A Simple Beginner’s Guide In 2024

Did you know that just one high-quality backlink can be worth as much as $1000 in organic search traffic? 

Link building is undoubtedly the BEST way to improve your search rankings.

Google algorithms consider over 200 ranking factors. Out of all the factors, backlinks remain a crucial SEO factor. Also, backlinks help Google discover your content QUICKLY.

But how do you get those valuable links without resorting to spammy tactics? 

Here’s where link building outreach comes into play.

What is Link Building Outreach?

Link building outreach is the process of reaching out to other website owners and asking them to link back to your site.

Link building outreach can be done through email, social media, or other channels. You can also create a blogger outreach strategy to build links manually.

So, why is backlinks outreach important?

Search engines like Google use backlinks to decide how trustworthy a website is. These links can be considered as “votes” from other websites.

The more links a website has, the better chances of ranking for a keyword. This is the reason why most authoritative websites (with lots of links) often rank even for competitive keywords.

For example, when you search for a highly competitive “SEO guide,” you’ll see authoritative websites like Google, Moz, HubSpot, etc., ranking in the top 3 search results.

A new website (with less domain authority) will simply NOT rank for such competitive keywords. The reason? Lack of backlinks and authority.

Here’s where link outreach comes in handy.

Simply put, link building outreach is like going out and asking other websites for those valuable votes (backlinks). 

4 Simple Steps to Start Your Link Building Outreach In 2024

So, how do you reach out for link building?

Here’s a quick breakdown of things you need to do;

1. Find relevant sites
2. Reach out to the blog owners
3. Personalize your outreach emails
4. Build relationships

That’s it! Get these four things right, and you’ll attract relevant links no matter your niche.

Let us walk you through these steps and real-life examples so you can start your backlinks outreach journey immediately.

Step 1: Find Relevant Websites

What’s the one thing you need for link building outreach? Prospects or websites that you can reach out to.

So, the first step is to look for websites in your niche with content related to yours. 

For outreach link building, there are several ways to find relevant sites in your industry, including;

• Unlinked mentions: These are website owners who’ve mentioned your brand or website but not linked to it.
• Guest post contributions: Many websites still accept guest posts from others. Make a list of all those websites in your industry. You can use search strings like “guest post submission guidelines” + topic name, “contributor” + topic name, “submit guest post” + “keyword”, etc.
• Resources or roundups: Many website owners publish roundup posts or resources by linking to other websites. These are excellent sources to get backlinks.
• Broken link building: Website owners who are linking to a dead page about your target topic. You can use tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, Dead Link Checker, etc, to find such links on a domain.

Here’s an example of finding relevant sites with the broken link building approach using the free Ahrefs broken link checker.

As you can see, the above-mentioned website has multiple broken links. So, you can identify or create content that will replace the original page (i.e., a broken link). That’s how you’ll earn links.

Note: If you’re running a niche site, here’s an excellent free guide on link building for niche websites.

Step 2: Reach Out and Offer Something Valuable

Once you’re done finding relevant sites in your industry, it’s time to reach out.

Here’s the thing: Don’t just ask for a link! 

Find ways to genuinely help them, like offering:

• Quality Guest Posts: Write a detailed guide or helpful article for their site that their audience will love. There are literally hundreds of high DA free guest posting sites you can use to build links.
• Share or link to their content: Give their work a shoutout on your website or social media. The key here is to build relationships, share others’ work and promote each other. You can use forums, Facebook groups, LinkedIn groups, etc., to find relevant bloggers in your niche.
• Offer unique insights or visuals: You can also offer unique information or stats relevant to their content. You can also offer appealing illustrations or infographics related to their high-performing posts.
• The list goes on. 

You can think of ANY idea that can be helpful for their website. The key here is to research every website to see what you can offer in exchange for a backlink.

Step 3: Personalize Outreach Messages Without Spamming

One BIG mistake most people make while reaching out for links is they send bulk emails without even knowing the website owner’s names.

Remember, generic emails asking for links get ignored. 

Show you’ve done your homework. Know the name of each website owner before contacting them. Mention specific articles you liked and how you can add value.

Treat other bloggers and website owners as friends you haven’t met yet. Your link building outreach email should be personalized, relevant, and concise. 

Here are a few things to include:

• A personalized greeting that addresses the recipient by name (such as Hi XYZ)
• A brief introduction of yourself and your website.
• A mention of something specific you liked about their website or content.
• An explanation of why you think their audience would find your content valuable.
• A clear call to action, such as a request to link to your website.

There are so many link building tools out there that you can use to make the whole process easier.

Here’s a simple yet effective link building outreach template you can use. Make sure to tweak it according to your needs.

Subject: [Personalized subject line relevant to the website owner and their content]

Hi [Name],

I recently came across your [specific content you enjoyed] and found it insightful (helpful or interesting). I particularly liked [mention something specific].

I’m [your name] from [your website/company], and we create content about [your niche/expertise]. I recently wrote a piece on [topic of your relevant content] that I think would be a good fit for your audience because [explain why it’s relevant and valuable].

[Option 1: Guest post]

I’d love to offer you a guest post on this topic, which you can find here: https://bloggerspassion.com/link-building-outreach/. I’m happy to discuss potential topics and formats if you’re interested.

[Option 2: Link insertion]

You also mentioned [topic] in your [specific content]. I have a more in-depth article on this topic that you can find here: https://bloggerspassion.com/link-building-outreach/. Would you be open to linking to this piece within your content?

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

[Your Name]

Note: The above email template is just an example. Make sure to craft your own template based on your specific needs.

Step 4: Build Relationships

Building relationships is a must for link building, networking or lead generation.

After all, solid link building isn’t just about collecting links, it’s about building connections.

Here’s a quick tip: Don’t be pushy. Aim for long-term connections that benefit both sides.

Here are some simple tips to get you started:

Start by giving, not asking: You can start networking with other website owners by leaving insightful comments on their posts (or social media posts). Don’t just drop a link and run. Instead, add value with your opinions.

Follow and engage: Follow influencers and micro-influencers on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. If they’ve any exclusive groups on Facebook, Quora or LinkedIn, join them, participate in conversations, and answer their questions.

Ask for feedback: Make sure to create link-worthy content. Then, you can ask other bloggers for their honest feedback. You can email a pitch asking for a link if they find your content informative. 

Leverage existing relationships: Do you already have connections with bloggers or website owners in your niche? Great, you can look for opportunities to collaborate with existing contacts who might have link-worthy content.

Here’s an example of a dofollow link we got from BloggingFromParadise;

What did we do to get that dofollow link? Honestly, we did only one thing: an interview with Ryan Biddulph, and he generously linked to our website along with the link to his interview.

That’s how you attract links organically: by building solid relationships.

Above all, get familiar with other bloggers in your niche. Read their articles, engage in comments, and share their content as much as you can. Ultimately, that’s what helps you earn organic links.

A Checklist for Backlinks Outreach

Here’s a quick checklist to help you win links through outreach in 2024.

• Build a list of prospects: You must create a list of websites and their domain stats (such as domain authority, monthly traffic, etc). Then, you can segment your outreach list based on relevance. 
• Quality matters more than quantity: Focus on getting backlinks from relevant, high-quality websites, not random websites. Getting one link from a 60+ DA domain is better than getting 5 links from sites with less than 20 DA.
• Personalization is key: Make sure to know the name of the website owners. Find their top articles so you can talk about them while writing outreach emails.
• Always follow up: Once you send an outreach email to a website owner or blogger, follow up after a week or two. You’ll often get better results with follow-up emails.
• Offer value first: Give, give, give, give, give, give, then take. Don’t just ask for something; offer something in return.
• Be patient: Last but not least, building relationships and getting backlinks takes time. Don’t expect overnight results.
• Track everything: Make sure to track and monitor your results and analyze what works best for you. You can use link building tools like Semrush, Majestic, SpyFu, etc to track all your backlinks.

FAQs on link building outreach for SEO

Here are some frequently asked questions on outreach links in SEO.

Must Read:

Final thoughts 

When it comes to link outreach, remember QUALITY > QUANTITY. 

Backlinks from high-authority, relevant websites carry MUCH more weight than low-quality ones.

Also, try to earn backlinks from different domains with different target pages and different anchor texts. That’s how you can diversify your website’s backlink profile.

So, what are your thoughts on link building outreach strategy? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments.