Link building services

For small businesses and site owners who need more relevant links from trusted websites. We audit your current backlinks and plan outreach you can review before work starts.

Get a link building planSee how the process works

Backlink profile audit with a written gap summary
Relevant link target research for your industry
Monthly reporting on links earned and pages supported

Quick answer

Link building services from Pugmarks Media help a website earn links from relevant, trusted sites. Our team audits your current backlinks, researches link targets in your industry, runs outreach you can review before work starts, and reports monthly on the links earned and the pages they support.

01Overview

What is link building?

Link building is the practice of earning links from other websites to your own, so search engines and readers see your pages as credible and worth visiting. A link is a clickable reference on one site that points to a page on another. Most search engines treat links from relevant, trusted sites as one signal among many.

Here is a concrete example. A plumbing company publishes a clear guide to winter pipe protection. A local news site, a hardware supplier and a homeowners' association then reference that guide in their own pages. Each reference is a link, and each comes from a site that its readers already trust.

Relevance matters more than count. One link from a respected trade body in your industry usually says more about your business than dozens of links from unrelated directories. Bulk, low-quality links can also create risk, which is why a backlink audit comes before any outreach.

Link building is one part of wider SEO services. It works best alongside useful content and a technically sound site, because links only help if the pages they point to deserve attention.

In practice, the work involves checking the links you already have, finding sites that fit your niche, creating or choosing pages worth citing, and contacting site owners and editors with a personal request. The sections below explain each step and what you receive.

02Fit

Who link building is for

Small businesses with a thin backlink profile

Owners whose competitors show up for key searches while their own site has few outside references. We audit existing links, then plan outreach to relevant sites you can review first.

New or recently launched websites

Sites with good pages but almost no links pointing to them. You get link target research and a plan that matches outreach to the pages you most want found.

Sites with inherited or risky links

Businesses that hired a past vendor or bought bulk links. The backlink audit flags weak, irrelevant or risky links and gives you a written summary of gaps and priorities.

Local and service businesses

Contractors, home services and similar firms competing in a defined area. Link research focuses on local publications, suppliers and directories, alongside our local SEO services.

Teams with strong content but no promotion

Companies that publish guides or data but have no outreach capacity. We plan linkable content and contact editors and site owners, then report monthly on links earned.

Agencies needing a delivery partner

Marketing agencies that sell link building but lack the staff. Our white-label link building covers the outreach under your brand.

03Scope

What's included

Backlink profile auditWe review your existing links, linking domains and anchor text, and flag risky or irrelevant ones. Site owners with inherited or purchased links get a written summary of gaps.
Competitor link gap analysisWe list domains that link to competing sites in your market but not to yours. Owners see which sources are realistic targets and which are not worth pursuing.
Link target researchWe choose relevant sites and pages for outreach, with a stated reason for each. You can review the list before any contact is made.
Linkable asset planningWe suggest guides, data pages or resources that other sites would want to reference. This suits businesses whose current pages give editors little reason to link.
Personalized outreach campaignsWe write individual emails to site owners and editors requesting links, and contribute guest articles where a site accepts them. You approve the approach before work starts.
Monthly link reportingWe report each month on links earned and the pages they support. You can see what changed, what is planned next, and where outreach needs adjusting.

04Process

How our link building works

6 steps. You always know what's next.

The same path for every engagement.

11-3 days (estimate)
Hold a discovery call
We talk through your business, key pages, markets and past link activity. You provide site access and any history of vendors or purchased links. You receive a short summary of goals and scope.
2About 1 week (estimate)
Audit your backlink profile
We review existing links, linking domains and anchor text, and flag risky or irrelevant ones. You provide analytics and search console access. You receive a written summary of gaps and risks.
3Weeks 1-2 (estimate)
Analyze competitor link gaps
We list domains that link to competing sites in your market but not to yours, and sort them by how realistic each is. You receive a shortlist of sources worth pursuing.
4Weeks 2-3 (estimate)
Agree targets and plan
We choose relevant sites and pages for outreach, with a reason for each, and plan linkable assets. You review and approve the list and work plan before any contact is made.
5Weeks 3-4, then ongoing (estimate)
Run outreach and placements
We send personalized emails to site owners and editors, and prepare guest articles or resource contributions where a site accepts them. You approve sensitive content and receive outreach status updates.
6Monthly
Report and refine monthly
We report links earned, the pages they support and how those pages are moving, then adjust targets. You receive a monthly report and a call to agree next priorities.

05Deliverables

What you get

Link building deliverables, with how often each is delivered and when it typically starts (timings are estimates)
Deliverable	What it is	Cadence	Starts in
Discovery call summary	Short written summary of goals, key pages, markets and scope	One-time	Days 1-3
Backlink profile audit	Review of existing links, linking domains and anchor text, with risky links flagged	One-time	Week 1
Competitor link gap analysis	List of domains linking to competing sites but not to yours	One-time, refreshed quarterly	Weeks 1-2
Link target research	Relevant sites and pages chosen for outreach, with a reason for each	Monthly	Weeks 2-3
Linkable asset plan	Recommended guides, data or tools worth earning links to	Quarterly	Weeks 2-4
Outreach for your review	Contact lists and messages you can approve before anything is sent	Monthly	After plan approval
Link outreach and follow-up	Outreach to approved sites, with follow-ups and placement tracking	Monthly	After plan approval
Link and page report	Links earned and the pages they support	Monthly	End of first month

06Compare

Link building: in-house team, agency or Pugmarks Media

Swipe to compare →

Comparison of in-house, typical agency and Pugmarks Media link building across six criteria. General practice is described for the first two columns.
Criteria	In-house	Typical agency	Pugmarks
Time to start	Depends on hiring and training	Varies by contract and onboarding	Discovery call and site audit first, then an agreed plan
Specialisation	One or a few generalists	Varies by agency	25+ SEO specialists
Reporting	Set by your own team	Often monthly, format varies	Monthly reporting on links earned and pages supported
Cost model	Salaries, tools and management time	Retainer or per-link fees	Scope-based: pages, locations and competition
Risk	Depends on team experience with link quality	Depends on sourcing methods	Backlink audit flags risky links; outreach list reviewed before contact
Flexibility	High control, limited capacity	Often fixed packages	Plan agreed with you before changes go live

07Cost

What does link building cost?

Link building cost depends on scope: how many pages you want to support, how many locations or markets you target, and how competitive your search results are. A small local site needs less outreach than a national brand facing established competitors. We quote after reviewing your site and goals, so see our pricing page or contact us for a quote based on your situation.

Package prices are published so you can compare before you call.

See all packages

11Years in business

08Proof

Results for clients like you

Only results our clients have approved for publication. No made-up logos or numbers.

Dental · Houston, TX · Example+118%Calls from the Google listing per month

Three-dentist general practice, Houston

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Still have a question?

Ask us directly. We reply with honest next steps, even if that means we're not the right fit.

Ask our team

How long does link building take to work?

Link building typically takes several months before its effect shows in search results, and the timing depends on your site, your competition and the quality of links earned. Outreach, replies and publication all take time, and search engines need to recrawl the pages. Results are not guaranteed, so we report monthly on links earned and the pages they support.

Is link building still worth it for SEO?

Yes, link building is still worth considering because most search engines treat links from relevant, trusted sites as one signal among many. It works best alongside solid content and a technically sound site. Links from irrelevant or low-quality sources add little and can create risk, so relevance matters more than volume.

What is a good backlink?

A good backlink is a link from a site that is relevant to your industry, trusted by its own readers and likely to send real visitors. The link should sit naturally in useful content. Our backlink audit checks linking domains and anchor text so weak, irrelevant or risky links are flagged.

Is buying backlinks safe?

Buying backlinks is generally risky, because most search engines discourage paid links meant to manipulate rankings. Bulk purchased links often come from irrelevant sites. If a past vendor sold you links, our backlink profile audit flags them in a written summary so you can decide what to do next.

How much do link building services cost?

Link building cost depends on scope: how many pages you want to support, how many locations or markets you target, and how competitive your search results are. We quote after reviewing your site and goals. See our pricing page or contact our team to discuss your situation.

What happens when I hire a link building agency?

Every engagement starts with a discovery call and a site audit. We then agree a strategy and work plan with you before any changes go live. Outreach targets are listed with a reason for each, and you can review them before any contact is made.

Do I need link building if I only serve a local area?

Local businesses often benefit from a smaller, more focused set of links, such as local publications, suppliers and community organizations. A local site typically needs less outreach than a national brand. Our local SEO services cover the wider work that supports local searches.

Will I see which links you earn?

Yes, we report monthly on the links earned and the pages they support. You also see the outreach list before contact, so you know which sites we plan to approach. That keeps link activity transparent and lets you check that each target fits your brand.

Get in touch

Get a link plan to review first

Share your site and goals. We will reply with next steps and a scope based on your pages.

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