Link Reclamation Template

Audit Lost & Broken Backlinks

Build your master list of every link you've lost or that points to a broken/dead URL before you fix anything.

Audit Lost & Broken Backlinks

Start by gathering every backlink that has stopped working or disappeared, so you can prioritize the easy wins.

• Pull your backlink data: export from [Backlink Tool] for [Your Domain], then filter the "Lost" and "Broken" reports.
• Crawl your own site: run a site crawl to find internal 404s and pages that now redirect.
• Cross-check status codes: note which linked URLs return 200, 301, 404, or 410.

Sort each link into one of three buckets:

1. Links to your dead/changed URLs: you can fix these yourself with a 301.
2. Removed links: the page still exists but the link is gone.
3. Source-page errors: the linking page itself is down or moved.

Rank by referring-domain authority and relevance. Tackle the self-fixable links first, no outreach required, then move to removed-link outreach. Save this list as your reclamation tracker for [Date].

Links to Your 404/Dead URLs (fix or 301)

When other sites still link to you, but the target URL is now a 404 or dead page: the fastest recovery, no outreach needed.

Reclaim Links Pointing to Your Dead URLs

This is the quickest win in link reclamation: the link already exists, so you simply repair the destination on your own server.

• List the dead targets: every URL on [Your Domain] that earns links but returns a 404 or 410.
• Find the best match: for each, identify the closest live, relevant page.

Then choose the right fix:

1. Restore the page if the content is still valuable and the URL should exist.
2. 301 redirect the dead URL to the most relevant live page when restoring isn't practical.
3. Avoid redirecting to the homepage unless nothing more relevant exists: relevance preserves more value.

After implementing, recrawl to confirm each old URL now returns a 200 or a clean 301. Because you control the destination, you recover this link equity without emailing anyone. Log the date fixed and recheck in [Number] weeks.

Removed-Link Outreach (ask why & request restore)

When a site removed a link to you during an edit or refresh and a self-fix isn't possible, reach out politely to ask why and request restoration.

Removed-Link Outreach

Use this only when you can't fix the link yourself. Lead with curiosity and respect, not entitlement: editors remove links for many reasons.

Hi [Name],

I'm [Your Name] from [Your Site]. I noticed your article, [Article Title], recently linked to our resource on [Topic], and the link seems to have been removed in a recent update.

I completely understand if it was an intentional editorial change. If it was unintentional, would you consider restoring it? The resource is still live and current here: [Resource URL].

Either way, I'd genuinely value any feedback on whether it's still a good fit for your readers.

Thanks for your time,
[Your Name]

Important: never offer payment to restore a link. If they explain the content felt outdated, improve it and follow up. A polite, no-pressure ask earns far more restorations than a demand.

Redirected/Changed-URL Cleanup

When your backlinks land on chained, looping, or outdated redirects after URL changes. Tidy them so link equity flows cleanly.

Redirected & Changed-URL Cleanup

Over time, URL changes create messy redirect chains that dilute and slow the link value reaching your live pages. Clean these up directly on your server.

• Map the chains: for each backlinked URL on [Your Domain], trace every hop until the final destination.
• Flag problems: chains of two or more hops, redirect loops, and any link that ends on a 404.

Then fix at the source:

1. Collapse chains into a single 301 from the originally linked URL straight to the final live page.
2. Repoint orphaned redirects that currently end on a dead page to the best relevant page.
3. Keep redirects permanent (301), not temporary (302), so equity transfers.

Recrawl to confirm each backlinked URL now resolves in one clean hop with a 200. This requires no outreach: you own every redirect. Document changes for [Date] and audit again quarterly.

Post-Migration Link Recovery

After a site redesign, replatform, or domain change that dropped or broke inbound links. Recover them systematically.

Post-Migration Link Recovery

Migrations are the single biggest cause of lost links. Work through old-to-new URLs methodically to recapture the equity you built before the move.

• Gather the old map: compile the pre-migration URL list and your backlink export for [Old Domain].
• Match new destinations: pair each linked old URL with its new equivalent on [New Domain].

Then recover in order of impact:

1. Add missing 301s for any old backlinked URL that wasn't redirected during the move.
2. Fix wrong redirects that point to the homepage or an irrelevant page instead of the true match.
3. Outreach last: only for high-value links that can't be self-fixed, ask the site to update to the new URL.

Verify every old backlinked URL returns a clean 301 to its relevant new page. Prioritize self-fixes, they recover most links without a single email. Recheck status codes in [Number] weeks.

Track & Monitor

Keep reclaimed links recovered and catch new losses early with an ongoing monitoring routine.

Track & Monitor

Reclamation isn't one-and-done. Set up a simple recurring check so losses are caught while they're still easy to fix.

• Schedule lost-link alerts: in [Backlink Tool], enable notifications for newly lost or broken links to [Your Domain].
• Recrawl monthly: check for fresh internal 404s and new redirect chains.

For each new issue, route it through the right path:

1. Self-fixable? Apply a 301 or restore the page first.
2. Removed link? Add it to your outreach queue.
3. Confirm fixed: verify a clean 200 or 301 before closing the item.

Track each link's status, owner, date found, and date resolved so nothing slips. Review the tracker on [Day] each month. Consistent monitoring turns reclamation from a one-time cleanup into a steady, compounding gain.

What is link reclamation?

Link reclamation is the process of recovering backlinks you've lost or that have broken: links pointing to dead or redirected URLs, links removed during an edit, or links lost in a redesign or migration. It recovers authority you already earned rather than building new links from scratch.

Which lost links should I fix first?

Start with links pointing to your own dead or changed URLs. You can fix these yourself with a 301 redirect or by restoring the page (no outreach needed), so they're the fastest, most reliable wins. Handle removed-link outreach afterward.

Should I use a 301 redirect or ask the site to update the link?

Prefer a 301 redirect whenever the broken link points to a URL you control, because it works instantly and doesn't depend on anyone replying. Reserve outreach for high-value links where a self-fix isn't possible, such as a link that was fully removed.

Where should I redirect a dead URL that has backlinks?

Send it to the closest relevant live page, since relevance preserves the most link value. Restore the original page if the content still matters. Avoid defaulting to the homepage unless no more specific page exists.

Is it OK to pay a site to restore a removed link?

No. Paying for links violates search engine guidelines and can put your site at risk. A polite outreach email that asks why the link was removed and requests restoration, without pressure, recovers more links and keeps you compliant.

How often should I check for lost or broken backlinks?

Set up automated lost-link alerts in your backlink tool and run a site crawl roughly once a month. Catching losses early keeps them small and easy to fix, turning reclamation into a steady, compounding gain rather than a periodic cleanup.