Resource page link building means getting your useful page added to a page that lists helpful links on one topic. Librarians, colleges, city offices and nonprofits keep these pages for their readers. So you find the right lists, check them, and ask the owner to add your page. In our original research, we studied nine public resource pages on .edu, .gov and library sites. Then we wrote the search strings and emails we would use on them ourselves.
The tactic is old, but it still works for one plain reason. The page owner already wants to link out. In fact, many of these pages ask readers to suggest new sites. You are not asking for a favor. Instead, you are offering a fix for their list.
Still, there is a limit. Resource pages want free, useful pages for readers. A sales page or a product category page will almost never get in. That is why the first job is building the right page.
- Build One Page a Librarian Would Want to List
- Find Resource Pages With Google Search Operators
- Study Nine Real Resource Pages Before You Pitch
- Match a Section on the Stony Brook SBDC Resources Page
- Note the Librarian Review at St. Petersburg Public Library
- Respect the Disclaimer on Maryland’s Consumer Links Page
- Meet Duke CTSI’s Three Submission Rules
- Use the Suggestion Email at Northwestern’s Writing Place
- Aim at Student Needs on Lone Star College’s Writing Links
- Think Like a Teacher on NWS Sacramento’s Education Links
- Fill a Gap on the NRCC Climate Links Page
- Bring Local Data to the Ferguson Library
- Qualify Each Page Before You Write an Email
- Track Down the Person Who Maintains the Page
- Write Outreach Emails That Page Owners Answer
- Follow Up Once and Track Every Pitch
- Stay Inside Google’s Link Spam Policy
- Answer Common Questions About Resource Page Links
Build One Page a Librarian Would Want to List
First, look at what these pages already link to. On the pages we studied, the links point to guides, free tools, data, checklists and government help. For example, the Stony Brook SBDC list points to the SBA, Grants.gov and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The Maryland consumer page lists the FTC and the Identity Theft Resource Center. So the bar is high, and it is mostly free help.
Next, pick one asset you can make better than what sits on the list now. Good formats for this tactic are these:
- A free calculator or checker. A loan calculator for a small business list, or a dew point tool for a weather list.
- A plain-language guide. One clear page on how to file a complaint, start a food business or cite a source.
- A local data page. Town-level numbers that a city or library list does not have yet.
- A printable checklist. Teachers and librarians share these often.
Also, remove anything that looks like a sales pitch from the page. Keep ads light, and do not gate the content behind an email form. Duke CTSI, for instance, asks that suggested resources be publicly available without a login. For tips on the writing itself, our post on writing SEO blog posts covers structure and headings.
Find Resource Pages With Google Search Operators
Most resource pages use the same words in their title or URL. They use words like “resources,” “useful links” or “suggested weblinks.” So you can find them by pairing your topic with those words in Google.
Pair Your Topic With Title and URL Operators
Use the intitle: operator to match words in the page title. Then use inurl: to match words in the address. We built these search strings for a small business topic. Swap in your own topic words.
| Search string | What it finds |
|---|---|
small business intitle:resources | Pages with “resources” in the title |
small business inurl:links | Pages with “links” in the URL |
small business intitle:"useful links" | Classic link lists |
small business "helpful websites" | City and state consumer pages |
small business inurl:resources site:edu | College and SBDC resource lists |
small business "suggested weblinks" OR "recommended websites" | Public library link pages |
small business "suggest a resource" OR "suggest a site" | Pages that invite submissions |
Also, try the plural and singular forms. “Resource” and “resources” pull different results. In the same way, “links” and “weblinks” find different library pages.
Narrow the Search to .edu, .gov and Library Sites
Next, add site:edu or site:gov to the end of any string. For example, gardening "helpful links" site:edu pulls up county extension pages. Many public libraries use .org or city .gov domains, so try "homework help" library as well.
However, do not chase a domain ending for its own sake. A .edu page that has not been touched in years is a weak target. A small city library page with fresh links can be worth more. Our post on domain vs page authority explains why one page can matter more than the whole site.
Look for Pages That Ask for Suggestions
Finally, search for pages that ask readers to send links. Phrases like “suggest a resource,” “recommend a site” and “send us a link” point to owners who expect pitches. These are the warmest leads you will find. As a result, they usually get the first emails on our own lists.
Study Nine Real Resource Pages Before You Pitch
We opened each of these public pages and noted what they list, how they are grouped and whether they invite suggestions. Each one teaches a different lesson for your pitch.
Match a Section on the Stony Brook SBDC Resources Page
The Long Island SBDC resources page at Stony Brook University has 16 topic sections. They run from Government Assistance and Cybersecurity to Taxes and a Spanish-language section. So a pitch here should name one section. For instance, a free cybersecurity checklist for shop owners belongs under Cybersecurity. A broad “please add our site” email gives the owner extra work.
Note the Librarian Review at St. Petersburg Public Library
The St. Petersburg Public Library Suggested Weblinks page has 30 categories, from Genealogy to Weather. Also, a note on the page states that librarians select and review every link. That tells you how your pitch will be judged. A librarian will open your page and check it for quality. Therefore, send only a page that is accurate, current and free to use.
Respect the Disclaimer on Maryland’s Consumer Links Page
The Maryland Attorney General’s Helpful Websites for Consumers page has three groups. They are consumer groups and federal agencies, Maryland agencies, and internet and privacy links. The page also states that a link is not an endorsement. Even so, the bar is clear. Every listed site is a public body or a long-running nonprofit. A business blog post will not fit here, but a free fraud reporting guide from a nonprofit might.
Meet Duke CTSI’s Three Submission Rules
Duke’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute runs a Suggest a Resource page for its community health e-library. It lists three rules. The resource must be lay-friendly and on a stable site. It must be public with no login. Ideally, it is five or fewer years old. Staff and faculty then vet each suggestion, and not every one gets added. So read the rules first and pitch only what passes them.
Use the Suggestion Email at Northwestern’s Writing Place
Northwestern University’s Writing Place external links page has six groups. They include Grammar and Syntax, Writing Productivity and Graduate Student Writing. The page calls these sites “we find especially useful.” Also, it gives an email address for readers who want to suggest more links. A free citation guide or a thesis planning template could earn a spot here.
Aim at Student Needs on Lone Star College’s Writing Links
The Lone Star College Online Writing Links page is short. It points students to Purdue’s Online Writing Lab, UNC’s Writing Center and Texas A&M’s writing guides. A short page like this has room to grow. However, you compete with big university guides. So your page needs one thing those guides lack, such as worked examples for one essay type.
Think Like a Teacher on NWS Sacramento’s Education Links
The National Weather Service office in Sacramento keeps an education links page for classrooms. It mixes NOAA pages with outside groups like the American Meteorological Society and the American Red Cross. Also, it groups links by Classroom Activities, Training for Teachers and Career Resources. So a free weather lesson plan has a natural home there. A weather app sales page does not.
Fill a Gap on the NRCC Climate Links Page
The Northeast Regional Climate Center links page sits at Cornell University. It has five sections, including Weather and Climate Educational Links. The list includes the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network and the NWS JetStream online weather school. Look for gaps before you pitch. For example, a regional frost date tool for the Northeast would add something the list lacks.
Bring Local Data to the Ferguson Library
The Ferguson Library Small Business Resource Center in Stamford, Connecticut, links to CT.gov Business and the Census Bureau. It also lists the SEC’s EDGAR filings and the Library of Congress small business hub. So the list leans on official data, and a pitch here works best with local facts. A guide to Connecticut business permits would match the page far better than a general marketing tip.
Qualify Each Page Before You Write an Email
Not every list deserves a pitch. We score each page on six points before we write a word. If a page fails two of them, we drop it.
| Check | What to look for | Drop the page if |
|---|---|---|
| Topic match | Your page matches a named section | No section fits your page |
| Upkeep | Recent copyright year, working links, current names | Many links are dead or point to closed sites |
| Real readers | The page is linked from the site menu or a guide | It is an orphan page nobody can reach |
| Outbound links | A clear, edited list of a few dozen links | Hundreds of random links on one page |
| Who links | Public bodies, schools and nonprofits | Mostly casinos, loans or unrelated shops |
| Cost | No fee to be listed | A “sponsored listing” fee that is not labeled |
Next, check that the site itself has real visitors and a clear topic. Our guide to topical vs domain authority shows why a focused site often beats a bigger, broader one. You can also run the domain through one of the free SEO tools we have listed for a quick traffic read.
Also, run a broken link check on the page. A dead link gives you a polite opening. You can point it out and offer your page as a working option on the same topic.
Track Down the Person Who Maintains the Page
Resource pages are kept by real people, and a general inbox often goes nowhere. So look for a name first. On library pages, check for a “page maintained by” line or a subject librarian. On college pages, look at the staff list of the center that owns the page. City pages often list a web contact in the footer.
However, use the channel the page asks for. Northwestern gives an email for link suggestions. Duke CTSI uses a form. If a page offers a form, use the form. Writing to a staff member’s personal inbox instead can annoy them.
Then, keep a short record for each target. Note the page URL, the section, the contact name and the channel. You will need it for follow-ups.
Write Outreach Emails That Page Owners Answer
Good resource page emails are short. They name the page, name the section and explain in one line why readers would use your link. We wrote the three templates for our own outreach. Change every bracket, and rewrite them in your own voice.
Pitch a Clear Section Match
Subject: A free [topic] resource for your [section name] list
Hi [Name],
I read your [page title] page today. Your [section name] list is useful, and I shared it with a colleague.
We just published [resource name], a free [format] that [what it does in one line]. There is no sign-up and no paywall. Here is the link: [URL].
If it is useful for your readers, it could sit under [section name]. Either way, thanks for keeping the list up to date.
[Your name], [role, organization]
Report a Broken Link and Offer a Replacement
Subject: A dead link on your [page title] page
Hi [Name],
I was using your [page title] page and noticed one link no longer works. The [link text] link in [section name] now returns an error.
If you want a working page on the same topic, we keep a free [format] here: [URL]. It covers [two specific things].
Thanks for maintaining the list.
[Your name]
Complete a Suggestion Form in Five Lines
Resource name: [name]
URL: [URL]
Suggested section: [section]
Why your readers would use it: A free [format] that [one-line benefit]. It needs no login, and we update it every [period].
Contact: [name, email]
Also, keep the tone plain. Do not mention rankings, SEO or backlinks in a pitch to a librarian. They care about their readers. Your email should too.
Follow Up Once and Track Every Pitch
Send one follow-up after about a week. Keep it to two sentences, and reply in the same thread. After that, stop. Many library and city staff update pages only a few times a year, so a link can appear months later.
Next, keep a tracker. We use these columns on our own sheet.
| Column | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Page URL | splibraries.org/suggested_weblinks.html |
| Section | Business & Finance |
| Contact and channel | Reference desk, email |
| Date sent | Day 1 |
| Follow-up sent | Day 8 |
| Status | Added, declined, no reply |
| Live link check | Recheck the page every quarter |
Finally, recheck live links each quarter. Pages get redesigned, and links get pruned. If yours drops off, a polite note with an updated version often brings it back.
Stay Inside Google’s Link Spam Policy
Resource page links are earned links, and they should stay that way. Google’s spam policies define link spam as links made mainly to manipulate search rankings. The policy names buying or selling links, excessive link exchanges and low-quality directory links as examples. It also lists guest posts and sponsored articles that carry paid links.
However, Google also says paid links are a normal part of advertising. They are allowed when marked with rel="sponsored" or rel="nofollow". So if a page owner asks for a fee, treat it as an ad. Ask for the link to carry one of those attributes. Better still, skip pages that charge for listings, because librarians and colleges rarely do.
Also, do not offer gifts, free products or link swaps in exchange for a listing. Google’s policy counts goods and services traded for links as link buying too. Our recap of the September 2026 Google spam update covers how Google has been enforcing these rules. And if you also use directories, read our list of directory submission sites with the same care.
Answer Common Questions About Resource Page Links
Is Resource Page Link Building Still Worth Doing?
Yes, for sites with a free, useful asset. The pages we studied still list outside guides, tools and data. Some even ask for suggestions. But the tactic does little for a site with only sales pages.
How Many Resource Pages Should I Pitch?
Pitch only pages that pass the six-point check. For a niche topic, that may be 20 or 30 pages. A short, well-matched list beats a blast to hundreds of contacts.
Do .edu and .gov Resource Links Rank Better?
We treat the domain ending as a weak signal on its own. A link from a relevant, maintained .edu page is useful because the page is trusted by readers. A stale .edu page is not.
What Should I Link to in My Pitch?
Link to the free resource itself, not your home page. Then, let the anchor match what the page owner would write, such as the resource name. Our keyword research guide explains how to pick the topic before you build the page.
Can AI Search Tools Find Resource Pages Too?
Yes. Many AI answers cite the same public guides that sit on resource pages. So a page good enough for a librarian often earns AI citations too. Our post on earning LLM citations explains that side.
