Lesson Learned from Buying Gambling Niche Backlinks

[stroupwf]

All, I have been reading and implementing a lot of information from this forum, many thanks to the countless posters out there. I own a casino—a notoriously competitive niche—and have been exploring the purchase of backlinks and text links in this niche. Here are some lessons I have learned:

• Beware of sites that are incomplete (i.e., wordpress blogs created but still have the generic “blog title goes here” header or pages with no posts). It is obvious that there is no traffic and the site is created just to get your money for the link.
• Google apparently is discounting sitewide back links (e.g., a link that appears on every page, or post). I checked several online casinos’ backlinks using traffic travis and yahoo site explorer, and there were a lot of backlinks, but they were paid for links (not in content context) and google gave the link a PR0—despite the owning domain having a PR7.
• Some backlink sellers have no idea how much traffic they get to the site, nor how many actually click on links at the site. My advice: If you are buying the link for the future, that is probably ok, but if you are buying for traffic, shop elsewhere. Google analytics is free.
• Know how much a link is worth; or, you need to be able to sniff price gouging. You can blow a marketing budget by buying links. Is a PR0 worth $7 a month, or a PR5 worth $20—at 20 sites, that’s $140 to $400? And, the links are temporary. At these prices, there are more attractive and targeted marketing options (e.g., ezine ads).
• Finally, check what the keywords are that the offered sites are ranking for (PR0 to etc). A lot of sites that I reviewed ranked for keywords for content on their page but did not rank for anything in the meta keyword tag (what people are actually searching for).

I hope the above information was useful for anyone pursuing a paid backlink strategy. Anyone else have thoughts on this subject, or other tips they want to share?

Keep on keeping on!

[EDGE24]

That's really nice info for all Warriors. We are totally agree with you William.

[cpasalejerry]

Great post, thank you stroupwf

[EndGame]

This is actually very relevant for me at the minute.

I have just agreed to take on a client who owns a handful of Bingo websites. He has asked me to work on the SEO and link-building for one of his sites.

He is aware that it is my first attempt at building links in this niche and as such he knows he is taking a "punt" with me.

Your post was very useful for some initial guidance. If anyone here has any links to any articles or reports on building links in niches like gambling etc, I'd be interested to get them if possible. One of the major challenges in a niche like gambling, or dating/adult sites is the fact many sites don't allow links on their site to websites in those niches.

It's a minefield!

Anyway, cheers for the post.

[Tracey_Meagher]

Useful info. It's always good to learn from those who have tried and tested. Thank you

[stroupwf]

@Pelton, @Cpsalejerry, @Tracey_Meagher: thanks for the feedback. I am hoping that others learn from research.

@EndGame: yes, it is a real minefield, and there are no mine detectors. The hardest part for me is trying to convince site owners and managers that what matters to me is the traffic, not the PR; they should not be charging more for a temporary link than what an ad network would charge to place on multiple sites.

And, if your site has no traffic or lacks links, you should be charging a low rate to begin with--your costs are already sunk on the site, and you are losing money.

[stroupwf]

@Pelton: got your pm and email. Responded to the email. When i get to 50 posts, will be able to respond to the pm.

[bingoman]

Thanks for the tips

[jhonsean]

This is an informative article that you have and counted as your experience in this buying gambling niche backlinks this will be a notice to all as well as the persons involve in this transactions.

[stroupwf]

@jhonsean: thanks, and it is my pleasure. There are lot of crooks, or brokers who are quite willing to oversell their product--namely the link--when a cheaper more effective approach may be to simply find link sites in your niche and go there. Or, find your Big G first page competitors and monitory their links via google alerts--where they get the links is where they go--hopefully they did not buy the link.

Free or inexpensive is definitely better.

[husky hairris]

Hi,

I am the owner of the casino websites, offering Paid
advertisement space as text, banner & blog roll links on my websites.
No more long story to tell that how much beneficial is placing
your sites links on other websites. Well Waiting for your response.
If You are not Buying at the moment or selling Paid advertisement
space for text links etc. Then also revert me back with sites
offering.

[arimson]

hi all i want to sell gambling links on my sites in vary cheap prices contact me fast...........

[DeliaH]

I've got 13 PR4 sites: Not gambling domains @ $16/month per link
1 PR4 gambling site @ $25/month per link
10 PR3 gambling domains @ $16/month per link
20 PR2 gambling domains @ $14/month per link
20 PR1 gambling domains @ $12/month per link

Let me know if you'd be interested.

Delia

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by stroupwf

[*]Google apparently is discounting sitewide back links (e.g., a link that appears on every page, or post).

I've been saying that for a long time. Buy links that are contextual, one article,
one high PR page.

But this only pertains to gaining PR, relevance, and ranking.
(What I concentrate on)

Other links can be decent traffic generators, but have no SERP effect.
Sometimes it is better to go for those.

Paul

[yukon]

Originally Posted by stroupwf

• Google apparently is discounting sitewide back links (e.g., a link that appears on every page, or post). I checked several online casinos’ backlinks using traffic travis and yahoo site explorer, and there were a lot of backlinks, but they were paid for links (not in content context) and google gave the link a PR0—despite the owning domain having a PR7.

It doesn't sound like you understand how PR works.

Millions of domains have high PR (PR7) index pages & low PR (PR0) internal pages, that's normal.

Has nothing to do with sitewide links.