What is a Tier 2 link?
In an effective link building strategy, a Tier 2 (T2) link refers to a second-level backlink. Unlike a Tier 1 (T1) link that points directly to your website, a T2 link targets the page that contains the T1 link. It doesn’t strengthen your site directly, but rather enhances the SEO value of the referring page, indirectly improving the power of your T1 link.
Why use Tier 2 links?
1. Semantic reinforcement
T2 links help boost the thematic relevance of the page that links to your site. By targeting that page with optimized anchors or diversified link anchors, you send additional semantic signals to Google about the topic of the referring page—and, by extension, your own site.
2. Boost the strength of Tier 1
A T1 link can lose its impact if buried within a poorly interlinked site (e.g. an old blog post on a news site). A T2 link works as a PageRank booster, bringing fresh authority to the T1 page, helping it regain visibility and better pass link equity. T2 links are also commonly used to kickstart an e-reputation campaign that needs volume but limited budget. They’re also a smart way to strengthen satellite sites built on Exact Match Domains (EMD).
Where to place Tier 2 links
T2 links are usually less expensive than T1 links. They are commonly placed on:
- Satellite sites with lower quality or lower cost.
- Forums, directories, or social profiles.
- Low-authority partner blogs.
- PBNs (Private Blog Networks) as part of more advanced strategies.
The goal is to maintain a good cost/performance ratio while avoiding over-optimization. Before choosing a target for a Tier 2 link, it’s essential to understand the difference between page authority and domain authority to maximize SEO impact. Note that a forum-based T2 link often feels more natural when pointing to a URL instead of exact match text.
Limits and risks to be aware of
1. Perception by site owners
Webmasters who sold you the T1 link may not appreciate the addition of T2 links pointing to their page. These second-level backlinks can seem artificial or low quality, which may weaken the referring page or harm its own SEO profile.
2. Page quality dilution
If the T1 page receives too many T2 links or low-quality ones, it may be devalued by Google’s algorithm or flagged as over-optimized. It’s a fine balance: strengthen without polluting.
3. Variable usefulness depending on site structure
T2 links are particularly valuable when the T1 link is deeply buried in the site architecture. This often happens with media sites or blogs that use pagination, pushing older articles out of reach within weeks or months.
Best practices for using Tier 2 links
- Choose T2 sources with thematic relevance, even if their authority is low.
- Limit the number of T2 links to avoid over-optimization.
- Vary anchor types (exact match, branded, generic).
- Monitor the T1 page’s performance using backlink and crawl tools.
- Avoid obvious footprints if using PBNs.
Conclusion
Tier 2 links are complementary tools in link building, designed to amplify the strength of your existing backlinks. When used properly, they deliver a solid return on investment. But like any indirect tactic, their effectiveness depends on execution quality and context. It’s smarter to reinforce a few strong T1 links with relevant T2s than to blindly create low-value second-tier backlinks.
Still have questions?
