Link building is an essential part of any successful SEO strategy. Most organizations choose to outsource this activity to specialists. Yet, they constantly hesitate between freelancers and link-building agencies.
So, which one is better?
Keep reading and learn about the specifics of each alternative to make this decision easier.
Understanding Your Link Building Options
Link building is the foundation of successful SEO. That is why the decision on link building services to use is so important. Both freelancers and specialized agencies have their benefits, drawbacks, and risks. You have to understand the specifics of these two options before you make a choice.
The Growing Link Building Market
Digital competition is getting more intense, and businesses understand how impactful backlinks are.
Quality links let you achieve a higher ranking and visibility. So, the demand for professional link-building services is higher than ever. It helps you build your brand and attract more clients.
There are tons of providers, from independent specialists to full-scale agencies. You need to understand how each of them works to choose an alternative that can fulfill your needs.
Why the Choice Matters for Your Business
Choosing between a freelancer and a link-building agency isn’t just about cost. There are many factors to consider, including
- Control
- Scalability
- Expertise
- Risks
The provider you select will directly impact your site’s authority and backlink profile quality. A wrong choice could lead to wasted resources or penalties.
Making the appropriate decision will help you maintain stability and achieve lasting SEO benefits.
What This Guide Will Cover
We want to help you make the right choice for your business. You’ll learn about the pros and cons of both options in this guide, including
- Costs
- Level of expertise
- Communication
- Risks and challenges
So, keep reading to find an option that matches your needs and resources.
Freelancer Link Building: The Individual Approach
Agencies set the standard in link building. Still, many people tend to hire individual freelancers to manage campaigns. Their personalized approach offers unique advantages. Their work has some drawbacks you should know about as well.
Pros of Working with Freelancers
Freelancers manage simpler operations, so their expenses are usually lower. You can save a lot of money by hiring one. It’s advantageous if your budget is limited.
They usually handle fewer clients at a time. So, they’ll provide a more personalized service. Freelancers focus on creating strategies that perfectly match your niche and goals.
Another advantage is that you speak directly to the person doing the work. There’s no need to go through account managers or communication layers. The collaboration is much faster and more efficient.
Many freelancers specialize in specific industries or outreach types, like
- Guest posting
- Digital PR
- HARO
This niche expertise can lead to better-quality backlinks.
Cons of Freelancer Link Building
Freelancers work on themselves and have a small support network. It limits the number of backlinks they can build in a given timeframe. So, they’re not an option for large-scale campaigns.
It is a bit risky to delegate link-building services to one person. Sometimes, freelancers can’t fulfill your requests because of their other work.
They might not have access to professional tools and industry contacts. It affects their efficiency and stability. Plus, it’s much harder to evaluate the quality of their work.
Agency Link Building: The Team Approach
Link building agency is the most popular alternative for most SEO strategies. They can offer a different level of structure and expertise. Here are the pros and cons of choosing this model.
Pros of Working with Agencies
Agencies usually have a full team that handles different aspects of link building. It includes
- Outreach specialists
- Content writers
- Strategists
- Technical SEO professionals
This cross-functional approach lets them work faster and get more quality backlinks.
Experienced agencies also have existing relationships with publishers and site owners. These connections can simplify the outreach process. As a result, you get quicker placements and potentially more favorable terms.
Plus, dependable providers mostly use white-hat tactics. They apply quality control measures to guarantee links come from legitimate and relevant sources.
Cons of Agency Link Building
Professional link building agency services are more expensive. So, it’s not an option if your budget is limited.
Some alternatives don’t consider the specifics of your niche and use a universal approach for everybody. It might lead to irrelevant or low-impact links.
Plus, not all providers offer detailed reporting on their work. You might not receive the same openness in communication as with freelancers. So, there’s still a possibility of risky tactics and penalties.
Yet, you can eliminate most of these drawbacks by carefully vetting the options.
Cost Comparison: What You’ll Actually Pay
Freelancers often offer services at a lower cost. So, they’re a great alternative for small businesses or startups. Pricing and quality can differ depending on experience and the methods they use.
They can charge you around
- $50-$300 per link
- $20-$100/hour
A good link-building agency will be more expensive, and they’ll handle your entire strategy. They are more suitable for bigger campaigns and budgets.
The optimal budget to start with is $3000 a month. However, it really depends on
- Volume of backlinks
- Authority
- Content writing and editorial fees
- Reporting
- Campaign management
We still recommend you focus more on quality instead of cost. It’s better to pay more and get adequate results than rely on cheap backlinks.
Making the Right Choice for Your Business
You already know about the positive and negative sides of working with a freelancer and a link building agency. Both options are good, but the best choice depends on your objectives and resources.
Consider the following factors to settle your decision:
- Budget capacity
- Timeline
- Internal SEO knowledge
- Volume of backlinks
- Level of control
In both cases, watch out for unrealistic guarantees, unethical practices, and no portfolio.
Conclusion
Outsourcing link building to a specialist is definitely a great solution if you want a proper strategy and less overhead. Yet, there’s always a question – “Freelancer or a link building agency?”
Both these alternatives have their benefits and drawbacks. Freelancers offer lower prices, open communication, and more control over the processes. Agencies are more expensive, but they have established networks and full teams of specialists.
Hope that our guide was useful and you’ll choose an option that suits your business most!