Has Anyone Here Actively Used Crowd Marketing for Link Building?

Hi folks! I’ve been experimenting with different approaches to SEO over the past year. Guest posts and outreach bring some results, but they are often time-consuming and expensive. Recently I stumbled upon the concept of crowd marketing—building links and brand presence through community discussions, Q&A platforms, and forums. Honestly, I’m curious about how effective this strategy really is in 2025. Has anyone here tested crowd marketing campaigns for long-term link building and authority growth? I’d really like to hear about personal experiences, whether it’s worth investing consistent time or even outsourcing it.