Thought Leadership

15 Favorite Backlink Outreach Strategies from SEO Experts

Bennett Heyn

— 11 min read
15 Favorite Backlink Outreach Strategies from SEO Experts

Introduction
Backlink outreach remains one of the most powerful yet challenging aspects of SEO. While search engines continue to evolve, backlinks are still a critical signal of authority, trust, and relevance. But in today’s digital landscape, generic cold emails and mass link requests rarely deliver results. Instead, the most effective strategies are built on creativity, personalization, and authentic relationship-building. That’s where Backlinker.AI comes in. It’s an automated reporter outreach platform that takes the hassle out of manual link-building. Using AI, it identifies high-authority opportunities on platforms like Featured, SOS, and HelpAB2BWriter, then crafts and sends personalized pitches on your behalf. For just $300/month, Backlinker.AI guarantees 3+ high-quality backlinks (DR 30+) every month—backed by a money-back guarantee.

To help you level up your approach, we asked 15 seasoned SEO experts to share their favorite backlink outreach strategies—real-world tactics that have consistently helped them earn high-quality links, foster industry partnerships, and build long-term credibility.

My favorite backlink outreach strategy is personalized value-driven outreach, where the focus is on genuinely helping the site owner rather than just requesting a link. For example, we recently identified authoritative blogs in our client's niche and offered tailored content suggestions or resources that would improve their existing articles. In one case, we created a complementary infographic for a popular post, which the site owner added with a backlink to our client's site. That strategy not only secured high-quality backlinks but also built lasting relationships with industry influencers.

Farrukh Ali, Senior SEO Specialist, Techvando

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Mission-Aligned Partnerships Outperform Volume-Driven Campaigns

I've had the best results focusing on partnerships that naturally align with our mission. When I reach out, I don't pitch a link. I talk about shared goals such as reducing waste, creating smarter consumer habits, and promoting sustainability, then let the collaboration grow from there. That angle opens doors because it's not just another outreach email, it's a conversation about impact.

One tactic that's worked consistently is offering well-researched, original content tied to trends reporters and bloggers already care about. For example, we built a small data study on consumer device recycling habits. Instead of blasting it out, I hand-picked a short list of writers who had recently covered environmental tech. That personal approach led to meaningful backlinks and strong relationships we've kept alive for years.

It takes more time. But the quality of those links and the trust that comes with them beats any volume-driven campaign I've seen.

Alec Loeb, VP of Growth Marketing, EcoATM

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When it comes to backlink outreach, my favorite strategy has always been building relationships first and links second. It might sound cliche, but in practice it's what consistently delivers the best results. Early in my career, I used to send out those templated outreach emails everyone warns against. They were polite, well-written, but ultimately forgettable. Most of them ended up in the trash.

The turning point came while working with a SaaS client. Instead of sending cold pitches, I spent time actually engaging with industry writers—commenting on their articles, sharing their work, and even referencing them in content we published before ever asking for a link. A few weeks later, when I finally reached out, it wasn't a stranger sliding into their inbox—it was someone who had already shown genuine interest in their work. The response rate was night and day. Not only did we earn high-quality backlinks, but we also formed relationships that opened doors to co-marketing campaigns, podcast invitations, and speaking opportunities.

One unconventional tactic I still use is creating what I call "bridge content." If I notice two thought leaders or brands in a niche haven't connected yet, I'll publish a piece that brings their perspectives together—something like "What X can teach Y about customer retention." Then I'll reach out to both, letting them know I highlighted their insights. More often than not, at least one will share or link to it. It's less about asking for a favor and more about creating value they want to amplify.

In terms of measuring success, I don't just track the number of backlinks. I look at the relationships that come from the process. If a backlink today turns into a collaboration six months down the road, that's the real win.

For me, backlink outreach isn't about gaming the system—it's about finding ways to add value in a crowded space. When you approach it with that mindset, the links are almost a byproduct of the relationships you've built.

Max Shak, Founder/CEO, nerDigital

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Honestly, I've completely moved away from traditional backlink outreach because it's become ineffective and often counterproductive. After 30 years in SEO, I've learned that the best backlinks come to you when you're genuinely recognized as an expert worth citing, not when you're asking for links.

My most effective strategy now is what I call "authority-first link acquisition" through platforms like Featured.com. Instead of cold emailing websites begging for backlinks, I position myself as a source for journalists and publications who are actively looking for expert insights. Publications like Forbes, Business Insider, and industry magazines regularly need quotes from SEO experts, and when they select my contributions, the resulting backlinks are editorial, contextual, and from high-authority domains.

Here's how it works: My team monitors Featured.com daily for queries related to SEO, AI, and digital marketing. We use our "Virtual Chris" system to craft expert responses that demonstrate genuine knowledge. When selected, I get published with natural backlinks to my LinkedIn profile and Boulder SEO Marketing website. I discover these publications when I get notifications — I've been quoted 4-8 times per month without any traditional outreach.

The beauty of this approach is that it builds E-E-A-T authority while generating backlinks. Google sees these citations as genuine expert recognition rather than manipulative link building. When I search "international AI and SEO expert," I rank #1 and appear in AI Overviews partly because of this consistent authority building.

I also generate natural backlinks through speaking engagements and partnerships with companies like SE Ranking. When you're genuinely helping the industry through education and expertise, link opportunities present themselves organically.

The old-school outreach emails asking for "link exchanges" or "guest posting opportunities" are largely ignored now because everyone knows they're just link schemes. Focus on becoming an expert worth citing, and the links follow naturally. This human-driven, AI-assisted approach to authority building creates sustainable link profiles that actually improve over time rather than requiring constant maintenance.

Chris Raulf, International AI and SEO Expert | Founder & Chief Visionary Officer, Boulder SEO Marketing

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I like outreach that speaks with numbers, not adjectives. Journalists love stats. So, I dig into fresh industry data, sometimes through small surveys, other times via internal analytics. Then I craft a pitch offering exclusive insights they can use in their stories. It flips the script. Instead of asking for a backlink, I give them a resource that makes their article stronger. I also keep emails brief. No one wants to read a mini-novel at 9 a.m. A catchy subject line with a clear benefit usually does the trick. Real value beats gimmicks every time.

Mike Khorev, SEO Consultant, Mike Khorev

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I treat backlink outreach like grabbing coffee with someone, not a sales pitch. Nobody likes pushy.

I start by reading the site's content, leaving a genuine comment or sharing their work first. Then, when I email, it feels like a real conversation: "Loved your piece on site speed, mind if I share a free checklist for readers?' That approach gets a far better response than 'Please link to me'.

Another trick: old mentions. I'll scan for places our brand or content was referenced without links. A quick, friendly nudge often turns those into easy wins.

I avoid one-size-fits-all templates. Editors can sense copy-paste outreach instantly. A personal, short, even slightly witty email keeps the door open for future collaborations.

Nick Mikhalenkov, SEO Manager, Nine Peaks Media

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I like to build links from uncredited images, I make images for clients, publish them on websites like Pixabay. 

Some get picked up, some don't. 

When people start using your image, you can reach out to them, saying that you're happy they're using it and that they're in no way obligated to credit the image. But... If they want to, they can credit it at XYZ. 

I have a 15% success rate with this strategy. Plus, if you make images related to your niche, you often get highly relevant links.

Raphael Larouche, Founder & SEO Specialist, Zenith

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There's a reason broken link building remains a go-to strategy for many. It's a win-win: you're doing a webmaster a favor by pointing out a broken link on their site, and you're offering an easy, relevant solution by suggesting your content as a replacement. It's an approach that creates genuine value and doesn't feel like a cold, spammy pitch. The key is to find quality, authoritative sites with broken links that your content can genuinely fix.

Michael Lazar, CEO, Content Author

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When it comes to backlink outreach, I've found that personalized relationship-building consistently delivers the best results. 

Rather than sending mass emails, I invest a bity of time or even delegate the understanding each website owner's content and genuinely engaging with their work before making any requests.

My favorite approach combines broken link building with value-first outreach. I identify broken links on relevant sites and offer my content as a helpful replacement, which creates a win-win situation for both parties.

Guest blogging remains incredibly effective when done right. I focus on contributing genuinely valuable content to reputable sites in my niche, which not only earns quality backlinks but also establishes thought leadership.

I've discovered that creating linkable assets like comprehensive guides or original research that is backed with current data and statistics naturally attracts backlinks without aggressive outreach. 

When you produce something truly valuable, other sites want to reference it.

Building relationships through social media engagement and industry events has been productive as well. I connect with potential link partners months before any outreach, making eventual requests feel natural rather than transactional.

Resource page link building is another strategy I love because it's straightforward and mutually beneficial. I find relevant resource pages and suggest my content as a valuable addition to their curated lists.

Tools like Ahrefs have revolutionized my approach by helping me analyze competitors' backlink profiles. This reveals opportunities I might have missed and shows which strategies work in my specific niche.

The key is authenticity and providing genuine value. I never ask for a link without first considering how my content benefits their audience, and this mindset shift has dramatically improved my success rates.

Steve Dempsey, Owner, The SEO IT Guy

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SaaS guest post swaps. Always works best when the writers doing the swaps have access to multiple sites (A-B-C style). That way you get contextual placements on real domains with real traffic - not PBNs. It's cleaner, scalable, and usually comes with higher DR sites that has a working product, not just a link farm.

Victor Hsi, Founder & Community Manager, PR Package - PR Gifting & Influencer Seeding Platform

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Content Gaps Create Perfect Backlink Collaboration Opportunities

My favorite backlink outreach strategy is building relationships through value-first content swaps. Instead of sending generic cold emails, I look for websites where my content can genuinely fill a gap or complement what they already have. For example, I once noticed a popular SaaS blog missing updated stats on digital signage adoption, so I offered them a fresh, well-cited resource.

By approaching it as "here's something that strengthens your article" rather than "please link to me," I've seen a much higher response rate. I also personalize every outreach note—mentioning a specific article of theirs I found helpful and showing that I've actually engaged with their work.

This method feels less transactional and more collaborative. Over time, it's built lasting relationships that lead not only to backlinks but also to guest posts and co-marketing opportunities.

Nikita Sherbina, Co-Founder & CEO, AIScreen

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For me, the most effective approach in 2025 is value-first outreach — instead of asking for a link, I give someone a reason to want to reference our content. A few strategies that consistently work:

Digital PR & Data Stories

Publishing original research, surveys, or industry insights that journalists and bloggers can cite. For example, one of my clients released a small trend report that got picked up by multiple beauty and lifestyle outlets, earning high-authority backlinks without a single cold email.

Resource & Content Gaps

Finding outdated or thin resources on high-authority sites and offering a refreshed, more comprehensive replacement. Positioning it as helping them improve user experience makes the outreach far more natural.

Strategic Partnerships

Co-creating content with complementary brands (like guides, toolkits, or webinars). Each partner shares and links to it, creating a natural backlink ecosystem with built-in relevance.

HARO & Expert Commentary

Providing expert quotes for journalists through services like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) or Qwoted. This not only earns backlinks but also builds personal and brand authority.

Key tip: personalize every pitch. A generic "please link to my article" email won't cut it in 2025. Showing that you've read their content, understand their audience, and can genuinely add value makes all the difference.

If you like my answer, don't forget to link my website https://seo-squirrel.com as reference

Joshua Murphy, CEO, CRM Squirrel

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Resource Page Outreach Succeeds Through Genuine Value

My favorite backlink outreach strategy is resource page outreach, which I conduct manually and with personalization.

I look for high-authority sites in relevant niches that maintain "resources" or "recommended reading" pages. Then I find a piece of our content that legitimately adds value to that page. I don't send bulk emails—I write a short, specific message explaining why our article is a good fit, often referencing something unique about their site or mission.

The key is to focus on their audience rather than solely on obtaining a backlink. Demonstrating that you have researched their site and are offering genuine value significantly increases your chances of success.

Andrew Peluso, Founder, What Kind Of Bug Is This

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My favorite backlink outreach strategy is all about building real connections. Instead of sending out generic "can I get a link?" emails, I try to reach out to people who genuinely share our audience or interests—bloggers, journalists, or businesses that complement what we do.

The trick is to focus on giving value first. That might mean sharing insights, offering a guest post, or highlighting content that could actually help their audience. When your outreach feels thoughtful and mutually beneficial, people are way more likely to respond. In my experience, this not only earns backlinks but also creates long-term relationships and collaboration opportunities.

Xi He, CEO, BoostVision

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Personalized Outreach Builds Valuable Industry Relationships

Personalized emailing to the appropriate and credible websites is the personal preferred backlink outreach tactic. This is by researching and getting quality websites within my niche, developing an interesting email explaining the reasons why they will find my content or web site useful and having a real relationship with the recipient by referencing other articles they have published in the past or posting them on social media. I also ensure I make follow ups where necessary when I do not receive a reply because at times there are a number of tries required to obtain a reply. Such a strategy has helped to establish an effective practicality in acquisition of valuable backlinks as well as establishing relationships with other professionals in the industry.

Zack Moorin, Acquisitions Manager, Zack Buys Houses

Conclusion

What becomes clear from these expert insights is that successful backlink outreach is not about chasing shortcuts or pushing for quick wins. It is about creating genuine value through personalized engagement, original research, mutually beneficial partnerships, or being an authoritative voice worth citing. Each of these 15 strategies shows that when you focus on relationships and relevance, backlinks follow naturally. As you refine your own outreach efforts, remember that the strongest links are not only about SEO rankings. They are about building trust, authority, and connections that last well beyond a single campaign.

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