Ever clicked on a link and landed on a page that says 404 Not Found?
Frustrating, right?
Now imagine if that broken link was on a popular blog in your niche. It is a missed opportunity for everyone—the site owner loses trust, the reader gets annoyed, and the original content is gone.
That is where broken link building comes in.
It is one of the smartest and cleanest ways to earn high-quality backlinks.
This guide will help you understand everything about broken link building in 2025—step by step, with examples, tools, tips, and common mistakes to avoid.
What is Broken Link Building?
Broken link building means finding dead or broken links on other websites, then suggesting your own content as a replacement.
The goal?
You help the site owner fix their broken link. In return, they link to your content instead.
It is a win-win.
- You get a backlink.
- They fix a bad user experience.
- The readers get working links.
Sounds fair and helpful, right?
Why Broken Link Building Works So Well
There are many link building tactics out there. Guest posting. HARO. Outreach.
But broken link building stands out.
Here is why:
- You are helping, not asking for a favor.
Site owners appreciate it when you point out broken links on their site. - The link already existed.
You are not forcing something new—you are offering a quick fix. - It feels more natural.
The context is already there. Your link fits where the old one broke. - Less resistance from site owners.
People are more likely to respond when you’re offering help, not pitching yourself. - Works across niches.
Whether it’s SaaS, travel, or education, broken links are everywhere.
Plus, it feels more natural and less spammy.
In 2025, when everyone is tired of cold emails and generic pitches, broken link building gives you a human angle.
How to Do Broken Link Building (Step-by-Step)
Let us break it down in small and easy steps.
Step 1: Find High-Quality Sites in Your Niche
First, you need to look for good websites that are related to your topic.
Use Google search or SEO tools to find:
- Blogs
- Resource pages
- Tools lists
- Industry guides
Search using these strings:
- [your keyword] + inurl:resources
- [your keyword] + intitle:links
- [your keyword] + “useful links”
For example, if you are in the SEO space:
- SEO resources for beginners
- Best link building guides
- Digital marketing tools list
You are looking for pages that usually have lots of external links.
Step 2: Check for Broken Links on Those Pages
Once you find a good page, it is time to hunt for broken links.
Here is how you do it:
- Use Chrome Extensions like:
- Check My Links
- LinkMiner
These tools highlight broken links in red.
- Use Screaming Frog if you want to check an entire website.
- Use Ahrefs Broken Backlinks tool if you already know some big domains.
Look for links that give 404 errors or pages that no longer exist.
Tip: Focus on broken links that are linking to content, not just files or PDFs.
Step 3: Create a Better Version of That Broken Content
This step is super important.
Once you find a broken link, visit the original (now dead) URL using tools like:
- Wayback Machine (archive.org)
Check what the page used to be. Was it a guide? A list? A case study?
Now write your own version.
Make it:
- More updated
- Better structured
- More helpful
- Easy to read
You do not need to copy the old content. Just use it as inspiration and write something that adds value.
Step 4: Reach Out to the Site Owner
Now it is time to contact the person who owns the site where you found the broken link.
Keep it short and simple.
Here is a sample template:
Subject: Broken Link on [Page Title]
Hi [Name],
Hope you are doing well. I was checking out your page on [Page Topic], and I noticed one of the links is not working anymore.
It is the one that used to point to [Old Resource Name].
Just thought I would let you know.
I actually created something similar that might be a good replacement: [Your Link]
Feel free to use it if you think it fits.
Thanks again for the great content.
Cheers,
[Your Name]
That is it. No pressure. Just a heads-up and a helpful suggestion.
Step 5: Follow Up (But Politely)
Sometimes people miss your first email. That is okay.
Wait for 5-7 days and send a quick follow-up.
Example:
Subject: Quick Follow-Up – Broken Link
Hi [Name],
Just wanted to check if you had a chance to see my last email about the broken link on your [Page Title] page.
Let me know if I can help in any way.
Thanks!
[Your Name]
If they do not respond after two emails, move on. Do not spam.
Best Tools for Broken Link Building
Want to save time with broken link building? These tools can help you do it faster and better:
- Check My Links: A free Chrome extension that quickly highlights broken links on any webpage.
- Wayback Machine: Lets you view past versions of dead pages—great for recreating content.
- Ahrefs: Use the “Broken Backlinks” report to find lost links pointing to 404 pages.
- Screaming Frog: A desktop crawler perfect for large-scale site scans to detect broken links.
- Hunter.io: Helps you find verified email addresses of website owners for outreach.
- BuzzStream: An outreach CRM to organize emails, follow-ups, and relationship tracking.
- Broken Link Checker: Automatically scans websites to detect 404 errors and dead links.
Each tool has its own strength—use them together for a powerful broken link building workflow.
Real Examples of Broken Link Building in Action
Example 1: SEO Niche
You can find a blog post titled “Top 50 Link Building Guides”.
One of the links goes to a site that is no longer online.
You recreate a better version of that guide, then email the blog owner.
They replace the dead link with yours.
Boom. A backlink on a top SEO blog.
Example 2: Health and Wellness
You find a dead link on a yoga blog pointing to an old breathing exercise guide.
You write a better, updated guide on breathing techniques.
You suggest your link. They love it.
Done. A high-quality link in the wellness space.
Tips to Make Broken Link Building More Successful
- Be helpful first: Focus on solving their problem, not promoting yourself.
- Personalize it: Use their name and mention the exact page where the broken link is.
- Share only relevant links: Make sure your link fits naturally into their content.
- Add more value: Do not just recreate the same broken content. Make yours better—add stats, visuals, or updated info.
- Keep it short and friendly: Long emails often get ignored. A short, polite message works best.
- Avoid sounding robotic: Use a conversational tone to build trust.
- Follow up once: If you do not hear back, a gentle follow-up can work.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mass Emailing: Do not send the same email to everyone. Each message should feel personal and written just for them.
- Weak Content Pitch: Make sure the page you are linking to is actually helpful. Irrelevant or low-value content will not earn links.
- Being Too Pushy: If someone declines your request, respect it. Do not keep pushing—it can hurt your reputation.
- Skipping Follow-Ups: A gentle reminder is fine if they miss your first message. But avoid sending multiple follow-ups.
- Targeting Only Big Sites: Do not focus only on high-authority sites. Smaller niche websites are often easier to work with and can still drive strong results.
How to Scale Broken Link Building in 2025
Want to build 100+ links a month?
You can scale it using:
- Virtual assistants – To help find broken links
- Templates – Use but always tweak them
- Outreach tools – Like BuzzStream or Mailshake
- Content library – Create evergreen pages you can reuse in different niches
Also, track everything.
Use Google Sheets or Notion to record:
- The site
- Broken link found
- Your replacement link
- Email sent
- Response
- Link gained
This keeps your process clean and organized.
Why Broken Link Building is Great in 2025
Broken link building is still one of the smartest ways to get high-quality backlinks in 2025. Here’s why it stands out:
- Ethical – You are helping webmasters by fixing dead links on their site.
- Helpful – You offer value by replacing broken resources with useful ones.
- Scalable – You can find thousands of broken links using free tools.
- Long-Term – The links you build this way often stay live for years.
- SEO-Friendly – Search engines still reward links from strong and relevant pages.
- Extra Value – Replacing a dead link often brings more SEO impact than just adding a new one.
In a world where everyone is chasing backlinks, this method gives you a real chance to stand out—by offering help instead of just asking for favors.
Final Thoughts
Broken link building is not dead. In fact, it is one of the most underused and powerful link strategies out there.
All you need is:
- A bit of patience
- Helpful content
- A friendly message
And you can build links that truly matter.
No tricks. No shortcuts. Just pure SEO gold.
So start today. Search for broken links. Create better content. Be helpful. And grow your rankings the smart way.
