Backlink contract SLA clauses to include before you buy links

Why a backlink contract or SLA matters

A backlink contract SLA is a simple written agreement that explains what you’re buying and what the provider must deliver. It turns a vague promise like “we will place a link” into terms you can actually check.

It protects the buyer by making the result measurable. You can confirm the link exists, where it appears, and whether it matches the rules you paid for. It also protects the seller by setting boundaries, like what happens if your target page changes or a publisher updates an article.

Most disputes happen because the basics were never settled. A good agreement spells out, in plain language, the placement location, how long the link should stay live, what attributes it must have, what happens if it’s removed, and how delivery is verified.

An email thread is often not enough once money, timelines, and third parties are involved. Emails get messy, people change roles, and key details get interpreted differently. If you’re buying multiple links, paying a subscription, or using an inventory-based placement service (like SEOBoosty), a short SLA reduces confusion and keeps expectations realistic.

A concrete example: you pay for a contextual link in a specific article, but two months later the publisher refreshes the page and your link disappears. Without a written replacement clause, you can end up arguing about whether the job was ever “complete”. With an SLA, the remedy is already agreed: replace the link, move it to an equivalent page, or refund, within a defined timeframe.

Placement details to define clearly

Most link disputes happen because “a backlink” is vague. A solid backlink contract SLA should say exactly what page the link will live on and where on that page it must appear.

Start by naming the allowed page type. A link inside a relevant article usually carries more value than one in a footer or sidebar. An author bio link can be fine or pointless depending on your goals. If you’re buying a placement on a resource page, spell out whether it must be a curated list with descriptions, not just a long directory.

Then define the location in practical terms. “In-content” should mean inside the main body text, not a navigation menu, a “related links” widget, or a template area that repeats sitewide. If the seller can place the link anywhere, you’re accepting the risk of a low-visibility spot.

Anchor text needs rules too. Decide whether the anchor is fixed for the full term or editable, and whether changes require your approval. A simple rule like “brand or natural anchors only” can prevent risky, over-optimized anchors.

Be equally specific about the destination. Write down the final target URL, whether redirects are allowed, and what happens if you later change the page. If you do allow redirects, require that the link resolves to a live 200 status page on your domain.

Finally, clarify link count. If the agreement is for one link, state that you won’t be charged for multiple links on the same page unless you approve it.

A practical backlink placement clause usually covers: the approved page types and topics, a requirement to place the link in the main content area (not header, footer, sidebar, or navigation), anchor text rules and edit approvals, target URL rules (including redirects and canonical handling), and whether there are limits on other outbound links near yours.

If you use a curated provider like SEOBoosty, you can still put these placement details in writing so both sides share the same expectations before the link goes live.

Duration and uptime commitments

A clear time commitment is the difference between “we’ll place a link” and an agreement you can rely on. In a backlink contract SLA, spell out how long the link must stay live and what happens if the page changes.

Start with the minimum live period. Many buyers choose a fixed term like 3, 6, or 12 months, but the exact number matters less than writing it down. Also define the start date so there’s no confusion later. If you pay on an invoice date but the link is published two weeks later, the link duration agreement should say which date starts the clock.

Define what “live” means in plain terms. For example: the link must be on a publicly accessible page (no login), the page should load normally in a browser, and it should be indexable unless you explicitly agree otherwise. This avoids a situation where a link technically exists but sits behind a paywall or on a page blocked from search engines.

Uptime expectations don’t need to be complicated. You can set limits on how long a single outage can last, how much total downtime is allowed per month, whether planned maintenance requires notice, what counts as an outage (page removed vs brief server errors), and how uptime is measured.

Also cover the end of term and renewal. State whether the link may be removed when the term ends, whether it can stay but is no longer guaranteed, and how renewals work (auto-renew vs renewal by confirmation).

Example: you buy a 12-month placement, but the publisher migrates the site at month 5. The SLA should allow a short maintenance window, but if the page stays down longer than the limit, the seller must restore the link or extend the term to make up the lost days.

Link attributes and technical requirements

A backlink can look “live” on a page but still pass little value if the attributes or page settings are wrong. Your backlink contract SLA should state the technical rules up front, so you’re not arguing later about what was delivered.

Start with follow vs nofollow. If you’re paying for authority and rankings, many buyers expect a standard followed link. If nofollow is acceptable in certain cases (for example, when a publisher requires it), write that clearly and treat it as a different deliverable.

Then address rel attributes. Some sites add rel="sponsored" or rel="ugc" by policy. Decide whether those are required, allowed, or forbidden, and write a simple nofollow sponsored UGC clause. The key is change control: attributes shouldn’t be added or changed after placement without your written approval (including switching follow to nofollow).

Technical requirements should go beyond rel. A link can be present but blocked from indexing or diluted by canonical settings.

Minimum technical spec to include

Keep it simple and testable:

• Link must be a visible HTML <a> link (no hidden CSS, and no JavaScript-only links if HTML is required).
• Target URL must match exactly (no unexpected redirects, trackers, or shortened URLs unless approved).
• Page must be indexable (meta robots set to index, follow and not blocked by robots.txt).
• Canonical tag must point to the same page where the link appears (not a different URL).
• Link placement must not be inside iframes or areas blocked for crawlers.

Example: you buy a placement on a blog post through a curated inventory. Two weeks later, the publisher updates the template and adds rel="sponsored" sitewide. If your SLA includes “no attribute changes without consent” and a verification check, you have a clean path to request a fix or a replacement.

Site and content quality safeguards

A backlink can look fine on day one and turn risky later if the page or site changes. Quality safeguards in your backlink contract SLA protect you from placements that become unusable, unsafe, or misleading.

Start with accessibility. The page should remain publicly reachable (not behind a login or paywall) and the link must stay crawlable. Call out that the page can’t be blocked by robots.txt, meta noindex, or other technical blocks that prevent search engines from seeing it.

Next, define content exclusions clearly. Avoid vague wording like “clean site.” List what’s not allowed: malware, adult content, illegal products or services, hate or extremist content, and deceptive downloads. If you have brand safety concerns, add adjacency rules (for example, not placing your link next to gambling or pills).

Content edits are another common problem. Publishers update articles, swap sections, or “refresh” pages, and your link gets pushed down or rewritten. Agree on what changes are allowed after placement (minor grammar edits) and what isn’t (moving the link into footers, sidebars, or bios; removing the surrounding context; adding negative or misleading claims near your brand name).

Finally, ban link tricks. Add language that prohibits cloaking, forced redirects, or replacing your URL with tracking hops that don’t resolve cleanly.

If you’re buying placements through a provider (for example, a curated inventory like SEOBoosty), ask what screening checks they apply and make sure those checks appear in the backlink contract SLA, not only in marketing copy.

Replacement and remediation policy

A backlink isn’t “set and forget.” Pages get updated, editors clean up old posts, and sometimes a whole site changes hands. A clear replacement and remediation policy is what makes a backlink contract SLA practical.

Start by defining what triggers a replacement. Common triggers include the link being removed, the page being deleted, the page being set to noindex, or the domain changing ownership in a way that materially affects quality or relevance.

Set a timeline. “As soon as possible” is vague. A standard like “within X business days of confirmation” is easier to enforce.

Then define what “replacement” means. Options often include restoring the link on the same domain, replacing it on a similar domain, providing account credit toward a future placement, or refunding a prorated amount.

Add limits so it stays fair. For example, cap the number of replacements per link per term, and define exceptions (force majeure events like site-wide outages, legal takedowns, or platform shutdowns).

Also include the buyer’s responsibilities. You should provide a working target URL, keep redirects stable, and notify the seller promptly when you spot an issue. A simple clause like “buyer must report problems within X days of discovery” prevents months of silent downtime.

If you’re buying through a curated inventory model like SEOBoosty, this section should still spell out timelines and replacement options so expectations match reality.

Reporting and verification cadence

If you can’t verify a link is live, you can’t manage it. Your backlink contract SLA should spell out your backlink reporting cadence, what counts as proof, and how quickly issues must be disclosed.

Choose a cadence that matches how fast pages change. Monthly reporting is common for steady placements. Weekly can make sense right after launch or when links sit on pages that get frequent edits. Quarterly reports are usually too slow unless the seller also commits to alert you when anything changes.

A good report should be usable without back-and-forth. At minimum, it should include the placement page URL, the target URL, the anchor text used, link attributes (follow/nofollow/sponsored/UGC), and proof (a screenshot plus an HTML snippet showing the link). It also helps to include the date checked, what was used to verify it, and a short change log for moves, attribute flips, downtime, or removals.

Name the recipients and timing. For example: send the report to two emails within five business days after the period ends, and send an incident notice within 24 hours if a link is removed or changed.

A concrete example: if a redesign pushes your link from the main body to the footer, you want that logged as a location change, not quietly left for the next monthly summary.

If you’re buying through a provider like SEOBoosty, ask whether reporting is per-link, per-domain, or account-level, and make sure the SLA matches the way you’ll audit and approve placements.

Compliance, confidentiality, and legal basics

A backlink agreement isn’t only about where the link sits. It also needs a few legal basics so both sides know what’s allowed, what stays private, and how problems get handled.

First, cover disclosure. If a placement is paid, the contract should state how the page will label it (for example, “sponsored” or an equivalent notice) and who is responsible for meeting the publisher’s editorial rules.

Add confidentiality rules. Decide whether the buyer can publicly mention the publisher or domain name in a case study, on social media, or in investor updates. Write it plainly: what can be shared, by whom, and in what form.

Non-circumvention is optional but common. If a broker or platform sourced the placement, you can include a time window where the buyer agrees not to approach the publisher directly for similar placements. Keep it narrow and specific (duration and scope) so it doesn’t read as overly broad.

Keep data handling minimal. State what information will be shared (billing contact, target URL, anchor text, and reporting email). If you plan to share analytics or Search Console data, define exactly what will be accessed and for how long.

Dispute terms should be boring and clear: which law applies, how disputes start (written notice and a cure period), whether you use mediation or small claims first, where disputes are handled, and liability limits for things nobody controls (like algorithm changes).

If you use a provider like SEOBoosty, ask for these terms upfront so you know what you can disclose, what data is required, and how disagreements will be handled before you subscribe.

What not to promise (and how to word it)

A good backlink contract SLA protects both sides by removing promises no one can truly control. The biggest red flag is a guarantee of rankings, “domain authority,” or a specific position in Google. Search results change for many reasons outside a seller’s control, including your site, competitors, and algorithm updates.

Instead of promising outcomes, promise deliverables. Commit to a specific page, a specific link, and clear verification. If you want wording that feels reassuring without creating risk, tie it to what can be checked.

Safer wording that stays specific

Examples you can adapt:

• Replace “We guarantee ranking improvements” with “We will place one link on the agreed page and maintain it for the agreed term, unless the publisher removes or changes the page.”
• Replace “You will get 1,000 visits” with “We will report the link’s live status and placement details; traffic is not guaranteed.”
• Replace “The link will be indexed” with “Indexing is best-effort; we will provide evidence of publication and the live URL, but search engine indexing is outside our control.”
• Replace “Live in 7 days” with “Publish-by date is X, with an acceptable delay of Y days if the publisher’s editorial calendar changes.”

If you want to mention traffic, define what you will measure (for example, referral clicks seen in analytics) and what you will not (overall organic growth).

Be explicit about what’s out of scope. Many disputes happen because a buyer assumes the seller will also write content, add internal links, make on-page changes, or place multiple links. Keep it simple: one page, one link, one target URL, unless otherwise written.

Example scenario: link removed after a page update

You buy a backlink on a well-known blog. Two months later, that site does a redesign and reorganizes old posts. Your link used to be in the body of the article, but after the update it’s gone, or moved to a “resources” page that gets little traffic.

With a clear backlink contract SLA, this becomes a quick fix instead of an argument. The agreement already answers where the link must appear, how long it must stay live, what attributes are allowed, how replacements work, and how often you’ll get proof.

Plain-English clause ideas you can adapt:

Placement: “Link will be placed in the main content of the specified URL, not in a footer, sidebar, or author bio, unless approved in writing.”

Duration: “Link will remain live for 12 months from go-live date, with a 7-day window to restore if temporarily removed during maintenance.”

Attributes: “Link will be dofollow unless marked as rel=sponsored or rel=nofollow by mutual written agreement.”

Replacement: “If the page is removed, redirected, or materially changed so the link is lost, provider will restore the link or replace it with a link of equal or higher authority within 14 days.”

Reporting: “Provider will confirm go-live and then report status monthly, including the live URL and a screenshot.”

When the issue appears, both sides follow a simple playbook: the buyer checks the last report and captures evidence, notifies the provider with the expected placement and last confirmed date, the provider responds within the agreed timeframe, restores or replaces within the replacement window, and then sends updated verification.

Backlink contract checklist (quick checks)

If you want a backlink contract SLA that’s easy to approve (and hard to argue about later), keep a one-page checklist next to the full contract. It helps you spot gaps before money changes hands.

Start with the five items that determine whether the link is actually what you bought: placement (exact page and location), duration (minimum term and downtime rules), link attributes (follow/nofollow and sponsored/UGC), replacement policy (options and deadlines), and reporting (what proof you receive and how often).

Then add the checks that cause the most disputes when they’re missing: indexability (not blocked by robots rules, not set to noindex), no cloaking (the link appears the same to users and search engines), edit limits (what can change without notice vs what requires approval), and a named contact with a response time.

For faster internal approvals, ask for a one-page SLA summary that mirrors the checklist and references the full agreement. Even if you buy from a curated inventory provider like SEOBoosty, having this summary keeps both sides aligned when something changes on the publisher page.

Next steps: draft your SLA and choose a sourcing approach

Start by turning your expectations into a one-page document you can actually use. A backlink contract SLA doesn’t need legal theater. It needs clear “what, where, how long, and what happens if it breaks” language.

Build a simple SLA template from your must-haves

Write down the items you won’t compromise on, then add optional items only if they’re easy to verify. Many disputes happen because buyers ask for “a good link” instead of measurable details.

A simple first draft can be short:

• Placement: page type and location (for example, within the main article body, not in the footer)
• Duration: minimum time live and what counts as downtime
• Attributes: required rel values (dofollow/nofollow/sponsored/UGC) and whether the URL must be clickable
• Replacement: when a replacement is owed and how fast it must be delivered
• Reporting: what proof you receive and how often

After you lock these must-haves, add nice-to-haves only if they serve a real purpose (for example, “no adjacent casino content” or “page must be indexed”). If a clause is hard to check, it will be hard to enforce.

Choose a sourcing model that keeps terms clear

How you buy links affects how clean your SLA can be. One-off outreach deals often vary by publisher and are harder to standardize. A curated inventory model can be easier because expectations are defined per domain up front, and you avoid renegotiating the basics each time.

If you prefer that approach, SEOBoosty (seoboosty.com) is an example of a curated inventory service where you select domains and subscribe, which can make it easier to document placement and maintenance expectations in a consistent SLA.

Before you sign anything, ask for a sample report and a real example of how replacements are handled. If the provider can’t show both, tighten the SLA or choose a different approach.