Deutsch
English
Dead Page Finding
What is Dead Page Finding?
Dead Page Finding is a strategic SEO technique that identifies unreachable web pages to generate backlink opportunities. This method is part of Broken Link Building and leverages the fact that many websites link to inactive or deleted pages.
Why is Dead Page Finding effective?
1. High Success Rate
Webmasters are often grateful when they are pointed to broken links and receive a better alternative at the same time.
2. Win-Win Situation
- For the Webmaster: Broken links are repaired
- For You: New backlink is generated
3. Natural Approach
This method appears organic and non-intrusive as it provides real value.
Tools for Dead Page Finding
1. Ahrefs Broken Links Checker
- Function: Identifies broken links on target websites
- Advantage: Comprehensive database with link status
- Cost: From €99/month
2. SEMrush Backlink Audit
- Function: Finds broken Link Citations from competitors
- Advantage: Competitor analysis integrated
- Cost: From €119/month
3. Screaming Frog SEO Spider
- Function: Crawls websites and finds 404 errors
- Advantage: Detailed technical analysis
- Cost: Free (up to 500 URLs)
4. Check My Links (Chrome Extension)
- Function: Browser extension for quick checks
- Advantage: Immediate results
- Cost: Free
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Identify Target Websites
Choose websites that:
- Have high Domain Authority (DA 40+)
- Publish relevant content on your topic
- Show many external links
Step 2: Find Broken Links
Use tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog to identify broken links.
Step 3: Filter Relevant Dead Pages
Focus on pages that:
- Match thematically with your website
- Have good backlink potential
- Were current and valuable
Step 4: Create Replacement Content
Develop high-quality content that:
- Exceeds the original page
- Provides current information
- Is SEO-optimized
Step 5: Conduct Outreach
Contact webmasters with:
- Friendly tone
- Clear explanation of the problem
- Concrete solution
Step 6: Follow-up
Stay polite and professional in your follow-up.
Best Practices for Dead Page Finding
1. Quality over Quantity
Better 5 high-quality links than 20 weak backlinks.
2. Ensure Relevance
The replacement content must match thematically.
3. Maintain Quality
Polite and helpful communication is crucial.
4. Consider Sustainability
Create content that remains valuable long-term.
5. Implement Tracking
Monitor the performance of your new backlinks.
Avoid Common Mistakes
1. Spam-like Requests
Avoid generic email templates.
2. Irrelevant Suggestions
The replacement content must match thematically.
3. Aggressive Follow-ups
Patience and professionalism are important.
4. Poor Content Quality
The replacement content must be better than the original.
Measuring Success
KPIs for Dead Page Finding:
- Number of dead pages found: 50-100 per month
- Outreach success rate: 70-80%
- Link success rate: 50-70%
- Domain Authority of new links: DA 30+
Tools for Monitoring:
- Google Search Console
- Ahrefs Backlink Monitoring
- SEMrush Position Tracking
Legal Aspects
1. Respect Copyright
Never copy content from the original page.
2. Consider Fair Use
Use only publicly available information.
3. Maintain Transparency
Be honest about your intentions.
Future of Dead Page Finding
With increasing digitization and content overflow on the internet, Dead Page Finding becomes more relevant. AI tools will further automate the identification of dead pages.
Conclusion
Dead Page Finding is an effective and ethical method of link building that benefits both webmasters and SEO experts. With the right strategy and appropriate tools, you can generate high-quality backlinks while helping other websites.