The PBN number is simply how many domains you control in your private blog network. There's no official registry or lookup tool because PBNs are deliberately kept private to avoid footprints that search engines can detect. You determine your own PBN size based on budget, risk tolerance, and link velocity needs. Most operators start with 5–10 domains for a single money site, then expand to 20–50 as revenue justifies the investment. Each expired domain costs $10–$2,000 CAD depending on metrics, plus $3–$15 monthly for hosting. Larger agencies sometimes manage 200+ domains across dozens of client projects, but compartmentalization becomes critical at that scale to prevent network-wide deindexing. The right number depends on three factors: how much link equity you need to rank, how much you can afford to lose if Google catches the network, and how well you can mask footprints. A local Ottawa contractor might need only 8–12 PBN links combined with legitimate outreach. An affiliate site in a competitive niche like legal or finance might need 40+ to move the needle. Key considerations when scaling: - Diversify hosting (different C-class IPs, multiple providers) - Stagger registration dates and use privacy protection - Vary content length, CMS platforms, and design templates - Limit cross-linking between PBN properties - Mix PBN links with clean editorial links to dilute the footprint At Ottawa SEO, we've moved almost entirely away from PBNs since 2018 because the ROI doesn't justify the risk for most clients. A single penalty can wipe out months of investment. We occasionally maintain legacy networks for specific use cases, but the effort that goes into proper PBN management usually delivers better returns when redirected toward digital PR, niche edits on real sites, or building linkable assets. If you're committed to running a PBN, keep your number under 30 domains until you've proven you can avoid footprints at smaller scale.