=== Free Backlinks & Guest Post Exchange - Consolety ===
Contributors: matzedoon
Tags: free backlinks, guest posting, backlinks, link building, seo
Requires at least: 5.8
Tested up to: 6.9
Stable tag: 5.0.6
Requires PHP: 8.0
License: GPLv2 or later
License URI: https://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.html

Get free backlinks for your WordPress site: trade guest posts with Google-verified publishers. Earn points hosting, spend them publishing.

== Description ==

**Free backlinks. Real websites. Zero budget.**

Consolety is a free guest post and backlink exchange network built into WordPress. You earn backlinks the honest way: write a guest post, publish it on another verified site in the network, and keep the links in it - without paying the $70-450+ that guest post marketplaces charge per placement.

No money changes hands. Instead, the network runs on points:

* **Host** a guest post on your site -> earn points
* **Spend** those points to publish your own guest post (with your backlinks) on another site
* You curate everything: you write your own content, you approve what appears on your site

= Why the backlinks are actually worth something =

Most "free backlink" schemes give you links from spam directories and link farms. Consolety only contains real websites, because every member must prove ownership through **Google Search Console OAuth**. Google confirms the domain is theirs, and the network shows real GSC traffic data (clicks, impressions) for every publisher. Anonymous link farms cannot get in.

= How It Works =

1. **Connect and verify** - Install the plugin and link your Google Search Console. Google confirms you own the domain.
2. **Browse the network** - Discover verified publishers by niche, language, and real traffic. You can see the live network before you even connect.
3. **Exchange content** - Write guest posts in the built-in editor and submit them to sites you choose. Host posts from others to earn points.
4. **Keep your backlinks** - Published posts are regular WordPress articles on the host site. Daily link monitoring alerts you if a backlink disappears.

= Features =

* Free backlinks through guest post exchange - no fees, no invoices, ever
* Browse verified publishers with real GSC traffic data (clicks, impressions)
* Filter by niche category, subcategory, language, and traffic tier
* Built-in WYSIWYG editor with word count validation and link detection
* Full editorial control: minimum word count, link limits, AI content policy, forbidden niches
* Revision system with host feedback
* Campaign marketplace for pre-written articles
* Automated daily backlink monitoring with alerts
* Points economy that keeps the exchange fair
* XSS-safe content handling with DOMPurify sanitization

= Points Economy =

* Welcome bonus: +30 points (Free) / +60 points (Pro)
* Host a guest post: +15 points (Free) / +20 points (Pro)
* Submit a guest post: -30 points
* Daily bonus: +1 point (Free) / +2 points (Pro)
* Connection request: -5 points (Free, refunded on accept/reject) / free (Pro)

Your welcome bonus covers your first guest post submission. Host one post and collect your daily bonus, and you are ready for the next one.

= Free vs Pro =

The Free plan is fully functional: browse, connect, host, publish, and build backlinks without paying anything.

Pro (EUR 29.99/month) is for site owners who want to scale link building: double daily points, +20 instead of +15 per hosted post, free connection requests, the campaign marketplace for distributing pre-written articles, priority placement in network discovery, and a doubled points cap. See [consolety.ai/pricing](https://consolety.ai/pricing/) for details.

= External Services =

This plugin communicates with external services only after you explicitly connect your site.

* **Consolety Hub API** ([app.consolety.ai](https://app.consolety.ai)) - Network service for guest posts, connections, and points
* **Freemius** ([freemius.com](https://freemius.com)) - Licensing and install analytics
* **Google OAuth** ([accounts.google.com](https://accounts.google.com)) - Site verification via GSC

See the Privacy Policy section for data details.

== Installation ==

1. In WordPress admin, go to Plugins > Add New
2. Search for "Consolety"
3. Click Install Now, then Activate
4. Go to Consolety > Dashboard
5. Click "Connect with Google" to verify your site
6. Complete your profile and set guest post requirements
7. Start browsing the network and earn your first backlinks

= Requirements =

* WordPress 5.8+
* PHP 8.0+
* Google Search Console access for your domain

== Frequently Asked Questions ==

= Are the backlinks really free? =

Yes. No money changes hands anywhere in the network. You "pay" by hosting guest posts from other verified publishers, which earns you the points you spend to publish your own. The Free plan needs no payment details and never expires.

= How is this different from paid guest post marketplaces? =

Marketplaces sell placements for roughly $70-450+ per post. Consolety replaces the invoice with a points economy: hosting earns what publishing costs. You get the same thing - a guest post with your backlinks on a real site - for the effort of writing and hosting content instead of money.

= Is guest posting safe for SEO? =

Yes. Guest posting with quality content on relevant, verified sites is a legitimate SEO strategy supported by Google's guidelines.

= Is this a link exchange scheme? =

No. The points system prevents reciprocal linking. You earn points hosting for one publisher and spend them publishing on a different site, so links do not flow back and forth between the same two sites.

= How does verification work? =

Through Google Search Console OAuth. Google confirms you are the legitimate owner of your domain. Unlike Domain Authority scores, GSC ownership cannot be faked, so the network stays free of fake sites and link farms.

= Can I control what appears on my site? =

Yes. You set minimum word count, link limits, AI content policy, forbidden niches, and custom instructions. Every incoming guest post arrives as a draft that you review, request revisions on, or reject.

= What happens when I approve a post? =

The guest post is created as a WordPress draft. You review it before publishing. It appears as a regular blog article on your site.

= Do I have to pay? =

No. The Free tier works without payment. Pro is optional and adds faster earning and distribution tools.

= Can I disconnect? =

Yes. Go to Dashboard and click Disconnect. Published posts remain since they are regular WordPress posts.

== Screenshots ==

1. **Dashboard** - GSC metrics, site profile, requirements, and activity feed
2. **Network Discovery** - Browse verified publishers with traffic data and filters
3. **Guest Posts** - Track submissions and review incoming requests
4. **Submit Guest Post** - Write with live validation and link detection
5. **Review Guest Post** - Preview content with approve/revise/reject options
6. **Account & Plans** - Plan comparison with points balance
7. **Diagnostics** - Connection health and troubleshooting tools

== Changelog ==

= 5.0.6 =
* New: "Get your first backlink" guide on the dashboard - three clear steps with the points cost of each, right at the top
* New: Google Search Console explainer for first-time users, including a 5-minute setup walkthrough for sites that do not have it yet
* New: Account page shows real pricing (EUR 0 vs EUR 29.99/month) with an accurate plan comparison
* New: Connect buttons now show the points cost upfront (5 points, refunded when answered - free on Pro)
* New: Campaign creation shows its Pro requirement upfront instead of failing after you wrote the campaign
* Improvement: Search Console metrics no longer show a wall of zeros for new sites
* Improvement: "How Points Work" now covers the welcome bonus and connection costs
* Improvement: Clearer explanations on every screen that requires connecting first

= 5.0.5 =
* Fix: The plugin dashboard opened on a third-party opt-in screen instead of Consolety. You now land straight on the network.
* Fix: Success and error messages were not appearing on the Network and Guest Posts screens (including "guest post published, points earned").
* Fix: Preferred categories were missing from the campaign form.
* Fix: A featured image chosen while reviewing one guest post could carry over to the next.
* Improvement: Upgrade links now open the monthly plan that is actually sold.

= 5.0.4 =
* New: See the live network and real verified publishers before you connect - no more blank connect screen
* Improvement: Listing relaunch - clearer positioning as a free backlink and guest post exchange network
* Improvement: Faster, clearer first-run onboarding
* Improvement: Consistent admin header across all pages
* Improvement: Clearer Pro upgrade information for scaling link building

= 5.0.3 =
* Improvement: Admin UI visual normalization with consistent header, plan cards, and badge system
* Improvement: Plugin translations added for Dutch, German, Spanish, and French (62% coverage)
* Security: Hard-gate site verification on GSC ownership proof
* Security: EnsureVerifiedSite middleware for network participation endpoints
* Fix: Plugin Check compliance (translators comments, variable prefixes, Domain Path)
* Fix: Freemius function prefix renamed to consolety_fs

= 5.0.0 =
* Major update: full content publishing network with GSC verification
* New: Guest post submission, review, and publishing workflow
* New: Network discovery with verified publisher profiles
* New: Points economy for fair content exchange
* New: Campaign marketplace for pre-written articles
* New: Automated daily backlink monitoring

= 1.0.0 =
* Initial release

== Upgrade Notice ==

= 5.0.6 =
Clearer onboarding: first-backlink guide, Search Console explainer, honest plan pricing, and upfront points costs everywhere.

= 5.0.5 =
Important fixes: the dashboard no longer opens on an opt-in screen, and admin notices (including points earned) now show up. Recommended for everyone.

= 5.0.4 =
See the live network before connecting, clearer onboarding, and a relaunched listing. Recommended for all users.

== Privacy Policy ==

This plugin connects to external services only after explicit user action.

= Consolety Hub API (app.consolety.ai) =

Powers the network: site registration, discovery, guest posts, points, campaigns, and link monitoring.

Data transmitted: site URL, WordPress/plugin version, GSC metrics (after OAuth), profile settings, guest post content, points transactions, connection requests.

When: on connection (requires OAuth), network actions, hourly heartbeat, daily link monitoring.

* [Terms of Service](https://consolety.ai/terms)
* [Privacy Policy](https://consolety.ai/privacy)

= Freemius (freemius.com) =

Handles licensing and install analytics.

Data transmitted: WordPress version, PHP version, site URL, install/plan/license IDs.

* [Freemius Privacy Policy](https://freemius.com/privacy/)

= Google OAuth (accounts.google.com) =

Site verification via GSC. The plugin never sees your Google password.

* [Google Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy)

= Link Monitoring =

Daily read-only HTTP GET requests to published post URLs. No personal data transmitted. SSRF-protected.

= Data Storage =

* EU-hosted servers, encrypted tokens, HTTPS only
* Data export and deletion available on request
* Uninstalling deletes all local data

== Support ==

* Email: support@consolety.ai
* Website: [consolety.ai](https://consolety.ai/)
