What Are "Tier 2" and "Tier 3" Backlinks? Are They Helpful? - Episode 77

Summary

Podcast Summary: Grumpy SEO Guy - Episode 77

Title: What Are "Tier 2" and "Tier 3" Backlinks? Are They Helpful?

Host: Grumpy SEO Guy

Release Date: October 9, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 77 of the Grumpy SEO Guy podcast, titled "What Are 'Tier 2' and 'Tier 3' Backlinks? Are They Helpful?", the host delves into the often-misunderstood concepts of tiered backlinks in the SEO industry. Drawing from his 14 years of experience running an SEO agency, Grumpy SEO Guy aims to demystify these terms and provide actionable insights for listeners.

Defining Tiered Backlinks

Tier 1 Backlinks: Grumpy begins by explaining the foundational concept of tiered backlinks. A Tier 1 backlink is a direct link from one website to another. For example:

[02:24] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Website A is your tier one backlink because it's one level away. It's one step away."

Tier 2 Backlinks: A Tier 2 backlink is one step further removed, where a third website links to the site that has a Tier 1 backlink.

[02:50] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Website B is now your tier two backlink because it is two steps away from you. It is two backlinks away from you."

Tier 3 Backlinks: Similarly, Tier 3 backlinks are links that are three steps away, continuing the hierarchical structure.

The Appeal of Tiered Backlinks

Grumpy acknowledges why the concept might seem beneficial:

[03:51] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Conceptually, it's not that pointless, because the more websites, all else being equal, of course, the more websites that link to something, the better."

The theory is that additional backlinks can enhance the authority of a post, which may, in turn, benefit the primary website.

The Pitfalls of Tiered Backlinks in the Market

Despite the theoretical advantages, Grumpy raises significant concerns about the practical implementation of Tier 2 and Tier 3 backlinks as marketed by backlink vendors:

[04:26] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Almost every time, when a seller is talking about Tier 2 backlinks or whatever, it is spam."

He explains that most sellers achieve this through Private Blog Networks (PBNs) augmented with spammy Tier 2 and Tier 3 links, such as forum profiles and blog comments, which lack quality and authenticity.

[04:48] Grumpy SEO Guy: "They probably have a private blog network and they probably give you a backlink on a post... But they're usually spam. It's usually like forum profiles or blog comments or something."

The proliferation of these low-quality links dilutes any potential SEO benefit and poses risks of search engine penalties.

The Cost and Spam Factor

Grumpy delves into the economics behind why Tier 2 and Tier 3 backlinks offered by vendors are often spammy:

[06:10] Grumpy SEO Guy: "You paid a reasonable price for these, right? That's why they're spam. And nobody's gonna do that with like legit authority sites for each of the tiers, because then that would multiply your cost times 31."

He illustrates the exponential increase in the number of backlinks with each tier, making it financially unfeasible to maintain quality across all levels unless the service is inherently spammy.

Authoritative PBNs and Natural Tiered Structures

Contrary to the spammy approach of backlink vendors, Grumpy emphasizes the importance of using authoritative PBNs that naturally possess multiple tiers of backlinks:

[07:25] Grumpy SEO Guy: "All PBNs inherently have many tiers of backlinks... because they're authoritative. The reason they are authoritative is because they have numerous referring domains linking to them."

These high-quality PBNs already have a robust backlink structure, rendering additional spammy tiers unnecessary and potentially harmful.

Personal Experience and Agency Practices

Drawing from his agency's experience, Grumpy shares a case where a client's attempt to build Tier 2 and Tier 3 backlinks resulted in detrimental effects:

[08:58] Grumpy SEO Guy: "We actually dropped a client once because they were building tier 2 and tier 3 links to our PBN. I'm sure they thought they were helping, but no."

He further explains his agency's shift away from providing backlink lists to enforcing strict guidelines against adding low-quality tiers:

[09:24] Grumpy SEO Guy: "One of the terms of the NDA was, you will not build any links to our website."

This underscores his commitment to maintaining high-quality SEO practices and avoiding the pitfalls associated with spammy tiered backlinks.

Conclusion: The Verdict on Tiered Backlinks

Grumpy SEO Guy concludes the episode with a clear stance:

[09:46] Grumpy SEO Guy: "If a link vendor is advertising tier two and tier three, it's probably just spam... they don't help, and you're probably not getting any real benefit."

He advises listeners to focus on acquiring high-quality, authoritative backlinks rather than chasing additional tiers that offer questionable value and increased risk.

Key Takeaways

Understanding Structure: Grasp the hierarchy of tiered backlinks—Tier 1 being direct links, Tier 2 being one step removed, and so on.
Quality Over Quantity: Focus on obtaining authoritative Tier 1 backlinks instead of mass-producing low-quality Tier 2 and Tier 3 links.
Beware of Spam: Most vendors offering tiered backlinks employ spammy methods that can harm your site's SEO rather than help.
Use Authoritative PBNs: If employing a PBN, choose ones with naturally existing multi-tiered backlink structures to ensure authenticity and authority.
Agency Best Practices: Adhere to high-quality SEO standards by avoiding unnecessary and spammy backlink tiers.

Notable Quotes

Opening Statement:

[00:00] Grumpy SEO Guy: "What are Tier 2 and Tier 3 backlinks? And should you even care?"
On Spammy Backlinks:

[04:26] Grumpy SEO Guy: "Almost every time, when a seller is talking about Tier 2 backlinks or whatever, it is spam."
On Authoritative PBNs:

[07:25] Grumpy SEO Guy: "All PBNs inherently have many tiers of backlinks... because they're authoritative."
On Agency Experience:

[08:58] Grumpy SEO Guy: "We actually dropped a client once because they were building tier 2 and tier 3 links to our PBN."
Final Advice:

[09:46] Grumpy SEO Guy: "If a link vendor is advertising tier two and tier three, it's probably just spam."

Final Thoughts

Episode 77 of the Grumpy SEO Guy podcast serves as a cautionary tale against the rampant use of Tier 2 and Tier 3 backlinks as marketed by many SEO vendors. Through clear explanations, practical examples, and personal experiences, Grumpy SEO Guy effectively dismantles the myth that additional tiers of backlinks are beneficial. Instead, he champions a strategy centered on quality, authority, and organic link building to achieve sustainable SEO success.

Listeners are encouraged to prioritize authentic, high-quality backlinks and remain wary of services that push for excessive, low-quality tiered links, which are more likely to harm than help their SEO endeavors.

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This summary is intended for informational purposes and encapsulates the key discussions and insights from Episode 77 of the Grumpy SEO Guy podcast.