After wasting thousands on guest posts that barely moved the needle, I discovered the simple math behind homepage power. These links tap directly into a domain’s core authority instead of starting from zero like most guest post pages do.
I’ve spent the last year testing a service called Shared Domains.
The concept is straightforward – SEOs pool resources to acquire aged domains with solid backlink profiles. My typical investment runs £150-200 per link, though I’ve gone up to £250 for domains with exceptional metrics. Most importantly, I’ve seen consistent ranking improvements across different niches.
Link-building fundamentals haven’t changed in a decade, but most SEOs overcomplicate them.
I’ve tested every strategy, and homepage links consistently deliver the most vital authority signals.
After managing hundreds of campaigns, I’ve found homepage links typically drive ranking improvements 2-3 times faster than guest posts. The math works because you’re tapping into established domain authority instead of starting from scratch.
A homepage link from a DR40 domain often outperforms three or four guest post links from similar sites.
I started using Shared Domains last year after getting tired of hunting for individual opportunities. They’ve streamlined the whole process – you browse available domains, place bids, and they handle the technical setup.
Use my referral code “Craig” for a £25 signup bonus.
The bidding process reveals who actually understands link value.
Most buyers fixate on domain rating, but I look for domains with clean link profiles and relevant industry history. I recently won a bid for £210 on a domain that previously hosted a marketing blog. Its backlinks from industry publications made it worth double that price.
Two critical lessons from my experience:
Understanding Homepage Backlinks
Most SEOs think any homepage link automatically means more power.
Wrong.
I’ve watched countless campaigns fail because people ignored link context and relevance. A homepage link from an irrelevant site with great metrics often performs worse than a contextual link from a smaller, topically-aligned domain.
My testing shows homepage links typically transfer 3-4 times more authority than internal page links. Homepages naturally accumulate the most internal links and external citations. Every internal page essentially votes for the homepage’s importance. When you secure a homepage link, you tap into years of accumulated authority.
After burning through thousands on individual outreach campaigns, I stumbled onto something that works.
I found a service where SEOs pool resources to buy expired domains with solid link profiles. It sounds simple, but the execution makes all the difference.
The service has two options: pre-orders and aftermarket.
Eight weeks. That’s how long it takes them to properly rebuild each site. Most services rush this part and tank the domain’s value. I’ve watched them methodically restore content, fix technical issues, and rebuild authority before adding any links.
I ignore fancy metrics and focus on three things:
Renewal fees run £50 annually.
Set up auto-renewals for the performers; dump the duds at renewal time. That’s the beauty of homepage links – you can actually measure their impact over time and keep the winners.
Shared domains changed my entire approach to link building last year.
Instead of chasing individual site owners, I joined forces with other SEOs to acquire aged domains with established authority.
I spent six months testing their system before going all in, and the results convinced me to restructure my entire link-building budget.
The concept makes perfect sense – pooling resources to buy premium domains cuts individual costs by 60-70%.
My average investment dropped from £500 per homepage link through traditional outreach to around £200 through shared buying. The quality improved because we buy entire domains instead of begging for links.
I was most impressed by their domain selection process.
They scan expiring domains daily, filtering for clean link profiles and relevant industry history. Most services grab anything with decent metrics.
These guys reject 90% of the domains they review. Last month, I watched them pass on a DR 72 domain because its backlink profile looked manipulated.
Bidding works differently than most expect. You’re not just competing on price—they factor in your history with the service and your planned anchor text. It’s an intelligent system that prevents any single buyer from dominating good domains or building obvious link patterns.
I lost my first few bids before figuring out their scoring system.
The aftermarket saved me when I needed quick wins. I paid premium prices (£300-400) for immediate homepage slots, but the domains had better metrics than anything I found through outreach. Each slot came with clear metrics: referring domains, traffic history, and existing backlinks. There was no guessing about quality.
Mastering domain auctions took me three months of expensive mistakes. Before developing a proper bidding strategy, I lost £600 on overpriced domains.
Now, I consistently land homepage links at 40-50% below the market rate.
The difference?
Understanding auction psychology and true domain value.
Most buyers panic bid in the final hours. I’ve watched DR 45 domains jump from £180 to £400 in the last 30 minutes—a complete waste of money. Instead, I place my maximum bid early, then walk away.
I set price alerts for 75% of my max bid. This lets me track auction movement without getting emotionally invested.
Domain metrics trap newer buyers. They chase high DR scores while ignoring red flags. Last month, I found a DR 35 news domain with backlinks from Reuters and Bloomberg for £190. Others ignored it because of the lower DR.
That link outperforms DR 50+ domains I paid double for last year.
My bidding framework is simple: domain age multiplied by referring domains from major publications equals maximum bid. Ignore trust flow scores – they’re too easy to manipulate.
A 10-year-old domain with five quality news backlinks justifies £200-250. Anything more needs exceptional metrics.
Auction timing matters more than most realize. European domains see less competition during U.S. prime time. Landed three tech domains with clean link profiles by bidding at 3 AM London time. The average paid was £175 instead of the usual £250-300 range.
Track your win rate. Mine hovers around 30% – that’s healthy. You’re probably overpaying if you’re winning more than half your bids.
If you win less than 20%, your maximum bids need adjustment. This game rewards patience and disciplined bidding more than deep pockets.
Use my referral code “Craig” for a £25 signup bonus. Check out shared domains here