For better SEO ranking, backlinks are placed in a series of layers known as tiers. The purpose is to enhance the strength and authority of primary backlinks. The tired link-building technique passes on link authority through various tiers, ensuring that quality links can impact high-quality backlinks.

How Tiered Link Building Works

• Tier 1: High-quality backlinks that link directly to your site. These should come from high-quality, authoritative sources like guest posts, editorial links, or niche-related sites.
• High-quality backlinks that point to your Tier 1 backlinks or linking to your competitor’s site. This could include weaker guest posts, web 2.0 sites, or forum links.
• The third level is made of links that support the links at tier 2. These links will usually be of lower quality; for instance, blog comments, forum profiles, and automated links.

Is Tiered Link Building Safe?

• Google sees it as a manipulation tactic, mostly considered black-hat or grey-hat SEO. 
• Poorly executed tiered linking can result in penalties when linking to low-quality or spammy links.
• The best practice is to acquire as naturally as possible high-quality backlinks and not tiered linking.

Even though tiered links have been used to increase link authority, modern SEO believes in organic link-building.