PlacementDock methodology
PlacementDock is built around a simple idea: a publisher listing should show the terms a buyer can actually order under, not a generic domain dumped from a reseller spreadsheet. We review each active route before it enters the marketplace and keep unknown information unknown rather than filling gaps with assumptions.
What a PlacementDock listing represents
A listing represents a current route to a publisher for a specific placement type. Guest posts and link insertions are treated separately because price, content requirements, link rules and availability can differ even on the same website. Where more than one supplier can provide the same domain, PlacementDock keeps one primary client-facing route instead of showing duplicate reseller offers.
The marketplace is not a promise that every anchor, target URL or topic will be accepted. Publisher rules can change, and final editorial acceptance remains with the publisher. Availability is therefore checked again before fulfilment.
1. We verify the commercial route
Before a publisher is activated, we look for a usable commercial route and record the information supplied by the publisher, administrator or placement partner. That can include the current guest post rate, link insertion rate, currency, turnaround, payment terms and whether buyer-supplied content is accepted.
When a rate or service type is not confirmed, we do not invent one. A site may therefore appear with guest posts available but link insertions unavailable, or with SEO metrics left blank until a reliable value is recorded.
2. We record editorial terms, not just a price
A placement price is useful only when the buyer knows what sits behind it. PlacementDock records confirmed requirements such as minimum article length, content responsibility, number of links, link attributes, permanence terms, anchor restrictions and topic exclusions where those details are available.
Restricted categories are handled separately when a publisher uses different pricing or rules for areas such as gambling, finance, crypto, CBD or other sensitive topics. We do not apply one publisher’s policy to another publisher.
3. We normalize duplicate supplier routes
The same website can appear on many outreach lists at different prices. PlacementDock is designed to avoid turning that into duplicate marketplace inventory. When multiple routes exist, we can keep them operationally in the background while presenting one primary listing and one clear client rate.
This makes the catalogue easier to compare and reduces the chance that a buyer pays more simply because the same publisher arrived through a longer reseller chain.
4. We separate recorded SEO metrics from publisher claims
Domain Rating and estimated organic traffic are third-party SEO metrics used as comparison signals. They are not publisher analytics, and they do not guarantee indexing, rankings, referral traffic or conversions. When PlacementDock does not have a reliable recorded value, the field is left blank rather than replaced with a different metric or an estimate presented as fact.
5. We check topical and editorial fit
Publisher niche and GEO labels are intended to help buyers narrow a shortlist, not to replace manual review. A technology site, legal publication or Australian publisher still needs to make sense for the proposed destination page and content. PlacementDock records the broad fit and known restrictions, while the final placement request is reviewed against the publisher’s current rules.
6. We confirm availability before fulfilment
Publisher inventory is not static. Rates change, sites pause placements, editorial policies tighten and individual anchors or destinations can be declined. For that reason, an active listing is a current marketplace opportunity rather than an unconditional guarantee. PlacementDock confirms the route and applicable terms before fulfilment.
What PlacementDock does not claim
We do not claim that a higher DR automatically means a better placement, that a paid link will improve rankings, or that a publisher will accept every campaign. We also do not turn missing information into a guarantee. The goal is to make publisher discovery and placement terms more transparent so agencies and SEO teams can make their own decisions with clearer inputs.
Use the methodology in the marketplace
Browse the PlacementDock marketplace to compare current publisher opportunities. Before ordering, use our guest post site evaluation guide to review fit, visibility and placement terms, or see our guest post services and link insertion services for the workflow around repeat campaigns. Publishers that want to submit inventory can use the publisher application.