details and metrics for each backlink.

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