Picture getting backlinks from sites like HubSpot, Envato, Canva, G2, and more. Yes, high-quality links that actually make a difference. That’s what I’m breaking down today with a method I’ve been using: the 3-way backlink exchange. It’s a game-changer for landing quality links that stick.
Back in January 2024, I shared my 3-way link exchange strategy in SEONotebook, and it got great feedback. But here, I’ll break it down step by step.
I’ve used this approach to score links from heavy hitters like Canva, HubSpot, Namecheap, Shopify, and over 1,000+ other big names. I know it works.
Why 3-Way Link Exchanges Work
Alright, let’s get into why 3-way link exchanges are such a game-changer.
The beauty of this strategy? It’s natural for Google, which is exactly what we want. When you’re building links, you don’t want Google to catch wind of anything suspicious. A 3-way backlink exchange essentially eliminates any chance of that.
Here’s why it works: instead of a direct “You link to me, I’ll link to you” situation (which can look too obvious to Google), you involve a third party.
Say you’re Site A. You score a backlink from Site B, but instead of linking back to Site B directly, you give them a link from Site C. The best part? You’re not giving a link from your own site, but you still end up with a quality backlink.
This looks 100% earned and natural, not forced or transactional. Google sees this as a normal, organic link-building process.
Step-by-Step Guide
If you’re ready, let’s jump right into the steps.
Step 1: Finding the Right Prospects
The first step in this strategy is finding the right websites to target for your 3-way link exchange. And no, we’re not talking about any random sites, you want quality, relevant sites that actually bring value. Here’s the exact process I use with Ahrefs to make it happen.
For this example, I’m using SaaS sites because this works incredibly well for me. Let’s say we pick a big name like Monday.com (this works because they do link exchanges sometimes).
Here’s how you can dig into their backlink profile to find sites that might be interested in collaborating:
Open Ahrefs Site Explorer and add Monday.com. Navigate to their backlink profile and apply these filters:
- Dofollow
- Backlink Type = In Content
- Domain Rating (DR) = 60+
- Domain Traffic = 5k+
- Language = English (found in “More Filters”)
- Platform = Blogs (also in “More Filters”)
- Lastly, One Link Per Domain
Once these filters are set, you’ll have a refined list of some of the best sites to target for link exchanges. These are sites with solid authority, organic traffic, and relevance to your industry.
Pro Tip: Always pick a big player in your niche that does link exchanges (like Monday.com) and analyze their backlink profile. Many of the sites linking to them are likely to be open to collaborations.
Export the list, and now you’re ready to move to the next step: finding the right contact person to reach out to.
Step 2: Finding the Right Contact Person
Now that you’ve got your list of target sites, the next step is connecting with the right person. You don’t want to email a random team member and hope for the best. Instead, you need to find the people responsible for link building.
Pro Tip: When searching for contacts, look for decision-makers who are actively involved in marketing and link building. Outreach Managers and SEO Managers are usually your best bet, they know the value of a good collaboration and are often looking for opportunities like this.
Here’s how I do it:
- Use Apollo for Contact Info
Apollo is my go-to tool for finding accurate contact information. It’s simple to use and helps you find the right person.- Apply filters to narrow your search:
- Job Titles: Look for roles like Outreach Manager, SEO Manager, or Content Marketing Lead.
- Department: Marketing or SEO.
- Location (optional): If you want to focus on certain regions.
- Once you’ve filtered your list, Apollo will show you the email addresses and LinkedIn profiles of the right contacts.
- Apply filters to narrow your search:
- Verify Emails with Reoon
Before you start your outreach, you need to make sure the email addresses you found are valid. This step is critical to avoid bounces, hurting your sender’s reputation.- Upload your list to Reoon’s email verifier, and it’ll quickly check which emails are valid.
- Remove any invalid or risky ones before moving forward.
Once you’ve verified your emails, you’re ready to move on to the next step: crafting a killer outreach email.
Step 3: Crafting the Perfect Outreach Email
Now comes the fun part, getting your foot in the door with a well-crafted outreach email. This is where you want to keep things short, sweet, and straight to the point.
A good outreach email should show value, keep the conversation friendly, and be personalized to catch the recipient’s attention.
I’ll share the exact template I use for outreach, plus a few others I’ve received that you can try, but remember: personalization is key. You need to make it sound like you’ve put in the effort to understand who they are and why a link exchange would benefit both sides.
My Outreach Email Template
Subject: Let’s Collaborate on Link Exchanges
Hey [Name],
I collaborate with SaaS and marketing companies and wanted to explore a potential link exchange on [Company]. I have access to several high-authority DR65+ SaaS sites and am open to discussing a fair exchange.
If you’re not the right person, could you direct me to the appropriate contact? Thanks!
Best,
[Your Name]
[Your Title]
[Your Website]
Alternative Outreach Templates (Edited for Personalization)
Template 1:
Subject: Let’s Help Each Other with a Link Exchange
Hi [Name],
I hope you’re doing well. My name is [Your Name], and I am an SEO Specialist at [Company]. We’re focused on enhancing our SEO efforts, particularly in the SaaS sector, and I’m reaching out to propose a link exchange between our websites.
We believe this collaboration could mutually benefit our SEO strategies, especially by sharing quality backlinks with trusted SaaS sites like yours.
If you’re open to discussing this further, I would be happy to explore the details.
I am looking forward to your response.
Best regards,
Name
Template 2:
Subject: Quick Link Exchange Proposal
Hi [Name],
I work with a SaaS SEO agency, and I’m interested in link exchange with [Company].
I have several high-domain sites (DR70+) ready for collaboration. If you’re not the point of contact for this, could you kindly direct me to the right person? Your help would be greatly appreciated!
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Pro Tip: Personalization is Key
Make sure to customize these templates before you send them! Mention something specific about their website, article, or content to show that you’ve actually taken the time to review their work. A generic email won’t get you far. Personalization helps build rapport and increases the chances of getting a positive response.
Once you’ve crafted your email and added your personal touch, you’re ready to send it out. But remember, follow-ups are important too!
Real Results: Replies I’ve Received Using These Templates
To show you how well these templates work, I’ve included a few actual replies I’ve received from Outreach and SEO Managers. These are proof that with the right approach and a little personalization, you can build meaningful collaborations that result in high-quality backlinks.
Final Thoughts: Building Backlinks That Matter
Link building doesn’t have to be a frustrating, trial-and-error process. With strategies like 3-way link exchanges, you’re not just sending out random outreach emails; you’re creating genuine, win-win collaborations that result in high-quality SaaS backlinks. It’s all about working smarter, not harder.
Here’s what you’ve learned in this guide:
- How to find the right prospects using targeted filters and tools like Ahrefs.
- The importance of contacting the right person—Outreach Managers and SEO Managers who are most likely to collaborate.
- Proven outreach templates you can use (just make sure to personalize them!).
- Real-life examples of replies that show how effective this method can be.
If there’s one thing to take away from all this, it’s that quality trumps quantity. Links from real, authoritative sites, earned through strategies like this, aren’t just good for rankings; they’re good for your brand.
Ready to Start?
If you’re excited to give this strategy a try, go for it! It takes time and effort, but the results speak for themselves.
And if you’d rather leave it to the experts, that’s where we come in. At ExceLinks, we specialize in creating link-building strategies tailored to your goals. Reach out today, and let’s build backlinks that actually work.