Search Atlas offers three distinct link building tools: Link Laboratory (paid marketplace), WILDFIRE (reciprocal exchange inside OTTO), and Managed Link Building (done-for-you service). This article covers the most common questions about each.

## What is the difference between Link Lab, WILDFIRE, and Managed Link Building?

**Link Laboratory** (`app.linklaboratory.com`) is a self-serve marketplace where you browse real publisher sites and purchase editorial backlinks using HDC (Hyperdrive Credits). You choose every placement.

**WILDFIRE** is a free reciprocal link exchange inside OTTO. You add outlinks to other Search Atlas users' sites; they link back to yours. No cost, but requires you to give links before you receive them (2:1 ratio).

**Managed Link Building** is a done-for-you outreach service where the Search Atlas team handles prospecting, outreach, and placement on your behalf. Contact your account manager for pricing.

## What are HDC (Hyperdrive Credits) and how do I get more?

HDC (Hyperdrive Credits) is Search Atlas's internal credit currency used for Link Lab placements, press releases, cloud stacks, and other premium services. It is a single shared balance — there is no separate Link Lab wallet. Your plan includes a monthly HDC allocation (the amount depends on your plan level). Additional HDC can be purchased as a top-up from your billing settings.

💡 **Tip:** Check your HDC balance in billing settings before placing large orders — credits are deducted at checkout, not at fulfillment.

## How do I order a backlink in Link Lab?

1. 1. Go to `app.linklaboratory.com/site-catalog`
2. 2. Filter publishers by niche, Domain Authority, and price
3. 3. Click **Add to Cart** on the sites you want
4. 4. Open your cart (`/cart`) and for each item: choose whether to provide your own article or use the writing service, enter your target URL and anchor text
5. 5. Checkout — HDC is deducted from your balance immediately
6. 6. The order goes to the publisher; typical fulfillment is 7–30 days

✅ Once checkout is complete, your order appears in the order list with an "In Progress" status.

## How do I provide my own article for a Link Lab placement?

In the cart, select "Provide your own article" for that placement. You can either select an existing article from your Content Genius account or paste the title and article content directly. The publisher will review it before publishing.

## What is "Pending Actions" in Link Lab?

Pending Actions is your task queue — items that are waiting on your input before the order can move forward. Common pending items:

- Article content not yet submitted
- Missing anchor text or target URL
- Publisher requesting revisions to your article
- Content ready for your approval before it goes to the publisher

⚠️ Check Pending Actions regularly if your orders appear stuck — most stalls are caused by an incomplete item on your side.

## How do I select a different publisher if I don't want the original one?

In your order list, find the order and look for the option to swap or update the publisher. You can select a different site from the catalog before the article has been submitted. If the order is already in the writing or review stage, contact support — they can initiate a publisher change.

## How do I access publication.media publishers in Link Lab?

publication.media publishers appear in the Link Lab site catalog alongside other publishers. Filter the catalog by niche or search by domain name. If you're looking for a publisher you previously used and it no longer appears, contact support — publishers can be deactivated if they no longer meet quality criteria.

## What are the fulfillment statuses in Link Lab?

| Status | Meaning |
| --- | --- |
| In Progress | Order submitted, publisher is working on it |
| Content Review | Article written, awaiting editorial review |
| Pending Publication | Approved, waiting for publisher to go live |
| Live | Published — your backlink is live |

⚠️ If an order is stuck "In Progress" for more than 30 days, contact support for a publisher status check.

## How does WILDFIRE work and how do I set it up?

WILDFIRE is inside your OTTO project under **Link Building → WILDFIRE**. To participate: (1) add two outlinks from your site pointing to other WILDFIRE participants, (2) the system matches you with participants who will link back to your site. The 2:1 ratio means you must give two links to receive one. Links are real editorial placements on participating SA users' sites.

## Can I see which sites are linking to me through WILDFIRE?

Yes. The WILDFIRE section inside your OTTO project shows your incoming link placements, the source domains, and the specific pages where your links appear. You can also view and manage your outlinks from the same interface.

## What is the Cloud Stack / Indexer service?

**Cloud Stacks** are networks of interconnected web 2.0 properties (hosted on Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc.) built around your brand and target keywords, designed to reinforce your site's authority signals. They are created and managed from **Authority → Cloud Stacks**.

**The Indexer** is a separate service that forces search engine discovery of URLs you submit. It uses SERP-based indexing signals. Access it from **Authority → Indexer** (URL Indexer).

Both services use HDC credits.

## Why is my Link Lab order not showing a live URL after it was marked Published?

After a placement goes live, the publisher URL appears in your order detail view. If the status shows Published but no URL is listed, give it up to 24 hours for the URL to propagate to the platform. ⚠️ If it's been more than 24 hours, contact support with your order ID and they will follow up with the publisher to retrieve the live link.

## When I click on a publisher in Link Lab, I'm redirected to a login page. What should I do?

The Link Lab publisher list is sourced from **publication.media**, which is a separate marketplace from Search Atlas. Viewing full publisher profiles and placing orders directly on that platform requires a separate account at `publication.media`. 💡 The recommended workflow is to browse publishers and submit orders through the **Link Lab interface inside Search Atlas** — this does not require a separate publication.media login. Only visit publication.media directly if you need marketplace features not available inside the SA dashboard.

## My publisher was rejected. How do I select a replacement?

When a publisher rejects your Link Lab order, the order moves to the **Pending Actions** section in your order dashboard. Go to Link Lab → your order → Pending Actions. There you will see available replacement publishers curated to match your original order's requirements (niche, DA range, price). Select the replacement and the order resumes automatically. ⚠️ If no replacement publishers are available in Pending Actions, contact support with your order number — they can manually review and assign an alternative.