Buying a backlink is only half the job. Links get removed, changed to nofollow, or quietly deindexed, and if nobody checks, you keep paying for value you no longer have. Good backlink management does not need special software. A clear spreadsheet and a short monthly routine are enough for most sites.
Why you need to track bought backlinks
Paid placements are not always permanent. Over time you will see some of these problems:
- The article is deleted or the site goes offline.
- The link is removed or the anchor is changed.
- The link is switched from dofollow to nofollow or sponsored.
- The page is never indexed, so search engines may not count it.
- The page is moved to a new URL and the link is lost in the process.
Many marketplaces offer a replacement or refund period. If you do not notice a problem until that period has ended, you lose that protection. Tracking also tells you which marketplaces and sites deliver links that last, which makes your next purchase smarter.
For the wider picture of watching your link profile, see our guide to backlink monitoring.
The spreadsheet columns that matter
Keep one row per link. These columns cover what you need without making the sheet hard to maintain.
| Column | What to record |
|---|---|
| Domain | The site that links to you, for example example.com |
| Live URL | The exact page where your link appears |
| Anchor | The anchor text used |
| Target | The page on your site the link points to |
| Price | What you paid, including writing or extra fees |
| Marketplace | Where you bought it, or “direct” for outreach deals |
| Date | The date the link went live |
| Rel | dofollow, nofollow, sponsored or ugc |
| Indexed | Yes, no or unknown |
| Last checked | The date of your most recent check |
Optional columns that help later: order ID, guarantee end date, contact email, and a notes field for anything unusual.
Keep the values consistent
Use the same spelling for marketplace names and the same format for dates. Use a dropdown for the Rel and Indexed columns. This makes filtering and sorting reliable when the sheet grows to hundreds of rows.
A simple backlink management workflow
- Before you buy: add the domain, planned target page, anchor and price. Mark the row as “ordered”.
- When the link goes live: add the live URL and date. Open the page and confirm the link points to the right target with the agreed anchor.
- Check the rel attribute: inspect the link and record whether it is dofollow, nofollow or sponsored. Our guide on checking if a link is dofollow or nofollow shows how.
- Check indexing after a few weeks: search for the exact page URL or use Search Console data where available. Record the result.
- Monthly check: filter for every live link, confirm it still exists and has not changed, and update “Last checked”.
- Act on problems quickly: if a link is missing or changed while still under guarantee, contact the marketplace or publisher with the order details.
For a more detailed checklist on what to verify, read how to validate backlinks.
Checking many links without losing a day
With a handful of links, opening each page by hand is fine. Once you have dozens, use a crawler or a link checking tool that reads a list of URLs and reports whether your target link is present and what rel value it has.
Then copy the results back into your sheet. The sheet stays the single source of truth, and the tool only does the checking.
Prioritize recent and expensive links. A link bought last month is still inside most guarantee windows, so a problem there is worth more of your time than one on a cheap link from two years ago.
Use the data to buy better
After a few months, your tracking sheet becomes a useful buying guide. Sort and filter it to answer questions like:
- Which marketplaces deliver links that stay live?
- Which sites changed links to nofollow after publishing?
- What is your average price per link that is still live and indexed?
- Which target pages already have enough links and which need more?
You will also notice that you paid very different amounts for similar sites. Before the next order, check what the same domain costs on other marketplaces. A free backlink price checker shows offers side by side, cheapest first, so the price column in your sheet trends down over time.
Links can also lose value slowly without disappearing. Our post on how dofollow backlinks can lose value covers the less obvious cases.
A note on paid links
Google’s guidance says paid links should carry rel=”sponsored” or nofollow. Many SEOs still buy followed links and accept that risk. Whatever you decide, recording the rel value for every link keeps you honest about what you actually have.
FAQ
How often should I check bought backlinks?
Once a month works for most sites. Check new links more often in the first weeks, since that is when problems are most likely and guarantees are still active.
Do I need special software for backlink management?
No. A spreadsheet with consistent columns is enough for most sites. Add a link checking tool when you have too many links to open by hand.
What should I do if a bought link disappears?
Check whether it is still under the marketplace guarantee and contact them with your order details. If not, ask the publisher directly, and note the result in your sheet.
When it is time to add new links to your sheet, create a free LinkAcquire account and compare marketplace prices before you buy.