Should I Use PBNs or Private Blog Networks for SEO?

A private blog network, or PBN, is a group of powerful blogs owned by one person or company. You pay them to put links on these blogs that point to your website.

Having links from important websites is really important for doing well in search engine optimization (SEO). But, are these links still helpful?

No, they’re not.

Why?

Before we explore these reasons, let’s first understand how PBNs came to be.

“Avoid PBNs; they’re not worth your money. To boost your traffic, focus on organic growth and use ethical SEO strategies. Work hard, follow the rules, and gradually build your following and traffic over time.”

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How are PBNs created?

Private blog networks used to be individual blogs. When a blog owner decides to stop blogging, instead of shutting down the blog, they sell it.

Who buys it?

The buyer is the PBN owner, either an individual or a company. The blog has gained followers over the years and might have a high domain authority (DA) rank, like 30 or more, making it trusted by Google.

Let’s call this blog Blog A.

Because Google trusts Blog A, any link from this blog is also trusted by Google. Essentially, if Blog A links to your website, which we’ll call Money Blog, Google sees your blog as more trustworthy because it has a backlink from a trusted source, Blog A.

Now, imagine this person owns ten blogs from Blog A to Blog J, each with 50 posts and a high domain authority. You can buy backlinks from this blog owner. They just need to go to these different blogs and use anchor text to link to your website.

Now you have at least ten high DA blogs linking to your Money Blog. The more backlinks from authoritative sites, the more Google favors your site.

Sounds good, right? But not so fast.

In theory, PBNs seem effective, but in reality, they don’t work, and you’ll likely get penalized by Google. If you get penalized, your blog may take years to regain credibility.

Now that you understand how private blog networks work, let’s discuss why they’re no longer effective for SEO.

What is the PBN technique for SEO?

A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a technique in SEO where individuals or entities create a network of their websites or blogs to build backlinks to a primary website.

The goal is to manipulate search engine rankings by artificially boosting the number of links pointing to the target site.

Here’s a basic overview of the PBN technique:

Acquiring Expired Domains: PBNs often start by purchasing expired or aged domains that already have some authority or backlinks.
Creating Websites: After acquiring these domains, individuals or entities set up websites on them. These sites typically mimic real blogs and may contain articles or content to make them appear legitimate.
Linking to the Main Website: The primary purpose of the PBN is to link back to the owner’s main website or target site. These links are intended to improve the target site’s search engine rankings.
Hiding the Network: To avoid detection by search engines, PBN owners may take measures to hide the interconnection of these sites. This can include using different hosting providers, IP addresses, and registrars for each domain.
Maintaining Authenticity: Some PBN owners try to make the individual sites within the network look authentic by updating content, adding images, and making them appear like real blogs. However, this is often done at a scale that is difficult to maintain naturally.

It’s important to note that using PBNs is against the guidelines of major search engines like Google. Search engines aim to provide users with the most relevant and trustworthy information, and attempting to manipulate rankings through techniques like PBNs can result in severe penalties, including a drop in search rankings or complete removal from search engine results.

Four Reasons Private Blog Networks or PBNs Are Bad

1. PBNs are not active blogs

A person buys a PBN not to write more posts but to sell backlinks to bloggers who want quick traffic, maybe like you.

In the legitimate SEO world, you get backlinks by:

Answering questions on forums and leaving your link.
Writing guest posts on high-ranking sites related to your blog and leaving your link.

These seem simple but are hard to do. They take a lot of time, effort, and sometimes money.

The problem with PBNs is they’re not updated. They used to be popular blogs, but with time, they lost their popularity. An inactive blog is like a ghost town—no people, no traffic. So, the backlinks from these blogs to your site are useless.

2. PBNs are frowned upon by Google

Google has a mission: to make its search engine a reliable source of up-to-date, trustworthy information. Because of this, Google doesn’t like the idea of people buying backlinks because it’s seen as trying to cheat the system. Backlinks are meant to be earned through hard work and built on relationships with other bloggers who share the goal of educating people.

If you buy backlinks, it makes you seem not trustworthy. Essentially, you’re buying your credibility. In time, Google will likely find out, and you might face penalties. We won’t dive into the details of how Google detects this, but it’s worth noting that Google programmers are smart, and they frequently release updates to improve Google’s algorithm.

Google does not like Private Blog Networks (PBNs), period.

Using PBNs is considered a violation of Google’s guidelines for webmasters. A PBN involves creating a network of websites with the primary purpose of manipulating search engine rankings by building artificial backlinks.

Google values natural, organic, and authentic content, and it discourages tactics that attempt to artificially inflate a website’s authority. PBNs are seen as an attempt to manipulate search results, and engaging in such practices can lead to severe penalties, including a drop in search rankings or removal from search engine results altogether.

It’s crucial to follow ethical SEO practices and focus on creating high-quality content, building genuine backlinks, and providing a positive user experience. Attempting to game the system with tactics like PBNs can have detrimental effects on a website’s visibility and credibility in search engine results.

3. PBNs are low quality

What does a high-quality backlink mean?

A high-quality backlink comes from a website with high authority and relevance to your blog’s topic. It doesn’t make sense to have a backlink on a furniture store blog when your blog is about personal finance.

What else?

A high-quality backlink also needs page relevancy. This means the page containing the backlink should be related to the page it’s linking to. In the past, people thought only niche relevancy mattered, but that’s not true anymore.

Niche relevancy used to mean that if Blog A is about personal finance, any page linking to your Money Blog is a high-quality link. But now, page relevancy is crucial. If Blog A’s topic is “10 Ways to Save Money,” the backlink to your website must be related to that blog post.

Private blog networks can’t do this well. Owners often scatter your links to any page, even if it’s unrelated to your blog post or niche. This lack of page relevancy means Google won’t give it much value.

4. PBNs lack diversity

Lastly, PBNs lack diversity. Going back to the example of someone buying ten blog sites from Blog A to Blog J – do you really think all these blogs cover a wide range of topics?

The answer is no. Here are ten possible niches from Blog A to Blog J:

Blog A – e-commerce
Blog B – personal finance
Blog C – dropshipping
Blog D – make money online
Blog E – personal finance
Blog F – movie reviews
Blog G – game reviews
Blog H – woodworking
Blog I – dogs
Blog J – cats

Now, let’s say your blog is about health or grooming. None of these ten PBNs match your niche. Even if these blogs are legit, it doesn’t make sense to buy backlinks from them because their audience is not interested in health – they’re interested in dogs. While a dog lover might click on a link to your health website, the chances of that happening are rare.

How to Get High-Quality Backlinks

Getting high-quality backlinks is crucial for improving your website’s search engine ranking. Here are some legitimate and effective ways to acquire high-quality backlinks:

Create High-Quality Content: Develop valuable and informative content that others in your industry would find useful. Content that solves problems, educates or entertains is more likely to attract natural backlinks.

Guest Posting: Contribute guest posts to reputable websites in your niche. Ensure that your guest posts are well-written, provide value, and include a natural link back to your site.

Build Relationships: Connect with influencers, bloggers, and other websites in your industry. Building genuine relationships can lead to opportunities for natural backlinks.

Broken Link Building: Identify broken links on other websites in your niche. Reach out to the site owner, letting them know about the broken link and suggesting your content as a replacement.

Social Media Promotion: Share your content on social media platforms to increase visibility. Social signals can indirectly contribute to your website’s authority, leading to more backlinks.

Create Linkable Assets: Develop content that is shareable and link-worthy, such as infographics, research studies, or comprehensive guides. Websites are more likely to link to content that adds value to their own.

Haro (Help a Reporter Out): Sign up for platforms like HARO to provide expert insights or quotes for journalists and bloggers. If your input is used, you may receive a backlink in return.

Collaborate on Projects: Collaborate with others in your industry on projects, such as webinars, podcasts, or research studies. Co-authored content often results in shared and linked material.

Monitor Your Competitors: Analyze where your competitors are getting their backlinks. Identify opportunities to create similar or better content and reach out to the same sources.

Testimonials and Reviews: Provide testimonials for products or services you genuinely appreciate. Some businesses may link back to your website when showcasing positive reviews.

Remember, the key is to focus on quality over quantity. Natural, earned backlinks from authoritative and relevant websites have a more significant impact on your SEO efforts than artificially created ones. Building a strong online presence through ethical practices will contribute to sustainable and long-term success.

Should I Use PBNs? Are PBN links good for SEO?

No, PBN (Private Blog Network) links are generally not considered good for SEO. While they may offer a shortcut to gaining backlinks, search engines like Google frown upon manipulative practices, and using PBNs to acquire links is considered a violation of their guidelines.

Using PBN links can lead to penalties from search engines, hurting your website’s SEO performance. It’s recommended to focus on ethical and sustainable SEO strategies to achieve long-term success in search engine rankings.

Should I Use PBNs? Can Google detect PBN?

Yes, Google has sophisticated algorithms and methods for detecting Private Blog Networks (PBNs). Google’s primary goal is to provide users with reliable and relevant information, and it actively works to identify and penalize manipulative tactics, including the use of PBNs.

Google employs various techniques to recognize patterns and characteristics associated with PBNs, such as similarities in hosting, content, or linking patterns. They continuously update their algorithms to improve their ability to detect and penalize websites that engage in deceptive practices.

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Engaging in PBN activities poses a risk of being detected by Google, leading to potential penalties, loss of search rankings, and harm to your website’s credibility. It’s advisable to focus on ethical and transparent SEO practices to build a sustainable online presence.

Will PBNs work today? Do PBNs still work today?

As far as I know, using Private Blog Networks (PBNs) for SEO is generally not recommended. Search engines, especially Google, have become increasingly sophisticated in detecting manipulative link-building practices, including PBNs. Engaging in such tactics can lead to penalties, loss of search rankings, and potential harm to your website’s reputation.

It’s essential to keep up with the latest SEO trends and search engine guidelines. As of my last update, the prevailing advice is to focus on ethical, transparent, and sustainable SEO strategies that prioritize high-quality content, natural link-building, and user experience.

Always be aware of potential risks associated with practices like PBNs, as search engines continue to evolve and refine their algorithms to combat spam and manipulation.

Summary: Should I Use PBNs?

PBNs involve linking from a network of blogs under the control of a single entity, which can manipulate search engine rankings. Google values natural, organic links that are earned through legitimate means, such as creating high-quality content and building relationships with other websites.

Avoid PBNs; they’re not worth your money. To boost your traffic, focus on organic growth and use ethical SEO strategies. Work hard, follow the rules, and gradually build your following and traffic over time.