0
0
Should you work with a link-building agency or handle everything internally?
Both approaches have their pros and cons. Yet, in most cases, partnering with a professional is much easier. You have more time for other company activities and no need for huge upfront investments.
Keep reading and learn about the difficulties of in-house link building and how a skilled provider can help you avoid them!
The Challenges of In-House Link Building
Building quality backlinks is the foundation of successful SEO. However, handling link building internally is not always a good idea. You may experience various operational and strategic difficulties.
The in-house approach offers direct control over all the processes. Still, it presents challenges that can strain your resources.
Time-intensive outreach and relationship building
One of the hardest aspects of link building is manual outreach. You have to establish connections with webmasters, editors, and bloggers to get quality links.
A genuine approach requires researching suitable prospects based on
- DA
- Niche relevance
- Traffic potential
Next, you need to create personalized messages for each recipient explaining your offer. Consistent follow-ups are essential as well.
This process can take weeks or even months. So, outsourcing it to a link-building agency that already has a network is smarter.
Content creation demands
You’ll have to assign separate team members for content creation activities. Your materials have to be informative and interesting at the same time.
Creating a steady flow of quality content that matches the SEO and outreach strategies is difficult. Your workers may not have enough experience to come up with ideas and design the most effective link magnets.
Scaling link acquisition without burning internal resources
You’ll eventually have to scale your strategy as your business grows. However, with an internal approach, you’ll need to allocate more resources to get more links.
This method can lead to operational inefficiencies and employee burnout. Plus, you won’t have that much time for other important activities, like
- Conversion optimization
- Content marketing
- UX improvements
As a result, you spend more and get less.
What Agencies Bring to the Table
An in-house strategy may seem simpler and less expensive. However, it often offers more challenges than benefits. So, it’s always better to partner with a professional link building company.
Here are a few things these specialists can offer you.
Access to established publisher relationships
An experienced link-building agency has an established network of publishers and site owners. It can take you years to build this kind of connection.
These relationships allow agencies to secure top placements. They can usually negotiate
- Better rates
- Faster turnaround times
- Guaranteed editorial standards
It’s especially useful if trust and authority are your main priorities.
Dedicated outreach teams and streamlined processes
The next benefit of link-building services is that they have a separate team for outreach. They create individual pitches, manage follow-ups, and monitor results.
These specialists have experience in building relationships and persuading others. Plus, they work with different tools and systems that simplify the process, including
- CRMs for outreach tracking
- Automated prospecting software,
- Templated workflows
These instruments help them minimize delays and catch valuable opportunities in time.
Experience with anchor strategy, link velocity, and risk management
Not to mention that the best link building services have the necessary technical expertise.
For instance, they know how to diversify anchor text to avoid over-optimization. They also have experience in managing link velocity. These specialists create a balanced plan that mimics organic growth while still achieving results.
Getting backlinks can be risky, and a professional can help you avoid harmful consequences. They pre-vet source sites and monitor link profiles.
Cost Comparison: In-House vs. Agency
The expense structure of working in-house and with a link building agency is different. You have to understand how much you’ll have to invest in each strategy before deciding.
Salaries, tools, and overhead vs. per-link or per-campaign pricing
Building an internal team requires a big upfront and ongoing investment. You may need to hire
- Full-time SEO specialist
- Content strategist
- Writers
- Data analyst
The next important investment is access to premium tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, and others. Plus, you’ll have to spend extra on training, HR processes, and office space if necessary.
Agencies have more predictable pricing. They usually offer
- Per-link payment
- Monthly packages
Plus, you don’t need to manage the team or pay for tools. A good link-building company includes it in the package.
ROI considerations — faster results with less internal effort
Another varying factor is ROI. It’s not just about the cost per link, but also the value they generate.
With an in-house team, it will take longer to achieve results because of training and relationship-building difficulties. Plus, mistakes in targeting and poor anchor strategy can weaken ROI.
As we’ve mentioned above, a link-building agency can establish connections much faster. They can scale the efforts up or down easily depending on campaign needs or budget. Plus, their experience increases the odds of success and a higher ROI.
Finding the Right Partner
You already know how beneficial it is to partner with a professional. A specialized agency will handle all the processes and help you achieve optimal results quickly.
The key is to find the best link building agencies for your needs.
Before you start evaluating potential providers, determine your goals. It will help you narrow down the options.
Next, we recommend you consider only white-hat alternatives. They follow Google’s guidelines, and you won’t have to deal with penalties.
Some other factors to check are
- Case studies and past results
- Real metrics
- Niche relevance
- Customization options
- Reporting
- Client reviews
- Pricing models
We also recommend asking for a trial run or small campaign if possible. It will help you test the vendor’s processes. Plus, you’ll have the chance to assess link quality and placement relevance.
When an In-House Team Might Make Sense
Internal link building can be pretty challenging. However, in certain scenarios, it’s more practical than outsourcing.
If you want to use SEO as a core marketing channel for a long time, this strategy will be better. You can align it with your company’s specific tone and objectives.
Also, it’s great to work internally if you consistently publish optimized content. Your team will only have to support it.
Plus, an in-house approach encourages communication, and you can execute cross-functional campaigns faster.
Not to mention the fact that you’ll have full control over all the activities. You’ll have all the information, which makes you less vulnerable to risks.
Final Thoughts
Many businesses hesitate over whether to handle link building in-house or hire a specialist.
A professional link-building agency offers many benefits that an internal team can’t give you. They have a huge network of partners, specialized outreach teams, and the needed technical knowledge.
The choice is completely up to you, but partnering with an expert will definitely save you time and resources.
