The myths and the risks

What are PBNs?

A Private Blog Network (PBN) is a group of websites that exist solely to provide backlinks to other websites. The purpose of a PBN is to manipulate Google to improve a website’s Google search ranking.

SEOs create PBNs by building new websites or buying old domains that are already authoritative. And then link from those domains to the website(s) they want to boost.

SEOs using PBNs usually use this tactic to be in “full control” of them link building attempts.

Think about it this way:

Rather than earn links, a private blog network means you can point links to your site however you want, with the exact anchor text you want, whenever you want. And to whatever page needs a boost.

Sounds great, right?

Wrong.

PBNs clearly violate Google’s Webmaster Quality Guidelines and can result in heavy penalties.

But people still use it and talk about it. Why?

Let’s get into it.

PBNs violate Google’s Webmaster Quality Guidelines

We recommend that you avoid using PBNs altogether as a link building tactic.

Google’s link spam guidelines report:

“Any links intended to manipulate rankings in Google Search results can be considered link spamming. This includes any behavior that manipulates links to your site or outbound links from your site.”

Private blog networks clearly fall within this guidance.

Links from PBNs try to manipulate Google search results. These links are not earned. They are posted by someone acting on behalf of your site.

PBN sites offer no real value. They...