100% #True!
So, how to differ good guest blogs from PBN is Everyone Question.
I recently came across
@ThopHayt Thread about how to spot the Fakes as follows :
I'll get an offer on a "guest post" or a "outreach post" and I'll dig a little into the site. Run it through SemRush or Ahrefs and look at the traffic.
A) The first thing most the fakes have in common is little if any traffic. Don't waste money on an "authority" site with zero traffic, huge red flag.
B) Then take a look at the site through the WayBackMachine... you'll probably see it's changed ownership within the last year or two. Some smart fakers necromancer dead/dropped sites that USED TO BE real, so keep an eye on the details.
C) Next look for an SSL on the site. Any REAL site that's successful will be https SSL secured, with a certificate. If they are too broke to buy an SSL, but want $100 for a post they can go f*ck off.
D) Actually dig in and READ the articles on the site. You'll notice that they are all usually promotional and contain links to shitty sites that barely fit the niche. Once you've read (and written) enough bullshit you gain the ability to spot it. You'll never see articles without any links, this is another red flag as the fake PBN owners don't waste money posting articles they don't get paid to place links in.
E) Look at the copyright in the footer... you'll notice that this "blog" has only been around a year or two and yet is asking you for $$$. You'll rarely see a company name in the copyright as well, as those who necromance dead sites don't want to claim ownership of a dead site they essentially stole. Even if it were real, a 6 month old blog is horse crap.
F) Look at the contact and about information, you'll usually not see a real email quoted in fake sites. At most you'll see a "message us" function, though some throw in an email... that isn't from the site. Unless they have a legit email like
[email protected] they're fly by night in my book. Gmail or other public email is another red flag.
G) Common Wordpress themes... if you know WP you'll be able to spot common themes. If it looks familiar chances are you need to dig deeper.
H) Look for Robot Blocking... only PBNs block bots.
I) When you contact the site "owner" they want to rent you links by the year or month like a PBN. Obvious sign, but don't be fooled. Waste of money, folks.
J) The site lacks a depth of pages. You'll see articles, archives, and the normal contact/about/etc... but nothing "extra" as far as pages or resources. Real sites tend to have a little more that the bare minimum, so if you see a site with Home/Articles/Archive/About/Contact you need to dig deeper.
K) Ridiculous domain names... when you see a blog on X niche with a name that is REALLY odd for that niche it is a possible sign that the owner chose that domain purely for metrics... like PBN owners do. Which is yet another sign you need to dig deeper and be sure to examine the history and link profile of that domain.
L) Social Profiles... check the social profiles deeply and see if they contribute link-free posts on a regular basis, or if they just shout out every new paid post they sell.
This would be much helpful for one, who looking to get 100% real guest blogs & to stay away from PBN's.
