Creating great content is only one part of improving search visibility. Your website also needs signals that show search engines and AI platforms that your brand is trusted and worth recommending.
Backlinks remain one of those important signals. When other websites link to your content, they help search engines understand that your pages provide value. But earning quality backlinks is not always easy.
That is where broken link building can help.
In this article, we’ll explain how to do broken link building, how to find broken backlinks, and how this strategy can support a stronger SEO approach in 2026.
What Is Broken Link Building?
Broken link building is an SEO strategy in which you find broken links on other websites and suggest your content as a replacement.
A broken link usually points to a page that has been removed, moved, or no longer exists. This creates a poor experience for visitors because they click a link expecting useful information but end up on an error page.
By identifying these opportunities and offering a relevant resource, you help the website owner fix an issue while creating a chance to earn a backlink.
However, successful broken link building is not about collecting as many links as possible. The focus should be on finding relevant websites where your content genuinely adds value.
Why Broken Link Building Still Matters for SEO
Search engines continue to evaluate websites based on relevance, authority, and trust. While backlinks are only one part of SEO, high-quality links from relevant sources can support your website’s overall authority.
Broken link building also aligns with a broader SEO approach focused on creating useful content. A replacement resource needs to answer the same question or provide similar value as the original page.
This underscores the importance of building content that demonstrates expertise on a topic rather than creating isolated pages solely for keywords. As search evolves, businesses need content that search engines and AI platforms can understand and trust.
AI is reshaping SEO, making visibility across traditional search and AI-powered platforms more important than ever.
How to Find Broken Backlinks
The first step is finding broken links that are relevant enough to replace.
Here are some practical ways to identify broken backlinks:
Find outdated resources in your industry
Look for resource pages, guides, or articles related to your industry. These pages often contain external links that may become outdated over time.
For example, a marketing website may have a list of SEO resources where some older tools or articles are no longer available.
Check competitor backlinks
Analyzing competitors’ backlinks can help you discover websites that already link to similar content.
If a competitor’s page is no longer available but other websites still link to it, you may have an opportunity to create a better replacement.
Use broken link building tools
Several SEO platforms can help identify broken links, analyze backlinks, and find link opportunities.
Common broken link building tools include backlink analysis platforms that allow you to:
- Review websites linking to unavailable pages
- Find lost or broken links
- Analyze competitor link profiles
- Identify relevant outreach opportunities
The goal is not to find every broken link. It is to find opportunities where your content genuinely helps.
How to Do Broken Link Building Step by Step
A successful broken link building process usually includes four steps.
1. Find a relevant broken link
Look for pages that previously provided useful information but are no longer available.
The page should be related to your expertise and something your audience would actually find valuable.
2. Create a better replacement resource
Your replacement content should not simply copy the old page.
Improve it by adding updated information, clearer explanations, better examples, or a stronger user experience.
This approach supports a broader SEO content strategy where every page has a clear purpose and provides real value.
3. Reach out to website owners
Once you find a relevant broken link, contact the website owner or editor.
A simple broken link outreach template could include:
“Hi [Name], I noticed that one of the resources linked in your article is no longer available. I recently created a guide on [topic] that covers similar information and may be useful for your readers. Feel free to check it out if you’re updating the page.”
Keep the message helpful rather than focused only on getting a backlink.
4. Track results and improve
Like any SEO activity, broken link building requires measurement.
Track:
- Outreach attempts
- Responses
- Earned backlinks
- Referral traffic
- Content performance
This helps you understand which opportunities are creating real value.
Broken Link Building Works Best With a Strong SEO Foundation
Broken link building can support your SEO efforts, but it works best when combined with other strategies. A website with strong technical SEO, useful content, and clear authority signals has a better foundation for earning and maintaining visibility.
A website with a strong technical SEO foundation, useful content, and clear authority signals is better positioned to earn and maintain visibility.
Technical elements like crawlability, site structure, and optimized pages help search engines understand your content. Content strategy helps you create resources worth linking to in the first place.
Together, these efforts create a stronger search presence across traditional search and AI-powered discovery.
FAQs
What is broken link building in SEO?
Broken link building is the process of finding outdated links on other websites and suggesting your relevant content as a replacement.
Is broken link building still effective in 2026?
Yes. When done correctly, it can help you earn relevant backlinks while building useful relationships with other websites.
How do I find broken backlinks?
You can find broken backlinks by analyzing competitor links, checking industry resource pages, and using SEO tools that identify lost or inactive links.
Do I need new content for broken link building?
Usually, yes. Creating a helpful replacement resource increases the chances that website owners will consider linking to your page.
What tools can help with broken link building?
SEO platforms with backlink analysis features can help you find broken links, review link opportunities, and track outreach results.
Build a Stronger SEO Strategy for Long-Term Visibility
Broken link building works best when it is part of a larger SEO strategy focused on creating valuable content, improving authority, and building trust across the web. Finding the right opportunities, creating useful resources, and earning relevant backlinks all contribute to stronger search visibility over time.
Building quality backlinks is only one part of a complete SEO strategy. Cube helps businesses combine technical SEO, content strategy, and AI-powered insights to improve visibility across search platforms.
