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.
Compare the Workflow, Not Just the Vendor
Decide whether you need self-serve discovery, direct publisher relationships, content creation, negotiation, reporting or fully managed execution. The cheapest nominal placement can become expensive if it creates extra QA or remediation work.
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.
Link Insertions
A link insertion adds a citation to an existing page. The page may already have history, links and traffic, but the new citation must fit the existing text naturally. Retrofitted commercial anchors can be conspicuous and unhelpful.
Guest Posts
A new contribution gives more control over the subject and depth, but it starts as a new URL and requires content creation and editorial approval.
Choosing Between Them
Prefer the format that produces the most useful reader context. If an existing page already discusses the exact subject and genuinely needs your resource, an insertion can make sense. If the topic deserves fuller treatment, a new contribution may be cleaner.