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

Summary

Podcast Summary: Grumpy SEO Guy - Episode 77

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

Host: Grumpy SEO Guy

Release Date: October 9, 2024

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Key Takeaways

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

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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."

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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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Connect with Grumpy SEO Guy:

• Reddit: Grumpy SEO Guy Subreddit
• Email: [e-mail]
• Patreon: patreon.com/grumpyseoguy

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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.

Transcript

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

This is Grumpy SEO Guy, episode 77. What are Tier 2 and Tier 3 backlinks? And should you even care? You're listening to Grumpy SEO Guy, the SEO podcast that doesn't waste your time with nonsense that doesn't work. I'm the grumpy SEO Guy, and I'm sharing with you the strategies that have helped me successfully run my SEO agency for the last 14 years. In this podcast, I'll be sharing my knowledge and experience, discussing tips and strategies, and trying to help you cut through the confusion that permeates this industry. If you listen to this podcast, you will know more about SEO than 99% of people on the planet. Ready? Let's get started. I'm the Grumpy SEO Guy. Let me tell you why I'm grumpy today. I'm grumpy today because a lot of people ask me about Tier 2 and Tier 3 backlinks, and I'm not grumpy about that. I'm grumpy that this is even something I have to explain. So let me explain what it is and why you probably shouldn't concern yourself with it.

[Listener]

Okay.

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

And why it's also a pointless marketing term that you should probably just ignore. But before we do that, my lawyer tells me that I have to say this right now. A quick disclaimer before we get started. Everything I say here is based on my experience and opinion from 14 years in the industry. I don't officially know how Google or any other search engines work. Everything I say here is hypothetical and based on my experience. This podcast does not constitute advice or services. What worked for me may or may not work for you. Okay, back to the show. Okay, what does tier mean? T I, E, R tier. It means like, level or steps away from something. Right, that makes sense in a minute. Okay, let's say there's a website, and let's say another website links to that website.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

That other website would be considered a Tier 1 backlink to the main website. Why? Because it's one level away. It's one step away.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

Like, there's one link connecting them. All right? Now, if that website has another website that links to that for the original website, that would be a tier 2 backlink. Why? Because it is two levels away from the website. Okay, let me try this again using, like, numbers or something. It'll make more sense. Okay, let's say you have a website. Let's say a website links to you.

[Listener]

Okay, that's.

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

Now let me use letters. That will be easier. Let's Say you have a website and another website links to you. Call that website a. Website A is your tier one backlink, okay? There is one link differentiating you.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

Now, if that website has a different website that links to it, we'll call that Website B. Now, website B links to website A and website A links to you.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

Website B is now your tier two backlink because it is two step away from you. It is two backlinks away from you.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

It is two levels away from you. If you were to draw this in a document, you would have your website and a website that links to you, which is one step away, and a website that links to that one, which is another level away. So it would be that website would be tier 2, website B would be your tier 2, and website A would be your tier 1. Tiers are always different based on which website you're talking about. In this case, Website A.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

If we're talking about website A, website B would be its tier one backlink because it is one level away. This will make sense if you draw it, but probably it should make sense anyway, I hope. Okay, now, why is this a thing? Like, who cares? Okay, great question. A lot of backlink vendors and backlink sellers will advertise their backlinks as having tier 2 and tier 3 backlinks.

[Listener]

So.

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

So what that means is you get a backlink, but then you also get these tier two and tier three backlinks. Like, why is this even a thing? Is probably what you're asking. Well, 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. Right? So if you have a backlink and then you get extra websites linking to that post or whatever, it should help you by building the authority of that post, which is then imparted to you.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

And I'm gonna explain something in a minute, but first I have to tell you why this is usually pointless when it comes to SEO backlink marketing. Here's the reason. Almost every time, when a seller is Talking about Tier 2 backlinks or whatever, it is, spam. So what they probably do is they probably have a private blog network and they probably give you a backlink on a post.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

Which is good. That's okay. And then they will build tier 2 backlinks to that post.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

But they're usually spam. It's usually like forum profiles or blog comments or something. Right? But then they're not done. They build tier three backlinks.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

So, you know Meaning tier three in this case would be linking to the tier two backlink, which is then linking to the pbn, which is linking to you. Okay, does that make sense? So it's tier two and tier three relative to you. So your website has a link from a pbn, which is your tier one, and then it gets some spammy backlinks, which is your tier two or tier one for it. And then those spammy backlinks get some spammy backlinks, which is tier three for you, because it is three links away from you. Okay, again, this probably sounds confusing, but it's not. So the only problem with promoting tier 2 and tier 3 backlinks is they're spam. Let me tell you why they're spam. First of all, if you're paying reasonable rates for PBN post, okay, they're spam. Because if that PBN post, that's one. Let's just talk about one link, okay? That one PBN link that you're getting costs a certain amount of money. And then they're building, let's say I'm gonna use low numbers. Let's say they're building five tier backlinks to that post.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

That's a total of six backlinks. Five. And then the one that's the main link you got.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

But then they're building tier three backlinks. So let's say they're building five backlinks to each of those five tier two posts, probably from blog comments or forum profiles. And then you've got the original blog post. So that's a total of you've got 25 tier threes, five tier twos, and the tier one, the original post, that's 31 backlinks. But 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. And like, nobody's gonna do that. But sometimes the numbers are even higher. They'll give you like 50 tier 2 backlinks. Again, because it's some spam that is automated.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

So again, the concept of Tier 2 and Tier 3 is great, and I'm gonna explain why in a minute. But when it's being added on or whatever by a link seller, it's spammy garbage because it would be prohibitively expensive if it were not. But let me explain this in a different way and why you probably should not even concern yourself with it in the first place. Let's say you have a PBN.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

All PBNs inherently have many tiers of backlinks. Not just tier 2 and 3, but 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, as far as you want to go, probably. Why? Because they're authoritative. The reason they are authoritative is because they have numerous referring domains linking to them, and those referring domains have referring domains linking to them, and so on and so on and so on. And each of those is a tier, okay? If this didn't happen, these domains would not have authority and you wouldn't even desire to buy them in the first place. So any authoritative blog you buy already has numerous tiers of websites linking to it. You do not need to build onto it with spammy blog comments or whatever other nonsense people are doing. And about that, we actually, I think I mentioned this in another episode. 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. So a long, long time ago, we used to provide a document with the sites that we would build backlinks on. Right? I thought it was a way to differentiate ourself from people that don't do that. And to prove that you're getting quality, you can check the stats, you can check the pr. Cause back in the day when PR was a thing, and it still is the thing, at least the theory is. But it's not public anymore. Anyway, you check it all yourself, you can verify that we are selling you high quality backlinks on nice websites. Okay, not a problem. But then, but then this one client built a bunch of spammy garbage to the posts that we wrote for him because he's like, oh, the tier 2 links are helping out. No, they're not, they're spammy. Stop. Anyway, just for fun, we later moved on to making people sign NDAs in order to get a list of the websites. And one of the terms of the NDA was, you will not build any links to our website. And then we moved on from that and now we don't provide lists anymore. So, not that it matters because we don't sell backlinks off a menu anyway. But still. But if you work with us and you were to buy backlinks from us, you would not get a list of them. So anyways, any PBN site that you have already has numerous tiers of backlinks. You do not need to build more, especially not with spammy garbage.

[Listener]

Okay?

[Grumpy SEO Guy]

So look, you buy a site for your pbn, it's authoritative the reason it's authoritative is numerous tiers of backlinks already were built to that website. That's the reason it's authoritative. So if you were to like draw out a list of backlinks to like a website that you buy, it would have so many tiers because it's got first tier websites linking to it, and each of those have multiple websites linking to them. And each of those have multiple websites linking to them, which is tier three, by the way, if you're paying attention. And each of those have multiple websites linking to them, which is Tier 4, and each of those have multiple websites linking to them, which is tier 5, and so on. And it keeps going probably to 10 and beyond. That is the reason the websites have authority in the first place. So basically my point is if a link vendor is advertising tier two and tier three, it's probably just spam. They're probably going to spam their own posts with spam because they think that it helps and it probably doesn't help. And you think that you're getting extra and you're probably not. I hope that makes sense. And this is a shorter episode, but there's not a whole lot to say about this. Thanks for listening. Don't forget to subscribe and if you enjoy this podcast, please leave a review. It would really help the show out. I hope this episode was helpful. If you have any questions or want to suggest a subject for a future episode, you can contact me on Reddit. My username is Grumpy SEO Guy. You can visit the Grumpy SEO Guy subreddit or. Or you can email [e-mail] if you email me, please either whitelist my email address or check your junk folders because I've been told that my replies are going into the junk folder. And it's probably because we're talking about things like SEO and backlinks, and I think those words will classify an email as spam. And if you want to support the podcast because it's the best source of SEO information on the planet and it's free, you can do [e-mail] grumpy SEO guy and I will talk to you later. You're listening to Grumpy SEO Guy, the SEO podcast that doesn't waste your time with nonsense that doesn't work. Join us next Wednesday when we talk about there is no such thing as cheap SEO.