The Reason Why Most PBNs Are Worthless

[PlofAtayuga]

I'll keep it short. I see many people complaining about PBNs not working the way they want, getting penalized, etc. despite their efforts to customize themes, write native content and stay on-topic.

What are you doing wrong? How can search engines figure out you're just doing it for the links?

Ask yourself this one question: Do your websites at least seem to have a PURPOSE?

Just think about it. What sort of site doesn't have a clear purpose?
Selling a product/service? Then surely you have a service description page, a form to order/ask for a quote, etc.
Informational site? There would be editorial content, resource pages, properly structured categories, pages describing the site's philosophy, etc.
Personal blog? Then posts would have a little more flavor than dry articles about weight loss

The list goes on...

Nothing shouts spam more than a series of boring articles, may they be about the same topic and written by a native speaker. That's not how good websites are built. It may be part of what they are, but not the only thing. Google has thousands of trained people checking hundreds of websites everyday. I'm sure it takes them less than 10 seconds to identify 99% of sites built for link building purposes only, precisely because they clearly serve no other purpose.

If you're going to build your own PBNs, at least try to get that right. Make them look like you're trying to achieve something, and not like another article dump.

Takes time and money? It sure does. But that's the only way you're ever going to see long-term results.

 

[starki]

Great hint! The easiest way a manual reviewer spots a PBN site at first glance is if it look too clean. Content, links, nothing else. There is so much stuff to add an invividual flavour that makes it look a lot more real. E.g., if you have some city specific expired, why not add a third party widet with the local weather or top local news? Why not add a visitor counter? Or what about for unique logo for $5 from Fiverr? What about 2 fake ads for local companies? We even have PBN sites linking to clickbank/amazon/whatever with banner and a random, made up affiliate IDs that don't exist. Some sites have a contact form/lead capture form prominently on the homepage, it actually works, but sends data to a trash email.

Requires little effort, just a bit of creativity and if you keep in mind what a really great domain costs (either money or time finding it at registration cost), it's well worth it.

 

[kylier13]

Great Info Mate

 

[Google Prince]

My PBN w/ a series of boring articles and quality referring domains says hi.

 

[safeSEOboost]

My PBN are so good, sometimes I think they are my money sites.

 

[MikeyMikey13]

Please explain to me how Google's algorithm can identify when a website doesn't have a "clear focus"?

All your pbn's need to do is have niche relevant links, with optimised content for your target keywords. I.e, you don't even need handwritten content, spun content is fine. All you need is content that is grammatically correct and contains the correct LSI for the keyword in the content.

Why put in X amount of hours and 100$ worth of content on a site that is going to 99.9% of the time going to get slapped if it gets manually reviewed? Also look at some of the most competitive markets such as casino, most of those sites have links from spammy pbns with spun content.

Before anyone asks, my network with spun content is 3 years old and fine. I know people who had a 3 month old network deindexed with handwritten content.

The issues most newbies have is not related to the pbn, more about the anchor text they use from pbns.

Great hint! The easiest way a manual reviewer spots a PBN site at first glance is if it look too clean. Content, links, nothing else. There is so much stuff to add an invividual flavour that makes it look a lot more real. E.g., if you have some city specific expired, why not add a third party widet with the local weather or top local news? Why not add a visitor counter? Or what about for unique logo for $5 from Fiverr? What about 2 fake ads for local companies? We even have PBN sites linking to clickbank/amazon/whatever with banner and a random, made up affiliate IDs that don't exist. Some sites have a contact form/lead capture form prominently on the homepage, it actually works, but sends data to a trash email.

Requires little effort, just a bit of creativity and if you keep in mind what a really great domain costs (either money or time finding it at registration cost), it's well worth it.

All of the stuff you listed isn't "unique". Reviewers will know this happens. 5$ logo? fake ads? affiliate products? plugins? I mean really, how stupid do you think they are lol.

My honest advice is, stop wasting time with this crap. You've got more time to build money sties etc if you do.

 

[zionbar]

I dont think thats the reason ppl whine, because it donesnt make sense that google will assign ppl to manually review all the $5 revenue per month websites ppl build in here lol

but yeah you're dumb if your website doesnt have a purpose, at least through an opt-in form in there

 

[Nargil]

Please explain to me how Google's algorithm can identify when a website doesn't have a "clear focus"?

All your pbn's need to do is have niche relevant links, with optimised content for your target keywords. I.e, you don't even need handwritten content, spun content is fine. All you need is content that is grammatically correct and contains the correct LSI for the keyword in the content.

Why put in X amount of hours and 100$ worth of content on a site that is going to 99.9% of the time going to get slapped if it gets manually reviewed? Also look at some of the most competitive markets such as casino, most of those sites have links from spammy pbns with spun content.

Before anyone asks, my network with spun content is 3 years old and fine. I know people who had a 3 month old network deindexed with handwritten content.

The issues most newbies have is not related to the pbn, more about the anchor text they use from pbns.

All of the stuff you listed isn't "unique". Reviewers will know this happens. 5$ logo? fake ads? affiliate products? plugins? I mean really, how stupid do you think they are lol.

My honest advice is, stop wasting time with this crap. You've got more time to build money sties etc if you do.

I believe that it's no about how stupid they are, but rather about error margin. I honestly think that unless the reviewers are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the site is a PBN, they can't rape it. Collateral would be massive if it weren't so. Thus, by making it look at least somewhat real, you are seriously lowering your chance to get a manual penalty. At least that's what I believe.

After all, killing all the most obvious PBNs would be a piece of cake.

I mean, how many people do they have in manual review team? Let's say 10. They do nothing else, but look for PBNs and penalise them. How many profitable SEO niches are there, that 10 people would not be able to find those niches and uncover PBNs and rape them? I mean, I can just go to Amazon, find a product, put it into Google, check the sites in GWT (as a Google employee) and rape them one by one. That's 15 minutes of work. One guy could rape half the amazon niches in a couple days, let alone a few years. Let's ponder about that.

 

[MisterF]

PBN Paranoia seems to be the order of the day.

People often confuse inexpensive with cheap.

 

[giotoreli]

Please explain to me how Google's algorithm can identify when a website doesn't have a "clear focus"?

All your pbn's need to do is have niche relevant links, with optimised content for your target keywords. I.e, you don't even need handwritten content, spun content is fine. All you need is content that is grammatically correct and contains the correct LSI for the keyword in the content.

Why put in X amount of hours and 100$ worth of content on a site that is going to 99.9% of the time going to get slapped if it gets manually reviewed? Also look at some of the most competitive markets such as casino, most of those sites have links from spammy pbns with spun content.

Before anyone asks, my network with spun content is 3 years old and fine. I know people who had a 3 month old network deindexed with handwritten content.

The issues most newbies have is not related to the pbn, more about the anchor text they use from pbns.

All of the stuff you listed isn't "unique". Reviewers will know this happens. 5$ logo? fake ads? affiliate products? plugins? I mean really, how stupid do you think they are lol.

My honest advice is, stop wasting time with this crap. You've got more time to build money sties etc if you do.

how can google determine wheter content is gramatically correct or not?
I made in googla tranlates article on Web 2.0 and it is at higher position in serp than my money site

 

[Nargil]

how can google determine wheter content is gramatically correct or not?
I made in googla tranlates article on Web 2.0 and it is at higher position in serp than my money site

I am pretty sure that google can determine that "googla tranlates" is not "Google translate". And yes, it can understand grammar pretty well. The fact that it's ranking higher than your money site is due to web 2.0 authority, it has nothing to do with content. Furthermore, web 2.0s with spun content won't last long due to moderation.

 

[MikeyMikey13]

how can google determine wheter content is gramatically correct or not?
I made in googla tranlates article on Web 2.0 and it is at higher position in serp than my money site

Have you ever used the software grammarly? try that and see what that can pick up on. Then 10x by ten because Google's algo will be way way better than that.

I believe that it's no about how stupid they are, but rather about error margin. I honestly think that unless the reviewers are convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the site is a PBN, they can't rape it. Collateral would be massive if it weren't so. Thus, by making it look at least somewhat real, you are seriously lowering your chance to get a manual penalty. At least that's what I believe.

After all, killing all the most obvious PBNs would be a piece of cake.

I mean, how many people do they have in manual review team? Let's say 10. They do nothing else, but look for PBNs and penalise them. How many profitable SEO niches are there, that 10 people would not be able to find those niches and uncover PBNs and rape them? I mean, I can just go to Amazon, find a product, put it into Google, check the sites in GWT (as a Google employee) and rape them one by one. That's 15 minutes of work. One guy could rape half the amazon niches in a couple days, let alone a few years. Let's ponder about that.

I respectively agree, but only if the sites are worth it.

If I had 100 sites penalised that, that would cost me 20 hours set up time and 1000$~ in content, hosting and reg price. Not that bad if those domains earned me 5K+, right?

Now lets say I get 100 domains, spend 100 hours (probably a lot more if you are making these legit) on set up, and 4000$+ on content, social accounts, logos, hosting and reg price for these domains to maybe last out a manual review. This could make me more money if it lasts yes, but there is the chance it'll get penalised.

This is how I look at it. The first option is much more appealing to me. I get a much better ROI and it is WAY quicker. I can build them so much quicker, and they are cheaper. I don't really care if some of my net gets hit, I can replace them lol.

Also, I think Google are very good at identifying pbns. If you have a new domain with only the old links it looks fishy. Google isn't looking at "how the sites look" either. So many other factors go into it, some we won't be thinking of.

Little disclaimer... if I had an auctioned domain I would put more effort into this.

 

[Nargil]

Also, I think Google are very good at identifying pbns. If you have a new domain with only the old links it looks fishy. Google isn't looking at "how the sites look" either. So many other factors go into it, some we won't be thinking of.

Yes, I am pretty sure they are good at it, but I believe there's an error margin. And quite a big one at that.

Apart of that, I know how you work and I know that ROI is the most important thing for you, as it should be, so I can't argue there

 

[MikeyMikey13]

Yes, I am pretty sure they are good at it, but I believe there's an error margin. And quite a big one at that.

Apart of that, I know how you work and I know that ROI is the most important thing for you, as it should be, so I can't argue there

We'll have to see who's network gets whacked first

 

[dzigi]

Most PBN's are worthless cause people don't want to do manage them properly and do it poorly, that's why. They don't want to spend hours upon hours working on something that will benefit them in the longrun they just want a shortcut that will work for them now.

 

[iBlackSky]

I agree with you 100 percent. Thanks for a great post.

 

[ThopHayt]

Please explain to me how Google's algorithm can identify when a website doesn't have a "clear focus"?

It can't, you're right.

This would help if you ever got a manual inspection by Google, but at that point you've already been flagged for some other reason.Google only manual inspects sites AFTER they have been flagged by AI or some other means.

I've had fake review sites I used as PBNs that I even ran Adsense on though. So having a PBN that doubles as a legit site is cool if you have the time.

-ThopHayt

 

[MikeyMikey13]

It can't, you're right.

This would help if you ever got a manual inspection by Google, but at that point you've already been flagged for some other reason.Google only manual inspects sites AFTER they have been flagged by AI or some other means.

I've had fake review sites I used as PBNs that I even ran Adsense on though. So having a PBN that doubles as a legit site is cool if you have the time.

-ThopHayt

I have similar. I now build buffer sites.

So I will have a MS site which will be legit as it can be, then I just plough LQ PBN links at them. Get the anchor text on point, hopefully the site ranks, then link from the buffer to my main site.

 

[Slin25]

Alright I completely understand what you're saying from a long term manual review perspective.

That being said I've tested out links from PBN's that had terrible themes and 100% pure spam spun content and they still moved my sites up. The point is, if your pbn isn't moving your sites it's due to quality of domains. If you get penalized over time it's due to the actual build of your site.

 

[starki]

All of the stuff you listed isn't "unique". Reviewers will know this happens. 5$ logo? fake ads? affiliate products? plugins? I mean really, how stupid do you think they are lol.
My honest advice is, stop wasting time with this crap. You've got more time to build money sties etc if you do.

They are clever for sure, it's their job and they are - without a doubt - good at it. I just wanted to point out a few ideas. If you are using really high quality domains for a PBN, you don't need 100 domains to rank for competitive terms, so more time to build each PBN site like others probably build their money sites. There is nothing wrong with the quick & dirty purely ROI based approach, works fine, too, but it's definitly possible to build PBNs that stand even manual reviews.