The Best Broken Link SEO Email Outreach Templates

Broken link building is a technique used in SEO to improve a website’s search engine ranking by finding broken links on other websites and suggesting to the site owners to replace those links with working links to relevant content on the requester’s website.

Broken link building is an effective SEO method, let’s find out why in more detail:

Broken links are bad for user experience and website SEO. By helping website owners fix their broken links, broken link building provides a valuable service, making it more likely that they will link to the requester’s website in return.

By suggesting relevant content that can replace broken links, broken link building helps the website owner to maintain the quality and relevance of their content, which can also benefit their SEO.

Broken link building allows the requester to target websites already linking to similar content, making it more likely that they will be interested in linking to the requester’s content.

Because broken link-building requires a manual outreach process, it can be more time-consuming and difficult than other link-building methods, which means fewer people use it. This makes it a less competitive way to build backlinks, increasing the likelihood of success.

Our favorite broken link cold email templates

Below you can find some of our favorite broken link-building email templates that will increase your response rates.

📨 Template 1: Short and quick

Subject:

WEBSITE URL question

Body:

👋 Hi {{contactFirstName}},
Are you still updating  PAGE URL? I’ve just found a broken link I’d like to discuss with you.
​{{senderName}}

Why it works: Short and sweet emails like this have some of the highest response rates as it comes off as helpful and genuine. It shows that you don’t want to waste the reader’s precious time and can share more details with them right after getting the response from them. 

Once they reply, just follow up by mentioning the page and the broken link, then suggest your link and explain why you think it’s a good fit for that page.

You can also send similar outreach emails to the website owners who you’re not sure will reply to you.

📨 Template 2: Short but detailed

Subject:

I found a broken page

Body:

Hi {{contactFirstName}},
{{contactIceBreaker}}
Quick heads up I noticed a broken link on this page: ARTICLE URL
Looks like this 3rd party resource no longer exists, if you’re looking for an alternative resource I recommend this 👉 YOUR ARTICLE URL
Thanks
Best regards,
{{signature}}

Why it works: A quick and concise email will increase the success rate of your outreach. With just a few sentences, you show the receiver what problem they have and offer your solution to that problem.

📨 Template 3: Asking for a link

Subject:

Broken Link on WEBSITE NAME

Body:

Hi {{contactFirstName}},
I noticed that you have a broken link on one of your pages {{articleUrl}}. It seems that the 3rd party resource is no longer available.
I wanted to suggest an alternative resource that could replace the broken link. I recently published an article that covers a similar topic and provides value to readers. Here’s the link: {{yourArticleUrl}}.
Best regards,
{{signature}}

Why it works: With the help of this broken link-building email template, you tell them explicitly that you want a link. The webmaster would be eager to remove the dead link you pointed out and replace it with the one that works.

📨 Template 4: Offering quality content

Subject:

Broken Link on PAGE URL

Body:

Hi {{contactFirstName}},
While reading TITLE OF THE POST, I noticed that one of the resources you mentioned is no longer available, which can be frustrating for your readers. 
I recently published an article on RELATED TOPIC that might make a great replacement for the broken link. You can find it here: INSERT LINK. I put a lot of research and effort into it, and I think it would complement your post nicely.
Thanks for creating such valuable content, and I hope my suggestion is helpful.
Best regards,
​{{signature}}

Why it works: Using this broken link-building email template will show that you are offering a high-quality link to the webmaster. The latter gets the chance to add quality content created with a lot of research and effort, instead of a dead link that harms the website.

📨 Template 5: Informing but not showing broken links

Subject:

Found broken links on WEBSITE NAME

Body:

👋 Hi {{contactFirstName}},
I’d love to have our WEBSITE NAME website added to your awesome list of LINKS URLs.
Also, I’ve found some broken links on your site. Could you please tell me if this is the right place to report them?
Thanks, and looking forward to hearing back from you.
Regards,
{{signature}} 

Why it works: This template is great for any website that has a list of broken links or resources that you think could be a good fit for your website. In this case, no webmaster will reply to you “No, I won’t link to you, but you show me the broken links, please.” First, they’ll link to you and ask you to show them their broken links.

📨 Template 6: Brand power

Subject:

Dead link on your website

Body:

Hey {{contactFirstName}},
My name is {{senderFirstname}}, and I work for {{organizationName}}.
When I was having a look at your WEBSITE URL page, I noticed that one of your links labeled (broken link anchor text) was broken. 
I hope you’d also consider adding our website WEBSITE URL as an additional resource to your great website. 
We would be honored to be included on your site, and we also think our link would provide great value to your visitors.
Have a great DAY/NIGHT.
Best,
​{{signature}}

Why it works: If you have a recognizable or semi-recognizable brand name in a particular industry, the web owner will be flattered to have someone from that brand who compliments their website. They will be happy to learn more about the broken links from you and have your link on their website, too. 

📨 Template 7: Payment for link replacement

Subject:

Broken link replacement suggestion (paid!)

Body:

Hi {{contactFirstName}},
Wanted to let you know there’s a broken link in your article ARTICLE NAME (ARTICLE URL).
You are linking to ARTICLE URL in your second paragraph, but it no longer exists.
Do not fear, though! I have a website with an even more relevant guide to the topic {{yourArticleUrl}}. You could replace the broken link with it. I’d be happy to compensate you for doing so.
Please let me know if you’re interested and mention the cost of the link.
Best regards,
​{{signature}}

Why it works: Publishers are usually getting flooded with broken backlink requests. Some of them react only after they see it as a new revenue stream. In this case, it’s a good idea to mention some information about payment in the subject line. 

Then, mention it again in the article just like we did in this broken link-building email template- “I’d be happy to compensate you.” There should also be a call-to-action incentivizing the reader to reply with the cost if they are interested- “mention the cost of the link.”

📨 Template 8: Showing your expertise

Subject:

Something’s wrong with your blog

Body:

Hey {{contactFirstName}},
I am a certified AREA OF EXPERTISE and a TOPIC writer. I recently stumbled upon your blog while conducting research for a blog post I’m currently writing.
Just wanted to let you know I noticed a broken link on your website that your visitors wouldn’t miss either. 
The broken link is on this page: PAGE URL
They made changes to the website but haven’t updated this one. Anyway, the correct link is here: PAGE URL
And as you’ll be updating this blog post, I wonder if you’re open to adding more resources that could be useful to your readers:
1. ARTICLE URL
2. ARTICLE URL
Thanks for the great work you’re doing!
Regards,
​{{signature}}

Why it works: This broken link-building email template demonstrates your expertise in the field and the polite note to the webmaster- helping them update the broken links on their website. Once you help the webmaster fix the broken link, he’ll be more willing to add your mentioned resources in return.

📨 Template 9: Blog collaboration offer

Subject:

One of your links is a 404

Body:

👋 Hi {{contactFirstName}},
I was looking through your blog, and I noticed a broken link in one of your blog posts: ARTICLE URL. The link leads to a 404 error page, which can be frustrating for your website visitors.
To help you fix the issue, I have a high-quality resource that you can use as a replacement. I recently published an article that covers a similar topic, and I believe it would be a great fit for your page. You can find the article here: ARTICLE URL.
Thank you for your time, and let me know if you need any assistance updating the link.
Best regards,
{{signature}}

Why it works: In this broken link-building email template, the emphasis is on the similarity of the content. If you show the reader that you have a similar article that can be used to replace the broken link, they will more likely use your resource as a replacement. 

📨 Template 10: Follow-up email

Subject:

External links broken

Body:

Hey, {{contactFirstName}},
Just following up on my previous email in case it got buried in your inbox.
Have you been able to check the resources I suggested as a replacement for the broken links on PAGE URL?
Let me know as I’m interested to hear your thoughts.
Regards,
{{signature}}

Why it works: According to the seasoned marketer Jason Zook, 75% of his 2000 deals came from follow-up emails. So, after sending one of the above-mentioned broken link outreach emails, don’t forget to follow up. They will undoubtedly increase the success rate of your broken link-building campaign.

To sum up

Reaching out to website owners for the replacement of broken links may be great but you need to level up your broken link-building outreach by adding helpful resources that would benefit both you and the website owners. 

Make sure that you get the backlink and that the owner gets valuable resources to add to their website.

This process may be a little time-consuming, but once you start using the right templates for the right people, you will soon notice the dramatically increased response rates and secure backlinks!

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