There is no single price for link building, because the work ranges from a quick directory listing to a month-long press campaign. These are the usual pricing models.
| Model | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Per link | A fixed price for each placement | Very low prices usually mean low-quality sites |
| Monthly retainer | A set number of links or hours per month | Unclear deliverables |
| Campaign | A one-off project, often digital PR | No coverage guarantee, so judge the process |
What drives the price
- Site quality: relevance, traffic and editorial standards
- Content: writing, research and design time
- Competition: tougher niches need more and better links
- Outreach effort: personalised pitching takes time
A sensible way to budget
Start by benchmarking the pages that outrank you, then estimate how many quality links you are missing. See our link building packages for how we structure monthly plans.
Frequently asked questions
How much does link building cost per link?
It varies widely with site quality and content. Genuine editorial placements cost far more than low-quality bulk links.
Is monthly link building better than per-link?
Monthly plans suit ongoing programmes, per-link suits specific pages. Either needs clear deliverables.
What should be in a link building quote?
Number of links, how sites are chosen, who writes content, reporting and what happens if a link is removed.
Keep reading
Link building strategies: a balanced plan for 2026
A good plan mixes assets, outreach and relationships. Here is how to balance effort across the main strategies.
Link building tools: what you actually need
A short list of tool categories that matter for prospecting, outreach and tracking, without paying for a pile of dashboards.
White hat link building: rules, tactics and red flags
White hat link building earns links within search engine guidelines. Learn the rules, safe tactics and warning signs.
Ready to earn real links?
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