Here at Smart SEO we regularly try to give you some helpful link-building tips, out of the goodness of our hearts.
With this post, we’re doing just that by providing you with yet another sneaky little way to wangle a few links. This time, begging (but in the most dignified possible way, of course).
And, just a heads-up, if you’d like a few more link-building tips follow the links at the bottom of this post to a few previous tit-bits we’ve offered up.
Finding and Claiming Broken Links
Basically, there are a myriad of directories out there – any number of sites that link to other sites which may or may not have been maintained over the years. The idea behind this link-building technique is to find dead links and redirect them to you.
You’ll find old links to sites in your area of expertise. Where the site is no longer there, so the link is dead, you’re going to mention the dead link to the linking site and politely suggest that they tidy up their links but directing their visitors to you instead. This is how we suggest you go about it.
- Search through some old online directories for links to sites that share your area of expertise
- Of the links that you find, filter the dead ones. You will, more than likely, be able to find links to sites, in your niche, that no longer exist
- Now search for sites that still contain links to these now non-existent sites. They will, of course, be dead links
- Finally, it’s time for your begging letter. Get in touch with the webmasters of the sites that contain the dead links. Point out that the link doesn’t work and, while you’re at it, be a little cheeky; ask whether they might like to replace the dud with a link to you.