10 Examples of Outreach Emails That Won Us Major Links (Steal These!)

Hey there. Let’s talk about something that makes most SEOs want to pull their hair out: writing outreach emails that gets responses.

If you’re in this field, you’ve been there. You spend hours finding the perfect prospects, crafting (what you think is) a brilliant email, and you hit “send”… only to be met with a wall of silence. Or worse, a curt “unsubscribe” or “this is spam.”

It’s frustrating. I know. My team and I have sent tens of thousands of outreach emails over the years. We’ve failed more times than I can count. But in that process, we’ve also struck gold.

We learned that successful link building isn’t about volume; it’s about psychology. It’s not about templates; it’s about connections. It’s not about what you want (a link), but about what they get (value).

The spammy, low-effort “Dear Webmaster, I love your site [yourblog.com], please link to me” emails are dead. They’ve been dead for years. And yet, my inbox is still full of them.

Today, I’m pulling back the curtain. I’m not just giving you 10 templates to copy-paste. I’m giving you the strategy, the psychology, and the exact, field-tested email examples that have won us major, high-authority links from blogs, news sites, and industry-leading publications.

These are the emails that start conversations. And conversations, my friends, are what build links.

So, let’s get into it.

Why Most Outreach Emails Fails (and Ours Succeeds)

Before I give you a single template, we need to agree on the fundamentals. If you skip this section and just copy the templates, you’ll fail.

Your outreach must be built on what I call the “Holy Trinity” of modern link building:

1. Hyper-Personalization: I’m not talking about [First Name]. I’m talking about real personalization. Mentioning a specific point from a podcast they were on. Congratulating them on a recent company funding round. Referencing a Tweet they posted this morning. This shows you’re a real, engaged human, not a bot. Statistics from Backlinko show that personalized emails get significantly higher response rates. This isn’t optional.
2. A Crystal-Clear Value Proposition: The person you’re emailing is busy. Their inbox is a warzone. You have about five seconds to answer their one, burning question: “What’s in it for me?” If your email is all about “me, me, me,” (my post, my link, my client), it’s getting deleted. The value must be for them. Are you saving them time? Giving them a better resource for their readers? Alerting them to a problem (like a broken link) that you’ve already solved?
3. Perfect Prospecting: You can write the world’s greatest email, but if you send it to info@[domain].com, it’s going straight to a black hole. Your job is to find the right person. Is it the Content Manager? The Editor-in-Chief? The specific author of the article you’re referencing? A little detective work on LinkedIn or the site’s “About” page goes a long way.

Every single template below is built on this foundation. Let’s dive into the examples.

The 10 Outreach Emails That Win Us Links

Here they are, the exact strategies and templates my team and I use for outreach emails.

1. The “Classic” Guest Post Pitch (Done Right)

Why it works: This isn’t a “Dear Sir, do you accept guest posts?” email. It’s a targeted pitch that shows you’ve done your homework. You’re not asking them for a “topic”; you’re giving them three fully-vetted content ideas that you know their audience will love.

Steal This Email:

Subject: Guest Post Idea for [Site Name]

Hi [First Name],

I’ve been a huge fan of [Site Name] for a while now—your recent article on [Mention a specific, recent article] was spot-on, especially your point about [mention one specific detail].

My name is [Your Name], and I’m the [Your Title] at [Your Company/Site], where we [one-line description of what you do].

I know you get a lot of pitches, so I’ll be brief. I’d love to write a guest post for your audience. I’ve already done some keyword research on topics you don’t fully cover yet and came up with three potential angles I think your readers would get massive value from:

• [Content Idea #1 - Make it a catchy headline]
• [Content Idea #2 - Focus on a data-driven angle]
• [Content Idea #3 - A "how-to" or case study]

I’m a details-oriented writer and promise to deliver a comprehensive, well-researched, and 100% original piece. To give you a feel for my writing style, here are a couple of recent posts I’ve published on sites like [Authority Site 1] and [Authority Site 2]:

• [Link to Example 1]
• [Link to Example 2]

What do you think?

Cheers,

[Your Name]

[Your Site]

Pro-Tip: Make sure your 3-topic ideas are genuinely good and not just a rehash of their existing content. Use Ahrefs or Semrush to find content gaps.

2. The Broken Link Building (BLB) Power-Play

Why it works: This is pure, unadulterated value. You are doing them a favor. You’re helping them fix their website (a broken link, which is bad for their SEO and user experience) and simultaneously offering a perfect replacement. You’re a problem-solver, not a beggar.

Steal This Email:

Subject: Broken link on your [Page Title] page

Hi [First Name],

I was doing some research on [Topic] this morning and came across your excellent article: [Link to Their Article].

Just wanted to give you a quick heads-up that one of the external links you’re referencing seems to be broken. It’s the link to [Name of the dead site/page].

I just clicked on it and got a 404 error.

On that same note, I actually just published a comprehensive guide on [Same Topic] that’s up-to-date for 2025. It might make a great replacement for that dead link.

Here’s the link: [Link to Your Article]

No pressure at all, but thought it might be a helpful resource for your readers.

Either way, keep up the great work on the blog!

All the best,

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: Don’t be pushy. The key is to be genuinely helpful. If you offer a high-quality replacement, they are often happy to make the swap.

3. The Unlinked Brand Mention

Why it works: This is the lowest-hanging fruit in all of link building. They already like you enough to talk about you. You’re just asking them to make that mention “official” with a link. It’s a tiny “ask” that has a massive success rate.

Steal This Email:

Subject: Quick question about your [Article Title] article

Hi [First Name],

[Your Name] here from the [Your Company] team.

We were so thrilled to see you mention us in your recent article on [Article Title]! We’re huge fans of your work, so this was a big “win” for our team.

I just had one tiny request—I noticed that when you mentioned [Your Company Name], it wasn’t linked to our site.

Would you be open to adding a link back to [your-site.com]? It would really help your readers find us, and honestly, we’d be incredibly grateful.

Thanks again for the shout-out!

Cheers,

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: Use a tool like Ahrefs’ Content Explorer or Google Alerts to find these mentions automatically. The key is to be quick and incredibly polite.

4. The “Better Resource” (Skyscraper) Pitch

Why it works: Named after Brian Dean’s “Skyscraper Technique,” this works because you’re leveraging their existing interest in a topic. You’ve identified a resource they already link to and are presenting them with a provably better version (more current, more detailed, better-designed).

Steal This Email:

Subject: Your [Their Article Title] post

Hi [First Name],

I was searching for [Topic] today and found your post: [Their Article Title].

Great stuff. I saw you linked to [Competitor's/Old Article]. I actually used to reference that piece all the time.

I noticed it’s a bit outdated—a lot of the data is from 2020. So, my team and I actually created a new, more comprehensive guide. It’s [adjective 1, e.g., 'more detailed'], [adjective 2, e.g., 'data-driven'], and includes [Unique Feature, e.g., 'a new case study'].

Here it is: [Link to Your Skyscraper Content]

Might be worth a mention as a more up-to-date resource for your readers.

Keep up the awesome work!

Best,

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: Your content must actually be better. Don’t just say it is. It needs to be visually obvious within 10 seconds of them clicking your link.

5. The Resource Page “Helpful Suggestion”

Why it works: People who curate “useful links” or “resource” pages are actively looking for high-quality resources. You’re just making their job easier. The key here is to position your link as a helpful addition to their already-great list.

Steal This Email:

Subject: A suggestion for your [Resource Page Title]

Hi [First Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I’m the founder of [Your Site], a site dedicated to [Your Niche].

I stumbled upon your fantastic resource page: [Link to Their Resource Page]

What a great list of tools! I’ve already bookmarked it.

I saw you listed [Competitor 1] and [Competitor 2]. I actually just launched a similar resource, [Your Resource], that [one-sentence benefit]. It was recently featured on [Authority Site], and I thought it might be a valuable addition for your audience.

You can check it out here: [Link to Your Resource]

Of course, no worries if it’s not a good fit. Just wanted to pass it along!

Thanks,

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: Find these pages by using Google search operators like: [Your Topic] + "helpful resources" or [Your Topic] + intitle:"links".

6. The Infographic/Visual Asset Pitch

Why it works: People love visual content. It breaks up text and makes complex topics easy to digest. By offering a high-quality, relevant infographic, you’re giving them a beautiful asset to improve their existing article, for free.

Steal This Email:

Subject: A new infographic for your [Article Title] post

Hi [First Name],

I was reading your article on [Article Title], and I absolutely loved your insights on [Specific Point].

My team and I just finished designing a new infographic that breaks down [The exact topic of the infographic]. Since it’s so relevant to your article, I thought you (and your readers) might get a kick out of it.

You can see the full graphic here: [Link to Infographic]

If you like it, feel free to embed it in your post. All we’d ask is for a simple link back to our site to credit us as the source.

Let me know what you think!

Best,

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: Include a pre-written HTML embed code in your email to make it ridiculously easy for them to add it to their site. The less work they have to do, the higher your success rate.

7. The “Expert Roundup” Contribution Pitch

Why it works: This is a proactive move. Instead of just asking for links, you’re earning them by providing your expertise. You’re offering free, high-value content (your expert quote) in exchange for a link and attribution.

Steal This Email:

Subject: [Topic] Expert?

Hi [First Name],

I saw you’re putting together an expert roundup on [Topic]. (Or: I see you do expert roundups often).

My name is [Your Name], and as the [Your Title] of [Your Company], I’ve spent the last [X] years specializing in exactly this.

If you’re still looking for contributors, I’d be happy to provide a 1-2 paragraph quote on [Specific Sub-Topic] or [Specific Sub-Topic].

For reference, I was recently featured in [Authority Site 1] and [Authority Site 2].

No problem if your list is already full. Just wanted to offer!

Best,

[Your Name]

[Your Site]

[Link to your LinkedIn or “About” page]

Pro-Tip: Find these by searching for [Your Topic] + "expert roundup". Respond to HARO (Help a Reporter Out) queries, as they often result in high-authority links.

8. The “Link Move” / Content Update Request

Why it works: This is for when you already have a link, but it’s not ideal. Maybe they’re linking to your homepage when they should be linking to a specific blog post. Or maybe they’re linking to an old, outdated article you’ve since replaced. This is a low-friction request.

Steal This Email:

Subject: Quick update to your link on [Their Site Name]

Hi [First Name],

I hope you’re doing well.

First off, thank you so much for linking to [Our Site/Old Page] in your fantastic article: [Their Article Title]. We really appreciate the support!

I’m reaching out because I noticed the link points to our [Old Page/Homepage].

We actually just published a much more detailed article on that exact topic, which I think your readers would find even more helpful.

Would you be open to updating the link to point to this new, more specific URL?

Old Link: [Old URL]

New, Better Link: [New, Specific URL]

It would be a huge help to us and make for a better experience for your readers.

Thanks for your consideration!

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: This is a great way to “funnel” link equity from your homepage to a specific, money-making or high-priority content page.

9. The “Data-Driven” Pitch (For Big Wins)

Why it works: You’re not just pitching content; you’re pitching data. Journalists and top-tier bloggers don’t want opinions; they want new, original statistics to cite. If you’ve run a survey, done a case study, or analyzed proprietary data, this is your golden ticket.

Steal This Email:

Subject: New Data: [Shocking Statistic or Finding]

Hi [First Name],

I’m a [Your Title] and a long-time reader of [Their Publication].

I’m reaching out because my team just completed a study on [Topic]—we surveyed [X number] of [people] and the results were fascinating.

One of our key findings was that [Your #1 Most Interesting Stat].

I know your readers are always interested in the latest data on [Topic]. I’d be happy to send over the full report (or an exclusive summary) if you’d be interested in covering it.

Here’s the full study: [Link to Your Data]

Thanks for your time,

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: This is how you get links from .edu sites and major news outlets. The key is original research. It’s a lot of work, but one such piece can earn 100x more links than 10 guest posts.

10. The Simple, Polite Follow-Up

Why it works: Most of your links won’t come from the first email. People are busy. Your email got buried. A single, polite follow-up is often all it takes. A study by Yesware found that 70% of unanswered email chains would have gotten a reply if one more follow-up was sent.

Steal This Email:

Subject: Re: [Original Subject Line]

Hi [First Name],

Just wanted to “bubble this up” in your inbox.

I know you’re super busy, but I was just wondering if you had a chance to look over my suggestion below?

No worries if you’re not interested!

Cheers,

[Your Name]

Pro-Tip: Send this 3-5 business days after your first email. Keep it short. Don’t be passive-aggressive. Be polite and professional. I rarely follow up more than twice.

How to Personalize at Scale: A Tiered Approach

You can’t spend 30 minutes personalizing every email. The key is to match your effort to the value of the prospect. We use a tiered system.

Your Top 10 Outreach Questions, Answered (F.A.Q.)

My team and I get asked these all the time. Here are the rapid-fire answers.

1. What’s a “good” response rate for cold outreach?

Honestly, it can be brutal. For pure-cold outreach, a 5-10% response rate is considered pretty good. But using the highly-personalized, value-driven methods above, we consistently hit 20-30% reply rates.

2. Is it ever okay to buy links?

No. Just… no. It’s a direct violation of Google’s Webmaster Guidelines and the fastest way to get a manual penalty. You’re building a house of cards that will collapse. Don’t do it.

3. How do I find the right person’s email address?

Start with LinkedIn to find the person (e.g., “Content Manager at [Company]”). Then use a tool like Hunter.io or Snov.io to find their email. If that fails, try common patterns like first.name@[domain].com or first_initial_lastname@[domain].com.

4. What’s the best day and time to send an email?

Don’t overthink this. We’ve found the most success sending on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings (around 9-11 AM in their local time zone). Avoid Monday (too busy) and Friday (checked out).

5. Should I care about Dofollow vs. Nofollow links?

For SEO, dofollow links are the ones that pass “link equity” or “PageRank.” These are your primary goal. Nofollow links don’t pass this equity, but they’re still valuable for driving real traffic and building brand authority. A natural link profile has a mix of both.

6. How long should my email be?

Short. Shorter than you think. Aim for 100-150 words, max. Your goal is not to tell your life story. Your goal is to get a reply. Make it scannable, use short sentences, and have one clear Call-to-Action (CTA).

7. How many follow-ups are too many?

My rule: one or two, maximum. The first follow-up (Template #10) is essential. A second, “final” follow-up a week later is sometimes okay. Anything more than that, and you’re crossing the line from “persistent” to “pest.”

8. Should I use email automation tools?

Yes, but carefully. Tools like BuzzStream, Pitchbox, or Mailshake are amazing for managing campaigns and sending follow-ups. But they must be used to send highly-personalized emails at scale, not to blast 1,000 people with the same generic template.

9. What’s the single biggest mistake you see?

Making the email all about “you” and “your” needs. The second you reframe your entire thinking to be about “them” and “their” audience, your success rate will skyrocket.

10. Is link building dead?

(I had to include this one). No. It’s just evolved. Spammy, low-effort, automated link building is dead. But strategic, relationship-based, value-first link earning is more important for SEO than ever.

Final Thoughts: It’s About Relationships, Not Links

I’ve given you 10 templates for outreach emails, but the real secret isn’t in the words I wrote. It’s in the mindset behind them.

The best link builders I know are master relationship-builders. They are helpful, patient, and they always lead with value. They treat the person on the other end of the email like a human, not a “target.”

So please, steal these templates. But more importantly, steal the philosophy. Stop asking for links. Start solving problems, providing value, and building connections.

The links will follow. I promise.