How we grade
Every grade, and the reasons behind it.
Each publication in the catalogue gets a grade from S (strongest) to D. The grade is a weighted score across six criteria, computed the same way for every title, including the ones we own. The card shows the two most important reasons: a tick for a strength, an exclamation mark for a caveat.
The six criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What we look at |
|---|---|---|
| Organic reach | 25% | Estimated monthly organic visits and the number of keywords the site ranks for (DataForSEO). The higher of the two counts. |
| Live and indexable | 20% | Whether the homepage and a recent post load, aren't hidden from search engines, and whether the site already ranks for keywords, which confirms it's indexed. |
| Editorial depth | 20% | A recent post's length, and whether it carries a byline or a date. Thin, unattributed posts score lower. |
| Link profile | 15% | Referring domains (DataForSEO) and Domain Rating (Ahrefs). If a domain was bought with an older link history, we say so as a caveat. |
| Delivery control | 10% | How directly we control publication: titles we own score highest, managed sites next, independent publishers after that. |
| Value for money | 10% | Organic traffic per $100 of the cheapest service on the title. |
Each criterion is scored 0–5. The weighted total sets the tier: S from 4.3, A from 3.6, B from 2.9, C from 2.0, otherwise D.
Sources, with dates
Traffic, ranking keywords and referring domains come from DataForSEO; Domain Rating from Ahrefs. Every figure in the catalogue shows its source and the date we last checked it. They're third-party estimates, not promises of future traffic.
Caveats are shown, not buried
A new title says it's new. A short sample post, a missing byline or a bought domain with an older link history appears as a caveat next to the grade, on the same card as the strengths.
Publishers can reply
Nobody pays for a grade. A publisher who disagrees can send us a reply, which we show next to the grade on the title's page.
Questions
- Can a publisher pay for a better grade?
- No. Grades come from the same rubric for every title, including the ones we own, and nobody pays for a grade. A publisher can add a reply, which we show next to the grade.
- Why don't your own titles all get top grades?
- Because most of them are new. Our network launched in August 2026, so most titles don't have much search traffic yet, and the rubric weighs organic reach most. We'd rather show that than inflate it.
- How often do grades change?
- Metrics refresh monthly. We re-grade when they move enough to change a tier, and the date on each grade tells you when it was last set.
See every title's grade, reasons, metrics and price in the catalogue.
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