Backlinks help improve search rankings quickly, but quality is the key factor for long-term success.

According to DPS.MEDIA's survey, 62% cheap backlinks lack reliability and are prone to penalties from Google. Therefore, smart investment in quality backlinks will bring more sustainable results than uncontrolled large quantities.

Overview of cheap backlink services and their role in SEO strategy

What are cheap backlinks and how are they provided?

Cheap backlinks are links from other websites pointing to your site but at a lower cost compared to premium backlink services. These services are often:

• Distributed on satellite website systems (PBNs), forums, blog comments
• Using automated tools to create a large number of backlinks in a short time
• Offered at prices from only 10,000đ to 100,000đ / backlink

However, not all cheap backlinks guarantee quality and SEO safety. Sometimes, these links come from low-authority websites or those penalized by Google for spam content.

The role of backlinks in modern SEO

According to Ahrefs statistics (2023), 91% websites with no Google traffic have no backlinks pointing to them. This shows the importance of link building in SEO.

• Increase Domain Authority metrics helping improve website credibility
• Support faster crawling from Googlebot, increasing article indexing frequency
• Contribute to ranking signals if backlinks come from quality domains

However, Google is getting smarter and can detect unnatural or spam backlinks.

Real-life examples: Benefits and risks

A business selling door locks in Ho Chi Minh City implemented cheap backlink services from a local provider in the first 3 months of 2024. Total cost only 2,500,000đ, they saw traffic increase by 38% in the first 2 months, but in the third month:

• A massive increase in backlinks from spam blogs
• Website dropped 24 positions in search results for the main keyword
• Google Search Console warned about unnatural links

This is an example showing short-term benefits but with significant risks if backlink sources are not controlled.

Checklist for selecting cheap backlink services

• Check backlink sources: domain age + relevant content?
• avoid services promising thousands of backlinks in a few days
• Require detailed reports & link review rights before posting
• Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to check DA / SPAM Score
• Choose reputable units like DPS.MEDIA with experience in handling link detox

Table analyzing pros and cons

Short takeaway

Backlinks are a vital factor in SEO, but “cheap” does not always mean “effective”. Choose carefully backlink providers with white-hat orientation and prioritize long-term website safety.

Analysis of cheap backlink quality and potential risks

Where do cheap backlinks usually come from?

Most cheap backlink services often use:

– Low-quality satellite websites, duplicate content
– Blog comments, forum spam, or unmoderated directories
– PBN (Private Blog Network) of unknown origin, easily detected by Google

According to Ahrefs research (2023), more than 56% backlinks from blog comments do not remain after 6 months.

Potential SEO risks from cheap backlinks

choosing cheap backlinks without thorough checking can lead to consequences:

– Site quickly loses DR/DA metrics
– Being put into sandbox by Google or receiving Penguin algorithm penalty
– Losing user trust due to links to disreputable sites

Real-life example: Consequences of unvetted backlinks

A small furniture business in Ho Chi Minh City spent 1 million VND/month on 300 cheap backlinks from forums. After 2 months, traffic dropped 42% (according to Google Search Console), and most links were deindexed by Google after the March 2023 core update.

Checklist for evaluating cheap backlinks

• 🟢 Check DR (Domain Rating) and UR (URL Rating) of the linking site
• 🟢 Ensure anchor text content is relevant to the business field
• 🟢 Avoid backlinks from sites with duplicate IPs or spam content
• 🟢 Prioritize links from articles with real traffic (use SimilarWeb, Ubersuggest)

Quick comparison: Quality backlinks vs. cheap backlinks

Takeaway

Don't let low cost blind you.Cheap backlinks can destroy SEO if uncontrolled. Prioritizing quality over quantity is the long-term investment and optimal budget strategy.

Comparison of effectiveness between cheap backlinks and high-quality backlinks

SEO effectiveness and traffic quality delivered

– cheap-backlink often come from classified sites, low-quality PBNs, bringing little real traffic, mostly vanity metrics.- in contrast, high-quality backlinks from newspapers, industry blogs or sites with DR > 50 will help:
– Increase credibility from Google
– Improve keyword rankings more sustainably
– Attract real traffic from real users

Potential risks when choosing cheap backlinks

– Easily detected by Google as spam if bought in large quantities from poor sources:
– Violates Webmaster Guidelines (Google, 2022)
– Can drop 10-15 positions after 1-2 months if Google core update
– Hard to control content/context of backlink placement
– Risk of disavow or deindexing without notice

Checklist for checking backlink quality

• Backlink placement page has DA, DR > 30?
• Has real traffic, over 1,000 visits/month?
• Content relevant to industry keywords?
• Link placed in footer/sidebar?
• anchor text natural and diverse?

Overall comparison table

Practical example from an SME customer

A mid-range furniture business used 25 cheap backlinks (~15,000đ/link) in 3 weeks. After that, the website dropped 8 ranks on Google and GSC recorded over 60% backlinks from domains with Takeaway:

High-quality backlinks are more expensive, but a more reasonable investment. Meanwhile, cheap backlinks may be cheap first – pay the price later. If budget is limited, prioritize carefully selecting sources over quantity.

DPS.MEDIA JSC – Digital Marketing Solutions for SMEs
📍 56 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu, Tân Định, HCM
📧 marketing@dps.media | ☎️ 0961545445

How to identify reputable backlink providers in the cheap market

Signs to recognize reliable partners

In the cheap backlink market, it's not hard to encounter services that “overpromise”, but credibility lies in specific, realistic factors. A reliable provider is usually transparent about link sources and link-building methods.

💡 Some factors to check immediately:

• Links from sites with DR > 50 (according to Ahrefs) and no spam outbound links
• Allowed to check the original domain before posting
• Clear contract, with refund clause if link is removed
• Committed link lifespan minimum 6 months

Checklist for review before partnering

This is the checklist you should review before deciding to buy cheap backlinks:

• Review at least 3 real sample articles from the provider
• Request domain list in advance (even if only 10 sample pages)
• Compare price → DR/traffic → only choose if reasonable compared to the market average
• Avoid providers using link farms or unclear PBN networks
• Check real traffic from similarweb or Semrush (if available)

Quick comparison table of criteria

Practical examples & data

A SME business in the motorcycle accessories industry bought over 200 cheap backlinks (~30,000đ/link) from many anonymous suppliers via a Facebook group. After 6 months, 57% of links were removed, 20% redirected to unrelated content, causing total DR to drop from 21 to 17 (according to Ahrefs – 2023). Later extracting “trash” backlinks cost over 2 million dong in repair expenses.

Source: Real survey from VietnamSEO Report 2023 conducted by SEOSONA.

Short takeaway

🔎 Investing in cheap backlinks is only truly “cheap” when you choose the right partner. Prioritize transparent metrics, clear link retention policies, and start small to test quality.

Impact of cheap backlinks on brand reputation and search rankings

Potential risks from uncontrolled cheap backlinks

Cheap backlinks often come with poor quality, from unreliable or spam websites. These links not only lack long-term SEO value but can also cause your site to be penalized by Google.

Here are the common consequences:

– Sudden drop in SERP rankings
– Increased bounce rate due to links from unrelated pages
– Negative impact on brand trust in users' eyes

In an anonymous case study conducted by DPS.MEDIA in 2023, a furniture brand dropped 15 positions in 2 weeks after using a cheap backlink package, mainly from spam blogs, despite backlinks increasing 200%.

Long-term impact on brand reputation

Not only affecting Google's algorithm, low-quality backlinks also reduce user perception when accessing the brand via “dirty” pages. This causes difficulties in future branding or PR campaigns.

Checklist for evaluating cheap backlinks before purchase

• ✅ Backlink placement page has DA ≥ 30? (check with Moz)
• ✅ Website has real traffic? (use SimilarWeb/CrawIQ)
• ✅ Backlink uses natural anchor text?
• ✅ Placed on industry-compatible content?
• ⚠️ Do not use automated tools to create bulk backlinks

Comparison table: Good backlinks vs cheap backlinks

Short conclusion

cheap backlinks may be attractive in terms of cost, but in return, you are gambling with your own reputation and ranking. Consider carefully before investing, because the real price may not be “cheap” at all.

Strategy to leverage cheap backlinks smartly and safely

Selective low-quality but effective backlink sources

Not all cheap backlinks are bad – many services share links from personal blogs, reputable forums, or expired websites that still have stable traffic. The important thing is that you need to filter:

• Domain authority (DA) > 20
• Stable Traffic (minimum 200 visits/month, according to SimilarWeb)
• Not penalized by Google or recorded spam links

Create “Backlink buffer” to reduce risk

instead of pointing cheap backlinks directly to the main page, use a buffer strategy:

• Build 1-2 intermediate pages (e.g., guest post article, microsite)
• Cheap backlink → buffer page → main page
• Increase naturalness and safety against Google algorithms (like Core Update 2023)

Real example: One agency tried buying 50 forum profile backlinks (~3,000₫/link) and pointed them to a high-quality guest post article. After 3 weeks, the main article received 23% organic traffic growth, according to Google Search Console.

Checklist: What to do before investing in cheap backlinks?

• ✅ Verify domain quality via Moz, Ahrefs
• ✅ Check traffic source via SimilarWeb or google Analytics (if available)
• ✅ Create a reasonable backlink structure diagram (direct vs through buffer)
• ✅ Set limits on the number of backlinks purchased per week/month
• ✅ Monitor performance from Search Console & update periodically

Backlink evaluation template table

Summary takeaway:

cheap-backlink can be a cost-saving solution if you tightly control quality and build a solid buffer strategy. Highlight: Small investment, risks can be large if lacking analysis. Start with a small quantity and measure carefully.

Advice from DPS MEDIA when investing in backlink services for SME businesses

Understand the real benefits from backlinks

Not all backlinks provide equal value. Businesses need to focus on quality, not just quantity. According to Ahrefs report (2023), over 66% websites receive no traffic from Google despite having backlinks – clearly proving that low-quality backlinks are nearly useless.

Some benefits when investing correctly:

– Increase website credibility on Google (DA, PA improvement)
– Improve target keyword SEO rankings in 1-3 months
– Direct real traffic from relevant themed pages

Checklist: Before investing in backlinks

Ensure you check the following factors before buying backlinks:

• ✔ The backlink placement website has real traffic (can be checked with SimilarWeb, Ahrefs)
• ✔ The page topic is related to your business field
• ✔ The link is dofollow & naturally embedded in the content
• ✔ No spam anchor text (diversity is best)
• ✔ The provider is transparent about traffic sources and DA/PA

Real example: An SME in the furniture industry in Ho Chi Minh City

A small customer in the furniture industry once invested 4 million VND/month for over 50 “cheap” backlinks. After 5 months, the website still ranked outside the top 100 Google results for the main keyword. When switching to a selective backlink strategy as recommended by DPS MEDIA,only with 15 content-based backlinks from sites DA > 40,traffic increased 371% within 2 months (according to Google Search Console).

Compare cost – value provided

A few notes from DPS MEDIA for SMEs

– Backlink investment should not be a short-term goal.
– Combine with content marketing & on-page SEO.
– Avoid repeating the same backlink source too many times.

Takeaway

Effective backlink investment = Selective + Patient + Transparent. With limited budgets,SMEs should prioritize links with real value – not just “cheap”.

Sharing from personal experience

Cheap backlink services can save costs but hide many risks. For sustainable SEO, businesses need to invest in content strategy and quality link systems.

Review your current backlinks and ask yourself: “Is this a smart investment?”. Don't be afraid to experiment, but always stay in control.

Interested in on-page SEO or backlink auditing topics? Explore more analytical articles from DPS.MEDIA for a more comprehensive view.

What backlink service are you using? Leave a comment to share your experience with the DPS.MEDIA community!