There are two main types of link building: automated and manual. Which one is better for your website? That depends on a variety of factors, including your budget, the amount of time you have to spend on link building, and the type of website you have. In this blog post, we will discuss the pros and cons of both automated and manual link building, so that you can make an informed decision about which type is best for your business.
What is Automated Link-Building?
Automated link-building is the process of using software to generate links to your website. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as blog commenting, directory submission, social bookmarking, and article marketing. Automated link building can be a quick and easy way to build links to your website, but it also has some downsides which we will cover later in the article.
What is Manual Link Building?
Contrary to automated link building, manual link building is the process of manually creating links to your website. This is typically done by reaching out to other website owners and asking for a link, or by writing guest blog posts on other websites. This process takes more time than automated link building, but it can be more effective in the long run.
Benefits of Automated Link Building
Before you can decide if automated link building is right for your website, you need to understand the benefits of this type of link building. Here are three of the main benefits:
Benefit #1: It’s Fast
One of the biggest benefits of automated link building is that it’s fast. You can generate a large number of links in a short period of time, which is perfect if you’re short on time or if you need to quickly increase your link count. This is because it does not involve manually creating each link, which can be a time-consuming process.
Benefit #2: It’s Easy
Another benefit of automated link building is that it’s easy. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge to use most automated link-building software, and you can typically get started with just a few clicks of your mouse. This is in contrast to manual link building, which can be more difficult and time-consuming.
Benefit #3: It’s Inexpensive
Automated link building is also relatively inexpensive. There are many affordable software programs available that can help you generate links quickly and easily. This is in contrast to manual link building, which can be more costly due to the amount of time it requires.
Disadvantages of Automated Link Building
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of automated link building, let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages.
Disadvantage #1: It Can Be Spammy
One of the biggest disadvantages of automated link building is that it can be spammy. If you use automated link-building software to generate links to your website, you run the risk of having your links placed on low-quality websites. This can hurt your website’s reputation and cause search engines to penalize your site, according to Majestic.
Disadvantage #2: It Might Not Be Effective
Another disadvantage of automated link building is that it might not be as effective as manual link building. This is because automated links are often less valuable than manually created links, and they can sometimes be ignored by search engines.
Disadvantage #3: It’s Risky
Automated link building is also risky. If you use automated link-building software, you could accidentally violate Google’s guidelines and get your website penalized. This is why it’s important to be careful when using this type of software since you are not manually choosing the links yourself.
Benefits of Manual Link Building
Now that you know the benefits of automated link building, let’s take a look at the benefits of manual link building. Here are three of the main benefits:
Benefit #1: It’s Safer
Because automated processes are often frowned upon by search engines, there is always the risk that your website could be penalized if you use automated link-building software. This is not the case with manual link building, which is considered to be a safer and more sustainable method since you are picking specifically where your links will go.
Benefit #2: It’s More Effective
Manual link building is also generally more effective than automated link building. This is because manually built links are often of a higher quality, since they are coming from websites that are relevant to yours, and which you have carefully selected. These high-quality links can provide a boost to your website’s search engine rankings.
Benefit #3: It’s More Personalized
Finally, manual link building is more personalized than automated link building. When you reach out to other website owners and ask for a link, you can tailor your request to their specific website and explain why a link from them would be beneficial for both of you. This personal touch can make all the difference in whether or not your link request is successful.
Disadvantages of Manual Link-Building
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of manual link building, let’s take a look at some of the disadvantages.
Disadvantage #1: It’s Time-Consuming
The main disadvantage of manual process is that it can be time-consuming. This is because you have to reach out to other website owners and ask for links, which can take up a lot of your time.
Disadvantage #2: It Requires Specialized Knowledge
Another disadvantage of manual link building is that it requires specialized knowledge. You need to know how to find relevant websites, how to contact website owners, and how to negotiate link placement. If you don’t have this knowledge, then this method might not be right for you. This worry can, of course, be eliminated by hiring a professional to do the work for you.
Automated vs Manual Link-Building: What’s Better?
Ultimately, only you can decide which method is better for your website. Usually, website owners prefer manual link building as it involves less risk, despite taking longer. While automated link-building can be a fast solution, it’s not a long-term strategy and one slip-up could result in your website being penalized.
Final Thoughts
If you are ready to take the safe route and start manual link building for your website, contact our team at ArticleHub to help you today! We are link-building experts and we would be happy to help you get started.
