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.
Create an Approval Standard
Write down the minimum information a strategist needs before a prospect reaches a client: relevance rationale, traffic/metric context, sample content quality, link terms, price, target page and any known risk flags.
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.
Separate Strategy From Fulfillment
Client goals and target-page strategy should determine what kinds of placements are relevant. Fulfillment tools and marketplaces then help execute that strategy; they should not define it.
Create Review Gates
Use clear stages for prospect discovery, internal QA, client approval where required, content approval and live-placement verification. Each gate should have an owner and documented criteria.
Track Publisher History
Record previous orders, editorial quality, turnaround, removals, pricing and client feedback. Repeat knowledge helps agencies avoid rediscovering the same information every month.
Report With Context
Show the live page, destination, link treatment and why the source was approved. Metrics are useful supporting data, but clients should be able to understand the qualitative relevance too.