Does Manual Link-Building Still Work? (with Real Examples)

Is manual link building dead?

It’s a question I hear a lot these days, and honestly, I get it.

With automation and AI everywhere, everything is about doing things faster and more efficiently.

Who has time to manually build links anymore, right?

Well, we do. And we’re here to tell you why you should, too 👇

Is Manual Link-Building Still a Viable Approach Today?

Manual link-building might not be the sexiest or fastest high-tech, rootin’ tootin’ strategy, but it’s still one of the most effective.

Why? Think of it like this: automated link building is like hitting the “quick start” button on your microwave—it’s quick and convenient, but you don’t always get the best results.

Manual link building, on the other hand, takes more time and effort. Sure. But you have complete control over how your backlink profile shapes up.

Why is this important? Google’s been cracking down on spammy link-building tactics for years. They’re not messing around. If you’re caught trying to game the system with shady links, you could end up with a manual action that could make a website literally disappear from G’s index.

Manual link building gives you the power to avoid such penalties.

You get to choose which websites you want links from, craft personalized outreach messages, and ensure that every link you build is high-quality and niche relevant.

And here’s a big old tick in the manual link-building column: Google’s practically begging you to build links manually. Their algorithm updates have consistently rewarded websites with natural, high-quality backlinks.

Sure, manual link-building isn’t the easy way, but it’s the most low-risk, high-reward way.

So, yes. Manual link-building is very much alive and kicking.

Manual vs. Automated Link-Building

I’ve been singing the praises of manual link-building, but I’m not going to sit here and pretend that there isn’t a place for automated link-building.

So, please, allow me to clear up one thing: there is a place for automation and AI, no doubt. BUT understand that “automated” link-building is a bit of a misnomer. It doesn’t mean you can just set it and forget it, like some sort of backlink Roomba.

Nuh-uh, most automated link-building tools still require human input and oversight. They just help streamline certain tasks, like finding link opportunities, sending outreach emails, and tracking your progress.

But here within lies the problem with “automated” link-building: as soon as you start inviting automation into your life, there’s a temptation to place too much over-reliance on such tools.

Trust the decision-making of AI tools at your own risk.

You see, AI-generated outreach emails, a feature common in automated link-building tools, can lack the personalization of a human-drafted email. That personalization might just be the thing that convinces the recipient to link to you. ‘Cause, I swear, if I read another outreach email, I will scream. 

You see, as soon as I sense that GPT has written an email, my eyes gloss over, and I immediately hit the delete button.

Don’t fall into that trap.

Another thing: AI reasoning can be, well, whack. If you’ve played around enough with AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, you’ll know what I mean. They make mistakes… a LOT of mistakes. And that can be a recipe for success when looking for link opportunities.

The reputation of your site, or your clients’ sites, is literally on the line.

So, here’s the point: if you opt for automation, do your due diligence and double, no triple-check its work. Don’t waste your time sending outreach that won’t cut it. And don’t place too much trust in the decision-making of AI tools.

It’ll do more harm than good.

Want to read the arguments for automated link-building? You got it: our breakdown of automated link-building.

5 Manual Link-Building Tactics That Still Pack a Punch

Okay, enough with the philosophical debate. Let’s touch back on why you’re really here: manual link-building is worth your time.

Yes, it’s time-consuming. I’ll grant you that. But as links can have such a big impact on a site’s rankings, both positively AND negatively, it’s probably a good idea that you DO actually spend a decent amount of time on this thing.

With that reminder out of the way, here are some tactics that’ll make your efforts worth their while:

1. Expert Roundups

Expert roundups gather insights from industry leaders, creating a valuable resource publishers can put together for their readers. The payoff for offering your insights as a featured industry leader? The publisher links to your website—a backlink.

So, how do you rock an expert roundup and make those backlinks rain?

First, you need to find the right roundups. Here’s where Google search operators come in. These gems help you narrow down your search and find roundups that are relevant to your niche and hosted on authoritative websites.

Here are a few to get you started:

• “expert roundup” + [your keyword] will find roundups that specifically mention your keyword.
• Intitle:“expert roundup” + [your keyword] will find roundups that have “expert roundup” in the title tag.
• [your keyword] + “contribute” OR “share your insights” will find pages that are actively seeking expert opinions.

Once you’ve found a few promising roundups, it’s time to assess their authority. Look for websites with a high domain rating (DR)—the higher the DR, the more valuable the backlink.

Now, outreach. You need to reach out to the publishers you have in your sights, introduce yourself, and show them why you’re the expert they need. Craft a compelling pitch that highlights your expertise, showcases your unique perspective, and makes them eager to include you in their roundup.

Next, craft a killer quote. Don’t just regurgitate generic advice or rehash something you read on Wikipedia. Offer unique insights, share personal experiences, and make your quote stand out. This is your chance to shine, so make it count!

And once the roundup is published, don’t just sit back and wait for the magic to happen. Share it on social media and link to it from your website.

Example:

Check out this expert roundup from ShareGate on Microsoft 365 governance strategies. They’ve included quotes from two industry experts, each offering valuable insights and accompanied by professional headshots.

Looking great. Work, ShareGate team!

2. Creating Linkable Assets

Maybe I’m not one to talk, but let’s be honest, most content online is pretty forgettable. It’s the same generic blog posts, the same rehashed ideas, and the same boring advice.

But here’s the thing: you don’t have to be part of the content snoozefest. You can create content that makes people sit up and take notice. Content that makes them say, “Whoa, this is actually useful!” And guess what? That kind of content attracts, you got it, backlinks.

We’re talking about linkable assets—those irresistible pieces of content that other websites can’t help but link to.

So, what makes an asset truly linkable? Well, for starters, it needs to be original. Don’t just rehash the same old information that everyone else is regurgitating. Conduct your own research, analyze data, and uncover insights that will make you the go-to source in your industry.

Next, go deep. Don’t just skim the surface; dive into the depths of your topic and create comprehensive guides that leave no questions unanswered. And once you’ve created your linkable assets, don’t just let them sit there gathering dust. Promote them, of course.

Example:

When it comes to linkable assets, nobody does it better than SparkToro. Seriously, these guys have been killing it with their content since day dot. I mean, take the above screenshot as an example. 332 million queries were analyzed just to give us readers this never-before-published data on how people use Google.

It’s no wonder this post has been shared and linked to by countless websites and publications. Keep the insights coming, Rand and team.

3. Broken Link-Building

Real talk: most SEOs approach broken link building with the subtlety of a bulldozer. They find a broken link, fire off a generic email begging for a replacement, and then wonder why they get ignored,

Here’s a better way: instead of begging for links, offer solutions. Here’s how:

First, you need to find those broken links. And no, I’m not talking about randomly clicking around websites hoping to stumble upon a 404 error. A better way is to use the right tools. Tools like Ahrefs and Semrush will uncover broken links in no time.

Just don’t just go after any broken link. Prioritize links on high-authority websites with tons of relevant traffic. Those are the links that will really move the needle.

Once you’ve found a broken link or two, it’s time to put together some killer content. Create something truly valuable, something that will make website owners drool with envy. Think in-depth guides, original research, or even interactive tools.

Now, for the final touch: the outreach email. This is where you seal the deal and turn that broken link into a shiny new backlink. But don’t just send a generic email begging for a link.

Instead, craft a personalized message that highlights the broken link, explains how your content will benefit their audience, and makes it super easy for them to say “yes.”

Example:

I was going to throw together an email draft for an example here, but then I stumbled across this gem from Brian Dean from Backlinko.

Take the time to read it and note Brian’s personalized, easy-going approach. It’s beautiful—a great example of how outreach should be done. He got a response, of course. He earned himself a backlink. Granted, I’m sure being Brian Dean doesn’t hurt your outreach success.

Regardless, great work Backlinko team. Nailing it!

4. Unlinked Brand Mentions

Ever stumbled across a website that mentions your brand but doesn’t bother to link to your website? Talk about rude, right?

Beyond pleasantries, those unlinked brand mentions are just begging to be backlinks. Think of it like this: the publisher is already talking about you; all you need to do is gently nudge them in the right direction (aka link to you or your client’s website).

So, how do you find these websites that are name-dropping you without giving you the link love you deserve?

Google Alerts is your best friend here. Set up alerts for your brand name, product names, and any key phrases, and Google will be your personal informant, notifying you whenever someone mentions you online.

You can also use social listening tools like Brandwatch and Mention to keep an ear to the ground and hear what people are saying about you across the web.

Once you’ve found some culprits, it’s time to send them a friendly email. Politely point out that they mentioned your brand but forgot to include a link. Make it super easy for them by providing the exact URL you want them to link to, and offer to answer any questions they might have.

Example:

Take a look at this example from MUO. They’ve featured Loganix in their article about guest posting services, highlighting our expertise and hand-picked domains. But guess what? They forgot to link to our website.

This is a perfect opportunity to reach out and politely request a link. Speaking of… BRB.

Learn more: how to find unlinked brand mentions.

5. Guest Blogging

Back in the day, guest blogging was like a free-for-all. You could churn out generic articles and get them published on just about any old website. But those days are gone. Now, websites are more selective. They want quality, they want relevance, and they want to know you’re not just in it for the backlink.

So, what’s the play these days? First, you need to find the right websites. Don’t waste your time on low-quality sites that will accept just about anything. Look for authoritative websites in your niche with an engaged audience.

Once you’ve found a potential target, it’s time to get your outreach on again. I won’t bore you with the lecture. I’m sure you understand what good outreach looks like at this point. Channel your inner Brian Dean.

Once you’ve got a hit, offer something truly valuable. Don’t just rehash the same old ideas that everyone else is writing about. Offer a unique perspective, share original research, or provide actionable advice that their readers will love.

Example:

Check out this guest post by Craig Schoolkate on our blog. Craig is a Content Specialist for Empire Flippers, a leading M&A brokerage. He wrote a fantastic article for us back in 2021, providing valuable insights for our audience of SEO professionals and digital marketers. In return, he got a nice backlink to his website and exposure to a new audience.

A win-win for both parties!

FYI: we offer guest posting services.

Conclusion and Next Steps

So, there you have it—a crash course in manual link building that would make even the most seasoned SEO pro nod in approval.

But let’s be real: link building isn’t always a walk in the park. It takes time, effort, and a whole lot of know-how.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or just want to leave it to the experts, Loganix (that’s us) is here to swoop in and save the day.

Ready to make this thing a reality?

🚀 Head over to our manual link-building services page, and let’s do just that. 🚀