Seven myths about premium backlinks, and what holds up
Most meetings about links repeat the same sentences. Some are right, some are half right, and a few cost money.
RoyalSEO editorial team ·
How to read this page
Each myth is stated the way it is usually said aloud. The reality beside it is our working view, based on public Google guidance and on how our catalogue is built. None of it is a promise about your results.
The seven, side by side
The myth
The reality
A higher rating always means a better link
Domain Rating is Ahrefs' estimate. A relevant, tidy donor with a lower rating often serves a brand better.
Dofollow is the whole story
It is a condition, not a quality mark. Context, audience and surroundings still decide.
Expensive means safe
Price follows authority, traffic and niche. It says nothing about the neighbours.
Tiers of links make the main link stronger
Tiered building points weaker links at the links pointing to you. We sell single placements, and a brand with few clients has little reason to build a stack.
Ten links a month is normal, so we need that
Normal for whom? Pace should follow what you can explain, not what a competitor appears to do.
A penalty is the only risk
The more common cost is a quiet one: links that do nothing, plus a donor you would rather not be seen near.
Once bought, the job is done
Sites change hands and editors move. A yearly look at every donor is part of owning the link.
Where the myths come from
Most of them survive because they were once true enough. In September 2016, Google's Penguin became part of its core ranking system and ran in real time, which made volume feel dangerous or safe depending on who was talking.
Later, Google's December 2022 link spam update brought SpamBrain into the detection of link spam and of sites that sell links. The March 2024 core and spam updates followed. The direction is steady. Links that exist for ranking alone are discounted or ignored.
None of this means premium backlinks are pointless. It means the premium is in fit and context, and not in a number.
What we would say at the meeting
Ask three questions of any proposal. Who reads the page? Would we link to it ourselves? What do we do if the donor changes?
Our catalogue has 50,000+ donor domains with Domain Rating, traffic, niche and language on every row, which makes the first two questions answerable before you pay. The third is yours to keep in a note.
If you want help with vocabulary before the meeting, the partner glossary is written for it. For the practical side, use the vetting guide.
Questions that follow the myths
Are paid links against Google's rules?
Google's spam policies treat links that exist mainly to manipulate rankings as a violation. That is why we describe our service as placements on real sites, ask you to choose donors with care, and make no claims about outcomes. Read the policy yourself and decide how it applies to your firm.
Is nofollow worthless?
No. A nofollow link can still bring readers and mentions, and a natural profile contains many. But our marketplace placements are dofollow, so this question matters more for press mentions than for what you buy here.
Should a premium brand disclose sponsored content?
Follow the rules of the donor and of your own regulator. Donors may mark an article as sponsored. If your sector has advertising-disclosure rules, such as financial promotion rules, ask your compliance team before ordering.
Is a lower Domain Rating a worse choice?
Not necessarily. A trade title with modest rating and loyal readers can suit a specialist firm better than a general site with a higher score. Read the donor's articles before choosing.