Resource page link building is the practice of getting your content listed on curated “resources” pages across the web. These pages exist specifically to link out to useful industry content, tools, guides, and calculators, meaning their creators are often actively looking for new additions. The link building dynamic is different from standard outreach: rather than asking someone to add a new link to existing editorial content, you are offering to help them improve an asset they specifically built to contain links. This guide covers how to find resource pages at scale using Google search operators and competitor backlink analysis, how to vet them for quality, how to identify broken links as additional leverage, and how to craft outreach emails that convert.
⚡ Quick Summary
- Resource pages are curated lists of useful industry links. Getting listed on one earns a contextually relevant backlink from a page built specifically to link out
- Conversion rates are higher than cold outreach because resource page owners are often actively looking for additions, not resisting the idea of new links
- Finding resource pages at scale requires Google search operators combined with competitor backlink analysis
- Pointing out broken links on a resource page while offering your content as a replacement dramatically improves response rates
- 24% of link builders still use this tactic according to Aira’s State of Link Building survey, making it one of the most consistently used white-hat approaches in the industry
What Is Resource Page Link Building?
A resource page is a curated web page that lists and links to useful content, tools, guides, calculators, or community resources on a specific topic. The site owner has built this page specifically to provide their readers with easy access to the best external resources they can find on a given subject. Getting your content listed on one of these pages earns you a contextually relevant backlink from a page that exists for the explicit purpose of linking out.
This distinguishes resource page link building from most other tactics. When you pitch a guest post, you are asking someone to publish new content. When you pitch a niche edit, you are asking someone to modify their existing editorial content. When you pitch a resource page, you are offering to help someone keep their curated list current and useful, which is something many resource page owners are genuinely looking for. Some resource pages even include explicit submission forms or “suggest a resource” calls to action.
The links you earn from resource pages are editorially relevant, placed within content specifically structured around your topic, and come from publishers who have made a considered decision to include external links as part of their publishing model. For how resource page links fit within a broader link building programme, see our link building strategies guide.
Resource Page Link Building: Step by Step
Step 1: Find Relevant Resource Pages
Finding resource pages at scale requires a systematic approach combining Google search operators with competitor backlink analysis. Use Google’s advanced search functionality to surface pages specifically structured as resource hubs.
Google search operators for finding resource pages
[keyword] intitle:resources inurl:resources.html
[keyword] “best resources”
[keyword] inurl:.com/resources
[keyword] “helpful links”
[keyword] intitle:links inurl:resources.html
[keyword] “further reading”
[keyword] “useful resources”
[keyword] “favorite tools”
Tip: Keep your keyword broad. Searching for “SEO” rather than “local SEO for dentists” will surface more pages, which you can filter in the vetting stage.
For each search, set Google to display 100 results per page, install Ahrefs’ SEO Toolbar to export results to CSV with domain metrics included, and repeat across multiple operator variations. Merge the CSVs into a master spreadsheet before moving to the vetting stage.
Competitor backlink method: Find resource pages that already link to your competitors by pulling their backlink profiles in Ahrefs or Semrush and filtering for referring pages that contain “resources” or “links” in the URL. Any resource page that links to a competitor is pre-qualified: they cover your topic and they link to external sites. This is the highest-conversion segment of any resource page prospecting list.
Step 2: Vet the Pages for Quality
Not every page that looks like a resource page is worth pursuing. Apply a two-stage vetting process: filter by metrics first to remove the obvious low-quality pages, then manually review what remains.
Metric filters (apply first)
- Domain Rating (DR) 10 or above as a minimum floor
- Monthly organic traffic 1,000+ to confirm the site is genuinely indexed and trusted by Google
- Filter out obvious social media or UGC platform URLs (Reddit, Twitter, etc.) from the export
Manual review criteria
- Page links to external resources in your topic category
- Page looks maintained and updated, not abandoned
- Site has real authors and consistent publishing activity
- Your content would genuinely add value for this page’s readers
Automatically exclude: Pages that only link internally, pages overwhelmed with broken links throughout (not maintained), resource pages on .gov or .edu domains that restrict external commercial links, and pages that obviously sell link placements (these carry penalty risk).
Step 3: Check for Broken Links on the Page
Identifying broken links on a resource page before your outreach is one of the most effective conversion tactics in resource page link building. A resource page with broken links has a problem you can solve. You are offering two things: a heads-up about dead links harming their reader experience, and a quality replacement. This framing significantly increases response rates compared to a standard “please add my link” pitch.
Use the Ahrefs SEO Toolbar (Outgoing Links section, then Check Status) or a browser extension like Check My Links to identify 404 errors on the page. Export broken links into your prospecting spreadsheet and include them as a personalisation variable in your outreach email. For the complete outreach process and email templates, see our link building outreach guide.
Step 4: Reach Out and Suggest Your Resource
Resource page outreach converts better than most cold link building outreach because the framing is collaborative rather than purely transactional. You are helping the resource page owner keep their curated list current. Keep the email short, personal, and specific to their page.
Resource page outreach email template
Subject: Resource to add to [their page title]
Hi [Name],
I came across your [topic] resource page at [URL] while researching the space. Genuinely one of the better curated lists I’ve found.
[If broken links found: While I was there, I noticed one of the links appears to be dead: [broken URL]. Thought you’d want to know.]
I recently published [brief description of your resource] at [URL]. It covers [specific topic] and I think it would be a useful addition to the [relevant section of their page].
Happy to answer any questions about the content.
[Your name] | [Company] | [Website]
Key principles: Always email the person responsible for the page (not
[email protected]), tell them specifically which section of their page your resource fits, never pay for placement, and respect any stated submission preferences (form submissions, specific contact addresses).
Resource Page Links + Guest Posts = Complete Link Profile
Resource page links add topical authority. Guest posts add anchor text control and page-level authority. Linkscope’s guest posting service provides pre-verified publishers for both. Full DR and traffic data before any payment.
Browse Publisher Marketplace
Finding More Resource Page Opportunities
Beyond the standard search operator approach, three additional methods consistently surface resource page opportunities that competitors are not targeting.
Backlink profiles of resource pages you have already found. If a site has been listed on one resource page, it has probably been listed on others. Pull the backlink profile of your known resource page prospects and look for other resource pages in their referring domains. Each resource page in your niche is a map to more resource pages.
Listicle resource pages. “Best [topic]” list articles are resource pages in a different format. Searching Google for “best SEO tools”, “best content marketing resources”, or “best [your niche] blogs” surfaces high-DR list articles that are linking to competitors but not yet to you. For how to identify these pages efficiently, see our
skyscraper link building guide, which overlaps significantly with this approach.
Blog posts with “further reading” sections. Many blog posts include a curated further reading or additional resources section that links to external content. Searching for [keyword] “further reading” or [keyword] “more resources” surfaces these pages. These links tend to be higher quality than traditional resource page links because they are embedded in editorial blog content rather than on a dedicated list page. They are less competitive to pursue because fewer link builders target them. For identifying the right publishers and contacts for these pitches, see our
blogger outreach strategy guide.
Why Resource Page Outreach Fails (And How to Fix It)
Targeting outdated or abandoned pages
Pages last updated in 2019 with dozens of broken links throughout are not actively maintained. No amount of outreach will get them to update the page. Check for recent publication activity and link freshness before spending time on outreach.
Pitching content that does not add value
Service pages, product pages, and promotional landing pages are not “resources.” Resource page owners are looking for content that helps their readers, not content that sells them something. Only pitch informational guides, tools, calculators, or genuinely useful reference content.
Generic, templated outreach emails
Resource page owners receive many templated “I found a great resource for your list” emails. Personalise every email with a reference to something specific on their page, tell them exactly which section your resource fits, and be genuinely helpful rather than transactional in tone.
Expecting fast results
Resource page owners often have a long list of site updates ahead of adding a new link. Follow-up emails sent 7 to 10 days after the initial pitch are standard practice and significantly improve total conversion rates. Campaigns often take 3 to 6 months to fully materialise into ranking improvements.
For finding the initial pool of guest posting sites and resource pages across different niches, our how to find guest posting sites guide covers the prospecting methodology in detail.
Linkscope Marketplace
Build a Complete Link Profile with Resource Page Links and Guest Posts
Resource page links build topical authority. Guest posts on Linkscope give you anchor text control and page-level authority. Both available through pre-verified publishers with full DR and traffic data before any payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is resource page link building still effective in 2026? +
Yes. According to Aira’s State of Link Building survey, 24% of professional link builders continue to use this tactic, making it one of the most consistently used white-hat approaches across multiple years of survey data. The links earned are contextually relevant, from editorially appropriate pages, and often from well-maintained sites with genuine authority. The tactic remains effective because the fundamental dynamic (resource page owners wanting good links to include) has not changed. What has changed is that competition has increased in popular niches, requiring more targeted prospecting and better personalised outreach.
What type of content works best for resource page pitches? +
Informational, genuinely useful content that helps the resource page’s audience is what works. This includes comprehensive guides on a topic in the niche, free tools or calculators that serve a genuine function, original research or statistics compilations, well-maintained reference resources, and infographics that visualise complex data. Service pages, product pages, and content that functions primarily as a sales pitch almost never get accepted. Before pitching any piece of content to a resource page, ask whether a reader arriving from that page would find genuine value in it. If the answer is yes, it is worth pitching.
What is the typical conversion rate for resource page outreach? +
Conversion rates vary significantly by niche, content quality, and outreach personalisation. Cold outreach to resource pages typically converts at 5 to 15% for well-targeted, personalised campaigns. Adding broken link identification to the pitch can push this higher, with some practitioners reporting 15 to 20% conversion rates when flagging dead links alongside the resource suggestion. Campaigns that use generic templated emails convert much lower, often under 3%. The highest conversion rates consistently come from pitches targeting resource pages that already link to competitors in your niche, where the editorial fit is pre-established.
How is resource page link building different from broken link building? +
Resource page link building targets pages that already work as intended and pitches your content as an addition. Broken link building specifically identifies dead links on relevant pages and pitches your content as a replacement for the dead resource. The two tactics frequently overlap: when you identify a resource page as a target, checking for broken links on that page and pitching your content as both an addition and a replacement for broken links combines the best elements of both approaches. The broken link angle gives you a concrete problem to solve rather than just a pitch to make.
