Appreciation post: I thought broken link building was a total waste of time

For years, I wrote off broken link building as a made-up tactic that only worked in theory. I figured finding a dead page, making a better one, and asking for a link was way too much work for a single backlink. Then, about six months ago, I tried it for a local service page about tree removal in my area. I found a broken link on a city's old 'approved contractors' page that had been taken down. I recreated the info, made it way better with photos and safety tips, and emailed the webmaster. They linked to it within a week, and that one link sent real traffic and actually helped my page rank. It's slow, but it's a real link from a real site that wants it there. Has anyone else actually gotten a solid link this way, or did I just get lucky?

3 comments

3 Comments

charles7662mo ago

Tbh, that's wild it worked on a city site. I tried it once for a local band's old tour page, but the webmaster never even wrote back. Guess you really need the right kind of broken link to make it worth the hassle.

julia_lee2mo ago

Totally changed my mind on this too. Found a broken link to a local hiking trail map on a regional outdoor club's old site. Made a new, updated page with trail conditions and parking info, and they swapped the link. Took a few emails, but it's a perfect fit and sends the right kind of visitors.

lisak262mo ago

Honestly, that was my exact thinking for the longest time. Seemed like a total fantasy. But I finally tried it for a local history page, finding a dead link on a town blog. Made a better page with old photos and maps, and they actually used it. Changed my mind completely, it's slow but feels legit.