What is Link Reclamation?
Link reclamation is the process of recovering lost backlinks or fixing broken link references to restore valuable link equity that previously pointed to your site. This strategy identifies links that once worked but now lead to 404 errors, moved pages, or incorrect URLs, then contacts site owners to update them with correct destinations.
Ecommerce SEO Glossary > Off-Page SEO > Link Reclamation
What You Need to Know about Link Reclamation
Recovers Previously Earned Authority
Sites lose backlinks when content moves, URLs change, or linking sites update their pages with broken links. Reclaiming these restores authority you already earned rather than building new links.
Easier Than Acquiring New Links
Site owners who previously linked are more receptive to fixing broken references than responding to cold outreach, making reclamation more efficient than starting relationships from scratch.
Identifies Multiple Reclamation Opportunities
Common scenarios include 404 errors from site migrations, outdated product URLs, changed brand names, acquired domains with broken backlinks, and unlinked brand mentions that should include hyperlinks.
Requires Systematic Link Monitoring
Tools like Ahrefs and Semrush track lost backlinks, while Google Search Console shows crawl errors. Regular monitoring catches broken links quickly before linking sites remove references entirely.
Involves Polite Outreach
Contact site owners with specific broken link locations and correct replacement URLs, making updates easy for them. Provide value by mentioning other broken links on their site when relevant.
Delivers Quick Wins
Reclaimed links often restore rankings faster than new links since search engines already recognized the previous authority, and the linking pages may still carry strong authority themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions about Link Reclamation
1. How do you find lost backlinks to reclaim?
Use backlink tools to monitor “lost links” reports, check Search Console for crawl errors, and run site audits after migrations to identify broken internal and external link patterns.
2. What’s the success rate for link reclamation outreach?
Response rates typically range from 20-40% since site owners previously chose to link and usually want to maintain working references. Success improves with personalized, helpful outreach.
3. Should you reclaim all lost links?
Prioritize links from high-authority domains and relevant industry sites. Low-quality or spammy lost links aren’t worth recovering—focus effort on backlinks that meaningfully impact rankings.
4. Does link reclamation work after site migrations?
Absolutely. Migrations often break external links despite proper redirects. Proactive outreach to high-value linking sites ensures they update references directly rather than relying solely on redirects.RetryW
Explore More EcommerCe SEO Topics
Related Terms
Let’s Talk About Ecommerce SEO
If you’re ready to experience the power of strategic ecommerce seo and a flood of targeted organic traffic, take the next step to see if we’re a good fit.