The Complete Guide to Private Blog Networks
Discover why SEO professionals are switching from risky PBN links to our transparent, updateable Living Links network. Real sites. Real traffic. Full control.
The concept behind PBNs is simple: acquire expired domains that still have domain authority from their previous life, set up basic websites on them, and use those sites to link back to your main website (the "money site").
PBN operators hunt for expired domains with strong backlink profiles, hoping the existing authority transfers to their new sites. They then create just enough content to make the sites look legitimate before placing links to their target websites.
Money Site: Your main website that you're trying to rank — the ultimate destination of PBN links.
Footprints: Identifiable patterns (same hosting, themes, WHOIS data) that reveal sites belong to the same network.
Expired/Auction Domains: Domains acquired after they lapse or through marketplace auctions, valued for their existing backlink profiles and authority.
PBNs remain a powerful link building method because they work — you control the sites, the anchors, and the placement. The trade-off is the time and cost to maintain them properly. Many SEOs prefer guest posts on established sites for the same link equity without the ongoing overhead.
Here's how PBN operators typically build and maintain their networks:
PBN builders source domains through expiry drops or auction marketplaces, looking for existing backlink profiles and authority metrics. Key criteria include decent DR/DA scores, clean spam history, and topical relevance to their target niche.
Each PBN site needs separate hosting to avoid detection. Sophisticated operators use different hosts, IP addresses, registrars, and nameservers for each domain — a costly and complex requirement.
PBN sites need content to appear as functioning websites. Quality varies widely — some operators invest in original articles while others use AI or templated content. The better the content, the more natural the site appears.
Finally, links are inserted pointing to the "money site." These links are typically embedded in content with optimized anchor text, attempting to pass authority from the PBN domain to the target.
PBNs require ongoing maintenance — domain renewals, hosting payments, occasional content updates, and constant monitoring for deindexation. It's a full-time job to keep a network operational.
The Hidden Costs: Running a PBN isn't cheap. Domain acquisition ($50-5,000+ per domain), separate hosting for each site ($5-20/month each), content creation, and maintenance time add up quickly. A 20-site PBN can easily cost $500-2,000+ per month to maintain.
PBN links aren't just against Google's guidelines — they pose real threats to your website's rankings, reputation, and investment.
Google's SpamBrain algorithm specifically targets link manipulation schemes. Manual actions can devastate your rankings overnight, and algorithmic penalties from link spam updates (like December 2022) can tank your traffic without warning.
PBN links aren't cheap — quality networks charge $100-500 per link. If your site gets penalized, you lose both the link investment AND the organic traffic you were building. Recovery can take months or years.
Google identifies PBNs through hosting patterns, WHOIS data similarities, theme/template matches, interlinking patterns, and content quality signals. Even "premium" PBNs leave detectable footprints.
Once you buy a PBN link, you're stuck with it. Can't update anchor text. Can't change the target URL. Can't remove the link if the PBN site gets flagged. Your link profile is at the mercy of someone else's network.
"Any links intended to manipulate PageRank or a site's ranking in Google search results may be considered part of a link scheme and a violation of Google's Webmaster Guidelines."
— Google Search Central DocumentationLiving Links represent the evolution of link building — same goal of building authority, but executed on real websites with real traffic, and with full control over your links. When you buy backlinks through Living Links, you get placements on real websites with genuine traffic.
| Feature | PBN Links | Living Links |
|---|---|---|
| Link Control | ✗ None after purchase | ✓ Update anytime |
| Site Quality | ⚠ Often thin/fake content | ✓ Real sites, real traffic |
| Footprints | ✗ Common patterns detectable | ✓ No footprints |
| Transparency | ✗ Hidden metrics | ✓ Full metrics visible |
| Google Risk | ✗ High penalty risk | ✓ Natural link profile |
| Pricing | ⚠ $100-500/link (varies) | ✓ From $45 (transparent) |
| Anchor Text Changes | ✗ Locked forever | ✓ Change instantly |
| URL Updates | ✗ Cannot modify | ✓ Redirect anytime |
Unlike PBN links that lock you into permanent placements on questionable sites, Living Links give you full control over your backlinks on real, traffic-generating websites.
Choose from our vetted network of real websites. See full metrics — domain rating, traffic, niche, and pricing — before you buy.
Guest Posts from $45, Homepage Links from $10/mo. Filter by niche, DR, traffic, or budget.
We publish your link on real content with real readership. No thin content. No fake sites. Just legitimate placements.
Change anchor text, switch target URLs, or update surrounding content — all from your dashboard. Something no PBN can offer.
Living Links Technology — Our proprietary system that makes your backlinks updateable. Rebranding? Change anchors. Launching a new page? Redirect your links. Full control, always.
Every site in our network has real organic traffic, real content, and real editorial standards. No expired domain shells.
See DR, traffic estimates, and niche categories before purchase. No hidden metrics or inflated numbers.
Our network is naturally diverse — different owners, different hosts, different niches. No detectable patterns.
Links go live within 24-48 hours. No waiting weeks for PBN content to be created.
Compare to typical PBN costs of $200-500 per link with no guarantees
1,000+ word article with your link
Premium homepage placement
Volume discounts available. No hidden fees, no sales calls required.
When you need safe, effective link building without the risks of PBNs, here's why agencies and in-house teams choose Hetneo's Links.
See DR, organic traffic, and niche for every site before you buy. No guessing about what you're getting — unlike PBNs that hide their site quality.
Change anchors, update URLs, modify content — anytime. PBNs lock you in forever. We give you control over your link profile.
Every site in our network has genuine organic visitors and real content. No thin content shells or expired domain facades.
Our 800+ site network is naturally diverse — different owners, hosts, themes, and niches. Google sees natural links, not a pattern.
Browse our inventory, see prices upfront, and order directly. No "contact us for pricing" games that PBN providers love to play.
Real humans ready to help with site selection, anchor strategy, or technical questions. Not anonymous PBN operators who disappear when problems arise.
Our SEO specialists have built over 200,000 links for agencies across North America.
Head of SEO Strategy
12 years in SEO, started link building in 2013. Previously ran SEO for a Toronto-based e-commerce brand that grew from $2M to $18M in organic revenue. Now leads client strategy and campaign planning—helping agencies figure out the right mix of guest posts and homepage links for their clients.
Publisher Relations Lead
Manages relationships with our network of 800+ publishers across Canada, US, UK, and Australia. 6 years in digital PR and outreach. Personally vets every new site before it joins the network—checking traffic, content quality, and editorial standards.
Content Operations Manager
Oversees all guest post production—from topic research to final QA. Former content manager at a Vancouver marketing agency. Ensures every article matches the host site's voice, passes editorial review, and includes proper contextual linking.
Technical Lead
Built the Living Links platform from scratch. 8 years as a full-stack developer, previously at a Montreal SaaS startup. Designed the system that lets clients update anchors and URLs instantly without needing to contact support or wait for manual changes.
Real results from real link building campaigns.
3,200 → 7,400 monthly visitors over 6 months
"We run link building for a local law firm—competitive niche. Started with 6 guest posts on legal blogs, then another 6 two months later. Steady climb in traffic, nothing crazy overnight but consistent growth. The nice thing is we can see exactly what sites we're getting and adjust if something isn't working."
"plumber denver" — #28 → #4 over 5 months
"Client runs a plumbing company in Denver, wanted to rank for the main local keyword. We started with 3 homepage links on home services sites in September. Saw movement within a few weeks. Added 2 more in December and broke into the top 5 by January. Simple approach, no drama."
Individual results vary based on niche, competition, and existing site authority.