Author: Vladislav Bobrov, founder of Tier1.shop. In SEO and webmastering since 2009.
When you buy a link, you almost always receive it on an internal donor page — in an article, in a profile, in a catalog. And this is a page to which the weight of the donor itself reaches on a residual basis. A link from the homepage works differently: the homepage is the point where the maximum weight of the entire site flows, and it is almost always in the index. In this article, we will analyze why this is important, how to distinguish a truly strong donor from a beautiful metric, and how to order turnkey placement.
What is a link from the homepage
A few terms so that we can speak the same language moving forward:
- Donor — a site from which a link to you is placed.
- Acceptor — your page to which the link leads.
- Anchor text — the text of the link itself.
- Drop-domain — a released domain with a history and accumulated link weight, on the basis of which a donor site is built.
- Sitewide link — placed in a sitewide block (menu, sidebar) and therefore visible on all pages of the donor.
A link from the homepage is an external link located specifically on the donor's homepage, not on an internal page. And the difference between these two options is much greater than it seems. By the way, in webmaster slang, the homepage is called the "face" — if you are looking for where to buy links from the face, it is exactly the same format.
Why the homepage weighs more than an internal page
All internal weight flows to the homepage
The most internal site links lead to the homepage: logo, menu, "to home", breadcrumbs. According to the logic of internal weight distribution, the homepage receives the largest share — it is a natural accumulator. An internal page receives only the part that remains after passing deeper into the structure.
External mass also concentrates on the homepage
When a site is linked to naturally, it is most often linked to the domain, i.e., the homepage. A quality drop has a history of incoming links behind it, and they arrive predominantly at the homepage. By placing a link there, you connect to this accumulated weight, rather than to the "tail" of a deep page.
Few outgoing links — weight is not diluted
The transferred weight depends on how many outgoing links share it, — but this is not a simple linear division. Dividing it between 5 links from a powerful homepage and spreading it across 100 links from article pages are completely different things. According to our experiments and observations (source: Tier1.shop placement analytics), each of the 5 links from the homepage receives almost as much weight as if it were the only one on the page. That is why we have a strict limit: no more than 5 external links plus 1 sitewide link — it keeps the weight concentrated. But on a typical article platform or an exchange, where dozens of external links hang on one page, each receives only crumbs.
That is why the counterintuitive thesis, which we have been testing in practice for years, works:
A link from the home page of even a weak donor is usually more effective than an article or profile link from an internal page of a resource with a high "synthetic" DR. (Source: years of placement analytics from Tier1.shop.)
Indexing: a link outside the index transmits nothing
Another factor that is often overlooked: a link transmits weight only when the donor page is indexed. Crowd links, article blasts, and cheap rentals are often located on pages that never make it into the index or drop out of it, — and then they provide nothing, no matter how beautiful their metrics are.
The home page is the most visited by bots and is almost always in the index. We go further and guarantee the indexing of every placement: the donor's home page enters the index on average within 1–14 days. You pay not for a "link in theory," but for a link that search engines actually see and account for.
Visual comparison
| Parameter | PBN Home Page | Internal / Article | Rental from exchange | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page weight share | Maximum | Residual | Low | Minimum |
| Donor Indexing | Guaranteed, 100% | Low | Unstable | Low |
| Outgoing Neighbors | Up to 5 (+1 sitewide link) | Often dozens | Dozens | Many |
| Donor Quality Control | Strict | No | No | No |
| Privacy / Filter Risk | Network not in exchanges | In exchange index | In exchange index | Public |
Why DR and Trust are a poor guide
The first thing beginners ask for: "show me a donor with high DR". The problem is that DR (Ahrefs), TF/CF (Majestic), DA/PA (Moz), Checktrust are synthetic metrics. They are easily manipulated and correlate poorly with the actual effect on ranking. An expensive donor according to SEO metrics may provide nothing, while a "modest" niche-relevant one may work.
We focus on what is actually linked to the effect:
- RD (referring domains) — the number of unique referring domains (our threshold is 20+).
- Google Mentions — how "known" the domain actually is to the search engine.
- Topicality — the correspondence of the donor to your anchor text and target page.
- Indexing — the donor's home page must be in the search engine index.
We revise our selection criteria based on the analytics of the actual effect, not based on tables from third-party services.
What a high-quality link from the home page looks like
Good placement is the simultaneous meeting of several conditions:
- Donor home page in the index of search engines.
- Topical correspondence: the donor's topic is relevant to the anchor text and your page.
- Donor is built on a dropped domain with history (20+ RD), content restored from the web archive or created anew on the topic.
- Link embedded in topical text on the home page — usually with a paragraph for naturalness, rather than piled into the footer.
“Is PBN risky?”
A common concern: “PBNs are just sites without traffic.” It is important to understand here that you are not buying the traffic of the donor content, but the link weight of its home page. This weight is formed by the domain history and the constant boosting of the network with auxiliary level links.
The key to safety is privacy. Our network is not indexed by link exchanges, operates on its own infrastructure in the RF and is intentionally diversified so that the sites have no common footprints. This reduces the likelihood of falling under algorithmic filters characteristic of public exchanges, where the same pool of donors is visible to everyone. Currently, there are more than 7 000 donors in the network.
How to correctly use links from home pages
Even the best links can be wasted. Here is what we recommend based on placement analytics.
Where to place. On pages that you are actually promoting and monetizing, and which already have positions in the top-100 — it is easier for them to take a step forward.
How to distribute. Statistically, it is more effective to place 10 links on 10 different pages than 10 links on one. Build weight across the front of the promoted pages.
Anchors — only unique. For one page, 4–7 types of links are optimal: main keyword, entity (brand/name), Title, high-frequency keyword, naked image link, keyword with intent. More details in our analysis, how to choose anchor text for links from PBN home pages.
⚠️ Do not repeat anchor text. When placing links from home pages with a duplicate incoming anchor text, the chance of page pessimization in terms of positions and traffic is more than 50% (source: Tier1.shop observations). This is the fastest way to waste a budget.
Cadence. Minimum program — 1 link to the target page every 3–4 weeks. Maximum program — 1–3 links to the page with the same frequency. A gradual, steady increase looks more natural than a sharp spike.
Deadlines and expectations. The donor's home page is indexed on average in 1–14 days. Position dynamics can vary greatly: sometimes shifts are visible the day after placement, sometimes around 30 days ±, and the full effect accumulates over months (source: Tier1.shop customer feedback). To capture this dynamics, record the positions of the target pages a few days before placement and then track them daily after — this way you will see the search engine's reaction. It is usually faster in narrow niches and for low-frequency queries with good on-page.
And a honest disclaimer: links do not compensate for weak internal optimization. If a page does not respond to link-building, it is more reasonable to invest in on-page first.
How to get links from home pages
Formats and prices:
- For 1 year — 2 000 ₽ per link, with the possibility of extension for subsequent periods.
- Lifetime — 4 000 ₽ per link, placed once and for all (there are restrictions on topics — specified on the website).
- Sitewide — 5 000 ₽ per year.
- Packages (6 / 30 / 120 links) — at the same rate per link, without hidden markups for volume: we believe that all clients should be on equal terms.
How to order. Everything is managed through the personal account on Tier1.shop — the process is automated, no manager involvement is required. Pay for the plan, specify the pages and (optionally) anchor text — then the system works on its own. Cashback is credited to the account balance for orders. Thematic donors are available for a wide variety of niches: medicine and clinics, finance and loans, construction, education, special equipment, cryptocurrencies, and many others.
How placement works — 5 steps:
- You provide the target page URLs and anchor text. If no anchor text is specified — we will select it ourselves based on content and meta tags.
- The system selects the most thematic donor with an available slot.
- The link is integrated into the text on the donor's home page.
- You receive a report with the home page URL and a screenshot of the link location.
- Next is indexing within standard timeframes (1–14 days).
What we guarantee. Indexing of every placement — the donor's home page enters the index on average within 1–14 days. If the home page drops out of the index or we made a mistake with the thematic match — we replace it for free. Changing the anchor text or URL at your request — 250 ₽. No one ever guarantees search engine positions: SEO depends on too many factors outside of linking. We are responsible for what is in our zone of control — donor quality, correct placement, and a transparent report.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I choose or see the donor before ordering?
No. It is not possible to find out, see, or choose a site in advance — for reasons of network security, client anonymity, and technical limitations.
Why is this better than marketplace or rental links?
The weight of the home page plus a strict limit on outgoing links (5+1) versus the diluted weight of internal pages with dozens of links. Plus the privacy of the network.
How many links are needed for an effect?
Minimum program — 1 link per target page every 3–4 weeks. Maximum program — 1–3 links per page with the same frequency.
How soon will there be a result?
It varies greatly: sometimes shifts are noticeable the very next day after placement, more often — around 30 days ±, and the full effect accumulates over months. Tip: record your positions a few days before placement and track them daily afterward — this shows the real dynamics. It is faster in narrow niches and for low-frequency queries with good on-page.
What about link indexing?
We guarantee the indexing of every placement: the donor's homepage enters the index on average within 1–14 days. This is a fundamental difference from crowd marketing, article blasts, and cheap rentals, where a significant portion of links never enter the index — and therefore do not pass weight.
Do you guarantee a growth in positions?
Honestly — no, and do not believe those who do: positions depend on many factors beyond links. We guarantee the quality of the placement: topical relevance, donor indexability, a report, and a free replacement if the homepage drops out of the index.
Can I use the same anchor texts?
We strongly advise against it — duplicating incoming anchor texts from homepages gives a more than 50% chance of penalization.
Does it work for Yandex and Google?
Yes, the main network is for the RU-segment, the donors are regional.
Can the anchor be in English?
In the RU-network — only proper names and brands (for example, the company name). We will not be able to use ordinary English words in the anchor.
Are there donors for a rare niche?
At least 5 suitable platforms are found even for rare topics.
Briefly about the main points
Weight is concentrated on the homepage — therefore, a link from there is stronger than an internal one. Donor quality is determined by topical relevance, RD, and indexing, not by SEO metrics tools. And the result depends on how you manage the placements: unique anchor texts, distribution across pages, and a steady cadence.
Ready to try — place an order for links from homepages in the personal account at Tier1.shop. Have more questions — write to the support bot @tier1shopsupport_bot, we will answer.
