How to Buy Guest Posts Without Getting Scammed: 7-Point Checklist for 2026

Overview

Buying guest posts is the fastest way to grow your rankings. But if you have ever paid $100 for a link and then saw it disappear after a month, you know the market is full of scams.After delivering 10,000+ guest posts to agencies at RankNova, I have seen every trick sellers use. Here is the exact 7-point checklist we use to verify every website on RankNova.net before listing it. The 7-Point Checklist Before You Pay for Any Guest Post Use this checklist every time you buy. If a seller fails even one point, skip that site. 1. Check Real Traffic, Not Just DA

DA can be manipulated. A DA 80 site with 0 monthly traffic is a red flag. Always check Ahrefs or SEMrush organic traffic. At RankNova, we only list sites with verifiable organic traffic. If a site shows DA 94 like theboringmagazine.it.com, it must also show 28K+ real traffic. No traffic = no value.

2. Check Spam Score Must Be Under 10%

Open the site in Moz Spam Score. If the score is above 10%, Google may already distrust that domain. A high spam score means the site sold too many links to spammy niches. We auto-reject any site above 8% spam score.

3. Ask: Is the Link Permanent Dofollow?

Some sellers give you a dofollow link for 7 days, then change it to nofollow. Always confirm it is permanent dofollow. Your guest post should clearly state: Permanent, Dofollow, Indexed, and Not labelled as Sponsored.

4. Verify Turnaround Time (TAT)

If a seller says 15-20 days, he does not own the site. He is a middleman looking for another middleman. Real owners deliver in 24-48 hours. That is why RankNova guarantees delivery within 48 hours. Anything longer is a risk.

5. Check Google Indexing Status

Search site:domain.com on Google. If Google has not indexed the last 10 posts, your post will never index either. A de-indexed site is worth $0, even if it shows DA 90.

6. Grey Niche Acceptance Should Be Clear

If you are in Casino, CBD, or Crypto, most quality sites will reject you at the last minute after taking your money. A professional marketplace will show you upfront if grey niches are allowed. At RankNova, every listing has a clear tag: Grey Niche Accepted or Not.

7. Never Pay Without Buyer Protection

This is the most important rule. Never pay via crypto, gift cards, or direct bank transfer to a new seller. Always use PayPal or a secured marketplace checkout. At RankNova, every order is protected by PayPal Buyer Protection. If your link is not delivered, you get a full refund.

The Safest Way to Buy Guest Posts in 2026

Stop buying from Google Sheets. The modern way is like Amazon:On RankNova.net, you can filter 10,000+ verified websites by DA (10 to 94), DR, monthly traffic, spam score, niche, and price starting from just $15. You see everything upfront. You click Place Order, pay with PayPal, and get your live link report in 24-48 hours.No negotiation. No waiting for a quote. No scam.

Final Quick Checklist (Save This)Before you buy your next guest post, screenshot this:Real Ahrefs traffic visible? Spam Score < 10%? Permanent Dofollow guaranteed? TAT is 24-48 Hours? Site is indexed in Google? Grey niche policy is clear? Payment via PayPal is available? If yes to all 7, you can buy safely.Ready to buy your first safe guest post?

FAQs (Add this in RankMath FAQ Block for SEO) Q1: How much should I pay for a DA 50 guest post? A good DA 50 guest post with real traffic should cost between $40 to $90. If someone offers you DA 90 for $10, it is 100% fake or a PBN.

Q2: Are cheap guest posts worth it?

Yes, if they have real traffic and low spam score. At RankNova, you can find DA 30-40 sites with 5K traffic for $15-$25 which are perfect for tier 2 link building.

Q3: Can I get a refund if my link is removed?

On RankNova.net, yes. All orders are covered by PayPal Buyer Protection and we offer a 30-day replacement guarantee if any link is removed.