Getting a backlink from a site like HowStuffWorks is a high-impact link-building objective. We define the value, compare common procurement routes and their costs, and present an alternative: acquiring an expired domain and using a 301 redirect. The intent is to provide data-driven context so you can decide with full information.
Why HowStuffWorks Backlinks Matter
HowStuffWorks is a long-established editorial site with a strong backlink profile. Ahrefs’ explainer on Domain Rating describes the metric used to estimate a site’s backlink authority; that metric is frequently used to benchmark sites like HowStuffWorks. Ahrefs: Domain Rating
Traditional Routes and Approximate Costs
There are three conventional paths to a backlink from a site like HowStuffWorks:
- Earned editorial placement (pitching, PR, being quoted or writing commissioned content). HowStuffWorks maintains guidance for freelance writers and does not publish unsolicited guest posts in the same way many smaller blogs do. HowStuffWorks: Writing for HSW
- Sponsored content or native advertising where available (pricing varies widely and many top-tier editorial brands either restrict or label paid placements).
- Purchasing a guest post via third-party marketplaces that resell placements.
Marketplace benchmarks show broad ranges. Several marketplace analyses report high-authority placements commonly ranging from roughly $800 to $15,000 depending on site authority, placement specifics and traffic. Representative market write-ups document those ranges and the factors that push pricing upward. Guest post pricing guide · Guest post pricing examples
The Expired-Domain + 301 Redirect Alternative
An alternate tactic is to acquire an expired domain that already carries links from HowStuffWorks (or a URL that HowStuffWorks linked to) and then issue a permanent (301) redirect to the target page on your site. The general process is:
- Identify expired domains previously linked to by HowStuffWorks using backlink-source parsing.
- Vet the domain for spam history, penalties and topical relevance.
- Acquire the domain and configure a 301 redirect from the relevant URL(s) to the target page.
- Monitor indexing and signals over the following months.
This approach reduces direct cash outlay compared with the marketplace benchmarks above. Our service packages domain research, vetting, acquisition and 301 configuration for $150 per domain (service scope: research, purchase, and 301 setup only).
Search-Engine Guidance and Mechanics
Google’s official guidance warns that buying or selling links that pass PageRank violates Webmaster Guidelines; that framing affects the risk assessment for any paid-link activity. Google: A reminder about selling links
On the mechanics of redirects, the record is nuanced. Historical statements from industry sources show that a small portion of PageRank may be lost through redirects. Analyst coverage and public statements document that 301s have not always passed full PageRank, and practitioners report that relevance of the redirect target is a principal factor. SERoundtable on 301s and PageRank · Moz discussion on 301s
Google engineers and Search Console advisors have reiterated that redirects to pages with low topical relevance (or to a homepage) can be treated as soft 404s and may not confer the intended indexing or ranking benefit. John Mueller / SERoundtable summary
Risk Management and Best Practices
To reduce downside we apply strict controls:
- Full backlink and penalty-history checks before purchase.
- Only redirect pages where topical relevance is strong; 1:1 content equivalence is preferred.
- Retain redirects for an extended period and monitor indexing, traffic and search-console signals.
- Avoid attempts to conceal paid links; conservative, transparent operations reduce manual-action risk.
These practices align with migration and canonicalization guidance favored in technical SEO documentation and by search engineers.
Cost Comparison Snapshot
- Traditional marketplace / sponsored placement (top-tier editorial estimate): $800 – $15,000+ (site and placement dependent). Guest post pricing guide
- Earned editorial effort: time and PR costs (no guaranteed outcome). HowStuffWorks writer guidance
- Expired domain + 301 (our service): $150 per domain (research, vetting, acquisition, 301 setup).
Tactical Takeaways
- Prioritize topical relevance; redirects from domains with relevant history perform better.
- Vet link profiles and confirm historical linkage from HowStuffWorks before purchase.
- Expect a lag: signal transfer and indexing can take weeks to months; monitor outcomes and be prepared to remove or adjust redirects if negative signals appear.
Final Considerations
If your objective is a HowStuffWorks backlink, you can pursue lengthy PR cycles and expensive marketplace placements, or you can engage a targeted technical option that seeks to consolidate existing link equity. This is where we come in: for $150 per domain we perform domain research, vetting, acquisition and 301 setup so you obtain a cost-efficient, defensible alternative to traditional paid placements.
We present the tradeoffs plainly: the expired-domain plus 301 route is materially less expensive and can deliver high-authority link signals faster than organic outreach, but it requires rigorous vetting and acceptance of algorithmic uncertainty. If you want us to run a targeted scan for expired domains formerly linked by HowStuffWorks, we will return a short list with vetting notes and a quoted acquisition plan at the stated rate.
