Link Reclamation

How Link Reclamation Works

Link reclamation addresses three categories of link opportunities: (1) lost backlinks — links that previously existed but have been removed or changed to nofollow, (2) broken backlinks — links pointing to pages on your site that now return 404 errors, and (3) unlinked brand mentions — instances where a publisher mentions your brand name without linking to your site. All three represent existing equity that can be recovered with targeted outreach.

Why Link Reclamation Matters for B2B Marketing

Link reclamation is often the most efficient link building tactic because it targets publishers who have already demonstrated willingness to reference your brand. Outreach success rates for reclamation are typically 15-30% — significantly higher than cold outreach for new links (5-10%). Ahrefs' "Lost Backlinks" report and Content Explorer's mention search are the primary tools for identifying reclamation opportunities.

Link Reclamation: Best Practices & Strategic Application

A systematic reclamation workflow involves: (1) exporting lost backlinks from Ahrefs over the past 90 days, (2) filtering to high-DR opportunities worth pursuing, (3) checking if the linking page still exists and is relevant, (4) finding the appropriate contact email, and (5) sending a brief, friendly outreach email explaining the broken link and requesting a fix or update.

Agency Perspective: Link Reclamation in Practice

Agency insight: Broken links pointing to your site are often the lowest-hanging fruit in link reclamation. A simple redirect may not be enough if the linking page's URL has changed — proactive outreach ensures the publisher updates the anchor and destination. For unlinked mentions, frame the outreach as adding value for their readers ("here's the link so your readers can learn more") rather than asking a favor.