Every marketer knows how crucial backlinks are for SEO. As per Backlinko’s Brian Dean, more than 200 factors are used by Google to rank websites, with backlinks being the prominent one.
Backlinks are like votes of confidence – signaling to the search engines that your content is trustworthy, relevant, and worth ranking.
But, getting other websites to link to yours is a tough nut to crack i.e., if you’re looking for authentic, high-authority backlinks.
You cannot outreach a website owner with a poorly targeted email that has no personalization, offers no value for the linking website’s audience, and expect anything other than silence, or worse, a one-way ticket to their spam folder.
The below email is a perfect example of a bad outreach.
Image: John F Doherty
This email has no personalization, doesn’t offer any value, and is extremely generic. And unsurprisingly, it earns exactly what it deserves: no link, no results.
And that’s not how you do backlink outreach, especially in 2025, where personalization and high-quality content is everything.
So, what does effective link building outreach look like?
Let’s start from the start.
Link building outreach means reaching out to website owners, bloggers, editors, and asking if they’d be open to link to your content.
It involves identifying high authority websites that are relevant to your business, reaching out to them with a personalized email, and offering them some value that persuades them to give you a backlink in exchange.
But let’s be real – getting a backlink isn’t a cake walk. Every marketer knows how valuable backlinks are, which is exactly why what you offer in return needs to bring real value to their business and their audience.
At its core, link building outreach should start with making a conversation, not making a demand. It’s about being helpful, not pushy. And it’s definitely about quality over quantity.
Link building outreach is extremely important because it helps you earn high-quality backlinks and no website, blogger, or influencer would give you a backlink if you do not follow the best outreach practices.
Backlinks are one of Google’s top ranking factors. They help improve a website’s position in the SERPs. They bring credibility to the website by acting as indicators that tell Google that your content is the perfect answer for people searching for this topic.
Think of it as elections, the more votes a candidate gets, the more he/she is likely to top the charts and win.
When your content is helpful, people tend to share it and sharing a webpage gives it a backlink. The more the backlinks, the higher the percentage of Google knowing that your content is gold.
But, there’s a catch, what if you are getting a link from a poor authority domain? Getting links from low-authority or spammy websites can actually hurt your rankings. And paying for backlinks? That’s a shortcut to penalty.
That is why link building outreach is important because you need to get backlinks from reputed websites, not just any website and specifically, not a paid link.
As per stats, it takes an average of 1-6 months, with an average time of 3 months, for the impact of backlinks to be seen on search engine results.
Image: Outreach Monks
So, the sooner you start building backlinks, the higher your chances of seeing visible results.
Here is the step-by-step process you should follow to gain those valuable backlinks in 2025.
The first step in any outreach process is knowing what you are outreaching for.
You do not get backlinks to your whole website, but to separate content (landing pages) that’s not only valuable to your own audience but their (linking website) audience as well. In fact, if you have great content on your website, you will automatically attract backlinks.
This content can be in the form of blogs, video, podcast, infographic, a guide, or anything that is valuable to the readers or solves a problem.
List Posts
How-To Guides & Tutorials
Case Studies
Skyscraper Content
Original Research & Data Reports
Infographics
Charts, Graphs, & Data Visualizations
Slide Decks / Presentations
Explainer Videos
Tutorials & Walkthroughs
Interviews & Expert Roundups
Free Tools & Generators
Templates & Checklists
Quizzes / Interactive Assessments
Ultimate Guides / Pillar Content
Resource Hubs & Link Roundups
Expert Interviews / Guest Appearances
Solo Insight Episodes
Podcast Transcripts & Show Notes
Podcast Guesting on Other Shows
Whatever type of content you choose to create, make sure its authentic (while you can do extensive research before creating content, like everyone does, just make sure the content remains original), and valuable to your and the linking website’s audience.
After you’ve created amazing content, the next step is to figure out who to approach for backlink opportunities.
Here are some ways to tick that checklist of ideal outreach prospects.
Look for businesses or websites that cater to your target readers like marketers, business owners, CMOs, founders, but without selling the exact same service as you.
These companies have an aligned audience, so linking to your content adds value for their readers, but since you’re not competing, they’re more likely to link without hesitation.
For example, if you’re a content marketing agency. Instead of reaching out to another content marketing agency, pitch your article on ‘Advanced Email Funnels’ to email automation companies. Your content on creating email funnels helps their readers and they don’t lose business. It’s a win-win.
High-authority domains carry value, thats why.
Getting backlinks from high-authority domains boosts your own domain’s trust and rankings. Google places more weight on links coming from trusted, well-established sources. These links pass more SEO juice and can significantly impact your visibility.
How to identify high-authority domains –
Use tools like Moz or Ahrefs to evaluate a domain’s authority score. Aim for sites with authority scores of 40+, though even 30+ can be valuable if highly relevant.
Image: Moz
Tip: Balance your strategy! Don’t only chase high DA sites. A natural backlink profile includes a mix of domains. Just prioritize high-authority ones for your top-tier content pieces.
One of the smartest ways to find ideal outreach prospects is to identify websites that are already linking to top-performing content around your topic.
Look for popular content around your topic that have attracted a lot of backlinks. Then, make sure your content is even better, fresh, and in-depth version of it, also called the ‘Skyscraper Content.’
Next, use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to see which websites have linked to the original piece.
Image: Semrush
These websites are warm prospects, they already recognize the value of that topic and are open to linking to useful resources.
Once you have the list, you can prioritize reaching out to them.
In your outreach, show them why your content is a more valuable resource, maybe it’s more comprehensive, includes updated stats, better examples, fresh case studies, or improved visuals.
Because these sites have linked to similar content before, your chances of securing a backlink from them are much higher compared to cold pitching unrelated websites.
It’s a simple but powerful prospecting move that sets your outreach efforts on the right track.
If you want to find websites that are highly likely to link to your content, one of the best places to look at is websites linking to your competitors.
These sites have already demonstrated a willingness to link to similar topics, making them warm, qualified prospects for your outreach.
How to do it:
Image: Semrush
Pro Tip: Use link intersect tools like Moz to identify domains that link to 2-3 competitors but not you. These are gold.
Image: Moz
Lastly, avoid spammy websites that have low domain authority, thin content, or are packed with ads and suspicious links.
Getting backlinks from such sites can do more harm than good, potentially leading to SEO penalties or a drop in rankings. As per stats, 40% of online businesses close down within 6 months of receiving a Google penalty.
Solution. Always vet the site’s quality before reaching out.
Okay! Once you know what kind of websites you want to target, those with relevant audiences, high authority, and a habit of linking to helpful content, the next step is to actually find them.
Here are the most effective and practical places to discover high-potential link partners in 2025.
Start with simple keyword searches related to your topic.
See which websites rank on Page 1, they’re obviously the most trusted, authoritative, and topical.
Use advanced search operators to refine your hunt:
Don’t stop at the first page – dig deeper and take notes on recurring domains.
Social media platforms are goldmines for finding people and websites already active in your niche.
And, I’m not just talking about Instagram influencers, I mean marketers, bloggers, editors, and brands who share and link to high-quality content regularly.
Start with platforms like LinkedIn, X, Facebook, and Reddit.
Here’s how to find potential backlink prospects.
This approach helps you spot real people and websites that already love linking to valuable content, exactly the kind of warm prospects you want on your outreach list.
Sometimes, the best outreach prospects aren’t the ones publishing, they’re the ones actively engaging.
Many popular blogs have lively comment sections where readers ask questions, share links, or even drop their own blog URLs. These commenters are often bloggers, niche publishers, or tool creators trying to build visibility, just like you.
Here’s what to do.
Pro Tip: Micro-publishers and new bloggers are often more open to collaboration, and if your content aligns with theirs, they’ll be more likely to link back.
If you’re looking for easy wins in link building, curated content is your best friend. These are blog posts specifically created to highlight and link out to other great resources, which makes them perfect outreach opportunities.
Here’s what to search for on Google.
These types of posts are literally built to include links. If your content is high quality and relevant, it has a strong chance of being added to the list.
But, always make sure your content fills a gap or adds extra value to the roundup – don’t just ask for a link, show them why it deserves a spot.
Not every link will come from a big media site. Sometimes the best links come from tight-knit communities.
Explore
These can surface rising blogs, tools, or creators who are open to partnerships and linking out.
Set alerts for keywords, competitor names, and blog post titles to get notified when new content in your space is published.
You can reach out early and suggest your resource as a helpful addition before the article starts ranking or gaining traction.
Okay! Now that you know how to find the websites to approach and filter as per your checklist, let’s identify who the best person is to reach out, and how to contact them.
So, you’ve found highly relevant, high-authority, trusted websites for backlink outreach.
Now what?
Now’s the time to find the right person in that company who can actually make the decision to link to you.
Because, let’s face it, emails to ‘info@domain.com’ usually go straight to the void.
And in 2025, link building outreach needs more than just efforts. It needs strategy.
You want to reach the human responsible for content decisions. Someone who either creates, edits, or publishes articles on the target website.
Here are some job titles you should be looking for:
Pro Tip: If the website has a blog with bylines, click on the author’s name. You can often find their job title, LinkedIn profile, and sometimes even their email address in the bio.
LinkedIn is your best friend if you already have the person’s name from the bylines.
For others, go to LinkedIn, search the company from your checklist, go to the ‘People’ tab, and look for anyone with content or marketing-related role.
Once identified, you need to find their email. Use tools like:
Image: hunter.io
Image: Voila Norbert Email Finder
Okay! Now, before you jump into sending that email, take a moment, because reaching out cold, even to the right person, isn’t always the smartest move.
So, what do you do?
Engaging with your prospect before emailing them can boost your reply rate significantly. As per Backlinko, feeler emails – non-promotional outreach sent before the actual pitch, can lead to over 40% higher conversion rates when the real ask finally comes in.
I suggest starting with liking their social media posts, dropping a thoughtful comment, or sharing one of their blogs with a personal note. This low-effort visibility makes your name familiar and builds early trust.
This tiny bit of upfront engagement can be the difference between ignored and linked.
Once you’ve identified the right person, it’s time to send the email that gets the job done.
Not just any email – a short, sharp, value-packed message that speaks to them.
Here’s a checklist of what your outreach email should include to earn that backlink.
Personalized emails work 760% better than generic ones.
Image: AI Bees
Mentioning a specific article, stat, or section from their post shows you did your homework and aren’t just spamming everyone with the same pitch.
Personalization means nothing if the content you’re pitching doesn’t match with what the recipient cares about.
If they regularly write about content marketing and you’re pitching a blog on eCommerce supply chains – it’s a mismatch.
Let’s say someone frequently covers SEO trends then sending them your latest blog on ‘2025 Link Building Techniques’ feels aligned and useful. That’s relevance.
And according to Pitchbox, 85% of editors ignore pitches that feel off-topic, no matter how well-written they are.
Your prospects are busy, so respect their time.
Keep your email under 125 words, and make sure your main point is stated within the first two lines.
Short, direct emails that get to the ask quickly perform far better than long-winded messages that bury the point.
When you’re reaching out for a backlink, you’re not asking for a favor, you’re offering something that’s mutually helpful.
Whether it’s a guide that complements their content, fresh data their readers will love, or an update to something they’ve already published, your pitch should clearly show what’s in it for them.
As per stats, outreach emails with a strong value proposition can drive response rates of up to 40%, especially when the content fits seamlessly into theirs.
Image: Siege Media
Timing your outreach matters. As per Siege Media, emails sent at 8-9 AM or 1 PM get better responses, while GetResponse revealed peak open rates around 3-4 AM globally.
Image: Get Response
The key takeaway? Always consider your recipient’s time zone to ensure your email lands when they’re most likely to check it.
Hi [First Name],
I recently read your article on [Topic], and I wanted to say – it was an excellent read.
Your breakdown of [mention something specific they discussed] was especially sharp and gave me a fresh perspective. It’s rare to find content that’s both insightful and easy to digest, but you really nailed it.
I’ve recently published a guide on [Related Topic] that builds on some of the ideas you touched upon, with new 2025 data, visual walk-throughs, and practical insights I think your readers would find valuable.
If you’re ever updating that post or creating something similar, I’d be happy to share the link with you to see if it might fit.
Thanks again for the great content – I’ve bookmarked your blog and will definitely be following your work closely.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Website URL]
[LinkedIn Profile]
Subject: Loved your recent post on [Topic] – thought this might fit right in
Hi [First Name],
I’ve been following your blog for a while and I really enjoy all of your posts, specifically the recent one on [Specific Topic or Title].
You made some solid points, especially around [mention a specific insight or angle they covered] – really sharp observation.
I actually just published a [resource/tool/case study] that builds on that topic. It dives into [brief summary: e.g., practical strategies, fresh data, or real-world results] and could make a useful addition to your post or future updates.
You can check it out here: [Insert Link]
Would love to know what you think – happy to share more context if helpful.
Keep the great content coming – your work’s always insightful.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Company]
[Website]
[LinkedIn]
By now, you know how to identify the right websites, find the right person, warm them up, and craft a high-converting outreach email. That’s the foundation of solid link building outreach in 2025.
But if you’re ready to go beyond the basics and seriously elevate your backlink profile, here are a few advanced tactics that can help you land even more high-quality backlinks and stay ahead of the competition.
Broken link building is one of those underrated strategies that’s incredibly effective when done right.
It works on a simple win-win principle – you help someone replace broken (404 pages) links on their site with a link to your content, improving their user experience while earning yourself a backlink.
Here’s how to implement the broken link building strategy.
While browsing blogs or resource pages in your niche, you’ll often come across links that no longer work, maybe because the page was deleted, the company shut down, or the URL changed. These are known as broken links (aka dead links), and they’re bad news for the site owner. They hurt user experience and can even impact SEO.
That’s where you come in.
You find these broken links, reach out to the site owner or editor, and suggest replacing them with your relevant, up-to-date content. It’s helpful, non-pushy, and actually appreciated, because you’re saving them time and effort while providing a quality resource.
It’s like telling someone their front door is broken and then handing them a brand-new one.
Three reasons why broken link building has been working for years.
How to do it:
Ahrefs Interface for Broken Link Checking
Image: Ahrefs
This one’s a total low-hanging fruit in the world of link building, and sadly, most people miss it.
There are tons of times when your brand, your name, or even your product gets mentioned online in blogs, news pieces, interviews, or listicles.
But they don’t always link to your website.
These are called ‘unlinked brand mentions.’ They’re warm prospects. They know who you are. They’ve already written about you. So when you politely reach out and ask if they’d mind linking that mention to your site for context, it doesn’t feel like a cold pitch. It feels like good etiquette.
How to Find Unlinked Brand Mentions?
Luckily, this doesn’t require manual Googling page after page.
You need to set up Google Alerts for:
Whenever someone mentions you online, you’ll get an alert.
You can also use dedicated tools like:
Image: BrandMentions
What to Say When You Reach Out?
Once you find a site or blog that’s mentioned you but hasn’t linked to you, craft a short and polite email.
Most people will say yes, especially if the content is still live and they can edit it easily.
Let’s be honest! Getting featured in reputable media outlets sounds like a dream, right?
Well, it’s a lot more possible than you think.
There are platforms designed to connect journalists with experts like you – people who have insights to share. And when your quote gets published, you often get rewarded with a high-authority backlink.
It’s PR meets SEO, and it works.
Here are some of the best platforms to check out.
Image: Qwoted
A go-to for finance, marketing, tech, and startup-focused media. You can set up a free profile, highlight your expertise, and pitch yourself directly to journalists working on stories.
Probably the most popular in the game. HARO (Help A Reporter Out) rebranded to Connectively, but the mission is the same – match journalists with credible sources across every niche, from business to beauty to biotech.
A brilliant pick for content marketers, B2B founders, and SaaS pros. Writers from top blogs like CoSchedule and Hotjar use this to gather quotes for their upcoming posts.
How It Works?
If your insight is selected, boom – you’ve just scored a high-quality backlink from a high-authority site, and maybe even press exposure.
Guest blogging is still one of the most effective ways to build high-quality backlinks, when done strategically. As per Semrush, over 73% of websites welcome guest posts on their blogs.
It’s simple – you write valuable content for another website in your niche, and in return, you earn a backlink to your own site.
But here’s the catch – not all blogs are worth writing for, and not every backlink is equal.
Here’s how to make guest blogging work in 2025.
Use search strings like:
“write for us” + [your niche]
“guest post guidelines” + [your keyword]
“contributor” + [industry topic]
Then vet them using tools to check their domain authority and backlink profile. Also keep in mind the pointers we discussed earlier (identify your ideal outreach prospects).
2. Pitch with Value
Reach out with a clear, personalized pitch. Bonus if you can attach a draft or topic outline that aligns with their existing content and audience. The more you reduce their workload, the higher your chances of getting published.
3. Write Better Than You Do for Yourself
Yes!! The quality of your guest post reflects your brand. Provide insightful, non-promotional, well-structured content, and naturally embed a backlink to your site where it adds value.
Regular monitoring of your backlink profile is essential if you want to keep your link-building clean, ethical, and effective.
Backlinks are a long-term SEO asset – and just like any asset, they need regular health checks.
That’s why you need to perform a thorough backlink profile analysis at least once a month.
Here’s what you should review.
Image: Search Atlas
Tools like Ahrefs, Moz, and SEMrush offer powerful backlink audits, link toxicity scores, and competitor comparisons.
But don’t overlook Google Search Console. Under the ‘Links’ section, you can easily check:
While Google Search Console doesn’t provide domain authority or spam scores, it’s a trustworthy and free starting point, especially for newer SEO campaigns.
If you want to build a smarter outreach strategy, keeping an eye on your competitors’ backlink profiles is a necessity.
By analyzing who’s linking to them, what type of content attracts the most backlinks, and which sources they’re consistently earning links from, you can uncover valuable opportunities for your own link-building efforts.
Start by running your competitors’ domains through tools like Ahrefs’ Backlink Analytics or Semrush’s Bulk Analysis.
You can look for:
Understanding your competitive landscape not only shows you where the opportunities lie, it gives you a serious edge when applying the outreach techniques we’ve discussed earlier.
Don’t expect 100% reply or link rates. Even the best campaigns convert in the 10-20% range on an average.
But, if your content is good, your message is personalized, and your value is clear – you’re already ahead of 90% of people spamming inboxes daily.
Keep refining your content, tracking your outreach, and building real relationships. That’s how long-term link building success is achieved.
Priyanka Bijlani
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