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- Added multiple new skills to skills-lock.json from the repository `aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills`. - Introduced `fuzzy-search` dependency in package.json for improved search functionality. - Updated pnpm-lock.yaml to include the new `fuzzy-search` package. - Enhanced SEO metadata across various pages, including canonical links and descriptions for better search visibility. - Improved layout and structure of several components, including the homepage and changelog, to enhance user experience.
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---
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name: backlink-analyzer
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description: 'Analyze backlink profiles: link authority, toxic links, building opportunities, competitor link gaps. 外链分析/反向链接'
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version: "6.0.0"
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license: Apache-2.0
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compatibility: "Claude Code ≥1.0, skills.sh marketplace, ClawHub marketplace, Vercel Labs skills ecosystem. No system packages required. Optional: MCP network access for SEO tool integrations."
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homepage: "https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills"
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when_to_use: "Use when analyzing backlink profiles, link quality, toxic links, referring domains, or anchor text distribution."
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argument-hint: "<domain or URL>"
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metadata:
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author: aaron-he-zhu
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version: "6.0.0"
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geo-relevance: "low"
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tags:
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- seo
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- backlinks
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- link-building
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- link-profile
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- toxic-links
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- off-page-seo
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- link-audit
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- referring-domains
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- disavow
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- ahrefs-alternative
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- 外链分析
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- 被リンク
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- 백링크
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- backlinks-seo
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triggers:
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# EN-formal
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- "analyze backlinks"
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- "check link profile"
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- "find toxic links"
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- "link building opportunities"
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- "link profile analysis"
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- "backlink audit"
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- "link quality"
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# EN-casual
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- "who links to me"
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- "I have spammy links"
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- "how do I get more backlinks"
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- "how do I get more links"
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- "disavow links"
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- "link building outreach"
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- "disavow file"
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# EN-question
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- "how to build backlinks"
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- "how to find toxic backlinks"
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# ZH-pro
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- "外链分析"
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- "反向链接"
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- "有毒链接"
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- "链接建设"
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# ZH-casual
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- "外链怎么做"
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- "有垃圾外链"
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- "谁链接到我"
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- "友链"
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- "互换友链"
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- "外链建设"
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# JA
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- "被リンク分析"
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- "バックリンク"
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- "リンク構築"
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# KO
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- "백링크 분석"
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- "링크 빌딩"
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- "누가 내 사이트 링크해?"
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- "백링크 어떻게 늘려?"
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# ES
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- "análisis de backlinks"
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- "enlaces entrantes"
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# PT
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- "análise de backlinks"
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# Misspellings
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- "backlink anaylsis"
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- "backlnk analysis"
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---
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# Backlink Analyzer
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> **[SEO & GEO Skills Library](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills)** · 20 skills for SEO + GEO · [ClawHub](https://clawhub.ai/u/aaron-he-zhu) · [skills.sh](https://skills.sh/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills)
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> **System Mode**: This monitoring skill follows the shared [Skill Contract](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/references/skill-contract.md) and [State Model](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/references/state-model.md).
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Analyzes, monitors, and optimizes backlink profiles. Identifies link quality, discovers opportunities, and tracks competitor link building activities.
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**System role**: Monitoring layer skill. It turns performance changes into deltas, alerts, and next actions.
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## When This Must Trigger
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Use this when the conversation involves any of these situations — even if the user does not use SEO terminology:
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Use this whenever the task needs time-aware change detection, escalation, or stakeholder-ready visibility.
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- Auditing your current backlink profile
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- Identifying toxic or harmful links
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- Discovering link building opportunities
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- Analyzing competitor backlink strategies
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- Monitoring new and lost links
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- Evaluating link quality for outreach
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- Preparing for link disavow
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## What This Skill Does
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1. **Profile Analysis**: Comprehensive backlink profile overview
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2. **Quality Assessment**: Evaluates link authority and relevance
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3. **Toxic Link Detection**: Identifies harmful links
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4. **Competitor Analysis**: Compares link profiles across competitors
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5. **Opportunity Discovery**: Finds link building prospects
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6. **Trend Monitoring**: Tracks link acquisition over time
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7. **Disavow Guidance**: Helps create disavow files
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## Quick Start
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Start with one of these prompts. Finish with a short handoff summary using the repository format in [Skill Contract](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/references/skill-contract.md).
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### Analyze Your Profile
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```
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Analyze backlink profile for [domain]
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```
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### Find Opportunities
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```
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Find link building opportunities by analyzing [competitor domains]
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```
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### Detect Issues
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```
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Check for toxic backlinks on [domain]
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```
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### Compare Profiles
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```
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Compare backlink profiles: [your domain] vs [competitor domains]
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```
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## Skill Contract
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**Expected output**: a delta summary, alert/report output, and a short handoff summary ready for `memory/monitoring/`.
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- **Reads**: current metrics, previous baselines, alert thresholds, and reporting context from [CLAUDE.md](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/CLAUDE.md) and the shared [State Model](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/references/state-model.md) when available.
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- **Writes**: a user-facing monitoring deliverable plus a reusable summary that can be stored under `memory/monitoring/`.
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- **Promotes**: significant changes, confirmed anomalies, and follow-up actions to `memory/open-loops.md` and `memory/decisions.md`.
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- **Next handoff**: use the `Next Best Skill` below when a change needs action.
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## Data Sources
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> **Note:** All integrations are optional. This skill works without any API keys — users provide data manually when no tools are connected.
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> See [CONNECTORS.md](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/CONNECTORS.md) for tool category placeholders.
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**With ~~link database + ~~SEO tool connected:**
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Automatically pull comprehensive backlink profiles including referring domains, anchor text distribution, link quality metrics (DA/DR), link velocity, and toxic link detection from ~~link database. Competitor backlink data from ~~SEO tool for gap analysis.
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**With manual data only:**
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Ask the user to provide:
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1. Backlink export CSV (with source domains, anchor text, link type)
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2. Referring domains list with authority metrics
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3. Competitor domains for comparison
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4. Recent link gains/losses if tracking changes
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5. Any known toxic or spammy links
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Proceed with the full analysis using provided data. Note in the output which metrics are from automated collection vs. user-provided data.
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## Instructions
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When a user requests backlink analysis:
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1. **Generate Profile Overview** -- Key metrics (total backlinks, referring domains, DA/DR, dofollow ratio), link velocity (30d/90d/year), authority distribution chart, profile health score.
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2. **Analyze Link Quality** -- Top quality backlinks table, link type distribution, anchor text analysis (brand/exact/partial/URL/generic), geographic distribution.
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3. **Identify Toxic Links** -- Toxic score, risk indicators by type (spam, PBN, link farms, irrelevant), high-risk links to review, disavow recommendations (domain-level and URL-level).
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4. **Compare Against Competitors** -- Profile comparison table (referring domains, DA/DR, velocity, avg link DA), unique referring domains, link intersection analysis, competitor content attracting most links.
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5. **Find Link Building Opportunities** -- Link intersection prospects, broken link opportunities, unlinked mentions, resource page opportunities, guest post prospects, priority matrix (effort vs impact).
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6. **Track Link Changes** -- New and lost links for last 30 days with DA, type, anchor, dates. Net change and links to recover.
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7. **Generate Backlink Report** -- Executive summary, strengths, concerns, opportunities, competitive position, recommended actions (immediate/short-term/long-term), KPIs to track.
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> **Reference**: See [references/analysis-templates.md](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/monitor/backlink-analyzer/references/analysis-templates.md) for complete output templates for all 7 steps above.
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### CITE Item Mapping
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When running `domain-authority-auditor` after this analysis, the following data feeds directly into CITE scoring:
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| Backlink Metric | CITE Item | Dimension |
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|----------------|-----------|-----------|
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| Referring domains count | C01 (Referring Domain Volume) | Citation |
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| Authority distribution (DA breakdown) | C02 (Referring Domains Quality) | Citation |
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| Link velocity | C04 (Link Velocity) | Citation |
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| Geographic distribution | C10 (Link Source Diversity) | Citation |
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| Dofollow/Nofollow ratio | T02 (Dofollow Ratio Normality) | Trust |
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| Toxic link analysis | T01 (Link Profile Naturalness), T03 (Link-Traffic Coherence) | Trust |
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| Competitive link intersection | T05 (Profile Uniqueness) | Trust |
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## Validation Checkpoints
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### Input Validation
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- [ ] Target domain backlink data is complete and current
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- [ ] Competitor domains specified for comparison analysis
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- [ ] Backlink data includes necessary fields (source domain, anchor text, link type)
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- [ ] Authority metrics available (DA/DR or equivalent)
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### Output Validation
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- [ ] Every metric cites its data source and collection date
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- [ ] Toxic link assessments include risk justification
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- [ ] Link opportunity recommendations are specific and actionable
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- [ ] Source of each data point clearly stated (~~link database data, ~~SEO tool data, user-provided, or estimated)
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## Example
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**User**: "Find link building opportunities by analyzing HubSpot, Salesforce, and Mailchimp"
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**Output**:
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```markdown
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## Link Intersection Analysis
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### Sites linking to 2+ competitors (not you)
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| Domain | DA | HubSpot | Salesforce | Mailchimp | Opportunity |
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|--------|-----|---------|------------|-----------|-------------|
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| g2.com | 91 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Get listed/reviewed |
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| capterra.com | 89 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Submit for review |
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| entrepreneur.com | 92 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Pitch guest post |
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| techcrunch.com | 94 | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | PR/news pitch |
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### Top 5 Immediate Opportunities
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1. **G2.com** (DA 91) - All competitors listed
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- Action: Create detailed G2 profile
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- Effort: Low
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- Impact: High authority + referral traffic
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2. **Entrepreneur.com** (DA 92) - 2 competitors have links
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- Action: Pitch contributed article
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- Effort: High
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- Impact: High authority + brand exposure
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3. **MarketingProfs** (DA 75) - All competitors featured
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- Action: Apply for expert contribution
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- Effort: Medium
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- Impact: Relevant audience + quality link
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### Estimated Impact
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If you acquire links from top 10 opportunities:
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- New referring domains: +10
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- Average DA of new links: 82
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- Estimated ranking impact: +2-5 positions for competitive keywords
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```
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## Tips for Success
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1. **Quality over quantity** - One DA 80 link beats ten DA 20 links
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2. **Monitor regularly** - Catch lost links and toxic links early
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3. **Study competitors** - Learn from their link building success
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4. **Diversify your profile** - Mix of link types and anchors
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5. **Disavow carefully** - Only disavow clearly toxic links
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## Link Quality and Strategy Reference
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> **Reference**: See [references/link-quality-rubric.md](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/monitor/backlink-analyzer/references/link-quality-rubric.md) for the complete link quality scoring matrix (6 weighted factors), toxic link identification criteria, link profile health benchmarks, and disavow file guidance.
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> **Reference**: See [references/outreach-templates.md](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/monitor/backlink-analyzer/references/outreach-templates.md) for email outreach frameworks, subject line formulas, response rate benchmarks, follow-up sequences, and templates for each link building strategy.
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### Save Results
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After delivering monitoring data or reports to the user, ask:
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> "Save these results for future sessions?"
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If yes, write a dated summary to `memory/monitoring/YYYY-MM-DD-<topic>.md` containing:
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- One-line headline finding or status change
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- Top 3-5 actionable items
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- Open loops or anomalies requiring follow-up
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- Source data references
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If any findings should influence ongoing strategy, recommend promoting key conclusions to `memory/hot-cache.md`.
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**Gate check recommended**: If toxic link ratio exceeds 15%, recommend running domain-authority-auditor to assess overall domain trust impact.
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## Reference Materials
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- [Link Quality Rubric](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/monitor/backlink-analyzer/references/link-quality-rubric.md) — Quality scoring matrix with weighted factors and toxic link identification criteria
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- [Outreach Templates](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/monitor/backlink-analyzer/references/outreach-templates.md) — Email frameworks, subject line formulas, and response rate benchmarks
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## Next Best Skill
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- **Primary**: [domain-authority-auditor](https://github.com/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills/blob/main/cross-cutting/domain-authority-auditor/SKILL.md) — translate link findings into a domain-level trust view.
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# Backlink Analysis Output Templates
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Detailed output templates for each step of the backlink analysis workflow. Use these templates when generating analysis deliverables.
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---
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## 1. Profile Overview Template
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```markdown
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## Backlink Profile Overview
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**Domain**: [domain]
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**Analysis Date**: [date]
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### Key Metrics
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| Metric | Value | Industry Avg | Status |
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|--------|-------|--------------|--------|
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| Total Backlinks | [X] | [Y] | [Above/Below avg] |
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| Referring Domains | [X] | [Y] | [status] |
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| Domain Authority | [X] | [Y] | [status] |
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| Domain Rating | [X] | [Y] | [status] |
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| Dofollow Links | [X] ([Y]%) | [Z]% | [status] |
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| Nofollow Links | [X] ([Y]%) | [Z]% | [status] |
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### Link Velocity
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| Period | New Links | Lost Links | Net Change |
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|--------|-----------|------------|------------|
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| Last 30 days | [X] | [Y] | [+/-Z] |
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| Last 90 days | [X] | [Y] | [+/-Z] |
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| Last year | [X] | [Y] | [+/-Z] |
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### Authority Distribution
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```
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DA 80-100: [X]%
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DA 60-79: [X]%
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DA 40-59: [X]%
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DA 20-39: [X]%
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DA 0-19: [X]%
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```
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**Profile Health Score**: [X]/100
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```
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---
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## 2. Link Quality Analysis Template
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```markdown
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## Link Quality Analysis
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### Top Quality Backlinks
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| Source Domain | DA | Link Type | Anchor | Target Page |
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|---------------|-----|-----------|--------|-------------|
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| [domain 1] | [DA] | Editorial | [anchor] | [page] |
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| [domain 2] | [DA] | Guest Post | [anchor] | [page] |
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| [domain 3] | [DA] | Resource | [anchor] | [page] |
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### Link Type Distribution
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| Type | Count | Percentage | Assessment |
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|------|-------|------------|------------|
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| Editorial | [X] | [Y]% | High quality |
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| Guest posts | [X] | [Y]% | Good |
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| Resource pages | [X] | [Y]% | Good |
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| Directory | [X] | [Y]% | Moderate |
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| Forum/Comments | [X] | [Y]% | Low quality |
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| Sponsored/Paid | [X] | [Y]% | Risky |
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### Anchor Text Analysis
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| Anchor Type | Count | Percentage | Status |
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|-------------|-------|------------|--------|
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| Brand name | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |
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| Exact match | [X] | [Y]% | [Warning if >30%] |
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| Partial match | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |
|
||||
| URL/Naked | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |
|
||||
| Generic | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |
|
||||
|
||||
**Top Anchor Texts**:
|
||||
1. "[anchor 1]" - [X] links
|
||||
2. "[anchor 2]" - [X] links
|
||||
3. "[anchor 3]" - [X] links
|
||||
|
||||
### Geographic Distribution
|
||||
|
||||
| Country | Links | Percentage |
|
||||
|---------|-------|------------|
|
||||
| [Country 1] | [X] | [Y]% |
|
||||
| [Country 2] | [X] | [Y]% |
|
||||
| [Country 3] | [X] | [Y]% |
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 3. Toxic Link Analysis Template
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Toxic Link Analysis
|
||||
|
||||
### Risk Summary
|
||||
|
||||
**Toxic Score**: [X]/100
|
||||
**High Risk Links**: [X]
|
||||
**Medium Risk Links**: [X]
|
||||
**Action Required**: [Yes/No]
|
||||
|
||||
### Toxic Link Indicators
|
||||
|
||||
| Risk Type | Count | Examples |
|
||||
|-----------|-------|----------|
|
||||
| Spammy domains | [X] | [domains] |
|
||||
| Link farms | [X] | [domains] |
|
||||
| PBN suspected | [X] | [domains] |
|
||||
| Irrelevant sites | [X] | [domains] |
|
||||
| Foreign language spam | [X] | [domains] |
|
||||
| Penalized domains | [X] | [domains] |
|
||||
|
||||
### High-Risk Links to Review
|
||||
|
||||
| Source Domain | Risk Score | Issue | Recommendation |
|
||||
|---------------|------------|-------|----------------|
|
||||
| [domain 1] | 95/100 | Link farm | Disavow |
|
||||
| [domain 2] | 85/100 | Spam site | Disavow |
|
||||
| [domain 3] | 72/100 | PBN | Investigate |
|
||||
|
||||
### Disavow Recommendations
|
||||
|
||||
**Domains to disavow** ([X] total):
|
||||
```
|
||||
domain:[spam-site-1.com]
|
||||
domain:[spam-site-2.com]
|
||||
domain:[link-farm.com]
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
**Individual URLs to disavow** ([X] total):
|
||||
```
|
||||
[specific-url-1]
|
||||
[specific-url-2]
|
||||
```
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 4. Competitive Backlink Analysis Template
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Competitive Backlink Analysis
|
||||
|
||||
### Profile Comparison
|
||||
|
||||
| Metric | You | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 |
|
||||
|--------|-----|--------------|--------------|--------------|
|
||||
| Referring Domains | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
|
||||
| Domain Authority | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
|
||||
| Domain Rating | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
|
||||
| Link Velocity (30d) | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
|
||||
| Avg Link DA | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
|
||||
|
||||
### Unique Referring Domains
|
||||
|
||||
**Links only you have**: [X] domains
|
||||
**Links competitors share**: [X] domains
|
||||
**Links competitors have, you don't**: [X] domains -- Opportunity
|
||||
|
||||
### Link Intersection Analysis
|
||||
|
||||
**Sites linking to competitors but not you**:
|
||||
|
||||
| Domain | DA | Links to Comp 1 | Comp 2 | Comp 3 | Opportunity |
|
||||
|--------|-----|-----------------|--------|--------|-------------|
|
||||
| [domain 1] | [DA] | Yes | Yes | Yes | High - All competitors |
|
||||
| [domain 2] | [DA] | Yes | Yes | No | High - 2 competitors |
|
||||
| [domain 3] | [DA] | Yes | No | No | Medium - 1 competitor |
|
||||
|
||||
### Content Getting Most Links (Competitor Analysis)
|
||||
|
||||
| Competitor | Content | Backlinks | Content Type |
|
||||
|------------|---------|-----------|--------------|
|
||||
| [Comp 1] | [Title/URL] | [X] | [Type] |
|
||||
| [Comp 2] | [Title/URL] | [X] | [Type] |
|
||||
| [Comp 3] | [Title/URL] | [X] | [Type] |
|
||||
|
||||
**Insight**: [What content types attract most links in this niche]
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 5. Link Building Opportunities Template
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Link Building Opportunities
|
||||
|
||||
### High-Priority Opportunities
|
||||
|
||||
#### 1. Link Intersection Prospects
|
||||
|
||||
Sites linking to multiple competitors but not you:
|
||||
|
||||
| Domain | DA | Why Link | Contact Approach |
|
||||
|--------|-----|----------|------------------|
|
||||
| [domain 1] | [DA] | [resource page about X] | Suggest your resource |
|
||||
| [domain 2] | [DA] | [links to similar tools] | Pitch your tool |
|
||||
| [domain 3] | [DA] | [industry roundup] | Request inclusion |
|
||||
|
||||
#### 2. Broken Link Opportunities
|
||||
|
||||
| Source Page | Broken Link | Suggested Replacement |
|
||||
|-------------|-------------|----------------------|
|
||||
| [URL] | [broken URL] | [your relevant page] |
|
||||
|
||||
#### 3. Unlinked Mentions
|
||||
|
||||
| Site | Mention | Your Page to Link |
|
||||
|------|---------|-------------------|
|
||||
| [domain] | Mentioned your brand | [homepage] |
|
||||
| [domain] | Referenced your data | [research page] |
|
||||
|
||||
#### 4. Resource Page Opportunities
|
||||
|
||||
| Resource Page | Topic | Your Relevant Content |
|
||||
|---------------|-------|----------------------|
|
||||
| [URL] | [topic] | [your content] |
|
||||
|
||||
#### 5. Guest Post Prospects
|
||||
|
||||
| Site | DA | Topic Fit | Contact |
|
||||
|------|-----|-----------|---------|
|
||||
| [domain] | [DA] | [relevance] | [contact info/page] |
|
||||
|
||||
### Link Building Priority Matrix
|
||||
|
||||
| Opportunity Type | Effort | Impact | Priority |
|
||||
|------------------|--------|--------|----------|
|
||||
| Link intersection | Medium | High | Highest |
|
||||
| Broken links | Low | Medium | High |
|
||||
| Unlinked mentions | Low | Medium | High |
|
||||
| Resource pages | Medium | High | High |
|
||||
| Guest posts | High | High | Medium |
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 6. Link Change Tracking Template
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
## Link Change Tracking
|
||||
|
||||
### New Links (Last 30 Days)
|
||||
|
||||
| Source | DA | Type | Anchor | Date |
|
||||
|--------|-----|------|--------|------|
|
||||
| [domain 1] | [DA] | [type] | [anchor] | [date] |
|
||||
|
||||
**Total new links**: [X]
|
||||
**Average DA of new links**: [X]
|
||||
**Best new link**: [domain] (DA [X])
|
||||
|
||||
### Lost Links (Last 30 Days)
|
||||
|
||||
| Source | DA | Reason | Action |
|
||||
|--------|-----|--------|--------|
|
||||
| [domain 1] | [DA] | Page removed | Reach out |
|
||||
| [domain 2] | [DA] | Link removed | Investigate |
|
||||
|
||||
**Total lost links**: [X]
|
||||
**Net change**: [+/-X]
|
||||
|
||||
### Links to Recover
|
||||
|
||||
| Lost Link | Value | Recovery Strategy |
|
||||
|-----------|-------|-------------------|
|
||||
| [domain 1] | High | Contact webmaster |
|
||||
| [domain 2] | High | Update content they linked to |
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 7. Backlink Report Template
|
||||
|
||||
```markdown
|
||||
# Backlink Analysis Report
|
||||
|
||||
**Domain**: [domain]
|
||||
**Report Date**: [date]
|
||||
**Period Analyzed**: [period]
|
||||
|
||||
## Executive Summary
|
||||
|
||||
Your backlink profile is [healthy/needs attention/concerning].
|
||||
|
||||
**Key Stats**:
|
||||
- Referring domains: [X] ([+/-Y] vs last month)
|
||||
- Average link authority: [X] DA
|
||||
- Link velocity: [X] new links/month
|
||||
- Toxic link percentage: [X]%
|
||||
|
||||
## Profile Strengths
|
||||
|
||||
1. [Strength 1]
|
||||
2. [Strength 2]
|
||||
3. [Strength 3]
|
||||
|
||||
## Areas of Concern
|
||||
|
||||
1. [Concern 1]
|
||||
2. [Concern 2]
|
||||
|
||||
## Opportunities Identified
|
||||
|
||||
| Opportunity | Potential Links | Effort | Priority |
|
||||
|-------------|-----------------|--------|----------|
|
||||
| Link intersection | [X] sites | Medium | High |
|
||||
| Broken links | [X] sites | Low | High |
|
||||
| Resource pages | [X] sites | Medium | Medium |
|
||||
|
||||
## Competitive Position
|
||||
|
||||
Your referring domains rank #[X] among [Y] competitors.
|
||||
|
||||
| Rank | Domain | Referring Domains |
|
||||
|------|--------|-------------------|
|
||||
| 1 | [domain] | [X] |
|
||||
| 2 | [domain] | [X] |
|
||||
| 3 | [domain] | [X] |
|
||||
|
||||
## Recommended Actions
|
||||
|
||||
### Immediate (This Week)
|
||||
- [ ] Disavow [X] toxic links identified
|
||||
- [ ] Reach out to [X] unlinked mentions
|
||||
|
||||
### Short-term (This Month)
|
||||
- [ ] Pursue [X] link intersection opportunities
|
||||
- [ ] Fix [X] broken link opportunities
|
||||
- [ ] Recover [X] recently lost links
|
||||
|
||||
### Long-term (This Quarter)
|
||||
- [ ] Create linkable asset targeting [topic]
|
||||
- [ ] Launch guest posting campaign
|
||||
- [ ] Build [X] resource page links
|
||||
|
||||
## KPIs to Track
|
||||
|
||||
| Metric | Current | 3-Month Target |
|
||||
|--------|---------|----------------|
|
||||
| Referring domains | [X] | [Y] |
|
||||
| Average DA of new links | [X] | [Y] |
|
||||
| Link velocity | [X]/mo | [Y]/mo |
|
||||
| Toxic link % | [X]% | <5% |
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,292 @@
|
|||
# Link Quality Rubric
|
||||
|
||||
Comprehensive reference for evaluating backlink quality. Use this rubric to assess individual links, audit entire link profiles, perform competitive link gap analysis, and prepare disavow files.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 1. Individual Link Quality Evaluation
|
||||
|
||||
### Scoring Methodology
|
||||
|
||||
Evaluate each link across six factors. Multiply score (1-5) by factor weight to produce a weighted score. Sum all weighted scores for a final Link Quality Score (LQS).
|
||||
|
||||
**Rating Scale:**
|
||||
- **LQS 4.0-5.0**: Premium link — high authority, topically relevant, editorial placement
|
||||
- **LQS 2.5-3.9**: Acceptable link — provides value, typical of healthy profiles
|
||||
- **LQS 1.0-2.4**: Low quality — minimal value, review for potential risk
|
||||
|
||||
### Factor 1: Domain Authority (25% weight)
|
||||
|
||||
| Score | DR / DA Range | Characteristics | Examples |
|
||||
|-------|-------------|-----------------|---------|
|
||||
| 5 | DR 70+ | Major publication, established authority | NYTimes, Forbes, BBC, major university sites |
|
||||
| 4 | DR 50-69 | Strong domain, recognized in industry | Industry publications, large blogs, government sites |
|
||||
| 3 | DR 30-49 | Moderate authority, established site | Mid-tier blogs, regional publications, niche authorities |
|
||||
| 2 | DR 15-29 | Low authority, newer or smaller site | Small blogs, newer companies, personal sites |
|
||||
| 1 | DR <15 | Very low authority | New sites, abandoned sites, thin content sites |
|
||||
|
||||
**Notes:**
|
||||
- DR/DA is a proxy, not the sole indicator. A DR 30 site that is highly relevant to your niche may be more valuable than a DR 70 site in an unrelated field.
|
||||
- Check if the domain's authority is organic (earned over time) or inflated (bought links, PBN).
|
||||
|
||||
### Factor 2: Topical Relevance (25% weight)
|
||||
|
||||
| Score | Relevance Level | Description |
|
||||
|-------|----------------|-------------|
|
||||
| 5 | Exact match | Same niche, same subtopic. A link from a CRM review site to your CRM product. |
|
||||
| 4 | Closely related | Same industry, adjacent topic. A marketing blog linking to your email tool. |
|
||||
| 3 | Broadly related | Same general field. A business blog linking to your SaaS product. |
|
||||
| 2 | Tangentially related | Loose connection. A general news site mentioning your product in a tech roundup. |
|
||||
| 1 | Unrelated | No topical connection. A cooking blog linking to your B2B software. |
|
||||
|
||||
**How to assess relevance:**
|
||||
1. Read the linking page content. Is it about your topic?
|
||||
2. Check the linking site's overall focus. Is it in your industry?
|
||||
3. Look at the surrounding content. Does the link make editorial sense?
|
||||
4. Check the site's other outbound links. Are they topically coherent?
|
||||
|
||||
### Factor 3: Traffic to Linking Page (15% weight)
|
||||
|
||||
| Score | Estimated Monthly Traffic | Characteristics |
|
||||
|-------|--------------------------|-----------------|
|
||||
| 5 | 10,000+ visits/month | High-traffic page, likely drives referral traffic |
|
||||
| 4 | 1,000-9,999 visits/month | Solid traffic, some referral value |
|
||||
| 3 | 100-999 visits/month | Moderate traffic, primarily SEO value |
|
||||
| 2 | 10-99 visits/month | Low traffic, SEO value only |
|
||||
| 1 | <10 visits/month | No meaningful traffic, minimal value |
|
||||
|
||||
**Why traffic matters:**
|
||||
- Links from pages with real traffic are more likely to be genuine editorial placements.
|
||||
- Google likely weights links from pages that receive traffic more highly.
|
||||
- Referral traffic from the link provides direct business value beyond SEO.
|
||||
|
||||
### Factor 4: Link Position (15% weight)
|
||||
|
||||
| Score | Position | Description |
|
||||
|-------|----------|-------------|
|
||||
| 5 | In-content, editorial | Naturally placed within the article body as a citation or resource |
|
||||
| 4 | In-content, contextual | Within the body text but in a "resources" or "further reading" section |
|
||||
| 3 | Author bio or about section | Part of a contributor's bio or about page |
|
||||
| 2 | Sidebar or dedicated links section | Widget, blogroll, or sidebar placement |
|
||||
| 1 | Footer, sitewide, or hidden | Footer link, sitewide template link, or visually obscured |
|
||||
|
||||
**Key principle:** Editorial in-content links carry the most weight because they represent a genuine endorsement. Footer and sitewide links are devalued by search engines.
|
||||
|
||||
### Factor 5: Anchor Text (10% weight)
|
||||
|
||||
| Score | Anchor Type | Example (for a CRM product) |
|
||||
|-------|------------|----------------------------|
|
||||
| 5 | Descriptive, natural | "this customer relationship management platform" |
|
||||
| 4 | Partial match, natural | "CRM tools for small businesses" |
|
||||
| 3 | Brand name | "Acme CRM" |
|
||||
| 2 | Naked URL | "https://acmecrm.com" |
|
||||
| 1 | Generic | "click here", "read more", "this website" |
|
||||
|
||||
**Important nuance:** A natural link profile has a MIX of all anchor types. Too many exact-match anchors (score 5) can signal manipulation. The ideal distribution is:
|
||||
- Brand anchors: 30-40%
|
||||
- Naked URLs: 15-25%
|
||||
- Generic anchors: 10-20%
|
||||
- Descriptive/partial match: 15-25%
|
||||
- Exact match: 5-15%
|
||||
|
||||
### Factor 6: Follow Status (10% weight)
|
||||
|
||||
| Score | Status | Description |
|
||||
|-------|--------|-------------|
|
||||
| 5 | Dofollow, editorial | Standard followed link from editorial content |
|
||||
| 4 | Dofollow, non-editorial | Followed link from directory, profile, or user-generated content |
|
||||
| 3 | Sponsored (rel="sponsored") | Properly disclosed sponsored/paid link |
|
||||
| 2 | UGC (rel="ugc") | User-generated content link (forums, comments) |
|
||||
| 1 | Nofollow (rel="nofollow") | Explicitly nofollowed link |
|
||||
|
||||
**Notes:**
|
||||
- Google treats nofollow as a "hint" rather than a directive since 2019.
|
||||
- Nofollow links from high-authority sites (e.g., Wikipedia) still provide brand value and referral traffic.
|
||||
- A healthy profile naturally includes a mix of followed and nofollowed links. Typical ratio: 60-80% dofollow, 20-40% nofollow.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 2. Example Link Profile Assessments
|
||||
|
||||
### Example A: Strong Link Profile
|
||||
|
||||
| Characteristic | Value | Assessment |
|
||||
|---------------|-------|-----------|
|
||||
| Total referring domains | 1,200 | Healthy for a mid-size SaaS company |
|
||||
| Dofollow ratio | 72% | Natural distribution |
|
||||
| Average linking domain DR | 38 | Solid average authority |
|
||||
| Top anchor: brand name | 35% | Natural brand dominance |
|
||||
| Exact match anchors | 8% | Within safe range |
|
||||
| Topical relevance (sampled) | 75% related | Strong relevance signal |
|
||||
| Link velocity | +25/month net | Steady organic growth |
|
||||
| Toxic link estimate | 3% | Below 5% threshold — healthy |
|
||||
|
||||
**Verdict:** Healthy profile with natural link distribution. Continue current strategy.
|
||||
|
||||
### Example B: At-Risk Link Profile
|
||||
|
||||
| Characteristic | Value | Assessment |
|
||||
|---------------|-------|-----------|
|
||||
| Total referring domains | 800 | Adequate but thin for competitive niche |
|
||||
| Dofollow ratio | 92% | Suspiciously high — may indicate link manipulation |
|
||||
| Average linking domain DR | 18 | Low average authority |
|
||||
| Top anchor: exact match keyword | 42% | Over-optimized — risk of penalty |
|
||||
| Exact match anchors | 42% | Far above safe threshold (>15%) |
|
||||
| Topical relevance (sampled) | 30% related | Many irrelevant links |
|
||||
| Link velocity | +80/month net | Unnaturally high — investigate |
|
||||
| Toxic link estimate | 18% | Above 10% threshold — action needed |
|
||||
|
||||
**Verdict:** Profile shows signs of manipulation. Immediate actions needed: disavow toxic links, diversify anchor text, slow down link acquisition pace.
|
||||
|
||||
### Example C: New Site Link Profile
|
||||
|
||||
| Characteristic | Value | Assessment |
|
||||
|---------------|-------|-----------|
|
||||
| Total referring domains | 45 | Expected for a 6-month-old site |
|
||||
| Dofollow ratio | 65% | Natural |
|
||||
| Average linking domain DR | 28 | Reasonable for early-stage outreach |
|
||||
| Top anchor: brand name | 40% | Healthy |
|
||||
| Exact match anchors | 5% | Conservative and safe |
|
||||
| Topical relevance (sampled) | 80% related | Well-targeted outreach |
|
||||
| Link velocity | +8/month net | Appropriate for new site |
|
||||
| Toxic link estimate | 1% | Clean profile |
|
||||
|
||||
**Verdict:** Healthy foundation. Focus on scaling link acquisition while maintaining quality standards.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 3. Competitive Link Gap Analysis Methodology
|
||||
|
||||
### Step-by-Step Process
|
||||
|
||||
**Step 1: Identify competitors**
|
||||
Select 3-5 direct competitors who rank for your target keywords.
|
||||
|
||||
**Step 2: Pull referring domain data**
|
||||
Export the full referring domain list for each competitor from ~~link database.
|
||||
|
||||
**Step 3: Create intersection matrix**
|
||||
|
||||
| Referring Domain | You | Comp 1 | Comp 2 | Comp 3 | Overlap Count |
|
||||
|-----------------|-----|--------|--------|--------|---------------|
|
||||
| example-a.com | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 |
|
||||
| example-b.com | No | Yes | Yes | No | 2 |
|
||||
| example-c.com | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
|
||||
| example-d.com | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 (already have) |
|
||||
|
||||
**Step 4: Prioritize opportunities**
|
||||
|
||||
| Priority | Criteria | Rationale |
|
||||
|----------|---------|-----------|
|
||||
| Highest | Links to 3+ competitors, DR 50+, relevant | If all competitors have it, it is likely linkable |
|
||||
| High | Links to 2+ competitors, DR 30+, relevant | Strong signal of willingness to link in niche |
|
||||
| Medium | Links to 1 competitor, DR 50+, relevant | May be less accessible but high value |
|
||||
| Lower | Links to 1 competitor, DR <30, or low relevance | Diminishing returns |
|
||||
|
||||
**Step 5: Analyze link context**
|
||||
For each high-priority opportunity, visit the actual linking page to understand:
|
||||
- Why did they link to your competitor? (resource page, mention, guest post, etc.)
|
||||
- What content on your site could replace or complement that link?
|
||||
- What outreach angle would work? (broken link, better resource, relationship)
|
||||
|
||||
**Step 6: Create outreach plan**
|
||||
Build a prioritized list with contact information, outreach angle, and template selection.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 4. Disavow File Format Guide
|
||||
|
||||
### When to Disavow
|
||||
|
||||
Only disavow links when you have clear evidence of risk. Unnecessary disavow can hurt your rankings.
|
||||
|
||||
| Situation | Disavow? | Reasoning |
|
||||
|-----------|----------|-----------|
|
||||
| Obvious PBN links | Yes | Clear manipulation signal |
|
||||
| Paid links you cannot get removed | Yes | After attempting removal |
|
||||
| Spam attack (negative SEO) | Yes | Protect from third-party manipulation |
|
||||
| Low-quality directory links | Maybe | Only if pattern is excessive |
|
||||
| Foreign language spam | Yes | If clearly unnatural |
|
||||
| Low-DA sites with real content | No | Low quality is not toxic |
|
||||
| Nofollow links from any source | No | Already nofollowed; no risk |
|
||||
|
||||
### Disavow File Format
|
||||
|
||||
The disavow file is a plain text file (.txt) uploaded to Google Search Console.
|
||||
|
||||
```
|
||||
# Disavow file for example.com
|
||||
# Generated: [date]
|
||||
# Reason: Toxic link cleanup
|
||||
|
||||
# Individual URLs to disavow
|
||||
https://spam-site.com/page-with-link
|
||||
https://another-spam.com/toxic-page
|
||||
|
||||
# Entire domains to disavow (use for sites with multiple toxic links)
|
||||
domain:link-farm-example.com
|
||||
domain:pbn-network-site.com
|
||||
domain:spam-directory.net
|
||||
```
|
||||
|
||||
### Disavow File Best Practices
|
||||
|
||||
| Practice | Why |
|
||||
|----------|-----|
|
||||
| Comment every entry or group | Future auditors need to understand why |
|
||||
| Use `domain:` for sites with multiple bad links | More thorough than individual URLs |
|
||||
| Use individual URLs when only one page is toxic | Avoid disavowing good links from the same domain |
|
||||
| Keep a changelog | Track what was added and when |
|
||||
| Review quarterly | Remove entries if domains have been cleaned up |
|
||||
| Never disavow your own domain | Common mistake that causes severe damage |
|
||||
| Back up before uploading | Keep previous version in case of errors |
|
||||
|
||||
### Disavow Review Workflow
|
||||
|
||||
| Step | Action | Tool |
|
||||
|------|--------|------|
|
||||
| 1 | Export full backlink profile | ~~link database |
|
||||
| 2 | Filter for known toxic patterns | Spam score, DR <10, foreign spam |
|
||||
| 3 | Manual review of flagged links | Visit each flagged domain |
|
||||
| 4 | Attempt removal via email first | Contact webmasters |
|
||||
| 5 | Wait 2 weeks for removal responses | Track outreach results |
|
||||
| 6 | Add non-removed toxic links to disavow | Format as .txt file |
|
||||
| 7 | Upload to Google Search Console | Disavow Links tool |
|
||||
| 8 | Document all actions and dates | Internal records |
|
||||
| 9 | Re-check in 4-6 weeks | Verify processing |
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 5. Link Profile Health Benchmarks
|
||||
|
||||
### Healthy Profile Indicators
|
||||
|
||||
| Metric | Healthy Range | Warning Sign | Critical |
|
||||
|--------|-------------|--------------|----------|
|
||||
| Dofollow ratio | 60-80% | >90% | >95% |
|
||||
| Exact match anchor % | <15% | 15-25% | >25% |
|
||||
| Brand anchor % | 25-45% | <15% | <5% |
|
||||
| Toxic link % | <5% | 5-10% | >10% |
|
||||
| Referring domain growth | Positive, steady | Flat | Declining |
|
||||
| Average linking DR | 25+ | 15-25 | <15 |
|
||||
| Link diversity (unique domains / total links) | >0.3 | 0.1-0.3 | <0.1 |
|
||||
| Topical relevance (sampled) | >60% | 40-60% | <40% |
|
||||
|
||||
### Industry-Specific Benchmarks
|
||||
|
||||
Authority expectations vary significantly by industry vertical.
|
||||
|
||||
| Industry | Typical DR Range (Top 10 Sites) | Typical Referring Domains | Link Difficulty |
|
||||
|----------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|----------------|
|
||||
| Finance / Insurance | DR 60-90 | 5,000-50,000+ | Very High |
|
||||
| Health / Medical | DR 50-85 | 3,000-30,000+ | Very High |
|
||||
| Technology / SaaS | DR 40-80 | 1,000-20,000+ | High |
|
||||
| E-commerce (general) | DR 35-75 | 500-15,000+ | High |
|
||||
| Legal | DR 40-70 | 1,000-10,000+ | High |
|
||||
| Education | DR 50-90 | 2,000-25,000+ | Medium-High |
|
||||
| Local services | DR 15-45 | 50-500 | Medium |
|
||||
| B2B niche | DR 25-60 | 200-5,000+ | Medium |
|
||||
| Blog / Content site | DR 20-70 | 100-10,000+ | Medium |
|
||||
| New startup | DR 5-25 | 10-200 | Starting point |
|
||||
|
||||
_Note: These are general ranges. Actual requirements depend on your specific keyword competition._
|
||||
|
|
@ -0,0 +1,578 @@
|
|||
# Outreach Templates
|
||||
|
||||
Copy-ready outreach email templates for each link building strategy. Includes subject line variations, follow-up sequences, personalization tips, and response handling scripts.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## General Outreach Principles
|
||||
|
||||
Before using any template, follow these rules:
|
||||
|
||||
| Principle | Why It Matters |
|
||||
|-----------|---------------|
|
||||
| **Personalize every email** | Generic emails get deleted. Reference specific content. |
|
||||
| **Lead with value** | Explain what is in it for them before making your ask. |
|
||||
| **Keep it short** | 100-150 words maximum for initial outreach. |
|
||||
| **One clear ask** | Do not combine multiple requests in one email. |
|
||||
| **Professional sender address** | Use name@yourdomain.com, not a free email provider. |
|
||||
| **No attachments on first email** | Attachments trigger spam filters and reduce trust. |
|
||||
| **Follow up (once or twice)** | Most responses come from follow-ups, not initial emails. |
|
||||
| **Track everything** | Log outreach in a spreadsheet or CRM for accountability. |
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 1. Broken Link Building Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 1A: Broken Link — Direct Approach
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Found a broken link on your [topic] page
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I was reading your article on [specific article title] — great resource on [brief compliment about content].
|
||||
|
||||
I noticed the link to [description of broken link resource] in the [section name] section seems to be broken (returns a 404).
|
||||
|
||||
I recently published a guide on [your topic] that covers similar ground: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
It might work as a replacement if you are updating the page. Either way, wanted to give you a heads-up about the broken link.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 1B: Broken Link — Roundup Page
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Quick heads-up about [their page title]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Your [topic] resource page is one of my go-to references — really well curated.
|
||||
|
||||
I noticed [X] links on the page are no longer working:
|
||||
- [Broken URL 1] — returns 404
|
||||
- [Broken URL 2] — domain expired
|
||||
|
||||
If you are updating the page, I have a [content type] that covers [topic]: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
Happy to suggest other replacement resources too if that would help.
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks for maintaining such a useful list,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Follow-Up (5-7 days after initial email)
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Re: [original subject]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Just bumping this up in case it got buried. I spotted a broken link on your [page title] and thought you would want to know.
|
||||
|
||||
No worries if the page is staying as-is — just wanted to make sure you saw it.
|
||||
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 2. Guest Post Pitching Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 2A: Guest Post — Topic Pitch
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Guest post idea: [proposed title]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I have been following [their site name] for a while — your recent piece on [specific article] was especially [specific compliment].
|
||||
|
||||
I would love to contribute a guest post on [proposed topic]. Here is what I have in mind:
|
||||
|
||||
**Title:** [Proposed title]
|
||||
**Angle:** [1-2 sentences describing the unique angle]
|
||||
**Why your readers would care:** [1 sentence on value to their audience]
|
||||
|
||||
I have written for [1-2 relevant publications] previously. Here are a couple of samples:
|
||||
- [Sample URL 1]
|
||||
- [Sample URL 2]
|
||||
|
||||
Would this be a fit for [their site name]?
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
[Your title / credentials]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 2B: Guest Post — Expertise Pitch
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** [Your expertise area] contributor for [their site]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I am [Your Name], a [your role/expertise] with [X years] experience in [field]. I noticed [their site] covers [topic area] extensively and thought I could contribute something useful.
|
||||
|
||||
Three topic ideas that might work for your audience:
|
||||
|
||||
1. [Title idea 1] — [one-line description]
|
||||
2. [Title idea 2] — [one-line description]
|
||||
3. [Title idea 3] — [one-line description]
|
||||
|
||||
Happy to adjust angles or pitch different ideas. I can also share writing samples if helpful.
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Follow-Up (7-10 days after initial email)
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Re: [original subject]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Checking back on my guest post pitch. I know editorial calendars fill up fast, so no worries if the timing does not work.
|
||||
|
||||
If any of the topics I suggested could work down the road, happy to keep in touch for a future slot.
|
||||
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 3. Resource Page Outreach Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 3A: Resource Page — Direct Suggestion
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Resource for your [topic] page
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I found your [topic] resource page while researching [related topic] — it is a really well-organized collection.
|
||||
|
||||
I thought [your resource title] might be a good addition to the [specific section] section. It covers [brief description of what it covers and why it is useful].
|
||||
|
||||
Here is the link: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
No pressure at all — just thought it might be useful for your readers.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 3B: Resource Page — Value-Add Approach
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** A few resources for your [topic] page
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I have been using your [topic] resource page as a reference and really appreciate the curation work.
|
||||
|
||||
I wanted to suggest a few resources you might consider adding (not all mine):
|
||||
|
||||
1. [External resource title] — [URL] — Great for [reason]
|
||||
2. [Your resource title] — [Your URL] — Covers [topic]
|
||||
3. [Another external resource] — [URL] — Useful for [reason]
|
||||
|
||||
I included a couple of third-party resources alongside mine since they genuinely complement your page.
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks for maintaining such a useful list,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 4. Unlinked Mention Outreach Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 4A: Unlinked Brand Mention
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Thanks for mentioning [brand name]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Just came across your article [article title] — thanks for mentioning [your brand/product]. Really appreciate the kind words about [specific thing they said].
|
||||
|
||||
Quick request: would you be able to add a link to [Your URL] where you mention us? It would help your readers find us directly and help us out with attribution.
|
||||
|
||||
Totally understand if it is not possible. Either way, glad you found [product/service] useful.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 4B: Unlinked Data/Research Mention
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Thanks for citing our [research/data]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I noticed you referenced our [study/statistic/data point] in your article [article title]. Thanks for citing our research.
|
||||
|
||||
If you are able to add a link to the original source, it would help your readers verify the data and access the full [study/report]: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
We actually just updated it with [new data point] that might be relevant to your piece as well.
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Follow-Up (5-7 days)
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Re: [original subject]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Just a quick follow-up on adding a link for the mention of [brand/research] in your article. I know updating published content can be low priority, so no rush.
|
||||
|
||||
If it helps, the exact URL is: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
Thanks again for the mention,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 5. Digital PR / Data-Driven Outreach Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 5A: Original Research Pitch
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** New data: [key finding headline]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
We just published [study/survey/analysis] that found [most surprising or newsworthy finding].
|
||||
|
||||
Key findings:
|
||||
- [Finding 1 — the headline stat]
|
||||
- [Finding 2 — supporting data]
|
||||
- [Finding 3 — counterintuitive insight]
|
||||
|
||||
Full report: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
Given your coverage of [their beat/topic], I thought this might be worth a mention. Happy to provide additional data, quotes, or custom analysis for your audience.
|
||||
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
[Your title]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 5B: Expert Commentary Pitch
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Expert source for your [topic] coverage
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I saw you are covering [topic/trend] and thought I could be a useful source.
|
||||
|
||||
I am [Your Name], [your credentials — brief]. I have [specific experience relevant to their coverage].
|
||||
|
||||
A couple of angles I could provide commentary on:
|
||||
- [Angle 1]
|
||||
- [Angle 2]
|
||||
|
||||
Happy to jump on a quick call or provide written quotes. Available on short notice.
|
||||
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
[Your title, company]
|
||||
[Phone number for urgent requests]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 6. HARO / Source Request Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 6A: HARO Response — Expert Source
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** [HARO] Re: [original query title]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Journalist Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Re: your query on [topic].
|
||||
|
||||
**Source:** [Your Name], [Title] at [Company]
|
||||
**Credentials:** [1-2 sentences on relevant expertise]
|
||||
|
||||
**Response:**
|
||||
|
||||
[2-3 paragraphs directly answering their query. Be specific, quotable, and concise. Lead with the most valuable insight.]
|
||||
|
||||
**Key quote:** "[One highly quotable sentence they can use directly]"
|
||||
|
||||
Happy to elaborate or provide additional data. Available at [email] or [phone].
|
||||
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 6B: HARO Response — Data Source
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** [HARO] Re: [original query title] — with data
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Journalist Name],
|
||||
|
||||
For your piece on [topic], here is data from our [study/platform/analysis]:
|
||||
|
||||
- [Statistic 1]: [data point with context]
|
||||
- [Statistic 2]: [data point with context]
|
||||
- [Statistic 3]: [data point with context]
|
||||
|
||||
Source: [Your URL for attribution]
|
||||
|
||||
**Expert quote from [Your Name], [Title]:**
|
||||
"[Quotable insight interpreting the data]"
|
||||
|
||||
Full dataset available if needed for additional analysis.
|
||||
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
[Contact info]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 7. Skyscraper Technique Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 7A: Skyscraper — Better Resource
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Updated resource on [topic]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
I noticed you linked to [competitor's article title] in your post on [their article title].
|
||||
|
||||
We just published an updated version of that topic: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
It includes [specific improvements over the original]:
|
||||
- [Improvement 1 — e.g., "2025 data instead of 2022"]
|
||||
- [Improvement 2 — e.g., "interactive calculator included"]
|
||||
- [Improvement 3 — e.g., "covers 3 additional sub-topics"]
|
||||
|
||||
If you think it would be a better resource for your readers, I would appreciate you considering swapping the link. No worries either way.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 8. Relationship Building Templates
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 8A: Initial Relationship — No Ask
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Loved your piece on [topic]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Just read your article on [specific article title] and wanted to say it was genuinely one of the best pieces I have read on [topic].
|
||||
|
||||
The section on [specific section] was especially useful — I actually shared it with my team and we are implementing [specific takeaway].
|
||||
|
||||
No ask here, just wanted to let you know your work is making an impact.
|
||||
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Template 8B: Follow-Up After Relationship Building (2-4 weeks later)
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** [New topic] — thought of your readers
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Following up on our exchange a few weeks back. I just published something your audience might find useful: [Your URL]
|
||||
|
||||
It covers [brief description] with a focus on [specific angle].
|
||||
|
||||
Would love to hear your thoughts if you get a chance to read it.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 9. Follow-Up Sequences
|
||||
|
||||
### Standard Follow-Up Timeline
|
||||
|
||||
| Email | Timing | Purpose | Tone |
|
||||
|-------|--------|---------|------|
|
||||
| Initial outreach | Day 0 | Make the ask | Professional, value-forward |
|
||||
| Follow-up 1 | Day 5-7 | Gentle reminder | Casual, brief |
|
||||
| Follow-up 2 | Day 14 | Final attempt | Short, no-pressure close |
|
||||
| Stop | After follow-up 2 | Do not send more | Move on |
|
||||
|
||||
### Follow-Up 2 Template (Final Attempt)
|
||||
|
||||
**Subject:** Re: [original subject]
|
||||
|
||||
**Body:**
|
||||
|
||||
Hi [Name],
|
||||
|
||||
Last follow-up on this — I know you are busy.
|
||||
|
||||
[One-sentence reminder of what you asked]
|
||||
|
||||
If the timing is not right, no worries at all. Feel free to bookmark [Your URL] for whenever it might be useful.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 10. Response Handling Scripts
|
||||
|
||||
### Positive Response — They Will Add the Link
|
||||
|
||||
**Reply:**
|
||||
|
||||
That is great, [Name] — really appreciate it.
|
||||
|
||||
The exact URL is: [Your URL]
|
||||
Preferred anchor text (just a suggestion): [anchor text]
|
||||
|
||||
Let me know if you need anything else. Happy to return the favor anytime.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Positive Response — They Want a Guest Post
|
||||
|
||||
**Reply:**
|
||||
|
||||
Wonderful, I would love to contribute. Here is what I am thinking:
|
||||
|
||||
**Title:** [Proposed title]
|
||||
**Outline:**
|
||||
1. [Section 1]
|
||||
2. [Section 2]
|
||||
3. [Section 3]
|
||||
|
||||
**Estimated length:** [word count]
|
||||
**Delivery timeline:** [date]
|
||||
|
||||
Do you have any editorial guidelines or specific requirements I should follow?
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Neutral Response — They Are Interested but Noncommittal
|
||||
|
||||
**Reply:**
|
||||
|
||||
Totally understand, [Name]. No rush at all.
|
||||
|
||||
I will keep [Your URL] updated with [latest data/content], so it will be here whenever the timing works.
|
||||
|
||||
Feel free to reach out if I can ever be a source or contributor for [their site].
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### Negative Response — They Decline
|
||||
|
||||
**Reply:**
|
||||
|
||||
Completely understand, [Name]. Thanks for letting me know.
|
||||
|
||||
If anything changes or if I can ever be helpful as a source, do not hesitate to reach out.
|
||||
|
||||
Best,
|
||||
[Your Name]
|
||||
|
||||
_Note: Never argue, push back, or send additional follow-ups after a decline. Keep the relationship positive for potential future opportunities._
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
### No Response — After Full Sequence
|
||||
|
||||
Do not send further emails. Add to a "re-engage in 3-6 months" list. When you re-engage, use a completely new angle or piece of content. Never reference the fact that they did not respond previously.
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 11. Personalization Tips
|
||||
|
||||
### Research Checklist Before Sending
|
||||
|
||||
| Check | Where to Find | How to Use |
|
||||
|-------|-------------|-----------|
|
||||
| Their name (correct spelling) | About page, LinkedIn, byline | Use in greeting and body |
|
||||
| Recent article they wrote | Their blog, Google "[name] + [site]" | Reference in opening line |
|
||||
| Their social media | Twitter/X, LinkedIn | Mention a recent post or shared interest |
|
||||
| Their publication's audience | About page, media kit | Tailor your value proposition |
|
||||
| Content they have linked to before | ~~link database, their recent articles | Match the type of content they prefer |
|
||||
| How they prefer to be contacted | Website contact page, social bio | Some prefer Twitter DMs over email |
|
||||
|
||||
### Personalization Levels
|
||||
|
||||
| Level | Effort | Response Rate Impact | When to Use |
|
||||
|-------|--------|---------------------|-------------|
|
||||
| **Zero** (template only) | Minimal | Baseline (lowest) | Never recommended |
|
||||
| **Basic** (name + site name) | Low | +20-30% | Bulk outreach to lower-priority targets |
|
||||
| **Moderate** (+ specific article reference) | Medium | +50-80% | Standard outreach to mid-tier targets |
|
||||
| **Deep** (+ shared interest, social reference, mutual connection) | High | +100-200% | High-priority targets (DR 60+ sites, key relationships) |
|
||||
|
||||
---
|
||||
|
||||
## 12. Subject Line Variations by Strategy
|
||||
|
||||
### High-Performing Subject Line Patterns
|
||||
|
||||
| Strategy | Subject Lines (pick one) |
|
||||
|----------|------------------------|
|
||||
| **Broken link** | "Found a broken link on your [topic] page" / "Quick heads-up about [page title]" / "Broken resource on [their site]" |
|
||||
| **Guest post** | "Guest post idea: [title]" / "[Topic] contributor for [their site]" / "Content pitch for [their site]" |
|
||||
| **Resource page** | "Resource for your [topic] page" / "Suggestion for your [topic] list" / "Addition for [page title]?" |
|
||||
| **Unlinked mention** | "Thanks for mentioning [brand]" / "Re: your mention of [brand/data]" / "Quick favor re: [their article]" |
|
||||
| **Digital PR** | "New data: [headline stat]" / "Exclusive: [finding]" / "[Topic] research for your coverage" |
|
||||
| **Skyscraper** | "Updated resource on [topic]" / "Better version of [competitor content]" / "Thought you'd want to see this" |
|
||||
|
||||
### Subject Lines to Avoid
|
||||
|
||||
| Avoid | Why |
|
||||
|-------|-----|
|
||||
| "Link exchange opportunity" | Screams spam and violates Google guidelines |
|
||||
| "SEO partnership" | Immediately signals manipulative intent |
|
||||
| ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation | Triggers spam filters, looks unprofessional |
|
||||
| "I'd love a backlink" | Too direct; leads with your need, not their value |
|
||||
| Misleading subjects ("Re:" when no prior conversation) | Damages trust immediately |
|
||||
| Long subjects (>60 characters) | Gets truncated in inbox, lower open rates |
|
||||
Loading…
Add table
Add a link
Reference in a new issue