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.
Domain-Level Relevance
Ask whether the source publication consistently serves an audience connected to your subject. One isolated category on an otherwise unrelated site is weaker evidence than a coherent topical footprint.
Page-Level Relevance
The individual article should create a natural reason to cite the destination. This can be more important than whether the entire domain fits a narrow niche label.
Audience Relevance
Consider whether a real reader of the source could plausibly benefit from the destination. Audience overlap turns topical similarity into a more meaningful business rationale.