Estimate the real value of a backlink before you pay for it — authority, traffic, relevance and cost in one honest number.
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Key facts about backlink value
A relevant DA 50+ link is worth £150 to £500 in SEO value.
A nofollow link carries about 10% of the authority value.
Spam links can trigger a Google manual action.
Most AI search citations come from earned media, not paid links.
Consistent niche-relevant links beat a few high-DA gambles.
Estimates based on 2026 UK agency benchmarks. Google penalises bought links — earn or rent exposure, never buy.
The link you're considering
Estimated 12-month value of this link
£350
Worth it — roughly 2.3× your cost
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How the value is calculated
Authority value (DA-based)
£120
Traffic value (visitors × £2)
£200
Relevance multiplier
×1.0
Your cost
£150
Authority value assumes the link is dofollow and actually indexed. A nofollow link's authority value is ~10%. Traffic value uses a conservative £2 per visit for most service businesses.
Quick judgement guide
DA 60+ relevant link — genuinely valuable; worth £200–£500 if earned or from a real outreach campaign.
DA 20–40 niche link — modest but real; fine as part of a portfolio.
DA under 10 or spammy — skip it. It can trigger manual action and costs more in cleanup than it's worth.
"DA 90 for £50" — almost always a PBN or hacked-site link. Google will devalue or penalise it.
FAQ
How much is a backlink worth?
A good backlink's value depends on the referring domain's authority and relevance. A DA 50+ relevant link can be worth £150–£500+ in SEO value; a spammy link can cost you in penalties.
Should I pay for backlinks?
Buying links violates Google's guidelines and risks penalties. Earn links through digital PR, genuinely relevant guest posts, and free directories. If you do pay, treat it as rented exposure, not an asset.