The exact checks we run on every domain before we pitch it — so you never pay for a link on a site that can't move the needle.
A link is only as good as the site it sits on. Here's the vetting process we run on every domain before we place a link on it — steal it for your own due diligence.
1. Real organic traffic
Open the domain in Ahrefs or Semrush and look at the organic traffic trend, not just the number. A healthy site shows steady or growing search traffic across many keywords. A flat line near zero — or a cliff after a past peak — is a red flag.
2. Domain Rating in context
DR matters, but it's gameable. A DR 60 site with no traffic was likely inflated with spam links. Always read DR alongside traffic and referring-domain quality, never alone.
3. Outbound link profile
Scan the site's recent posts. If every article links out to casinos, loans, pills or crypto with exact-match anchors, it's a link shop — and being neighbours with that is a liability.
4. Topical relevance
The host should plausibly cover your topic. A gardening blog linking to your B2B software fools no one, least of all Google.
5. Indexation and history
Check the site is indexed (a quick site: search) and look at its history in the Wayback Machine. A domain that was a different business two years ago may be a rebuilt expired domain.
Turn it into a scorecard
Score each factor red/amber/green. One red on traffic or relevance is an automatic no. Do this consistently and your average link quality climbs fast — without spending a cent more.