What is Link Reclamation?
A sign of a good, credible website is backlinks. As you work on your website and create high-quality content , other websites may link to your pages, signalling to search engines that your site is trustworthy and valuable.
Over time, some of these links might go missing due to page changes, broken URLs, or other issues. In SEO, Link reclamation is the process of identifying and regaining lost backlinks to your website. It allows website owners to regain lost link value and improve the overall authority of the website.
It’s important to note that while some links can be easily reclaimed, others are impossible to recover. Some of the most common reasons for lost backlinks include:
- Link is removed
- Linking page is deleted
- Linking page is redirected
- Linking page is no longer indexed
Finding Lost Backlinks
Losing backlinks can impact your website’s authority and search rankings, but there are steps you can take to recover them! These include:
- Regularly Check Your Backlinks: Use tools like Ahrefs or Google Search Console to monitor your backlinks. These can help you identify any lost or broken links so you can take action to fix them quickly.
- Fix Broken Pages or Use 301 Redirects: If a link points to a page on your website that no longer exists or has moved, setting up a 301 redirect to a relevant page ensures that you don’t lose the value of that backlink.
- Contact Webmasters: If you notice a lost link, consider reaching out to the webmaster of the linking site. A polite request to update or restore the link can often result in getting it back, especially if your content is still valuable.
- Be Patient: Reclaiming lost backlinks isn’t always immediate. It may take time for webmasters to respond or for search engines to recognise your efforts. Consistent monitoring and patience can pay off.
- Create New Backlinks: Sometimes, it’s more effective to focus on generating new backlinks by creating high-quality, shareable content. Engage in guest posting, share your expertise, and promote your content across relevant platforms to attract fresh links.
