What Is Broken Link Building?
Broken link building is a white-hat SEO strategy where you:
Find dead links (404 errors) on high-authority websites.
Create better content to replace the broken resource.
Politely suggest your link as a replacement.
Why It Works:
Helps webmasters fix broken pages (win-win).
Earns high-quality backlinks from authoritative sites.
Requires no paid placements or shady tactics.
Step 1: Find Broken Link Opportunities
Tools to Use:
Ahrefs/SEMrush (Check "Broken Backlinks" in Site Explorer)
Check My Links (Chrome extension for quick 404 scans)
Google Search Operators
site:example.com inurl:links "404"
site:example.com "page not found"
Target Pages:
Resource lists ("Best tools for X")
Blogrolls & link directories
Industry roundups
Step 2: Create a Better Replacement Resource
Your content must be:
More up-to-date (e.g., "2024 Guide" vs. a 2018 post)
More comprehensive (longer, better data, visuals)
Better UX (fast-loading, mobile-friendly)
Example:
If the broken link was "Best Free SEO Tools,"
*Create "50+ Free SEO Tools in 2024 (Tested & Ranked)."*
Step 3: Contact the Website Owner
Email Template:
text
Subject: Quick Fix for a Broken Link on [Their Site]
Hi [Name],
I noticed your awesome [article/resource page] on [topic] and saw that the link to [broken resource] is no longer working.
I recently published an updated guide on this topic:
[Your Content Title + URL]
It covers [key improvements] and might be a great replacement. Let me know if you’d like to check it out!
Best,
[Your Name]
Pro Tip: Use Hunter.io or Voila Norbert to find email addresses.
Step 4: Track & Scale Your Success
Monitor backlinks (Ahrefs, Google Search Console).
Replicate the strategy on more sites.
Repurpose successful content into infographics/videos for extra shares.
Bonus: Advanced Tactics
Find Expired Domains (Archive.org) & redirect broken links to your site.
Use SpyFu to see where competitors lost backlinks (and reclaim them).