Guide to Broken Link Building: Tools, Techniques, and Best Practices

Link-building methods tend to come and go.

Take broken link building, for example.

It used to be a go-to, easy-to-scale tactic for link builders. Then, people started saying it wasn’t as good as guest posting (which, ironically, has been declared dead more times than we can count).

The truth lies somewhere in between.

A solid link-building strategy today involves mixing things up with different approaches.

When done right, broken link building is still a winner. It’s scalable, dependable, and should definitely be part of your link-building toolkit.

However, the approach to broken link building has evolved over time.

In this blog, we will discuss everything you need to know to make broken link building work for you, including:

• What is Broken Link Building in SEO?
• The Power of Broken Link Building
• Step-by-Step Guide to Broken Link Building
• Broken Link Building Tools
• Mistakes to Avoid While Doing Broken Link Building
• Creating a Broken Link Building Email Template
• Sample Broken Link Building Email Template

Let’s get started.

What is Broken Link Building in SEO?

Broken link building in SEO is all about spotting broken links on websites related to your niche and asking the site owners to swap them with your own links.

You can track down broken links that were meant for your site, your competitors, or any other site in your industry. No matter who the original link was pointing to, you’ve got the chance to get it replaced with your fresh, updated link.

Curious about what breaks these links in the first place?

Here’s what might be going on:

• The site changed its URL without setting up a proper redirect.
• The target website was moved or is no longer available.
• The linked page was removed, resulting in a 404 error.
• The link was incorrect from the start and never worked.

Whatever the cause, a broken link-building campaign is a quick and effective way to score some solid backlinks, boosting your off-page SEO in the process.

Suggested Read: 8 Types Of Link Building In SEO To Improve Authority

The Power of Broken Link Building

Think of broken link building as the reverse way to get backlinks. Instead of just asking for a link, you flip the script.

You start by doing the site owner a solid. By pointing out a broken link, you’re helping them out. In return, they might feel inclined to return the favor by linking back to your site. It’s a smart twist on how to build links effectively.

This concept is known as the principle of reciprocity in social psychology. It’s a tried-and-true tactic in sales, and it can work wonders for your link-building strategy, too. People often feel the need to return a favor, so this approach is a powerful tool in your link-building arsenal.

Pairing broken link building with a repurposing strategy can be especially helpful for new marketers learning the ropes of SEO link building.

Pro tip: If this all sounds like a lot to take in, or if you’re unsure about how to build links, spot broken links, or need help with local link building, consider hiring freelance link builders. They can guide you through the tools and strategies that can give your SEO efforts a boost.

Suggested Read: How Important is Link Building For SEO?

Step-by-step Guide to Broken Link Building

Here’s a simple four-step guide to help you understand how to do broken link building:

Step 1: Finding Broken Links

The first thing you need to do is hunt for broken links. So, what exactly is a broken link? It’s a dead link that no longer works due to various reasons, such as:

• The webpage or website no longer exists (it might have been deleted).
• The link has an incorrect URL.
• A firewall is preventing access.
• The website owner has restricted external access to their site.

Usually, when you’re looking for broken links, the most common reason is that the page doesn’t exist anymore. To get the best results, focus on high-authority websites in your niche. For example, if you run a vegan blog, target vegan nutrition sites.

Prospecting involves searching for a broken page that has links pointing to it. When you type the address into your browser, a broken page will give you a 404 error. A broken link example would be a hyperlink that takes you to a “404 not found” page or something similar.

To find these pages, you can use SEO link-building tools. A simple tool like Check My Links, a Google Chrome extension, is a good start.

For more advanced options, tools like Ahrefs and Moz offer link analysis that can help you out. SEO service providers can also recommend the best tools for your needs.

There are several techniques to prospect broken links. Here are three effective methods:

1. Simple Prospecting and Outreach

This method involves manually browsing through blogs and posts on relevant sites, identifying broken links, and then reaching out to the site owner to suggest replacing the broken link with one that points to your content. It’s a slow process, but it can yield good results.

2. Keyword-Based Prospecting

This is one of the simplest and quickest ways to find broken links. Start by selecting keywords related to your site. Use these keywords in your backlinking strategy, focusing on broader terms. For instance, instead of using a specific long-tail keyword like “Dallas health resources for children,” go for a broader search term like “health resources.”

Use those keywords with search phrases like:

• Site:.gov
• Intitle
• Inurl
• Intext:” dead link”

This will help you locate pages with dead links. Then, run these links through a backlink analysis tool to identify broken links and see which websites are still linking to them.

3. Using Resource Pages

Resource pages or sections on websites are also great for finding broken links. Use link analysis tools to dig through these pages, check the list of hyperlinks, and identify any that are broken.

Step 2: Create Content That Fits

Your content should closely match what the original page offers. It doesn’t have to be an exact copy, but offering something better and more current helps establish your authority in the niche.

Before reaching out to website owners, know what the original content was about. This increases your chances of getting a backlink, especially when your content aligns with their needs. If you already have a blog post or article that’s somewhat similar, consider updating it to fit the target content more closely. This is a smart move in repurposing your existing work.

To see what was on the old URL, tools like Ahrefs can be really helpful. Other SEO tools commonly used by experienced link builders can also assist in this process.

Step 3: Reaching Out with Link Building Emails

Once you’ve found broken links and have content ready to replace them, it’s time to contact the site owner with a clear and convincing email. Mention the broken links, describe the error they cause, and whether the site still exists or if there’s a typo in the URL.

Here are some tips for effective outreach:

• Use the subject line to clearly state your purpose—checking broken links and offering a new resource.
• Don’t forget to request a link placement—many overlook this step.
• Show your credibility by summarizing the original content.
• Include a screenshot showing where you found the broken link.
• Keep your pitch short and make it clear how this benefits both parties.

Step 4: Following Up for Better Results

Broken link building doesn’t guarantee success every time. To boost your chances, send a follow-up email if you don’t get a response within a week or two. You can sweeten the deal by offering to link back to their site in one of your posts or by suggesting other ways to improve their SEO.

Broken Link Building Tools

Effective broken link building requires the right tools to identify broken links and streamline the outreach process. Below are some of the most popular tools that can help you in your broken link building efforts, along with detailed descriptions of how to use them effectively:

1. Ahrefs Broken Link Building Tool

Ahrefs offers one of the most effective SEO tools for those serious about broken link building. With its Broken Link Checker, finding broken links on any website becomes straightforward. Enter the domain, and Ahrefs provides a report listing all the broken links on that site.

You can sort these results by domain, URL, or the number of backlinks, helping you focus on the most promising opportunities.

Ahrefs also gives detailed insights into the URLs linking to those broken pages, helping you choose the best content to suggest as a replacement. This feature makes Ahrefs a key tool for anyone aiming to excel in broken link building.

2. SEMrush Broken Link Building Tools

SEMrush provides a straightforward method for broken link building. With its Backlink Audit tool, you can find broken links on your site and those of your competitors. SEMrush helps you explore a domain’s backlink profile, sort through broken links, and determine which ones to target.

The tool gives insights into the authority and relevance of the sites with broken links, guiding your outreach decisions. It also connects with Google Search Console, allowing you to pull in data directly and ensure no key opportunities are missed.

SEMrush acts as a solid resource for analyzing and executing your broken link-building strategy.

3. Check My Links

Check My Links, a free Chrome extension, helps you quickly spot broken links on any webpage. Once installed, visit any page and click the Check My Links icon in your browser.

The tool scans the page and marks broken links in red, making them easy to see. This extension proves useful when you need to check a specific page for broken links before reaching out to the site owner. It’s a simple and effective first step in finding broken link opportunities right from your browser.

4. Screaming Frog SEO Spider

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a desktop program favored by SEO professionals for various tasks, including broken link building. This software crawls websites and delivers detailed reports on issues like broken links, redirects, and other errors. It works well with large websites, making it suitable for deep SEO audits.

For broken link building, you can set it to crawl a specific website or a list of URLs. It identifies broken links in both internal and external links, giving you a clear view of where links need attention and where your content can fit as a replacement.

5. Google Search Console

Google Search Console does more than check your website’s performance; it also helps with broken link building. You can spot broken links on your site and fix them to enhance user experience.

The “Coverage” and “Links” reports reveal broken links on other websites, too. This insight opens up new opportunities to replace those links with your content. Use this information to kickstart your outreach and strengthen your link profile.

6. Dead Link Checker

Dead Link Checker is a straightforward and effective tool for finding broken links on any webpage or entire website. You can use this tool to scan individual pages, or you can set it to crawl an entire website to identify all broken links.

Dead Link Checker offers various options for customizing your search, allowing you to focus on specific types of links or areas of the website.

Once broken links are identified, you can proceed with outreach, offering your content as a replacement and securing valuable backlinks. This tool is particularly useful for those who need a simple and reliable solution for broken link building.

Each of these tools plays a unique role in the broken link building process. Whether you’re using Ahrefs Broken Link Building Tool or SEMrush for in-depth analysis or Check My Links for quick checks, integrating these tools into your SEO strategy can significantly enhance your broken link building efforts.

Mistakes to Avoid While Doing Broken Link Building

Outreach is tricky, no matter which link-building method you’re using. But here’s where broken link building has a unique advantage: you’re offering a helpful solution. When you inform a webmaster about a broken link and suggest a replacement, you’re not just asking for a favor—you’re also helping them improve their site. This can open the door to a positive relationship, where they may be more inclined to add your link.

Now, let’s talk reality. Sometimes, link builders get a little too carried away with this approach. They might fire off emails that look something like this:

Is this email terrible? Not really. It’s efficient because it’s a template you can easily customize and send out in bulk.

The downside? Webmasters, especially those running popular sites, get tons of these emails. They know the drill—you’re in it for the backlink, not necessarily to help their site thrive. As a result, the effectiveness of these templated emails can be pretty low.

In such case you should follow the below broken link building email template.

Creating a Broken Link Building Email Template

Crafting an effective broken link building email template is crucial to your outreach success. A well-written email not only highlights the broken link but also positions your content as the perfect replacement. Here’s how to create an email template that can help you secure those valuable backlinks:

1. Subject Line

The subject line is your first impression, so make it count. Keep it clear, concise, and relevant.

For example:

• “Quick fix for a broken link on [Website Name]”
• “Noticed a broken link on your site – Here’s a solution.”

2. Introduction

Start your email with a friendly greeting and a brief introduction. Mention who you are and your interest in their website. Personalizing this part can increase the chances of your email being read.

Example:

“Hi [Name],

I hope you’re doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I’m a big fan of [Website Name]. I recently came across your article on [Topic], and I found it incredibly insightful.”

3. Highlight the Broken Link

Directly address the issue by pointing out the broken link on their website. Be specific about where the link is located so it’s easy for them to find.

Example: “While reading through, I noticed that one of the links on your page [URL] seems to be broken. The link to [Broken Link’s Original Content] is currently leading to a 404 error.”

4. Offer Your Content as a Replacement

This is the key part of your email. Suggest your content as a suitable replacement for the broken link. Highlight how your content is relevant and adds value to their site.

Example: “I recently published an article on [Your Content Topic] that covers similar information. If you’re looking for a replacement, I think it would make a great fit for your readers.”

5. Closing and Call to Action

Wrap up your email with a polite closing. Encourage them to review your content and let them know you’re available for any questions. Thank them for their time.

Example:

“I’d love for you to take a look and see if it would be a good replacement. Thank you for considering my suggestion, and please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Best regards,

[Your Name]”

6. Follow-Up Template

If you don’t get a response within a week or two, consider sending a follow-up email. Keep it polite and remind them of your initial email.

By following this template, you can create a broken link building email that is concise, clear, and effective, increasing your chances of securing high-quality backlinks.

Sample Broken Link Building Email Template

Here’s a sample email based on the template provided:

Follow-Up Email:

This sample email provides a clear, concise approach to broken link building, increasing the likelihood of a positive response.

Conclusion

Despite what you might have heard, broken link building remains a highly effective way to gain valuable backlinks. According to experts at SEO Company India, it even surpasses other strategies like guest posting.

The guide above outlines how to execute broken link building successfully. Use this approach to enhance your website’s backlink profile by securing relevant and quality links. Focus on direct URL targeting, site crawling, choosing the right opportunities, and creating suitable content. Ultimately, acquiring quality backlinks through broken link building involves filtering URLs using the extraction method described.

Make your outreach count by hiring skilled link building experts. They’ll help you secure valuable backlinks from top DA sites, turning those dead links into opportunities. Get the professional help you need to boost your rankings and drive quality traffic.