Fluxx Tech
Earning new links is hard. These two methods are easier because they fix problems that already exist: lost or missing links to you, and broken links on other websites.
Part 1: Link reclamation
Recover links to your own broken pages
Over time, other sites may link to pages on your site that no longer exist. Those links lead to 404 errors and lose their value.
1. Find your pages with external links that return 404 (using a backlink tool or Search Console’s links reports)
2. Redirect each broken URL to the most relevant live page with a 301 redirect
3. Or restore the page if it’s still useful
Turn mentions into links
When someone mentions your business without linking:
1. Find mentions with Google searches or monitoring tools
2. Contact the site owner politely
3. Thank them for the mention and ask if they’d add a link to help readers
Fix wrong links
Some sites link to an old domain, the wrong page or a misspelled URL. Ask them to update it, or redirect the wrong URL on your side.
Part 2: Broken link building
Websites in your industry often link to resources that no longer exist. You can offer your relevant content as a replacement.
1. Find relevant sites: industry blogs, local resource pages, association pages
2. Find broken outbound links with a link checker or crawler
3. Check you have a relevant replacement, or create one
4. Email the site owner: point out the broken link helpfully and suggest your page as a replacement
5. Keep it short and useful, not salesy
Outreach email example
Hi [Name], I was reading your page on [topic] and noticed the link to [resource] no longer works. We have a guide on [topic] that covers the same information: [URL]. It might be a helpful replacement for your readers. Thanks for the useful resource!
Tips
• Only suggest content that genuinely fits
• Personalise every email
• Don’t send repeated follow-ups
• Track outreach in a spreadsheet
Frequently asked questions
Is broken link building worth it for small businesses? Yes, especially link reclamation, which is quick and low effort.
How many sites respond? Response rates vary; relevance and personalisation help.
Are these links safe? Yes, when they come from relevant sites and are earned by offering genuine value.
