Monitoring Placements and Expenses
How to monitor link integrity, page availability, and expenses over time.
After placements are live, monitor them for link integrity, page availability, and expenses over time. This guide covers how to monitor placements and track spend. See The Backlink Marketplace Buyer's Guide for the full process and Client Reporting for Backlink Campaigns for reporting.
What to monitor
| Metric | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Link integrity | Confirm the link is still live and points to the target |
| Page availability | Confirm the placement page is still accessible |
| Disclosure | Confirm the disclosure label is still present |
| Link attribute | Confirm rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow" is still present |
| Expenses | Track spend against budget |
Monitoring cadence
Check placements monthly for the first three months, then quarterly. Log each check with the date and result. Flag any placement that loses its link, disclosure, or attribute for correction.
Primary sources
- Link spam policies — Google Search Central (accessed 2025-01-15)