Glossary
What is link reclamation?
Link reclamation is the work of recovering backlinks you've lost or should already have: fixing links that point to broken pages on your site, restoring removed listings, and asking sites that mention you without a link to add one. It's usually the cheapest link building there is.
Three kinds
- Links to your broken pages. Find external links pointing to URLs on your site that return 404, and 301-redirect those URLs to the right page.
- Lost links. Listings or articles that removed your link; ask why and fix the reason.
- Unlinked mentions. Pages that name your product without linking; a short, friendly note often gets a link added.
How to ask
Keep it short: thank them for the mention, give the exact URL to link, and make it easy. Don't ask for specific anchor text. For directories, use their update or contact form with the listing URL.
Example
A founder searches for her product name and finds 12 articles that mention it without a link. She emails each author a two-line note. Seven add a link within a week, more than she got from a month of cold outreach.
FAQ
Is link reclamation worth it?
Yes. It's low effort, low risk and the sites already know you.
How do I find links to my 404 pages?
SEO tools have a broken backlinks report; Search Console shows 404s Google found.
Should I offer something for a link?
No. Paying or trading for a followed link turns it into a paid link.
How often should I check for links to reclaim?
Monthly while you're actively launching, then quarterly.