How do hacked sites and expired domains show up?
These two problems cause most bad placements, so look for them first.
- Hacked content. Strange pages in other languages, pharma or casino text in an old article, or outbound links hidden in the footer or inside unrelated posts.
- Expired or repurposed domains. A site that once covered one subject and now covers another, often with thin new text. The older backlinks may still look strong while the content no longer fits them.
- Link-first networks. A group of sites that exist to sell links, sometimes called a private blog network. Look for mixed topics, no real author and many outbound links to unrelated businesses.
None of these is rare enough to ignore. Check the site's history and its current pages before you approve a link.

