It's one of the worst feelings in SEO. You spend time, money, and effort to secure a high-quality guest post. You see the link go live, you track your rankings, and everything is going well. Then one day, you check your backlink profile, and it's gone.
Or, almost as bad, you find the link is still there, but the site owner has changed it to "nofollow," effectively neutralizing its SEO power.
What do you do? Were you scammed? Is the investment lost?
This is your complete damage control playbook. We'll walk you through why this happens, a step-by-step plan to fix it, and, most importantly, the professional's guide to buying guest posts that actually last.
Guest Post Link Removed (Lost Link): The Cheat Sheet
Here's the essential framework for handling this problem:
- The #1 Rule: Don't Panic. Diagnose First. Before you send an angry email, find out what happened. Did the page 404? Was the whole site de-indexed? Did the link just vanish? Or was it changed to "nofollow"?
- The Action Plan: Your first step is a single, polite, professional email. Assume it was an accident (like a site update) and ask for a fix.
- The "Nofollow" Problem: A "nofollow" link is not worthless. It still provides brand exposure, drives referral traffic, and contributes to a natural-looking link profile.
- The Best Prevention: The risk of this happening is 100% tied to the quality of the site you buy from. A real business with a real audience is a safe asset. A cheap link farm is a risky gamble.
On This Page
- Why Did Your Link Disappear? (The 4 Most Common Reasons)
- The 3-Step Damage Control Playbook
- The "Nofollow" Problem: Is Your Link Now Worthless?
- The Prevention Masterclass: How to Buy Links That Last
- Guest Post Link FAQ
Why Did Your Link Disappear? (The 4 Most Common Reasons)
When a link vanishes, it's almost always for one of these four reasons. Understanding why it happened is key to knowing what to do next.
1. The Accidental Edit or Site Redesign
This is the most common and "best-case" scenario. The site owner updated their website theme, redesigned the blog, or edited the article and accidentally broke or removed your link. There was no malicious intent. In these cases, a polite email is almost always successful.
2. A New Editor or Policy Change
The blog you posted on may have been sold or hired a new editor. This new management might be "cleaning house" and removing or adding "nofollow" tags to all old external links as a new blanket policy, and your post simply got caught in the sweep.
3. The Site Was a Link Farm That Got Penalized
This is the worst-case scenario. The site you bought a link from was never a real blog. It was a "link farm" that existed only to sell links. Google's algorithm (or a manual review) finally caught on, and the entire site was de-indexed. In this case, your link is gone, the site is worthless, and you should be glad that toxic asset is no longer pointing to you.
4. You Were a Victim of a "Link Rental" Scam
This is a malicious scam. Some sellers will sell you a "permanent" link, only to intentionally remove it 6-12 months later, hoping you won't notice. They then resell the space on that same article to someone else. This is common on low-quality, anonymous seller sites.
The 3-Step Damage Control Playbook
Okay, your link is gone. Don't get angry, get strategic. Follow these steps.
Step 1: Diagnose the Problem
Before you contact anyone, be a detective.
- Is the whole page gone? (A 404 error). This suggests a site update or content removal.
- Is the whole site gone? (A "site:" search in Google shows 0 results). This means the site was de-indexed and is now worthless.
- Is the link just... gone? The page is live, but your specific link has been removed from the text.
- Is the link now "nofollow"? Right-click the link and "Inspect Element" to see if rel="nofollow" has been added.
Step 2: Send One Polite, Professional Email
Your first contact should always assume it was an accident. Be helpful, not accusatory.
Email Template:
Subject: Quick question about our article on [Site Name]
Hi [Editor's Name],
I hope you're doing well.
I'm the author of the guest post "[Article Title]" that we published on your site back in [Month, Year]. I was just checking on the article and noticed the link to my site, [Your Site], seems to be broken or was accidentally removed.
I know site updates and content refreshes can sometimes cause this, so I just wanted to give you a heads-up in case it wasn't intentional.
Here is the original link and context:
Article: https://neilpatel.com/blog/guide-to-guest-blogging/
Anchor Text: [Your anchor text]
Link: [Your URL]
Would it be possible to get that restored? Thanks so much for your time!
Best, [Your Name]
Step 3: Know When to Walk Away
If your polite email is ignored or if the seller demands more money to "fix" the link, it's time to walk away. Chasing a bad investment is a waste of time. Cut your losses and focus your budget on higher-quality placements in the future.
The "Nofollow" Problem: Is Your Link Now Worthless?
What if the link is still there, but it's been changed to rel="nofollow"? Many SEOs panic, thinking the link is now useless.
This is false.
While a "nofollow" link does not pass "link juice" (PageRank) and won't directly boost your rankings, it still has significant value:
- Referral Traffic: A "nofollow" link on a high-traffic blog can still send you hundreds of highly qualified, relevant visitors (and potential customers).
- Brand Awareness: It places your brand in front of a new, targeted audience, building credibility.
- Natural Link Profile: A real, natural backlink profile is a mix of "dofollow" and "nofollow" links. Having only "dofollow" links can look unnatural. A "nofollow" link helps diversify your profile and make it look more organic.
The Verdict: A "nofollow" link is a win for your marketing, just not a direct win for your SEO metrics. Do not ask for it to be removed.
How to Avoid This Problem in the First Place
The risk of your link being removed or changed is 100% tied to the quality of the site you buy from. A cheap link from a link farm is a gamble. A quality placement on a real business is an asset.
On Legiit, you can browse services from vetted, professional sellers who guarantee their placements, all backed by a transparent review system and escrow protection.
The Prevention Masterclass: How to Buy Links That Last
You can't get scammed if you know how to buy. Here’s how to ensure your next link investment is a safe one.
1. Vet the Site, Not Just the Metrics
Amateurs buy "DR 60" links. Pros buy placements on sites with real, stable organic traffic. A site with 10,000 monthly visitors that Google trusts is a real business; they won't risk their reputation by scamming you. A site with DR 60 and 0 traffic is a link farm, and they have nothing to lose.
2. Look for a "Permanence" Guarantee
A professional guest posting service will offer a guarantee. Look for terms like "permanent, do-follow link" in the service description. While no one can truly guarantee "permanent" (a site could go out of business), a seller who offers this is standing by the quality of their relationship with that blog.
3. The Marketplace Advantage: Accountability
The problem from the Reddit threads is a lack of contracts. A marketplace like Legiit solves this.
- It's a Built-in Contract: Your order is a record of the service you purchased, including a "dofollow" link.
- Verified Reviews: You can see a seller's history before you buy. A seller with 1,000+ positive reviews is not going to risk their reputation over your single link.
- Escrow Protection: Your money is held securely by Legiit until the seller delivers the work as promised. This gives you ultimate leverage and protection against scams.
Guest Post Link FAQ
Is guest posting worth it in 2025?
Yes, strategic guest posting is more valuable than ever. It's not just about the link; it's about building topical authority, driving referral traffic, and getting your brand in front of new audiences. Low-quality guest posting on link farms is a dead strategy.
Is guest posting real or fake?
Legitimate guest posting (providing value to a real blog's audience) is a very real and effective marketing strategy. "Fake" guest posting (buying links from a site that exists only to sell them) is a high-risk, low-reward tactic that should be avoided.
What happens if I get a "dofollow" link and the site owner changes it to "nofollow" later?
This is a common risk. If you have no contract, you can only send a polite email (see our template above). If you purchased through a marketplace, you may be able to file a dispute with the seller. However, remember that a "nofollow" link still provides real traffic and brand value.
How do I protect myself when buying guest posts?
The best way to protect yourself is to use a vetted marketplace. Instead of sending money to an anonymous website, use a platform like Legiit, where you can see the seller's full reputation and are protected by an escrow system.
Don't Buy Links. Invest in Placements.
Stop thinking about buying links and start thinking about investing in high-quality, permanent placements on real websites. Use this guide to vet every opportunity and focus on providers with a public, proven track record of quality.
On Legiit, you can browse services from hundreds of top-rated guest posting providers who are held accountable by a transparent review system.
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