DR 50-70 links moved rankings as well as DR 80+ — at 40% the cost

DR 50-70 links moved rankings as well as DR 80+ — at 40% the cost

SaaS client, controlled cohort, n=64 links matched to 64 tracked keyword targets over 6 months.

Keyword movement by link DR band:
— DR 80+: +4.2 positions average, $620/link
— DR 60-79: +3.9 positions, $310/link
— DR 40-59: +3.1 positions, $190/link
— DR under 40: +0.8 positions, $90/link

The jump from DR 40-59 to DR 80+ added only 1.1 positions but tripled cost. The real cliff was below DR 40, where lift nearly vanished.

Confounded by topical relevance, which we couldn't fully isolate. Directional.

Anchor your buying at DR 50-79 — the premium for DR 80+ rarely earns back its cost.