If you're running an ecommerce site, chances are you've worked hard to build strong e-commerce backlinks to boost your SEO. But what happens when those links break or disappear? You lose traffic, trust, and valuable SEO juice. The good news? You can get them back!
Let’s walk through 5 easy and effective ways to reclaim broken or lost backlinks, using tools, common sense, and a little creativity.
- Use Ahrefs to Find Lost Backlinks
First things first: you need to know which backlinks are broken. This is where a tool like Ahrefs site explorer comes in handy.
Here’s what to do:
- Plug your domain into Ahrefs.
- Go to the “Broken Backlinks” or “Lost Backlinks” section.
- Sort by high Domain Rating (DR) or traffic to find the most valuable ones.
You’ll see a list of referring domains that used to link to you but don’t anymore. These are your lost opportunities. Some of those links may have pointed to deleted product pages or old blogs.
Tip: If you’re on a budget, free ones like Google Search Console can still help you find broken pages, just with less detail.
- Fix Broken Links with 301 Redirects
Now that you know where the broken links are, let’s fix the easiest ones: links pointing to pages that no longer exist.
Set up a 301 redirect from the broken URL to a new relevant page. This tells search engines and users, “Hey, we moved the content over here!”
Example:
If an old product page is gone, but you have a similar product, redirect to that new page. This helps preserve your backlink profile and internal links, too.
Bonus: This is great for SEO efforts because it keeps link equity flowing.
- Reach Out and Reclaim with a Friendly Email
Not all links can be fixed with a redirect. Sometimes, other websites remove or change your links. When that happens, it’s time for manual outreach.
Send a kind, personal outreach email asking them to restore the link. Make it easy by:
- Showing the old link
- Suggesting where it can be fixed
- Offering a helpful alternative if the page no longer exists
Don’t be spammy. Keep it human and helpful. This is classic white hat e-commerce backlinks work.
Here’s a short email you can use:
Hey [Name],
I noticed your page [insert URL] used to link to our resource at [broken link], but it looks like it’s not working anymore. We’ve updated the content and here’s the new link: [new URL].
Feel free to swap it in if it still fits! Let me know if you need anything.
Cheers,
[Your Name]
- Rebuild the Content That Got You Links
If a page got good links before, it probably offered value. Why not bring it back better?
- Find the broken page in your backlink analysis.
- Recreate the content, updating it for today.
- Use Google Analytics to check if that page used to drive traffic.
- Make it even more useful this time: add new data, fresh images, or better product info.
Then, go back to the sites that linked to the old version and share the new one.
Boom — you just turned a broken page into a brand-new link building win!
- Find Niche Backlinks Using Broken Link Building Here’s a fun one: broken link building doesn’t have to start with your links.
Instead, find broken links on other websites in your niche. Then, offer your content as a better replacement.
Here’s how:
- Use Ahrefs to scan a competitor’s site for broken pages.
- See who links to those dead pages.
- Create similar (but better) content.
- Reach out with a helpful email offering your link as a fix.
This works best for niche backlinks — the kind that are specific to your products or audience.
You’re not just fixing links; you’re being useful. That’s the heart of white hat e-commerce backlinks.
Conclusion
Losing backlinks doesn’t mean the end of your SEO gains. With the right tools and techniques, you can turn broken links into fresh wins.
From using Ahrefs site explorer to sending friendly outreach emails, these 5 strategies are simple, smart, and proven to work.
So go ahead—start digging into your ecommerce site’s backlink history and reclaim those lost opportunities today!
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