Resource page link building: earning a place on curated lists
Resource pages exist to point readers somewhere useful. That makes them the most straightforward link opportunity available, and the easiest to waste with a generic email.
What is resource page link building?
Resource page link building means getting your page added to a maintained list of references on someone else's site, because it genuinely helps the readers that list was built for.
Finding pages that are still maintained
- Look for lists inside your subject area, not general link directories.
- Check whether entries have descriptions written by the curator. That is the sign of a human list.
- Look for recent additions, or a visible last updated date.
- Skip anything that advertises submissions, sponsorships or paid inclusion.
Deciding whether you belong on the list
Read the existing entries and find the section yours would sit in. If no section fits, the list is not for you. If a section fits but your page is weaker than everything already there, improve the page before you write the email.
The pitch
Name the list and the section, give the URL, and say in one line what a reader gets. Do not describe your company, do not attach anything, and do not ask for a link in exchange for one. Curators add resources because their readers benefit.
Confirming the placement
Once a curator says yes, check the list again after a few days. Confirm your URL is in the HTML, read the anchor text and rel attribute, and keep a dated screenshot showing where on the page it sits.
Frequently asked questions
How do you tell a real resource page from a link dump?
A real one is organised for a reader: entries are grouped, described, and occasionally removed. A link dump lists everything, describes nothing, and never shrinks.
What belongs on a resource page?
Something a reader can use without buying anything: a guide, a dataset, a calculator, a template, documentation. A product page rarely qualifies.
How long should the pitch be?
Short enough to read on a phone. Name the list, name the section, give the URL and one line on what a reader gets from it.