Resource link building is the process of earning backlinks (links from other websites to yours) by getting your website listed on “resource pages.” These are pages specifically designed to curate and link out to helpful resources on a particular topic.
Resource Pages Include:
- Informative Guides and Articles: High-quality, in-depth blog posts or articles that provide valuable information on a specific topic within the niche.
- Tools and Software: Useful applications, software, plugins, or extensions that help users accomplish tasks relevant to the resource page’s focus.
- Original Research and Data: Studies, reports, or statistics offering unique insights into the industry.
- Templates and Checklists: Downloadable resources that provide structure and guidance for users.
- Webinars and Courses: Educational videos or online courses offering in-depth learning opportunities.
- Infographics and Visualizations: Visual representations of data or complex concepts that are easy to understand.
- Glossaries and Dictionaries: Reference sources for industry-specific terms and definitions.
- Communities and Forums: Where users can connect, ask questions, and share knowledge.
Here’s how resource link-building can help you.
- Higher Search Rankings: As explained above, quality backlinks help you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs), leading to more organic traffic.
- Increased Referral Traffic: When people visit a resource page and click on your link, they’re directed to your website, bringing a new audience.
- Brand Authority Building: Being featured on reputable resource pages builds trust and credibility, establishing you as an expert in your field.
How to find resource link-building opportunities?
Navigating the search Operators:
You can search using the below search operators to find resource link-building opportunities with ease:
1. inurl:resources
- Basic Example: inurl:resources keto diet
- This tells Google to only show results where the word “resources” appears within the URL itself AND the content is related to the keto diet.
- Benefits: Quickly finds pages explicitly labeled as resource hubs for a specific topic.
2. keyword + resources
- Basic Example: plant-based living resources
- Here, Google will display pages about plant-based living and likely to include the word “resources” somewhere in the page’s content.
- Benefits: Finds relevant resource pages even if the word “resources” isn’t prominently placed in the URL.
3. keyword + “helpful resources” OR “useful resources” OR “links”
- Basic Example: email marketing “helpful resources” OR “links”
- Google will target pages about email marketing containing any of the phrases “helpful resources,” “useful resources,” or “links.”
- Benefits: Focuses on pages structured as link collections, which aligns strongly with the purpose of resource link building.
4. filetype:pdf + keyword
- Basic Example: filetype:pdf social media trends 2023
- Google will look for PDF documents related to social media trends in 2023. These reports and research papers are frequently featured on resource pages.
- Benefits: Helps find original data and in-depth studies, excellent resources to make your content compelling enough to earn a link.
Important Notes:
- Adjust Keywords: Tailor your keywords to your industry and target audience.
- Combine Operators: Mix and match operators for more precise searches (e.g., inurl:resources “vegan recipes” + “useful links” ).
Tools to scale your search
- Ahrefs: Their ‘Content Explorer’ allows searching for pages that include your target keyword and phrases like “resources” in the title. Additionally, Ahrefs lets you analyze a competitor’s backlinks to find resource pages already linking to similar content.
- SEMrush: Similar to Ahrefs, their backlink analysis functions uncover where competitors are getting links, some of which could be resource pages.
- Google Alerts: A simple yet effective way to get notified when new pages are published matching your target search queries.
But, how to determine what pages are worth reaching out to?
- Domain Authority (DA): A metric provided by Moz (available in tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush) that predicts a website’s ability to rank. Links from high DA sites give a stronger SEO boost.
- Relevancy: Ensure the resource page’s overall topic aligns closely with your niche. A link from a generic resource page is far less valuable than one from a tightly focused page relevant to your area.
- Quality of Existing Links: Look at what else the resource page links to – are they reputable sources? Spammy or irrelevant links indicate a poorly curated page.
- Engagement: Does the page have comments, social shares, etc.? This suggests real visitors find the links valuable.
Here’s your guide to reach-out to resource websites:
Personalization: It’s Not Just About a Name
- Do Your Homework: Before hitting “send,” research the website/blog. Identify the content manager’s name if possible (LinkedIn is helpful for this!).
- Specific References: Mention a recent article/post from their site you enjoyed, or compliment a project of theirs. This shows you genuinely paid attention to their work.
- Targeted Content: Are you offering a tool, an infographic, or something else? Explain briefly how it relates to their existing content or fits a gap they haven’t covered yet.
Showcase Value: It’s About Them, Not You
- Focus on Audience: Don’t make it a sales pitch for your own resource. Explain how it will benefit THEIR readers specifically.
- Solve a Problem: Does your resource make a complex topic easier to understand? Does it save people time or money? Frame your offer as a solution for their audience.
- Social Proof: If applicable, briefly mention if other reputable websites have already linked to your resource.
We hope that answers all your questions about resource link-building, You can also try Linkly to build backlinks with ease using our vetted community of 2500+ link-builders starting at only $39/month.