Should I Pay Someone for Backlinks? (What Local Businesses Need to Know)
You get the email.
“Hi There,
We are a professional Outreach link-building assistant guest posting service provider. We can publish your link on AP News, Benzinga, Good Men Project…”
Sounds impressive - but if you’re a local business, it’s usually not worth it.
In fact, this is the kind of SEO advice we try to help people avoid.
Here’s what’s actually going on - and what to do instead.
First, what’s a backlink?
A backlink is a link from someone else’s website to yours. It’s one of the ways Google decides whether your site is trustworthy and relevant. But not all backlinks are equal.
The Paid Link Trap
When someone cold emails you offering to “place” your site on huge news websites or business blogs, what they’re really doing is buying space in someone else’s guest post or article.
That might sound good, but…
Here’s the problem:
These links are rarely local - they don’t help you show up in your area.
They’re often irrelevant - you’re just another link on a site that has nothing to do with your industry.
They can get you penalised - if Google thinks you’re buying links to manipulate rankings, it can hurt more than help.
They’re expensive - hundreds of pounds for a single link in a blog no one reads.
What actually helps your local SEO?
For small, local businesses, backlinks are most useful when they’re:
Local - tied to your town, postcode, or community
Relevant - from sites that talk about services like yours
Real - earned through good content, not shoehorned into spammy posts
So... Should You Ever Pay for a Backlink?
If it’s:
From a real site,
In relevant context, and
Transparent about what you’re getting…
Then yes - it can be a small but useful part of your SEO mix.
That’s why we offer our own £10 backlink service:
Backlink - Sponsor an Example
For £10, we’ll add a natural, helpful backlink to your business from a real blog post on this site - often from phrases like “air conditioner in Southampton” or “local driving instructor”.
No spam. No fake news sites. Just a clean, sensible link that fits the content and helps your visibility.
👉 Learn more here
TL;DR
Don’t get sucked into expensive, low-value backlink schemes.
If you’re a small business, you’re better off with:
A solid Google Business Profile
Local citations (like Yell, Checkatrade, etc.)
Relevant content on your own site
The occasional well-placed backlink that makes sense
And that’s exactly what we help with at SO SEO.
Are paid backlinks bad for SEO?
Not always - but if they’re irrelevant, low quality, or violate Google’s rules, they can do more harm than good. Focus on local, relevant links instead.
Do I need backlinks for local SEO?
Backlinks can help, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle. For local businesses, things like your Google Business Profile and on-page content are often more important.
What’s a safe way to get a backlink?
Look for natural opportunities: local blogs, community websites, or real businesses that talk about your service. Or try our £10 backlink option for a safe, relevant starting point.
