Intro

Link building in the CBD, hemp, and cannabis vertical is uniquely challenging: advertising restrictions, legal/regulatory nuances, limited publisher access, and search engines treating cannabis content with extra scrutiny all make off-page SEO harder than in most niches. That means unsafe links or generic networks can harm visibility instead of helping it.

In 2026, the best cannabis link building strategies are:

• Compliance-safe: Avoid penalties and risky placements
• Relevance-first: Links from topical cannabis, wellness, or lifestyle sites
• Editorial quality: Real content placements that provide value
• Measurable: Tie link acquisition to ranking and visibility movement

This guide reviews 20 link building agencies/services that work well for CBD & cannabis brands — from niche specialists to broader SEO partners.

1. Ranktracker — Best Overall for CBD/Cannabis with Measurable Impact

Who this is for: CBD and cannabis brands (e-commerce, dispensaries, educational sites) that want link acquisition tied directly to ranking and visibility outcomes, not just backlinks. Ranktracker combines link building with daily performance tracking so you can see whether placements actually move the SERPs.

Pros

• Links + measurable rank/visibility reporting (not just link lists)
• Strategy aligned to targeted cannabis queries
• Works for localized and international markets

Cons

• Not the cheapest “bulk” link vendor
• Strategic campaigns require coordination

Verdict: Best overall choice for CBD & cannabis SEO teams that want outcomes, not just links.

2. Outreach Monks — Best Cannabis-Focused Manual Outreach

Outreach Monks specializes in cannabis and CBD link building — navigating the strict compliance rules and limited publisher access that many SEO providers struggle with. Their focus is on manual, relevant link placements in cannabis-friendly domains instead of low-value networks.

Pros

• Deep niche experience with cannabis compliance
• Manual outreach (no automation footprint)
• Relevant placements in wellness, lifestyle, and cannabis sites
• Transparent reporting

Cons

• Quality can vary by link tier and niche acceptance
• Best suited as an outreach execution partner

Verdict: Strong choice for CBD brands that need reliable, niche-aware outreach without risking penalties.

3. CannabisLinkBuilding.com — Best Customized CBD/Cannabis Backlink Strategies

CannabisLinkBuilding.com focuses exclusively on CBD & cannabis backlink strategies, offering tailored campaigns that prioritize organic visibility growth and industry relevance rather than generic links.

Pros

• Cannabis-specific strategy and audience matching
• Fresh outreach to relevant sites
• Focus on measurable visibility improvements

Cons

• Lacks the full analytics suite of larger SEO platforms
• Placement access varies by niche and region

Verdict: Great option for brands that want customized CBD backlink campaigns with deep market focus.

4. Linkible — Best Compliance-First Cannabis Link Building

Linkible emphasizes regulatory compliance and topical relevance when securing cannabis backlinks, building links on cannabis, wellness, and hemp sites that are editorially credible and safe for long-term SEO.

Pros

• Compliance-first placement selection
• Editorial quality focus
• Strong topical authority emphasis
• Ongoing monitoring and optimization

Cons

• Can be pricier than basic guest-posting providers
• Requires high-quality CBD content to leverage placements

Verdict: Ideal for brands that need topical authority and regulatory safety alongside SEO performance.

5. Linkatomic — Best for Hands-Off CBD Backlink Execution

Linkatomic provides full link building services for CBD stores, combining content creation with placement negotiation and SEO optimization to help brands secure links in relevant digital media.

Pros

• Full service, including copywriting
• Focus on visibility and brand positioning
• Works globally

Cons

• Less transparent reporting than some competitors
• Quality depends on the publisher pipeline

Verdict: Works well for CBD brands that want turnkey link building and content support.

6. Click Intelligence — Best for Holistic SEO + CBD Outreach

Click Intelligence includes white-label blogger outreach and link building as part of broader SEO services, helping integrate placement efforts into an overall strategy.

Pros

• Combines link building with holistic SEO
• Scalable outreach support
• White-label friendly

Cons

• Not CBD-exclusive (so niche specificity varies)
• Requires strong in-house direction to maximize relevance

Verdict: Good choice for cannabis businesses that want outreach aligned with broader SEO.

7. Mary Jane Links — Best Cannabis-Specific SEO Link Building Agency

Mary Jane Links is a cannabis-focused SEO and link building shop that understands the industry’s unique challenges and offers tailored backlink strategies.

Pros

• Cannabis-centric SEO expertise
• Focus on authority signals and topical relevance

Cons

• Smaller team — may need integration with larger SEO processes
• Limited public info on service tiers

Verdict: Solid niche option for brands that want deep cannabis industry focus.

8. Delante — Best Full CBD SEO with Link Support

Delante is an SEO agency with extensive experience handling CBD and cannabis campaigns. Their strategy includes manual link building from CBD-friendly domains as part of a broader SEO strategy, including content and technical SEO.

Pros

• Deep CBD SEO expertise
• Full SEO + link building integration
• Multi-region experience

Cons

• Link building is one part of a larger SEO engagement
• Costs reflect agency scope

Verdict: Best for CBD businesses that want SEO and link building together rather than a standalone link vendor.

9. MarketAcross — Best PR-Infused Cannabis Authority Building

While not exclusive to cannabis, many SEO teams use PR-centric partners like MarketAcross for editorial visibility that doubles as backlink authority, which is valuable in restricted industries.

Pros

• Earned coverage can drive trust + SEO
• Strong for thought leadership and brand narratives

Cons

• Anchor control is limited (normal for PR)
• Not link-only specialist

Verdict: Great when brand authority and media coverage matter alongside SEO.

10. Sure Oak — Best Integrated SEO + Backlinks Long-Term Partner

Sure Oak’s full SEO services include link building as part of larger content and technical programs — useful when link building needs to align with ongoing SEO goals.

Pros

• Comprehensive SEO + link strategy
• Strategy-led, long-term focus

Cons

• Not CBD-exclusive
• Slower to show immediate link impact

Verdict: Best for CBD brands seeking holistic SEO coordination.

11. Page One Power — Best Relevance-First Outreach for CBD Content

For cannabis sites that insist on contextually relevant outreach over volume, Page One Power emphasizes placements in publications that logically align with your content.

Pros

• Contextual relevance
• Durable placements

Cons

• Higher cost per link
• Slower delivery

Verdict: Excellent for quality-first CBD link building.

12. LinkBuilder.com — Best Tool-Enabled Managed Link Campaigns

LinkBuilder.com is a hybrid platform + managed service that gives data access and outreach support — useful for CBD brands that want control over link sourcing while still getting managed execution.

Pros

• Large database for targeting placements
• Managed service available

Cons

• Marketplace filtering is required
• Not CBD-specific

Verdict: Good for brands that want data plus managed support.

13. Outreach Monks (Budget Tier) — Good Starter Outreach

While already #2 on the list, its budget tier services can be used as a starter approach for smaller cannabis sites — but always accompanied with rigorous quality vetting.

Pros:

• Affordable entry point
• Manual outreach

Cons:

• Quality varies by placement
• Requires internal oversight

Verdict: Best for early-stage outreach testing.

14. Freelance Platforms (Upwork) — Best for Project-Based Link Work

If you need short bursts of link acquisition or targeted off-page support (e.g., guest posts on cannabis blogs), experienced freelancers on platforms like Upwork can be a cheap, flexible option.

Pros

• Flexible and affordable
• Useful for specific tasks

Cons

• Quality varies widely
• Limited long-term strategy

Verdict: Good tactical option for discrete tasks.

15. NinjaPromo — Best for Multi-Channel Cannabis Growth

A subscription growth team that includes link support alongside other digital marketing services — good if you want SEO integrated with brand, social, and content. (based on general multi-channel agency models)

Pros

• Broad marketing support
• Stable team engagement

Cons

• Less specialized link focus
• SEO may be one part of a larger mix

Verdict: Useful if link building is just one part of a broader growth play.

16. Digital PR Firms with Cannabis Experience

PR firms that understand regulated industries — while not strictly link agencies — can help earn high-trust editorial placements that also count as strong backlinks.

Pros

• Earned placements in authoritative outlets
• Boosts trust signals

Cons

• Anchor control is limited
• Timelines are longer

Verdict: Best for awareness + authority campaigns.

17. Specialized Local SEO + Citation Agencies

For cannabis shops and dispensaries, local signals and partnerships matter — look for agencies that combine local SEO + link building for dispensaries and CBD stores.

Pros

• Local search boosts visibility for dispensaries
• Community signals

Cons

• Not pure link specialists

Verdict: Best for geo-targeted cannabis businesses.

18. Boutique Cannabis SEO Shops

There are boutique SEO agencies focused 100% on cannabis verticals, offering link building as part of niche expertise. Quality and availability vary — vet portfolios closely.

Pros

• Deep niche focus
• Cannabis industry understanding

Cons

• Less transparency on placements

Verdict: Worth considering for deeply niche campaigns.

19. Enterprise SEO Providers with Regulated-Industry Experience

Large SEO firms with experience in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, finance) can be good when scaled cannabis link building requires strict compliance and quality guardrails.

Pros

• Process control
• Compliance rigor

Cons

• Higher costs
• Less niche focus

Verdict: Best for enterprise cannabis brands with budgets and compliance needs.

20. In-House Outreach + Specialist Vetting

Not an agency, but for some cannabis brands the best long-term strategy is an in-house outreach team with a vetting partner (e.g., editorial or compliance expert) — alerts you when links actually help rankings.

Pros

• Maximum control
• Tailored to brand strategy

Cons

• Requires internal investment
• Talent hiring challenges

Verdict: Best for sophisticated brands willing to invest in in-house capabilities.

How to Measure Cannabis Link Building Success in 2026

Links are only “good” if they move the SEO needle:

• Rank improvements on priority keywords (CBD products, dispensary queries, educational content)
• Visibility & Share of Voice growth
• Topic cluster authority scores
• Referral traffic quality
• SERP displacement vs competitors

Avoid measuring by DR or backlink counts alone — those don’t show real SEO impact.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right CBD/Cannabis Link Building Partner

Cannabis SEO is hard but winnable. The best link building strategies are:

• Compliance-safe
• Topical
• Editorial-quality
• Measurable

If you want measured link building that moves real rankings, Ranktracker is the strongest overall choice. Specialist partners like Outreach Monks, Linkible, and CannabisLinkBuilding.com are great when niche relevance and risk-aware placement matter most.