PBN
PBN (Private Blog Network) is a sites' network used to promote a main project in search engines. On the surface, each resource appears independent, but in fact, they are all controlled by a single owner. For such purposes, arbitrage specialists usually use drop domains with a history and an existing backlink profile. They contain the articles with anchor links pointing to the target site. The primary goal is to pass link equity and accelerate ranking growth in Google.
Using PBNs to boost rankings in Google
PBNs are actively used in affiliate marketing, especially in SEO approaches for gambling, betting, nutra, and other "gray" verticals. They help promote bridges, prelanders, and affiliate landing pages. Thanks to drops with history, webmasters can quickly build trust, secure top positions, and stabilize organic traffic. It is essential when working with RevShare or hybrid models: stable organic traffic brings passive leads without ad spend.
Affiliates value PBNs for the control they provide. Such a system allows precise management of anchors, link density, and growth pace. With proper masking (different IP addresses, hosting, CMS, and unique content), networks can operate for a long time with minimal risk.
What happens if Google suspects a PBN?
Officially, buying and artificially placing links is prohibited by Google's policy. If violations are detected, sanctions are applied. Depending on the scale, restrictions may include:
- ranking drops or complete deindexing of the promoted site;
- placement under a manual penalty;
- network burnout and loss of resources.
Google's algorithms are becoming more advanced. They can detect typical network patterns, such as identical IP addresses, CMS, repeating behavioral signals, similar anchors, and outgoing links. There have already been cases of massive PBN collapses in algorithm updates, most notably in 2017 and 2020.
Creating a PBN: what's important to consider?
It's essential to begin by selecting the right drop domains. Check their history and analyze the backlink profile to ensure there are no spam or penalties. The "cleaner" the domain, the higher the chance it will pass link equity.
To mask the network, use different hostings, IP addresses, and CMS to mask the connection between the sites. Each project has to contain unique content on actual, relevant topics. The site should appear authentic and feature a well-structured design, along with clear "About Us" and "Contacts" pages.
Be careful with outgoing links: 1–2 links to the site are optimal. Use diverse anchors, avoiding phrases with the same commercial format. It's also advisable to avoid interlinking sites within the network, as this is precisely how Google's algorithms detect PBNs.