Episode 95: Should You Build a Low Authority PBN?

Podcast: Grumpy SEO Guy
Host: Grumpy SEO Guy
Release Date: February 12, 2025

In Episode 95 of the Grumpy SEO Guy podcast, titled "Should You Build a Low Authority PBN?", host Grumpy SEO Guy delves deep into the often misunderstood realm of Private Blog Networks (PBNs) and authority metrics. Drawing from his 14 years of experience running an SEO agency, he challenges prevalent misconceptions and offers strategic insights into building effective PBNs without falling prey to common pitfalls.

Introduction: Setting the Stage

Grumpy SEO Guy begins the episode by expressing his frustration with the widespread misunderstandings surrounding Domain Rating (DR) and PBNs. He emphasizes the importance of basing SEO strategies on experience rather than speculative advice.

Grumpy SEO Guy [00:04]: "I'm sharing with you the strategies that have helped me successfully run my SEO agency for the last 14 years."

He issues a disclaimer, clarifying that his insights are based on personal experience and not official knowledge of Google's algorithms.

Understanding Authority Metrics

Defining DR, DA, and PR

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to demystifying authority metrics:

• PageRank (PR): Originally developed by Google, PR was a measure of a URL's authority. Although Google no longer publicly shares PR scores, its influence persists in various approximations used by SEO tools.

• Domain Authority (DA): Developed by Moz, DA estimates the likelihood of a website ranking on search engine result pages (SERPs).

• Domain Rating (DR): Created by Ahrefs, DR assesses the strength of a website's backlink profile.

Grumpy SEO Guy [07:32]: "Moz has something called DA Domain authority. Ahrefs has something called Dr. Domain Rating."

The Misconception of High DR Backlinks

Grumpy SEO Guy critiques the common belief that higher DR always equates to better backlinks. He argues that this oversimplification leads to misguided backlink strategies.

Grumpy SEO Guy [00:25]: "People think that higher doctor is always better. And for some reason, if you have a lower Dr. Website, you probably should not get Backlinks from that one. That literally doesn't make any sense."

The Flaws in Relying Solely on High DR Backlinks

Limited Availability of High Authority Sites

One of the primary issues highlighted is the scarcity of high DR websites. Grumpy SEO Guy likens the distribution of website authority to wealth distribution, where fewer websites possess higher authority.

Grumpy SEO Guy [13:15]: "The more authority you get, the fewer websites there are with that much authority."

Lack of Page-Level Authority

He points out that DR is a domain-level metric and doesn't account for the authority of individual pages within a site. Consequently, a high DR site might have pages with minimal authority, rendering the backlinks less impactful.

Grumpy SEO Guy [04:48]: "Dr. Is a domain level metric. It has almost nothing to do with the page that your link will be on."

Organic Growth and Natural Backlink Profiles

Grumpy SEO Guy introduces a fundamental SEO principle: "Would this ever naturally happen?" He argues that a brand new website exclusively acquiring high DR backlinks is unrealistic and unnatural, which could signal manipulative practices to search engines.

Grumpy SEO Guy [09:45]: "If you think your brand new website would ever only get backlinks from websites with tons of doctor do you think that would happen? Do you think a brand new website would only get really authoritative backlinks? No, that would never happen."

The Case for Building Low Authority PBNs

Organic Distribution of Authority

Emphasizing the need for a natural backlink profile, Grumpy SEO Guy advocates for a diverse range of authority levels within a PBN. This approach mirrors the organic distribution of backlinks on the internet.

Grumpy SEO Guy [19:10]: "Feel free to vary the amount of Dr. Or whatever in your PBN. You want to have some high Dr. Sites, you should do it. If you want to have some low Dr. Sites, you should do it."

Cost-Effectiveness and Practicality

High DR domains are not only scarce but also prohibitively expensive. Building a PBN with lower authority sites is more feasible and avoids the financial strain associated with acquiring premium domains.

Grumpy SEO Guy [13:50]: "Most people do not have the money to build a PBN with high authority domains."

Mitigating Risks Associated with High DR PBNs

Relying solely on high DR backlinks can attract penalties if detected by search engines. A diversified PBN reduces the risk by not appearing overly manipulative.

Recognizing and Avoiding Backlink Scams

The Prevalence of Misleading Sellers

Grumpy SEO Guy warns listeners about unscrupulous backlink sellers who falsely advertise high DR backlinks. He explains that such sellers often use high authority domains in misleading ways, such as placing backlinks on low-authority subdomains.

Grumpy SEO Guy [27:22]: "They are misleading you about how much authority you would actually be getting."

Evaluating Backlink Quality Beyond DR

He advises listeners to look beyond DR when assessing backlink quality, considering factors like anchor text diversity, referring domains, and IP distribution.

Grumpy SEO Guy [24:55]: "A good PBN or private blog portfolio has... a big mixture of them."

Best Practices for Building an Effective PBN

Diversify Authority Levels

Creating a PBN with a mix of high, medium, and low authority sites ensures a more natural backlink profile and reduces the risk of penalties.

Grumpy SEO Guy [29:15]: "You should have a large distribution of authority and other things in your PBN."

Avoid Interlinking Within the PBN

Interlinking between PBN sites can create footprints that search engines may detect, leading to deindexing or loss of authority.

Grumpy SEO Guy [28:30]: "A network suggests everything is linked together and you definitely want to keep your blogs that you're using from linking to each other."

Incorporate New Domains

Including brand new domains in your PBN aligns with natural backlink growth patterns and provides spaces to make mistakes without jeopardizing established authority.

Grumpy SEO Guy [34:05]: "If you want to have some brand new domains, you should do that too."

Conclusion: Embracing a Balanced Approach

Grumpy SEO Guy wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of a balanced and natural approach to building PBNs. He encourages listeners to diversify their backlink profiles, remain vigilant against scams, and prioritize sustainable SEO practices over chasing high DR metrics.

Grumpy SEO Guy [35:00]: "Just be aware those websites will have lower authority than previous domains that already have authority."

He invites feedback and interaction through Reddit and email, reinforcing his commitment to providing actionable and experience-based SEO advice.

Key Takeaways

• Authority Metrics Are Interpretative: DR, DA, and PR are approximations; relying solely on them can lead to ineffective SEO strategies.

• High DR Backlinks Are Scarce and Costly: Building a PBN exclusively with high authority sites is impractical and unnatural.

• Diversify Your PBN: Incorporate a mix of high, medium, and low authority websites to mimic natural backlink profiles.

• Beware of Backlink Scams: Many sellers falsely advertise high DR backlinks; always assess the true quality and relevance.

• Adopt Sustainable SEO Practices: Focus on understanding SEO principles rather than memorizing steps, ensuring adaptability to algorithm changes.

By offering a nuanced perspective on PBN construction and authority metrics, Grumpy SEO Guy equips listeners with the knowledge to make informed decisions, fostering more effective and resilient SEO strategies.