How to Craft High-Converting Link Building Emails: Templates + Tips

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Link building is still one of the most powerful strategies in SEO, but let’s be real — sending outreach emails can feel like shouting into the void. With inboxes overflowing and people becoming immune to generic pitches, how do you craft an email that actually gets a response?

The key? Personalization, clarity, and value.

In this guide, we’ll break down exactly how to write effective email outreach for backlinks, provide outreach email templates, and share outreach email examples that will help you land high-quality links.

Why Most Link Building Outreach Emails Fail

Before we dive into templates and strategies, let’s talk about what not to do. If you’ve ever done email outreach, you know the struggle:

• Poor personalization → “Hi, I love your blog. Can I get a link?”
• Too much focus on yourself → “I need a backlink for my site. Help me out?”
• Long, overwhelming emails → If they open your email and see a wall of text, they’re gone.
• No real value → If there’s nothing in it for them, why should they care?

If you’re guilty of any of these, don’t worry. We’re about to fix that.

How to Write a Winning Link Building Outreach Email

1. Personalization is Key.

Nobody likes feeling like just another name on a mass email list. Always:

• Use their actual name
• Mention a specific piece of content they wrote
• Show that you’ve done your research

2. Keep It Short and to the Point.

People don’t have time to read an essay. Get straight to the point:

• Who you are
• Why you’re reaching out
• What’s in it for them

3. Offer Real Value.

A backlink should feel like a win-win, not a favor. Consider offering:

• A link back to their site (reciprocal linking)
• A guest post with high-quality content
• A useful resource that genuinely enhances their content

Best Outreach Email Templates for Link Building

Let’s get into the good stuff — actual email templates you can use.

1. The “You Missed This” Backlink Outreach Email Template.

Best for: Recommending a relevant resource to be added to their content

Subject: Quick suggestion for [Article Title]

Hi [First Name],

I was reading your article on [Topic] and loved how you explained [Specific Point]. I noticed that you mentioned [Related Topic] but didn’t include [Your Resource].

I recently put together a detailed guide on this topic: [Your Link]. It could be a useful addition to your article and bring more value to your readers.

Let me know what you think! Either way, I appreciate your time.

Cheers,
[Your Name]

2. The Blogger Outreach Email Template (Guest Post Offer).

Best for: Offering a guest post in exchange for a link

Subject: Interested in a guest post for [Their Website]?

Hey [First Name],

I came across your blog and really enjoyed your post on [Topic]. I’d love to contribute a guest post that complements your content and offers value to your readers.

Here are a few ideas I had in mind:

- [Topic Idea #1]
- [Topic Idea #2]
- [Topic Idea #3]

I’d make sure it’s well-researched and aligns with your audience. Let me know if any of these sound interesting!

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Best,
[Your Name]

3. The Broken Link Building Email.

Best for: Replacing a broken link on their site with your content

Subject: Found a broken link on your site

Hi [First Name],

I was browsing through your article on [Topic] and found a broken link to [Dead Link URL]. Since your readers might still be looking for that information, I thought I’d suggest a replacement.

I recently created a similar resource here: [Your Link]. If you think it’s a good fit, feel free to update your post!

Either way, I appreciate your work and just wanted to give you a heads-up.

Cheers,
[Your Name]

4. The Partnership Outreach Email Template.

Best for: Proposing a collaboration with another website

Subject: Let’s collaborate, [First Name]!

Hey [First Name],

I’ve been following [Their Website] and really admire the work you’re doing on [Topic]. I think there’s a great opportunity for us to collaborate.

I’d love to explore ways we can work together—whether through content, link exchanges, or something else. Let me know if you’re open to discussing this!

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best,
[Your Name]

5. The Paid Link Exchange Outreach Email Template.

Best for: Proposing a paid collaboration for a backlink placement

Subject: Quick collaboration opportunity

Hi [First Name],

I’ve been following [Their Website] and really appreciate your content on [Topic]. I’d love to explore a collaboration where we could feature our content on your site in a way that benefits both of us.

I’m open to discussing a sponsored link placement in a relevant article or working on a mutually beneficial content partnership. Let me know if this is something you’d consider, and we can chat details.

Looking forward to your thoughts!

Best,
[Your Name]

6. The ABC Link Exchange Outreach Email Template.

Best for: Proposing a three-way (ABC) link exchange to make backlinks appear more natural

Subject: Win-win link collaboration

Hi [First Name],

I came across [Their Website] and really enjoyed your content on [Topic]. I’d love to collaborate on a three-way link exchange that benefits both of us while keeping things natural.

Here’s how it works:

1. I will place a link to your site on [Website] (a site I contribute to).
2. In return, you link to my site [Your Website] from one of your pages.

This way, we both gain high-quality backlinks without a direct swap. Let me know if this sounds interesting, and I’d be happy to share more details!

Looking forward to your thoughts.

Best,
[Your Name]

Extra Tips for Successful Link Building Email Outreach

• Follow-up – People are busy, so send a polite follow-up in 5-7 days if they don’t reply.
• Use a real email signature – Make yourself look credible by including your full name, job title, and website within an email signature.
• Avoid spammy language – Words like “free,” “urgent,” or “limited time” can trigger spam filters.
• Test your email deliverability – With poor deliverability, your emails will go unseen, no matter how hard you worked on them — test email deliverability with GlockApps.

Final Thoughts

Link-building email outreach is more than just sending emails — it’s about building relationships, providing value, and positioning yourself as a trusted resource in your industry. If you approach outreach with a generic, mass-email mentality, you’ll likely see disappointing results. But if you take the time to personalize your messages, offer something worthwhile, and engage in meaningful conversations, you’ll unlock a steady stream of high-quality backlinks. Don’t forget to check if the emails you are sending out reach the inbox with GlockApps!

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