What's your biggest link building challenge currently, and what steps are you taking to overcome it? Share one strategy you're experimenting with.

One of the biggest link building challenges today is standing out in a world full of generic outreach. Everyone claims to offer "high-quality content" or "valuable guest posts," but site owners have seen it all and they're tuning out. The real challenge is earning attention and trust. To tackle this, we've shifted from mass outreach to relationship first link building. We focus on 10-15 high-authority, niche-relevant websites per month and build rapport before making any ask. It's slower, but far more effective. One strategy we're actively experimenting with is a co-created asset + expert roundup hybrid. We invite our target websites or influencers to contribute a quote or data point to a larger, insight-rich report. Once it's published, they're more likely to link back to it because they're part of it and we make it easy by providing short snippets or branded visuals they can plug into their blog or newsletter. We also warm up these relationships on LinkedIn commenting on posts, engaging with their content, and showing up before landing in their inbox. In 2025, link building isn't about being loud. It's about being relevant, credible, and genuinely collaborative. That's what moves the needle.

One of the biggest challenges right now is the sheer volume of AI-generated outreach flooding publishers' inboxes. Editors are more skeptical than ever -- they've seen the same templated requests a hundred times. To cut through the noise, I've been experimenting with ultra-personalized link edits that include context-rich surrounding content. Instead of dropping a link into a sentence or two, I create new, relevant paragraphs that improve the original article -- like adding updated stats, clarifying context, or linking to complementary resources. This makes the pitch feel collaborative rather than transactional, and it's led to significantly higher response rates from real, high-quality sites.

One of the biggest challenges we face isn't building links -- it's keeping them. We'll secure placements on strong DR70+ sites, only to have the client accidentally sabotage them. Pages get noindexed, deleted, or buried under affiliate clutter. The link still exists, but the equity? Gone. To fix this, we've started treating links like assets that need maintenance. We run regular audits, monitor for changes, and even trained one client's dev team on how not to break SEO mid-update. Now, we're experimenting with "link preservation" as a service. Everyone's chasing volume -- we're asking if retention actually delivers better ROI. So far, it's sticky: clients love it, and Google seems to reward it too.

Our biggest link building challenge currently is scaling quality outreach while maintaining authenticity in an increasingly skeptical media landscape. Journalists are rightfully hesitant about generic pitches, making traditional outreach less effective than it once was. We're addressing this by implementing a two-tier content strategy. Instead of creating generic thought leadership content, we develop primary research with original data, then build secondary content that references this first-party information. This approach gives editors a compelling reason to work with us as we are providing unique, insightful information. One strategy we're actively testing is collaborative content partnerships with complementary but non-competing brands. By combining our expertise in communication technology with partners in productivity software, we create comprehensive resources that attract links from multiple sectors. Initial results show these collaborative projects generate approximately 3x more backlinks because they benefit from multiple promotion channels and broader relevance.

Original research reports have cracked our toughest link building challenges. Creating data-driven resources solves the content quality issue that plagues most link outreach efforts. Our agency struggled with diminishing returns from traditional guest posting and resource link building. Everything changed when we invested in creating original research studies with unique insights about our industry. Our digital marketing benchmark report analyzing a lot of campaigns generated more quality backlinks than our previous six months of outreach combined. Uncovering data no one else had access to - aggregating anonymized client performance metrics across different industries and marketing channels. This exclusive insight made the content inherently linkable as other sites needed to cite our findings. Implementation requires significant upfront investment in data collection and analysis, but the continued link acquisition justifies the effort. Our latest research report is still generating new backlinks six months after publication with minimal additional outreach. When you offer genuinely unique insights backed by proprietary data, linking becomes a natural editorial decision rather than a favor.

One of my biggest link building challenges right now is dealing with link sellers. While it might be tempting to purchase backlinks, these links often lack quality and relevance, and can be risky for long term SEO. With search engines increasingly focused on penalizing unnatural link building practices, it's important to pursue more sustainable, high quality methods. To overcome this, I've been leveraging HARO as an effective strategy. HARO connects me with journalists seeking expert insights, offering opportunities to earn high authority, relevant backlinks from trusted publications. In addition to HARO, I've been exploring other platforms like SourceBottle and JournoRequest, which are similar services that also provide media outreach opportunities. These platforms allow us to respond to industry specific queries and gain visibility in reputable outlets. A strategy I'm experimenting with is targeting specialized HARO platforms, such as HARO Featured or HARO Pro. By upgrading to these premium services, I'm able to get more targeted and timely opportunities that align closely with our niche, helping me earn backlinks from more authoritative sources within our industry. This approach focusing on HARO and other expert platforms is helping me build a natural, authoritative backlink profile while avoiding the risks of link sellers. It's all about building trust, establishing expertise, and securing high quality, niche driven backlinks for the long haul.

Our biggest challenge is cutting through the noise--everyone's pitching the same journalists and websites with the same tired templates. To stand out, we've started treating each outreach like a mini editorial pitch, not just a backlink ask. One strategy we're testing is building custom "data nuggets" or short insights tailored to the outlet's audience, backed by our own research or client trends. It takes more effort up front, but it's already leading to more meaningful responses--and actual placements instead of getting ghosted.

Our biggest challenge? Honestly, it's boredom with the same old outreach playbooks. Everyone's doing skyscraper this, broken link that. Feels robotic. So we're flipping it. Lately, we've been experimenting with building tiny web tools, niche, useful, weirdly specific. We recently created Ukulele Chords Detector, that detects chords names and extract the corresponding ukulele chord diagrams. We've had lots of great feedback from players. In addition we quietly let relevant communities find them. When the tool hits, the links come in naturally. It's slower, but more fun, and the backlinks are way more legit. Plus, no soul-crushing cold emails. Just creating something cool and letting it speak for itself.

Finding quality backlink opportunities that actually benefit both sides has been the biggest challenge lately. Anyone can chuck money at a random blog and call it a strategy... but let's not. I've stopped calling it "link building" altogether and now refer to it as an Online Network Strategy. It's less about chasing links, more about building genuine connections and creating content people actually want to share. At Pixelbricks, we focus on collaborating with relevant brands, getting featured where it makes sense, and writing stuff that doesn't feel like it was spat out by a content mill. It's how we helped Compex IT hit position one for "IT Support Birmingham" no spammy tactics, no cold DMs, just useful content and proper partnerships with local charities etc. The goal isn't just backlinks. It's trust, visibility and reach. All the good stuff... minus the awkward link begging.

What is currently one of the most significant challenges I encounter in link-building? Acquiring high-authority backlinks for a client in a B2B industrial automation sector. We are discussing PLC systems, control panels, and technical specifications. This isn't precisely the type of content that lifestyle bloggers or news sites are eager to connect with. The usual "guest post" or "listicle" method simply wasn't effective. I've discovered that even in the most mundane industries, there exists a narrative waiting to be shared--and an audience eager to connect. Strategy I'm Currently Testing: "Tactical Ego Baiting + Industry Data" We developed a benchmark report named "State of Industrial Automation: 2025 Trends from 150+ Engineers and Plant Managers." Here's a detailed breakdown of our process: Conducted a survey with over 150 industry professionals through LinkedIn outreach and focused cold emails. Organised the data into a polished, visual report showcasing trends, challenges, and future insights. Identified particular contributors by name and organization--with their consent--establishing them as influential voices in the field. Contacted with: Our insights have been included in our 2025 Automation Report. You're welcome to share it with your network or include it on your resources page! Reasons for Success 1. Individuals enjoy being highlighted. More than 40% of the participants in the report shared it on LinkedIn or referenced it on their company blogs, generating valuable backlinks that we wouldn't have obtained otherwise. 2. Industry publications highlighted it due to its originality in research rather than being just another article focused on keywords. 3. The report established our client as a trustworthy authority rather than merely another vendor. The Lesson? When conventional outreach falls short, produce content that individuals are eager to reference. It's not about deceiving anyone--it's about creating something so valuable, so pertinent, that individuals inherently desire to be connected with it. In 2025, link building focuses on generating valuable content that naturally attracts links rather than pursuing them directly. The more specialised the niche, the larger the potential--provided you are ready to invest the necessary strategic effort. Indeed, a PLC panel can secure a backlink... provided it fits into the appropriate narrative.

One of the biggest link-building challenges we face is securing high-quality backlinks in a saturated digital space. With publishers receiving numerous outreach requests daily, standing out requires a strategic approach. To overcome this, we're experimenting with content-driven link building. Instead of relying solely on outreach, we create high-value, data-driven industry reports and interactive content that naturally attract backlinks. For instance, our recent AI in Marketing Report gained significant traction, earning backlinks from 50+ authoritative sites within a month due to its exclusive insights. Additionally, we leverage digital PR--identifying trending topics and providing expert insights to journalists through platforms like Featured and HARO. This not only builds credibility but also secures authoritative links. Early results show a 20% increase in organic backlinks and improved domain authority. By prioritizing valuable, research-backed content and proactive PR strategies, we're enhancing our link-building success sustainably.

One of our biggest link building challenges right now is earning high-quality backlinks without relying on cold outreach or outdated tactics. With so much content being published daily, standing out requires more than just a decent pitch--it requires authority, originality, and real relationships. To overcome this, we're leaning into value-first collaborations and thought leadership placements. Instead of sending blanket emails, we focus on showing up consistently with content people want to reference--think strategic guest posts, data-backed insights, and story-driven case studies on platforms like Medium and LinkedIn. One strategy we're actively experimenting with: "mention-first content." We create content that naturally features industry peers, creators, or media outlets, then tag or notify them once it's live. This opens the door for shares, links, and collaborations without the awkward "can you link to this?" ask. It's slower than automation--but the links we're getting are higher quality, more relevant, and often lead to deeper partnerships down the line.

I face a challenge in getting backlinks from high-authority sites without using guest posts. Many top sites no longer accept guest articles, making it hard to earn organic backlinks from them. To solve this, I am trying data-driven outreach. Instead of pitching articles, we do original research, like industry trend reports or studies on consumer behavior, and share key findings with journalists and industry leaders. Recently, we analyzed engagement patterns in B2B SaaS marketing and shared exclusive insights with niche publications. By providing valuable and newsworthy data, we have earned high-quality backlinks from sites that usually do not accept guest posts. This method helps us build authority and develop long-term media relationships.

Overcoming Modern Link Building Challenges: A Real-World SEO Strategy One of the biggest link building challenges I currently face is securing high-authority backlinks from niche-relevant websites without relying on outdated tactics like mass guest posting or PBNs. In today's SEO landscape, Google values contextual relevance and content quality, which means that the bar for earning backlinks is higher than ever. To overcome this, I've been experimenting with a data-driven content strategy combined with digital PR outreach. Here's how: 1. Create Link-Worthy Assets (Original Research & Data Visuals) We recently launched an industry insights report backed by original data collected through surveys and Google review patterns, particularly for IT service companies (aligned with platforms like TechNewscast.io). This kind of resource provides real value to journalists, bloggers, and niche communities. 2. Targeted Outreach to Industry Blogs and SaaS Platforms Instead of mass emailing, we build custom outreach lists and pitch only to websites that have recently linked to similar content. We personalize emails with clear value propositions, such as "This chart could complement your recent post on AI trends." 3. Leverage Brand Mentions and Unlinked Citations Using tools like Ahrefs and Brand24, we identify mentions of our business or content that don't include a link, then reach out to request proper attribution. This strategy not only helps in earning authoritative backlinks, but also boosts brand visibility and referral traffic, which aligns perfectly with long-term SEO goals.

With my local SEO expertise, I've found that getting location-specific backlinks for small businesses is tough because many local news sites now use nofollow links or charge hefty fees. I'm experimenting with creating neighborhood-specific resource guides and reaching out to local business associations and chambers of commerce to cross-promote content, which has gotten us some early wins with three quality local links last month.

Our biggest link building challenge right now is securing high-quality backlinks directly to product-focused pages, not just top-of-funnel content. To tackle this, we're experimenting with value-first link partnerships--offering free access to our interactive email tools in exchange for inclusion in curated tool roundups and resource libraries. It's a win-win: publishers get to showcase something unique, and we get contextually relevant, high-authority links where they matter most.

Now, the biggest challenge with link building is getting solid, high-quality links without falling back on the same old outreach that everyone's tired of. Most editors and site owners get dozens of emails a day, and honestly, they can tell when it's the same copy-paste pitch they've seen a hundred times. What used to bring replies a few years ago just doesn't work anymore and it gets ignored. Since we're in Spokane, a lot of our clients are small local businesses. They're great at what they do, but they don't get the kind of media attention that makes people stop and look. So we can't just lean on big names or trends. We have to dig deeper, figure out what matters to the people we're reaching out to, and build something around that. Lately, we've been spending more time getting involved in places where our clients' audiences hang out -- forums, smaller blogs, and even local Facebook groups. We pay attention to what people are asking, what kind of content gets shared, and where the gaps are. If we can create something that helps with that, then when we do reach out. Yeah, it takes more effort, and it's not the fast track, but the links we get this way last, and they come from people who genuinely want to share what we've built. That's worth way more to us than chasing quick wins.

My biggest challenge at Lusha has been scaling our link building efforts while maintaining quality and relevance in the B2B space. I've been testing a hybrid approach where we identify companies using our product, reach out to their marketing teams for case study collaborations, and turn these into co-marketing opportunities that naturally lead to high-quality backlinks.

Biggest Link Building Challenge: The biggest challenge we currently face in link building is acquiring high-authority backlinks in a niche as competitive as WordPress development. Many top-tier websites in the tech and digital marketing space are saturated with pitches, making it difficult to stand out or secure placements without high costs or long wait times. Strategy We're Experimenting With: To overcome this, we're experimenting with a value-first, tool-based outreach strategy. Instead of sending generic guest post pitches, we've developed a free WordPress audit tool that site owners and bloggers can embed or feature in their content. It offers real-time performance insights and security suggestions--essentially delivering value to their readers. In exchange for featuring the tool, we request a contextual backlink. This approach not only offers something useful to the host site's audience but also encourages natural link placement within relevant content. This strategy has already resulted in higher response rates and stronger domain authority referrals, especially from niche bloggers and plugin reviewers. It's also helping us build genuine relationships in the WordPress ecosystem, which supports long-term link-building success beyond one-off placements.

Our biggest challenge at Zentro has been earning links from authoritative tech publications that are notoriously selective about who they cover. We've started hosting monthly virtual roundtables with industry experts discussing internet infrastructure challenges, which has attracted organic coverage and links from several respected tech blogs. While it takes more effort than traditional outreach, providing a platform for meaningful industry discussions has helped us build relationships that lead to natural link opportunities.