You’re ready to invest in link building, but how much should it really cost? You’ve probably seen prices that made you raise an eyebrow. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. The truth is, there’s more to link building than just paying for a backlink.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the factors that impact link building cost so you can invest wisely and achieve the best results.

Let’s start!

How Link Building Costs are Set?

At our agency, link building services cost relatively low due to automated processes that speed up many processes.

To understand how we determine these costs, let’s break down the processes and tools involved.

Our process includes:

• Filtering data and finding relevant websites for backlinks
• Outreaching and following up 
• Waiting for positive responses, and once a backlink goes live, we record it

Internal tools & software we use

• Email finder tool: This is our in-house tool that helps identify the right people for link exchanges.
• Mailmeteor: We use this tool for effective link building outreach.
• Ahrefs: We use Ahrefs for data collection, which is crucial for our work. However, along with the paid plan, it also charges by credits, adding to our overall costs.

Further reading:
Best Link Building Tools

Other expenses

There are some other overhead costs to consider if you are doing link building in-house:

• Salaries
• Physical office expenses
• Taxes
• Equipment costs
• Etc.

When it comes to SaaS backlinks, the cost also depends on what you offer in return for the link.

For example, with news or magazine websites, there’s usually a cost for paid links.

In SaaS link building, buying backlinks is not an option. Instead, we can write guest posts to get these links, for instance, which comes with the cost of either hiring or outsourcing a content writer.

So, understanding the costs of processes, tools, and other expenses involved is a must. Whether you handle link building in-house or work with an agency, this knowledge can help you create a link building campaign that fits your budget and drives better results.

In-House vs. Agency Link Building: Which Is Right for You?

Should I do link building in-house or hire an agency? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. It all depends on your business and what you’re looking for.

If you’re more interested in PR link building or unlinked brand mentions, doing it in-house makes more sense. These backlinks are easier to get and don’t require too much effort or expertise. You can manage it with a small team. Plus, it’s less expensive.

But if you need valuable backlinks for long-term SEO success, an agency could be the way to go. They have all the necessary tools, experience, and processes to get better backlinks faster. Moreover, they have insights on how to manage your backlinks effectively to prioritize relevant links that contribute to lasting SEO improvement. 

Here’s what you should know about how agencies charge for backlinks.

• Hourly Rate: Some agencies bill you for the time spent on your project. This can cover everything from finding relevant websites to sending outreach emails.  But it’s hard to tell the final cost, which can add up fast if things take longer than expected.
• Pay Per Backlink: This is what we do. You pay only for successful SaaS backlinks we get for you. Simple as that. You’re paying for results, not time.

So, what’s the best choice for you? In-house gives you full control, but a reliable link building agency makes everything easier with expert help and predictable costs. 

Choose what meets your unique needs and requirements best!

How to Estimate Resources for Link Building

Estimating the resources for in-house link building starts with knowing exactly what you want to achieve. 

Let’s say your goal is to build 30 backlinks. How do you decide how much work that will take?

For example, if you send 1,000 emails and get 5 positive replies, you’ll know you need to send about 6,000 emails to get 30 backlinks. This also means you’ll need to check around 10,000 domains using tools like Ahrefs.

Now, how are you going to manage that? You can hire people to manually review these domains, or automate the process with tools to save time and money.

So, our advice is to always define your goal first. Once you know how many backlinks you need, you can estimate the time, tools, and effort required to make it happen. 

In-House Link Building: Why It’s Harder Than You Think

The toughest part of in-house link building? Not having enough partners. Without the right connections, getting backlinks feels like shouting into the void.

No matter how many outreach emails with great link exchange offers you send, they can get ignored if you don’t have strong relationships.

This means your time and money might go to waste in case of not getting enough backlinks in return.

As a result, in-house link building can be slow and frustrating. So, if you’re in the early stages, get ready for some trial and error.

Why Do Link Building Prices Vary Between Agencies?

When working with a link building agency, pricing can vary depending on various factors. Some agencies base their backlink packages price based on what the market dictates, but we take a different approach.

We keep our link building prices low by balancing what we spend with what makes sense for our margins. This way, we can offer great value without compromising quality.

But why do some agencies charge more?

A lot of agencies increase their prices because they rely on third-party tools, which can be costly, making the overall service pricier. Plus, with inflation, things can get more expensive for everyone.

The good news is that we don’t fully rely on all those extra costs. Along with using external tools, we’ve got our own tools, which help us keep our link building prices steady. This means you get valuable backlinks without the added cost.

Amazing, right?

What to Expect When You Invest in Backlinks

It may be tempting to expect instant magic, like a high ROI, when you invest in backlinks. But that’s a link building mistake you should avoid.

SEO is a long-term effort, and even though backlinks are important, how well your website is performing or how good your content is also play a big role.

However, you can expect to see some positive changes. Watch for improvements in link building metrics like domain rating (DR) and a stronger backlink profile—these are clear signs that you are on the right track.

If you’re not seeing results right away, don’t worry. Maybe the backlinks are not good enough, something on your website needs fixing, or perhaps you just need more backlinks to outrank your competitors. Efficient link building strategies can help you focus on the right backlinks that will drive better results over time.

The key is to be patient and keep going—it’ll pay off!

The Takeaway

Being informed about link building costs is just the first step. What actually matters is using this knowledge to make smart decisions. 

Whether you’re going in-house or outsourcing to a link building agency, remember: the right backlinks will always pay off. So, stay patient—success is just around the corner!

FAQ about link building cost