Start with Relevance
Ask whether the website and the specific page make sense for the audience you want to reach. A numerically strong domain can still be a poor placement when the topic, readership or editorial context is unrelated.
Use Metrics as Evidence, Not Answers
DR, DA and estimated organic traffic are useful screening signals, but they are third-party measurements. Review trends, topical footprint, recent content and the actual site before accepting or rejecting a prospect.
Inspect the Editorial Footprint
Read recent posts. Look for coherent categories, useful writing, sensible outbound links, identifiable editorial standards and content that appears created for readers rather than only for placement buyers.
Review the Exact Placement Terms
Confirm what content is required, who writes it, expected turnaround, link attributes, number of links, editing rights, permanence or replacement terms, and the final URL you will receive. Save those details with the campaign record.
Measure What Matters
Record the placement and monitor whether it remains live, but do not treat a single link as the sole cause of ranking movement. Referral traffic, brand exposure, relevant mentions and business outcomes provide additional context.
Source Quality
Review the source site's purpose, topical consistency, editorial standards, audience signals and recent publishing history. Authority metrics can support the review but should not replace it.
Page Quality
Check the exact linking page. It should have a coherent topic, useful content and a legitimate reason to reference the destination. A strong domain cannot rescue a nonsensical page context.
Link Context
Read the sentence and surrounding section. The citation should help the reader. Note the anchor text and link attributes, but do not optimize them in isolation from the editorial context.
Durability and Verification
Record the live URL and periodically verify important placements. Links can be edited, removed, redirected or changed, so a campaign record should distinguish ordered placements from currently live ones.