“White‑hat” link building means earning editorial links that put users and publications first—no paid placements that pass PageRank, no automated spam, and no sketchy footprints. The agencies below focus on content‑led outreach, digital PR, and relationship‑driven tactics that stand the test of time.
1. uSERP
uSERP is a white‑hat link building and digital PR agency built for brands that need consistent, editorial placements on real publications—especially in B2B, SaaS, fintech, and cybersecurity. Their pitch is simple: quality, context, and relationships over volume.
- Editorial first. Links are earned through content contributions, journalist outreach, resource inclusion, and unlinked‑mention reclamation—never buying links that pass PageRank.
- SaaS & B2B specialization. Deep bench of writers and strategists who understand complex products, compliance‑heavy verticals, and stakeholder reviews.
- Repeatable playbooks. Mature systems for prospecting, angle development, approvals, and follow‑ups; built to deliver month after month without “one‑off campaign fatigue.”
- Brand‑safe by design. Vetting emphasizes publication quality, relevance, traffic, and fit—not just DR metrics. Anchors, placements, and context are reviewed with a brand‑safety checklist.
- Editorial Outreach & Guest Contributions: Thought‑leadership and evergreen explainers placed on relevant sites with true editorial control.
- Digital PR (Reactive & Proactive): Newsjacking, expert commentary, proprietary data stories, and executive‑quote programs.
- Unlinked‑Mention Reclamation: Track and convert brand or product mentions into links via polite, value‑forward asks.
- Resource / Guide Inclusion: Industry glossaries, benchmarking pages, and “best tools” assets designed to attract links passively over time.
- Partnership & Community Programs: Ethical partnerships (podcasts, webinars, co‑research) with proper
relattributes where sponsorships apply.
- Discovery & Goals: ICP, priority pages, anchor strategy, and risk tolerance.
- Content & Angles: Briefs for guest pieces, data cuts, and PR hooks; alignment with product marketing.
- Prospecting & Vetting: Relevance, audience overlap, traffic signals, editorial standards, and historical link patterns.
- Outreach & Negotiation: Value‑driven pitches, expert quotes, revisions, and editorial coordination.
- Publication & Reporting: Placement QA, anchor/URL checks, indexing, and impact tracking (rankings, ref. traffic, assisted conversions).
- Iteration: Double‑down on formats and beats that consistently earn top‑tier links; retire underperformers.
- Monthly plan with target pages, topics, and outreach lanes
- Live prospect lists with status, notes, and approvals
- Drafts for contributed articles (with SME review when needed)
- Link ledger (URL, anchor, live date, page context)
- Monthly reporting: placements, ref. traffic, ranking movements, and next‑month plan
- Referring domains growth to key money pages and category hubs
- Share of voice against a vetted SERP competitor set
- Quality signals: publication fit, traffic, relevancy, and brand safety—not just DR/DA
- Assisted conversions & pipeline influence via first‑touch/last‑touch models where available
- Programs are typically retainers tied to quality‑tier targets or campaign scope. Budget expectations scale with vertical competitiveness and publication caliber. (Beware any vendor promising fixed “DR 70+ insertions” at low cost—those are rarely white‑hat.)
- Funded SaaS/B2B teams needing predictable, brand‑safe links at the top‑ and mid‑funnel
- Fintech, cybersecurity, and compliance‑sensitive orgs that need rigorous editorial standards
- Companies with content velocity (or the desire to build it) to maximize passive link earning
- White‑hat editorial programs prioritize quality and fit over raw volume; if you need hundreds of links quickly, you’ll trade off safety and brand alignment.
- Best results come when paired with technical SEO and content strategy (internal linking, hub‑and‑spoke builds, and product‑led content).
- Days 1–30: Discovery, page mapping, angle ideation, media list assembly, and first contributed drafts; launch initial reclamation + reactive PR.
- Days 31–60: First wave of publications go live; expand prospect lists; ship second batch of guest content; refine anchors based on early rankings.
- Days 61–90: Scale high‑yield angles, introduce a data study or mini‑survey, and widen beat coverage; formalize QBR with roadmap and projections.
- How do you qualify publications and anchors?
- What percentage of placements are editorial vs. sponsored (with proper
rel)? - How do you measure impact beyond DR/DA—e.g., rankings, ref. traffic, and revenue?
- Can we review live outreach lanes and example pitches?
- What happens when a placement changes or is removed?
2. Siege Media
Content‑led SEO and digital PR that earns links at scale. Siege builds link‑attracting assets (studies, calculators, and “best of” hubs) and pairs them with distribution—so you get both rankings and brand coverage. Smart choice if you want a long‑term engine that keeps earning links passively while reactive campaigns spike coverage.
Best for: Brands ready to invest in a publishing cadence and passive link assets.
Highlights: Content creation, design, and promotion under one roof; “earn vs. buy” philosophy.
Considerations: Works best with patience and consistent content velocity; not a quick‑hit “buy links” vendor.
A handcrafted, relationship‑driven link building team. Expect human vetting, brand‑safe outreach, and links you can comfortably show your CMO. They also deliver SEO consulting and content to support page selection and internal linking.
Best for: Companies wanting steady, sustainable acquisition without risky footprints.
Highlights: Transparent process, custom campaigns, enterprise experience.
Considerations: Quality‑first approach means volume is calibrated to fit relevance and editorial fit.
Known for managed monthly link building with a clear playbook: map target pages, analyze competitors, then execute ethical outreach and high‑quality guest contributions.
Best for: Teams that want a predictable, month‑over‑month plan with clear targets.
Highlights: Managed packages, reporting clarity, enterprise playbooks.
Considerations: As with any vendor, scrutinize anchors and publication mix for brand fit.
A data‑driven digital PR and content agency. Their campaigns are designed to earn links from real organizations and the publications that matter—supported by creative production and analyst resources.
Best for: Companies that want PR‑quality assets with measurable SEO outcomes.
Highlights: Original research, design, and outreach under one roof; strong case studies.
Considerations: Big swings (data stories) can be home runs—set expectations for timelines and approvals.
6. Aira
Respected digital PR + SEO team and publishers of the State of Link Building report. Offers reactive PR, creative campaigns, and technical SEO support—a balanced approach for brands wanting strategy depth.
Best for: Teams seeking both campaign creativity and operational rigor.
Highlights: Education‑forward culture, proven digital PR processes, research leadership.
Considerations: Creative PR requires stakeholder bandwidth for approvals and quotes.
7. Verve Search
UK‑based digital PR powerhouse that ships news‑worthy creative and secures top‑tier editorial coverage (internationally when needed).
Best for: Brands pursuing big, earned‑media moments and cross‑border coverage.
Highlights: Award‑winning team; multilingual capabilities; memorable creative.
Considerations: Campaign‑oriented; pair with ongoing editorial outreach for baseline link velocity.
Experts in reactive PR and data‑led stories that land in high‑tier media. Built for speed when the news cycle moves fast.
Best for: Companies that want to capitalize on trending topics with expert commentary and quick‑turn data cuts.
Highlights: Large‑scale outreach infrastructure; clear “earned‑link” positioning.
Considerations: Works best with fast approvals and on‑call spokespeople.
A relationship‑based outreach shop that openly advocates 100% white‑hat tactics. Useful when you want steady, relevant editorial links without the hype.
Best for: B2B & niche markets where fit and relationships matter more than DR vanity metrics.
Highlights: Practitioner‑driven guidance, manual vetting, long‑term partnerships.
Considerations: Relationship‑first methods trade speed for quality and relevance.
10. Stellar SEO
Delivers custom link programs with detailed prospect screening and content support. Good option for brands that want hands‑on strategy and outreach at a measured pace.
Best for: Orgs that value bespoke prospecting over scaled lists.
Highlights: Process‑driven guides and education; white‑label options for agencies.
Considerations: Expect collaborative approvals and realistic pacing.
11. Loganix
Provides white‑hat and white‑label link acquisition for agencies and SMBs, including brand links, expert quotes, and media placements with clear reporting.
Best for: Agencies that need reliable fulfillment and SMBs seeking transparent packages.
Highlights: Menu‑style services, approval workflows, and satisfaction‑first policies.
Considerations: As with all scaled providers, insist on editorial relevance and brand‑safe anchors.
12. Fractl
Creative digital PR + content specialists that run data‑heavy, newsworthy campaigns. A fit when you want headline‑ready assets that earn links and attention well beyond SEO.
Best for: Brands that can support bigger creative and have patience for research/design cycles.
Highlights: Deep case‑study catalog; placements across top‑tier publishers.
Considerations: Campaign production cycles require planning and stakeholder buy‑in.
| Agency | Services | USP |
|---|---|---|
| uSERP | Editorial outreach, guest contributions, digital PR, mention reclamation | Premium editorial links for SaaS/B2B with brand‑safety controls |
| Siege Media | Content‑led SEO, digital PR, link‑earning assets | Scalable “earn‑links” engine—content that attracts links over time |
| Page One Power | Manual outreach, SEO consulting, content | Handcrafted, sustainable acquisition with transparent processes |
| LinkBuilder.io | Managed monthly outreach, guest contributions | Predictable, ethical monthly programs with clear targets |
| North Star Inbound | Data‑driven PR + content | Links from real organizations; research‑backed storytelling |
| Aira | Digital PR, reactive PR, SEO support | Creative campaigns + operational rigor; industry research lead |
| Verve Search | Digital PR campaigns | Award‑winning creative that earns top‑tier coverage |
| Search Intelligence | Reactive PR, data stories | High‑velocity, news‑driven link bursts in premium media |
| Digital Olympus | Relationship outreach, partnerships | 100% white‑hat, relationship‑based ethos |
| Stellar SEO | Custom link programs, white‑label | Bespoke prospecting and detailed vetting |
| Loganix | White‑label link building, media placements | Agency‑friendly services with approval workflows |
| Fractl | Digital PR + content production | Data‑heavy, headline‑ready campaigns that earn authority |
- Ask how links are earned and request example outreach. Avoid vendors selling guaranteed “DR 70+ insertions” at scale.
- Use
rel="sponsored"(ornofollow) for paid/sponsored placements; keep editorial links editorial. - Prefer publication fit and content context over vanity metrics.
- Pair link earning with internal linking and content quality to amplify impact.
- If you inherit risky legacy links, perform a cleanup or disavow only as a last resort—start by requesting removals first.