Broken-Link Building Outreach Template

Free editable Broken-Link Building Outreach Template. Copy, personalize, or download the Word .docx template from UNmiss.

Broken-link building works because you're doing the site owner a favor first. Find a 404 on a relevant page, then offer your equivalent as the fix.

6 ready-to-use variants

Standard 404 Report + Replacement

Flag a single dead link on someone's article or guide, then offer your live page as the fix.

Subject: Broken link on your [page topic] page

Hi [First Name],

I was reading your guide on [article title] earlier today and wanted to give you a heads-up: one of the links is dead. The link to [anchor text] ([dead URL]) now returns a 404, so readers who click it hit a blank page.

If it helps, we recently published something that covers the same ground: [your URL]. It includes [what makes it a true replacement], so it could be a clean swap wherever that broken link sits. No pressure either way.

Mostly I just wanted to flag the dead link so it doesn't cost you readers. Thanks for putting the original together.

Best,

[Your Name]

[Title, Company]

[URL]

Resource / Links Page Dead Link

Report a broken entry on a curated resource or links roundup and suggest your page for that slot.

Subject: One dead link in your [topic] resource list

Hi [First Name],

Your [resource / links page title] page is a genuinely useful roundup, so I bookmarked it. While clicking through, I found that one entry is broken: [anchor text] ([dead URL]) now returns a 404.

Since you keep that list current, you may want a replacement for that spot. We maintain [your URL], which covers [same subtopic as the dead link] and is actively updated. If it fits the bar you set for the rest of the list, it might earn the slot.

Either way, the dead link was the main thing I wanted to flag. Thanks for curating such a helpful page.

Cheers,

[Your Name] · [Company] · [URL]

Competitor's Now-Dead Link

A page links to a competitor or former tool that has gone offline, and you offer your live equivalent.

Subject: A link on your [page topic] page no longer works

Hi [First Name],

I was going through your [page title] page and noticed the link to [dead resource / former tool name] ([dead URL]) is dead: the site appears to have shut down, so it now returns a 404.

If you're refreshing that section, we run a working alternative that does the same job: [your URL]. It offers [what readers got from the old link, now live], so it could keep that part of the page useful for your audience. Totally your call.

Mainly wanted to make sure the broken link was on your radar. Thanks for the helpful write-up.

Best,

[Your Name]

[Title, Company]

[URL]

Multiple Broken Links on One Page

Several links on the same page are dead, so you list them all and offer a fit for the most relevant one.

Subject: A few broken links on your [page topic] page

Hi [First Name],

I spent some time on your [page title] page: it's a thorough resource. While reading, I noticed a handful of the outbound links have gone dead and now return 404s:

  • [anchor text 1]: [dead URL 1]
  • [anchor text 2]: [dead URL 2]
  • [anchor text 3]: [dead URL 3]

I figured a quick list would save you the hunt. For the [most relevant dead link] one specifically, we have a current resource that covers the same topic: [your URL], if you'd like a replacement for that slot. No worries if not.

Either way, hope the list helps keep the page in good shape. Thanks for the great work.

Cheers,

[Your Name] · [Company] · [URL]

Wayback-Confirmed Replacement

You checked the archived version, so you can describe exactly what the dead link used to offer.

Subject: Dead link on your [page topic] page (here's what it used to be)

Hi [First Name],

Quick heads-up on your [page title] page: the link to [anchor text] ([dead URL]) now returns a 404. I checked the archived version, and it used to be [what the original page covered], so readers are missing that piece now.

We published something that covers the same thing the original did, kept current: [your URL]. It includes [matching feature or section], so it lines up closely with what readers expected from that link. Only if it's a fit, of course.

Mostly wanted to flag the broken link and save you the digging into what it once pointed to. Thanks for maintaining such a useful page.

Best,

[Your Name]

[Title, Company]

[URL]

Polite Follow-Up

Send one gentle nudge a few days after your first broken-link email goes unanswered.

Subject: Re: Broken link on your [page topic] page

Hi [First Name],

Just floating this back to the top in case it slipped past. The link to [anchor text] ([dead URL]) on your [page title] page is still returning a 404, so I wanted to make sure it was on your radar.

No reply needed: fixing the dead link is the main thing. If a replacement is useful, [your URL] covers the same ground, but that part is entirely optional.

Thanks again for the helpful page, and I'll leave it there either way.

Best,

[Your Name] · [Company]

How to use this template

  1. Build a list of relevant resource pages, link roundups, and in-depth guides in your niche by searching for phrases like "[topic] resources," "useful links," and "recommended tools."
  2. Run each page through a broken-link checker (or a crawler) to surface outbound links that return 404 or other dead-status codes.
  3. Open the dead URL in the Wayback Machine to confirm what the original page actually covered, so you pitch a true match rather than a loose guess.
  4. Verify you have a genuinely equivalent live resource (same topic, same depth or better) before you reach out; never force an off-topic page into the slot.
  5. Find the right contact (author, editor, or site owner) and confirm a working email rather than blasting a generic inbox.
  6. Lead with the favor: name the broken link and its 404 first, then offer your replacement softly and make it clearly optional.
  7. Send one polite follow-up after about 4–5 days if you hear nothing, then stop.
  8. Track every page contacted, dead link reported, reply, and placement in a simple sheet so you can measure what's working and avoid double-emailing.

Pro tips

  • Report the broken link even when the owner doesn't take your replacement. The goodwill builds your reputation and often earns a link later.
  • Pages with several dead links are your best prospects: they signal an outdated page the owner likely wants to clean up.
  • Match the original's intent, not just its keyword. A replacement that mirrors what the dead page actually offered is far more likely to be accepted.
  • Keep each email short and specific. Name the exact anchor text and URL so the owner can verify the 404 in seconds without hunting.

Frequently asked questions

Why does broken-link building work so well?

You're helping the site owner fix a real problem before asking for anything: a 404 hurts their user experience and can leak SEO value. That goodwill, combined with a genuinely relevant replacement, tends to lift acceptance rates above a cold link request that offers nothing in return.

What tools can I use to find broken links?

Free options include the Check My Links and LinkMiner browser extensions and the W3C Link Checker for individual pages. For scale, site crawlers such as Screaming Frog SEO Spider or the site-audit features in Ahrefs, Semrush, and Se Ranking can crawl resource pages and export every dead outbound link, which you then verify by hand.

How do I confirm what a dead link used to point to?

Paste the dead URL into the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) and open an archived snapshot. That shows you the original page's topic and depth, so you can offer a replacement that truly matches what readers expected instead of guessing from the anchor text alone.

What success rate should I expect?

Treat it as a numbers game with quality inputs. Most replies are people thanking you for the heads-up; a smaller share will swap in your link. Highly relevant prospects and a true-match replacement perform meaningfully better than generic outreach, but results vary by niche, page quality, and how active the site owner is. So focus on fit over volume rather than chasing a fixed percentage.

Is broken-link building safe for Google?

Yes. You're suggesting an editorial link on relevant content by helping the owner fix a genuine error and offering real value. That's the kind of link Google's guidelines encourage. Avoid paying for placements, exchanging links at scale, or pushing off-topic pages just to land a link.

What if my replacement isn't a perfect match for the dead link?

Then don't pitch it. Forcing an off-topic page erodes trust and rarely converts. Still report the broken link as a pure favor (you keep the goodwill and the relationship) and save your replacement offer for a prospect where your resource is a genuine fit.