Most “SEO packages” sold in India still treat links as a shopping cart: 20 guest posts, 50 directories, mysterious DA scores. That model burns money and, worse, teaches founders the wrong scoreboard. In 2026 I buy mentions, entities, and referral traffic — links are a byproduct.
Start from the hiring hub: SEO consultant in Pune founder’s guide. If an agency cannot explain risk, use when to fire your SEO agency as a scorecard.
What still works
| Tactic | Why it works | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|
| Digital PR / data stories | Earns editorial links | Needs a real asset |
| Partner / integration pages | B2B SaaS natural links | Reciprocal spam if forced |
| Industry associations / chambers | Local + B2B trust | Thin profile pages |
| Unlinked brand mentions → link asks | Cheap, high relevance | Only where already mentioned |
| Resource / tool pages | Links + AI citations | Must stay updated |
What I refuse
- PBN / private blog networks
- Paid guest-post farms with identical footprints
- Mass directory spam (except real local citations — see citation building without spam)
- “DA50 guarantees”
- Link exchanges that look like a carousel
Mentions beat raw links in the LLM era
Assistants often name brands from consensus text, not only from <a href>. Pair link work with brand mentions vs backlinks. Fix wrong facts before chasing more URLs.
Process I run for clients
- Toxic / irrelevant audit — disavow only with evidence; prefer ignore for old junk
- Asset list — original research, calculators, India-specific benchmarks
- Target list — 30 sites your buyers already read
- Pitch weekly — one story, not fifty identical emails
- Report — referring domains that send clicks or citations, not raw link count
RFP language that protects you
Ask vendors for: sample pitches, rejected tactics list, and how they handle Google spam updates. Steal language from the SEO RFP template India.
FAQ
How many links per month? Wrong question. Ask how many qualified referring domains and whether money URLs gained.
Do local businesses need this? Light citations + reviews first (local SEO playbook); national PR later.
Can we DIY? Yes for partner pages and unlinked mentions. Hire for PR-grade assets via SEO consulting.
Related reading on Fundaking
- SEO Consultant in Pune: A Founder’s Guide (2026)
- Brand Mentions vs Backlinks in the LLM Era
- SEO Consultant in Pune: A Founder’s Guide (2026)
- SEO RFP Template for Indian Companies
- SEO consulting services
- SaaS demo requests case study
Rahul Agarwal — Fundaking Media. SEO consultant based in Pune / Baramati, serving founders across India.
Rahul Agarwal
