Backlinks Are One Of The Strongest Ranking Factors In SEO. However, earning them naturally takes time and effort. Among the various white-hat link-building strategies, broken link building stands out as one of the most effective and ethical ways to obtain high-authority links without engaging in spammy activities. Don’t directly ask for links. Identify broken links on their site and suggest to them your content as a fix.
This exchange benefits both sides. And these are the following;
- Website owners fix their errors, and users get a better browsing experience.
- And you earn a quality backlink.
- In this detailed guide, you’ll learn exactly what broken link building is, how to find opportunities, how to create or repurpose content, and outreach strategies that convert.
Table of Contents
What is Broken Link Building?
Broken link building is a white-hat SEO technique where you:
- Find pages with broken outbound links,
- Create or use relevant content on your website,
- Contact the site owner to recommend your link as a replacement.
A broken outbound link leads users to a non-existent page (404 error), causing a bad user experience and reducing website authority. When you offer a working, relevant link as a replacement, you increase the chances of getting featured.
It’s a smart method because instead of begging for links, you fix a problem and earn trust.
Why Broken Link Building Works So Well?
- Website owners hate broken links; you’re helping them
- Google rewards websites with a strong outbound link structure
- You can acquire backlinks from high authority sites naturally
- Works in any niche: tech, marketing, farming, finance, etc.
- Faster approval than guest posting in many cases
Broken link building is not just link building; it’s relationship-building plus SEO improvement.
Step-by-Step Broken Link Building Strategy:
Let’s break down the complete strategy so you can use it easily.
Step 1: First, Find Websites in Your Niche
The first step is finding relevant websites where your link could fit. Relevance matters more than quantity this we have to keep this in mind.
Search Google using these methods:
- “your keyword” + “resources”
- “your topic” + “recommended tools”
- “your niche” + “links”
- “best guides” + “your topic”
Example for SEO niche is:
- SEO resources
- link building tools list
- digital marketing blog 2025
Also, look for blogs which have resource pages, link roundups, wiki pages, and educational content; they often have outdated or broken links. Look for this all.
Step 2: Find Broken Links Using Tools
The second step is to find broken links for that use tools. Manually checking every link is time-consuming, so tools help you speed up the process.
Here are the best tools for broken link building:
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Ahrefs Broken Link Checker | Find broken external links |
| SEMrush Backlink Audit | Scan competitor pages |
| Screaming Frog | Crawl entire websites for 404 pages |
| Check My Links (Chrome Extension) | Highlight broken links instantly |
| Dead Link Checker | Simple online scanner |
Visit the website, then scan it, and highlight these dead links marked as:
- 404 Not Found
- Link removed
- Domain expired
Step 3: Create or Repurpose Replacement Content
Now you must have a relevant resource on your site to replace the broken link.
- It could be:
- A blog article
- A guide
- A video
- A case study
- A research page
- A tool/resource page
If you don’t have content matching the broken link topic, then create one. Make it better and updated than the original. Google loves fresh value.
Example:
- Broken link topic: “Top link-building strategies”
- Your resource can be as follows: “25 updated link-building methods that work in 2025”
- More value = higher link approval chances. Keep this in mind.
Step 4: Outreach With a Helpful Message
The majority of people fail at this point. Avoid emailing like you’re pleading for a backlink.
For instance
Hello [name], One of the links in the resources section of your article "Top SEO Tools for Beginners" is returning a 404 error page, as I discovered while reading it. I recently published a similar article that could be a good substitute for this in order to update the page. You can check the functioning link here: [Your URL] I'm hoping it will enhance your page's user experience. If you want more ideas for content, please let me know. Warm regards, [Your name]
Step 5: Track Progress and Follow Up
Not everyone will reply to the first email, and that’s normal.
Follow-up after 4–6 days:
- Just checking in to see if you got my previous message.
- I’d be happy to help replace the more broken links if needed.
Keep a sheet to monitor:
- Website URL
- Contact email
- Broken link page
- Replacement link sent
- Response status
- Follow-up date
- Consistency is the key.
Bonus Tips to Succeed Faster:
- Look for the old blog posts (2014–2019), they often contain dead links.
- First target high DA resource pages; 1 link can boost rankings.
- Offer 2–3 replacement link suggestions instead of one.
- Combine this with guest posting to maximise benefits.
- Sending mass emails without personalisation.
The Most Common Mistake to Avoid:
- Replacing a link with unrelated content.
- Using an aggressive tone, asking only for a backlink.
- Low-quality blogs or spun content.
- Not following up after the first email.
- Remember, broken link building is value-first SEO.
If you practice this consistently, then you can:
- Build strong relationships.
- Increase website authority.
- Improve rankings and organic traffic.
- Establish yourself as a niche expert.
Link building is not just about links; it’s about providing value, and broken link building is one of the smartest ethical ways to do it.
About the Author:Kshitija is a digital marketer and SEO enthusiast who specialises in link-building and content optimisation. With a strong focus on helping brands improve visibility and authority, Kshitija creates actionable guides and strategies for bloggers, marketers, and business owners.
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