Here’s the reality: CBD operates in a regulatory grey zone. Publishers know it, platforms know it, and they price accordingly. Google Ads won’t take your money. Facebook restricts your reach. And that “premium link building agency” you contacted? They ghosted you after the discovery call.
But here’s what they won’t tell you: CBD link building works exactly like any other niche once you solve the publisher problem. The strategies are the same. The metrics matter just as much. The only difference is access, and what you’re willing to pay for it.
At Search Royals, we work with restricted niches daily: iGaming, loans, adult content, and yes, CBD. We’ve built a marketplace where CBD businesses can access vetted publishers without the usual runaround. No inflated agency markups. No mystery about what you’re buying. Just transparent pricing and publishers who’ll actually say yes.
Why CBD Backlinks Are More expensive Than Normal Links
CBD isn’t illegal, but it’s treated like it is. At least from a digital marketing perspective.
Here’s why publishers hesitate:
Most established sites avoid CBD content because of platform restrictions and payment processing complications. Ad networks like Google AdSense ban CBD content outright. Payment processors flag CBD transactions. Publishers don’t want to risk their revenue streams for one backlink.
When you approach a site about a guest post, they’re not just evaluating your pitch, they’re calculating risk. Will this hurt their ad revenue? Could this trigger a manual review? Is it worth the headache?
That calculation usually ends with “no” or “yes, but triple the price.”
We’ve seen it firsthand. A publisher who charges $300 for a standard guest post will quote $900 for CBD. Same site, same DR, same process. The only variable is the niche.
Regulatory confusion makes it worse:
CBD laws vary wildly by country, and most publishers don’t want to research the nuances. Is it legal in their jurisdiction? What about their readers’ locations? What if the laws change next month?
This uncertainty creates friction. Publishers default to “no” because it’s easier than investigating.
Compare CBD to other restricted niches like iGaming or loans. Those industries have clearer regulations and established advertising channels. CBD? Still figuring it out. That ambiguity costs you.
The market is flooded with low-quality vendors:
When legitimate publishers refuse CBD content, sketchy operators fill the gap.
Sounds like a bargain until Google slaps your site with a penalty. Then you’re spending months cleaning up toxic backlinks and trying to recover rankings you lost overnight.
Quality CBD backlinks exist, but you’ll pay for them. That’s not a scam, it’s market economics.
What Actually Makes a CBD Backlink “Quality”
Not all backlinks are created equal, and in CBD, the quality gap is massive.
Here’s what separates links that work from links that waste your budget:
Niche relevance across five layers:
At Search Royals, we use what we call the “onion model” for evaluating link relevance. It examines five layers: website niche, category, article, passage, and anchor text. For CBD, this matters even more because you’re already fighting an uphill battle.
A backlink from a general health site that covers CBD occasionally? Better than nothing. A link from a dedicated cannabis publication in an article about CBD benefits?
Authority metrics that aren’t bullshit:
We care more about: Does the site get real traffic? Does it rank for relevant keywords? Is it indexed and healthy in Google? Does it have a natural backlink profile?
A DR 50 site that hasn’t been updated in two years and gets zero traffic won’t move your rankings. A DR 30 site publishing fresh content with engaged readers will.
Stop chasing vanity metrics. Focus on sites that actually perform.
Editorial, permanent links:
If you’re buying “temporary” links or links that disappear after six months, you’re lighting money on fire. Google values editorial links, ones placed because the content is genuinely valuable, not because you paid for a spot.
At Search Royals, every link we deliver is permanent. No expiration dates, no surprises. (Read more about our approach to contextual backlinks)
Publishers who understand compliance:
The best CBD backlink sources are publishers who already work in cannabis, wellness, or lifestyle niches. They understand the legal landscape, they’re comfortable with the content, and they don’t need to justify it to ad networks because they’ve already figured out alternative monetization.
These publishers charge more because they’re worth more. They’re not hiding your link on page 47 of their blog archive, they’re giving you real placement that gets traffic.
How to Get CBD Backlinks Without Getting Scammed
The CBD link building market is full of operators selling garbage at premium prices. Here’s how to avoid them.
Red flag #1: Unrealistically low prices
If someone offers you DR 50+ CBD backlinks for $100 each, run. Quality publishers charge $500-$1,500+ for CBD placements because of the risk and restrictions involved.
Low prices usually mean PBNs, link farms, or sites that’ll accept literally any content. These links might work for a few weeks before Google devalues them or, worse, penalizes your site.
We’re not saying overpay, but understand market rates. Cheap CBD backlinks are cheap for a reason.
Red flag #2: No transparency on where the link lives
If a vendor won’t show you the actual site before you buy, that’s a problem. At Search Royals, our marketplace lets you see exactly which publishers are available, their metrics, and their pricing before you commit. (Check out the marketplace here)
You wouldn’t buy a car without seeing it first. Don’t buy backlinks that way either.
Red flag #3: Promises of guaranteed rankings
No one can guarantee rankings. Google’s algorithm has over 200 factors, and backlinks are just one piece. Anyone promising “#1 in 30 days” is either lying or using tactics that’ll get you penalized.
What we can guarantee: high-quality links from real sites that follow white-hat practices. The rankings follow naturally when you build a strong profile over time. (Here’s what actually impacts rankings)
What to look for instead:
- Publishers with real traffic and engagement
- Transparent pricing (no surprise fees or hidden costs)
- Editorial guidelines that maintain content quality
- Permanent link placements with no expiration
- Reporting that shows exactly where your link is
At Search Royals, we’ve vetted publishers across 50+ countries. We know which ones accept CBD, what they charge, and what their traffic looks like. No guessing, no hoping, just data.
Our CBD Link Building Process (No Fluff, Just Results)
Here’s how we approach CBD link building for clients who want results without the headaches.
Step 1: Understanding your business model
CBD ecommerce sites need different strategies than local dispensaries. A national brand targeting broad keywords like “best CBD oil” needs high-authority placements. A local shop in Denver needs geo-targeted links and local citations.
We start every campaign by mapping your goals, your competition, and your budget. No cookie-cutter packages. (See our link building packages)
Step 2: Publisher matching and outreach
We tap into our existing network of CBD-friendly publishers first. These are sites we’ve worked with before, where placements are straightforward and pricing is transparent.
For custom campaigns, we handle manual outreach. This means researching relevant sites, crafting personalized pitches, and negotiating placements. It’s time-consuming, but it’s the only way to get links from sites that don’t openly advertise guest post opportunities.
Here’s the reality: most publishers won’t respond to generic outreach emails. You need relationships, credibility, and often a portfolio of past work to get a “yes.” We’ve built those relationships so you don’t have to.
Step 3: Content creation and placement
We don’t just secure the link, we create the content too. Every guest post or niche edit is written to match the publisher’s tone, provide genuine value, and include your link naturally.
Google is smart enough to spot “thin” content written purely for backlinks. We focus on depth, relevance, and readability. If the content sucks, the link won’t perform.
Step 4: Monitoring and reporting
Once your link is live, we track its performance. Is it indexed? Is it driving referral traffic? Is it contributing to ranking improvements?
We provide transparent reporting so you can see exactly what you’re getting. No vague promises about “SEO value”, just concrete data.
CBD Link Building for Different Business Models
Not all CBD businesses need the same link building strategy. Here’s how we tailor campaigns based on your model.
CBD Ecommerce Stores:
You need links that drive both authority and direct traffic. Product pages should target transactional keywords like “buy CBD gummies online,” while blog content targets informational queries like “CBD for anxiety.”
Focus on: Health and wellness publications, cannabis blogs, and lifestyle sites with engaged audiences.
Local Dispensaries:
Your priority is local visibility. Google Business Profile optimization, local citations, and backlinks from regional news sites or local directories.
Focus on: Local news outlets, city guides, and regional lifestyle blogs.
CBD Brands (National Scale):
You’re competing against major players with massive budgets. This requires a mix of high-authority backlinks, PR placements, and strategic content partnerships.
Focus on: Major cannabis publications, health news sites, and influencer collaborations.
Agencies Offering CBD SEO:
If you’re reselling SEO services, our white-label solution lets you deliver CBD link building under your brand without building the publisher network yourself. (Learn about white-label options)
We handle the outreach, placement, and reporting. You focus on client relationships and strategy.
Why Search Royals for CBD Backlinks
We’re not going to pretend CBD link building is easy. It’s not. But we’ve figured out the system.
Marketplace transparency you won’t find elsewhere:
Most agencies operate like black boxes. You pay, they “do SEO,” and you hope it works. At Search Royals, you see exactly which publishers are available, what they cost, and what metrics they have before you buy. (Explore the marketplace)
No surprises, no inflated markups, no mystery links from “high-authority sites” that turn out to be abandoned blogs.
We work with restricted niches daily:
CBD isn’t our first rodeo. We handle iGaming, loans, adult content, and other niches most agencies refuse. We know which publishers will say yes, what they’ll charge, and how to structure placements that comply with guidelines.
Testing-first methodology:
We don’t recommend strategies we haven’t tested ourselves. Before rolling out tactics to clients, we validate them on our own projects. If something doesn’t work, we don’t sell it. Simple.
No BS, realistic expectations:
We won’t promise #1 rankings in 30 days. We won’t guarantee overnight traffic spikes. What we will do is build a backlink profile that compounds over time, drives sustainable growth, and positions your site as an authority.
SEO is a long game. Anyone telling you otherwise is selling snake oil.
Final Thoughts: CBD Backlinks Are Worth the Investment
Yes, CBD backlinks are expensive. Yes, they’re harder to get than links in “normal” niches. But they’re also essential if you want to compete in search.
The CBD market is expected to hit $47 billion by 2028. Competition is only getting fiercer. Brands with strong backlink profiles will dominate search results. The ones without will struggle for visibility.
The key is working with partners who understand the niche, have access to real publishers, and operate transparently. At Search Royals, that’s exactly what we offer.
Ready to build a backlink profile that actually moves the needle? View our CBD-friendly publishers in the marketplace or get in touch for a custom strategy.
