The Cited Labs Blog

White-hat link building, editorial backlinks, and the SEO judgment behind them.

• Are Paid Backlinks Safe? What Google Penalizes in 2026

  Jul 10, 2026

  Paid backlinks are safe only when they're editorial. Here's what Google's link spam policy actually penalizes, and the bigger 2026 risk buyers miss.

• How to Buy Backlinks Safely: A Buyer's Guide for 2026

  Jul 9, 2026

  Buy backlinks without torching your site: what's actually safe, what Google penalizes, fair prices, and how to start without gambling your rankings.

• How to Vet a Link-Building Agency: 9 Red Flags

  Jul 9, 2026

  How to choose a link-building agency: 9 red flags that separate real agencies from the ones wasting your budget, and the exact questions to ask before you pay.

• What Is White-Hat Link Building (and How to Spot It)

  Jul 9, 2026

  A plain-English guide to white-hat link building: what makes a backlink editorial, why it matters, and the red flags that signal risk.