Getting high-authority backlinks is one of the biggest challenges for SEO professionals working in highly regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, legal, or pharmaceuticals. But it’s not impossible. At Growwer, we’ve worked with projects in these verticals and we know that, with the right strategy, it’s possible to build quality backlinks that strengthen both a site’s visibility and credibility.
In this article, we explain how to approach link building in regulated environments, what factors to consider, which mistakes to avoid, and how our platform can support you.
Why link building is key in regulated industries
In sectors where regulation is strict and user trust is everything, off-page SEO plays a crucial role. It’s not enough to have optimized content and a well-structured website. Google needs external signals showing that the content comes from trustworthy and experienced sources.
Backlinks from relevant, authoritative media act as “votes of confidence.” In sensitive sectors, where Google applies stricter quality standards, those votes are even more critical for ranking.
Moreover, link building contributes directly to E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness), which is especially important for YMYL (your money or your life) sites — those that can impact a user’s health, finances, or safety.
What are regulated industries and why are they challenging?
When we talk about “regulated industries,” we mean sectors that operate under strict rules, where published content may have legal, medical, or economic implications. Common examples include:
- Health and wellness
- Finance and banking
- Legal and law firms
- Gambling and betting
- Pharma, biotech, and cosmetics
The main challenges of link building in these industries include:
- Many websites avoid publishing sponsored content due to legal or reputational risks
- Higher demands for quality, accuracy, and verified sources
- Strong competition with long-established visibility
- Aggressive or automated tactics can lead to penalties
That’s why it’s essential to work with a well-planned strategy and carefully selected media outlets.
What Google looks for when granting authority in YMYL sectors
Google treats regulated industry content differently than general content. It applies much stricter criteria. Some of the key factors it prioritizes are:
- Proven expertise: Content should be authored by professionals with verifiable credentials
- Reliable sources: Articles that cite official, trustworthy sources carry more weight
- Mentions in reputable media: Being featured in respected publications increases site authority
- Consistency and reputation: One good article isn’t enough — a coherent and consistent presence is key
- Topically relevant backlinks: It’s not just about getting links — they must come from specialized, relevant sources
Taking these elements into account from the start increases your chances of ranking successfully and sustainably.
Effective strategies to get authority links in regulated sectors
Even though the process is more demanding, there are ethical and effective ways to generate quality backlinks in these sectors. Some of the best-performing tactics we’ve used include:
- Guest posts by industry professionals: Contributing expert-authored articles to relevant media
- Publishing proprietary studies or whitepapers: Original data is more shareable and linkable
- Informational link bait: Well-crafted guides, useful comparisons, or free tools that others want to link to
- Digital PR: Reaching out to journalists or specialized media to pitch collaborations or interviews
- Unlinked mention reclamation: Finding brand mentions without links and politely requesting them
The key is combining tactical actions with a long-term strategic approach, always prioritizing quality over quantity. acciones tácticas con un enfoque estratégico de largo plazo, priorizando siempre la calidad sobre la cantidad.
How to identify relevant and safe media for sensitive sectors
Not all websites are suitable. In regulated industries, a bad link can be worse than no link at all. That’s why you should carefully assess media outlets before publishing:
- Domain authority and real traffic: Focus on sites with solid metrics and legitimate, active traffic
- Topical relevance: A link from a specialized site is better than one from a generalist with no context
- Clean SEO history: Avoid penalized or low-quality sites with questionable practices
- Editorial review process: Sites with real editors and quality control are more trusted by Google
- Legal and cookie compliance: Signals that the site is professional and well-managed
A pre-publication audit is essential to ensure the backlink will be beneficial and risk-free.eficioso y no represente un riesgo.
💡 The Growwer extension is a tool that helps you find digital media where you can easily publish an article or insert a link. It’s especially useful for discovering opportunities in sites with good authority and visibility on Google Discover and news carousels.
What can you do with the extension?
- Check media metrics and offers directly from Growwer
- Instantly publish on the selected site
- Add sites to your favorites for future use
- Request access to media we don’t currently list
It’s super easy to use — just add it to Chrome for free.
Our experience generating links in complex sectors
At Growwer, we’ve worked with numerous projects in regulated sectors. This has led us to develop more rigorous processes — both in selecting media and creating the content to be published.
We’ve collaborated with companies in medical, financial, and legal sectors that needed to build authority without risking their reputation. In each case, we’ve prioritized trustworthy, topically aligned media with strict editorial standards.
Our goal is always the same: to get links that bring real value, improve visibility, and respect industry regulations.
Get authority links for regulated industries with Growwer
The good news is that there are media outlets willing to publish content from regulated industries — as long as it’s serious, professional, and meets certain standards. At Growwer, you can find hundreds of curated media outlets categorized by topic, authority, language, and other helpful filters.
What we offer:
- A curated catalog of sites that accept content from complex sectors
- Filters by category, country, authority, and traffic
- Full support throughout the process to avoid critical mistakes
Our platform is designed to help agencies and businesses build visibility even in the most challenging contexts — without risking compliance or reputation.
Managed Service from Growwer
If you don’t have time to search for the best media outlets and manage the publication of your content, we make it easy for you with our managed service. Our team takes care of the entire process: from selecting the most relevant media in Google News and with the highest visibility in your sector, to negotiation, writing, and publishing the content.
This way, you can ensure that your brand appears in the most strategic spaces without investing your time in management tasks.
Advantages of the Managed Service
🔹 Dedicated Manager
Your campaign is our priority. We design personalized strategies to maximize your results.
🔹 Total Transparency
Review every media outlet and content proposal before publishing. You can request changes until you’re 100% satisfied.
🔹 No Commitment. No Hidden Fees
We manage campaigns starting at €500, with no commissions or additional charges. Stay only if we deliver results.
🔹 Access to Premium Services
🔹 Aligned with Your Timeline
Sign up for our managed service and start building links strategically. Let us handle the process while you focus on growing your business!
Common link building mistakes in regulated industries
Mistakes in these sectors can be costly. Some of the most common are:
- Buying links without vetting the site: Can lead to penalties or loss of credibility
- Using low-quality or unrelated websites
- Publishing generic or low-quality content
- Inconsistent messaging between linked content and media outlet
- Over-optimizing anchor text: Forcing exact-match keywords can trigger red flags in Google
Avoiding these mistakes is almost as important as applying the right strategies.
Link building in regulated industries is not easy — but it’s not out of reach either. It requires a more cautious approach, higher-quality media, and more carefully crafted content. But in return, it offers lasting results and stronger trust from both Google and your audience.
At Growwer, we believe it’s not just about getting links — it’s about building real authority. And that starts by choosing the right media, crafting the right message, and understanding the rules of the game.
If you work in a regulated sector and want to boost your online visibility without taking unnecessary risks, we’re here to help.
