SEO is super important when you’re running an online business or want to grow your online presence. When it comes to on-page SEO, most companies hire an in-house team they trust to have full access to their website. But when it comes to off-page SEO, there’s always a debate about whether to hire an in-house team and increase fixed costs or outsource link building.
Link building is an integral component of SEO, as high-quality backlinks help increase website authority, increase relevancy and promote organic growth. Unfortunately, creating and securing these valuable links requires time-intensive efforts that require special skillsets and expertise – outsourcing is a viable alternative if businesses lack either resources or expertise to construct them themselves, just make sure to choose a reliable provider!
Many people often think that link building is super easy as it’s just about placing the link on an article but actually it’s more complex because it need
- Research: Finding relevant websites to link to, ensuring your links add value to the target site.
- Maintaining relationships: Link building is all about collaborations. If you don’t maintain relationships, you won’t get any response when you want to collaborate.
- Quick Communication: Link exchange process can take time if replies are slow. So, the quicker you respond the quicker you can build backlinks
An experienced agency should have established contact lists, outreach templates and a systematic method for assuring all links acquired meet quality standards. They will also be able to provide regular reports on metrics important to you such as website traffic and rankings – be wary of agencies promising specific results as this may signal the use of questionable techniques like link farms or private blog networks.
In this blog, we’ll explore which option is more efficient for your business: hiring an in-house link building team or outsourcing link building.
Let’s dive in!
Right time to build backlinks
Building backlinks is not something that you can ignore if you have a website and want to generate business from it. But it’s also not something to start right after when you create a website.
Once you create a website ensure that if search engines are able to read your website correctly by doing good on-page SEO and create quality content that can provide to your visitors query. Below is the checklist to know if your website and content is ready to benefit from external endorsement
- Solid On-Page SEO and Technical Foundation
Ensure your site has well-optimized title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and internal links. Your site should be fast, mobile-friendly, and offer a seamless user experience.
Fix crawl errors, broken links, and any issues flagged by tools like Google Search Console. A technically sound site is more likely to pass link equity effectively. - High-Quality, Linkable Content
Your content should be original, well-researched, and address your audience’s pain points. This can include in-depth guides, data-driven studies, infographics, or interactive tools.
Once you have assets that other sites would naturally reference (linkable assets), it signals that your site is authoritative enough to serve as a credible resource. - Link Profile Evaluation
Review your existing backlink profile using tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush. Identify gaps where acquiring new backlinks could make a significant impact.
Analyze competitors’ link profiles to understand where they are gaining their backlinks. If you notice that industry peers are acquiring links from authoritative sources, it might be time to ramp up your own backlink-building efforts. - Resource Availability
Ensure you have the capacity to execute a strategic backlink campaign. Quality outreach requires time, effort, and financial investment.
Develop clear messaging, case studies, and pitches for outreach. When your website is ready and you have quality content to showcase, you can effectively reach out to potential link partners.
What is link building outsourcing
Link building outsourcing is like hiring a pro to help you get backlinks for your business. It’s a super effective way to boost your search engine rankings and bring in more traffic. But here’s the catch: you need to choose a trusted partner who knows the ropes and can deliver quality backlinks without getting into trouble with search engines.
A good link builder should be an SEO expert who knows all the latest tricks. They’ll give you detailed reports and analyses of your performance, and they’ll use ethical methods to avoid penalties. They should also be able to keep delivering consistent results over time.
When looking for a link-building service provider, check out their outreach methods. They should offer guest blogging, article marketing, social media promotion, and syndication. They should also be able to provide links from relevant websites with high domain authority. And be sure to ask if they have guarantees against poor-quality links or questionable practices like link farms.
When to outsource link building
An ideal time for outsourcing is when you have a clear SEO strategy in mind and clear expectations on what results you would like to see from link building. The most successful firms will create strategy specifically for your niche and audience. Be sure to ask about their tactics and follow up closely on any results that arise from their efforts.
How to outsource link building
When choosing a link-building service, look for someone who’s worked with clients in your niche before. Ask for samples of their work and find out how they’ll measure results. Make sure you can communicate clearly and transparently throughout the process. Also, ask about their pricing and if they offer a one-size-fits-all package.
A reputable link building agency or freelancer will have a solid track record and likely have strong relationships with websites and bloggers. This can help them get high-quality backlinks faster.
Agencies should regularly check their work to make sure it’s working as well as it should. They should use tools like Ahrefs and Moz. If the results aren’t what you expected, they can suggest other options and advise you on the best course of action.
Benefits of outsourcing link building services
Link building can be a tough job, especially if your SEO team is busy with other stuff like content strategy or product development. But guess what? Outsourcing it can be a smart move if you’re looking for an affordable solution.
Outsourcing can be an excellent solution for businesses with tight budgets looking to achieve big goals. While recruiting and training an in-house team may be costly, outsourcing with an agency may deliver faster results than full-time specialists while saving money by cutting unnecessary expenses like employee salaries, benefits, and overhead expenses.
Now, here’s the thing: you gotta be careful when choosing an outsourcing partner. Avoid agencies that offer super low prices because they might use shady methods that could get you into trouble with Google.
Instead, look for an agency that’s experienced and knows what they’re doing. They should be able to create high-quality backlinks that drive traffic and help your business grow. And the best part? They should be flexible and willing to adjust their services based on your needs.
Link building can be a real time-suck, and it can cost a lot of money. One expert needs a whopping 212 hours each month to build just 15 links! Can you imagine dedicating that much time and money to one project when you’ve got other marketing stuff to manage? Outsourcing link building could save you both time and money, so you can focus on growing your business in all the right ways
Consider outsourcing cost
The cost of outsourcing link building can vary significantly depending on multiple factors like quality, volume, niche competitiveness, and whether you hire freelancers, agencies, or white-label providers. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:
1. Per Link Pricing
This is the most common model when outsourcing.
| Domain Rating (DR) | Cost per Link (USD) | Description |
| DR 20–30 | $50–$150 | Niche edits, guest posts on mid-tier blogs |
| DR 30–50 | $150–$300 | Guest posts, outreach on real niche sites |
| DR 50–70 | $300–$600+ | High-authority blogs, real editorial placements |
| DR 70+ | $600–$1000+ | Major publications (e.g., Forbes, TechCrunch, etc.) |
Note: Prices may also depend on traffic, relevancy, and do-follow status.
2. Monthly Retainers (Agency Model)
If you hire a link building agency, they might charge a monthly package fee:
| Package Size | Monthly Cost | Deliverables |
| Starter (5–10 links) | $500–$1500 | Basic outreach, DR 20–40 |
| Mid-Tier (10–20 links) | $1500–$4000 | Mix of outreach, strategy, and reports |
| Enterprise (20+ links) | $4000–$10,000+ | High volume, high authority, full campaigns |
3. Hiring Freelancers or Full-Time Outreach Specialists
| Option | Cost | Notes |
| Freelancer (per link) | $50–$500 | Platforms like Upwork or Fiverr Pro |
| Outreach VA (monthly) | $300–$800 | They handle email outreach but not link placement |
| Full-time single Link Builder | $2000–$3500/month | May require training and SOPs |
Other Hidden/Additional Costs
- Content Creation: Some guest posts may require you to pay extra for article writing ($30–$100 per post).
- Tools: You may need tools like Ahrefs, Hunter.io, or Pitchbox if you’re managing internally.
- Placement Fees: Some sites charge a flat fee to publish your guest post regardless of quality.
Online Outrun a link building agency focuses on helping brands build customer backlinks. These backlinks can boost your website’s ranking, site metrics, and attract high-intent organic traffic.
If you’re a new business that’s focused on your product and doesn’t have much time to invest in link building, outsourcing your link building efforts to a team of experienced professionals can be a great way to get the results you need.
The pricing for Online Outrun starts at $2990 per month and can go up to $7990 per month if you need niche-specific outreach and link building. You can also customize your plan if you have different requirement for your website.
In-house link building or link building outsourcing?
From the above pricing chart, it’s clear that outsourcing is more cost-effective than hiring a full-time team. Hiring a full-time team can cost you over $10,000 per month, excluding tools costs. You’ll also have to train those employees and provide them with full-time employment benefits. There’s also a risk involved because you don’t have any details about the proven track record of those full-time employees.
On the other hand, hiring a link-building agency can cost you less, including tools and other additional costs. They’re all well-trained and have a proven track record of successful project completion in your niche.
Although outsourcing link building services can save time, it is still essential that you are ready to commit to the process. An established agency should offer clear pricing structures and descriptions of what each available package entails as well as be able to demonstrate how their approach impacts SEO return on investment.
An effective link building campaign takes time and requires significant skill. Utilizing tools for email outreach and content production is necessary, oftentimes it takes months before any tangible return on your investment can be seen.
Consider whether in-house or outsourcing would produce better results. When considering both, remember that when outsourcing you will achieve optimal results when your team understands all aspects of marketing strategy. Otherwise, be wary of link-building agencies that specialize solely in link building as these can sometimes use dubious practices that lead to Google penalties on your website – often at greater expense than what their results provide.
How to find a right link builder
If you’re looking to boost your SEO, finding a reliable link builder or link building agency is crucial. Look for someone who follows white hat SEO practices and knows how Google works.
The best way to find a freelance link builder is through platforms like KonKer, Upwork, or Fiverr. You’ll find a lot of talented people with samples of their work, so you can choose the one that fits your needs.
When choosing an agency, look for one with a proven track record and clear communication. They should also understand your overall SEO strategy and how their backlinks align with it. This way, they can create high-quality content that attracts relevant links that help you achieve your business goals.
Another great way to find link builders is on social media platforms like LinkedIn. You can check out their profiles and see if they’ve worked with other companies before. This can lead to referrals that save you time and money, and it also connects you with other SEO experts.
One thing to be careful of is any agency or link builder who promises you bulk links within days, could be a sign that they’re using PBN sites or other questionable methods.
Wrapping it up
Look for an agency that knows how to build links the way you want, like HARO outreach (answering journalist questions with expert advice). They should also be transparent. Their methods should fit well into your SEO plan and be managed properly.
A good link building service should have tools to track backlinks, measure results, and spot any problems. They should also have a list of past clients and testimonials to show you how good they are and what they’ve done. They should also give you monthly SEO results based on things like traffic and conversions. If they can’t do that, maybe it’s time to switch agencies.
FAQs – Link building outsourcing
Can I control the quality of acquired links?
Absolutely, partner with freelancers/agencies that follow white-hat techniques.
How do I measure the success of outsourced link building?
Track improvements in organic traffic and domain authority.
Will outsourcing improve my rankings fast?
It can boost rankings steadily when done with ethical practices.
Why outsource link building?
If you want to improve your SEO efforts and don’t have time for outreach than you should consider outsourcing
