Codex integration · Updated October 16, 2026

Run link outreach from Codex

Add BacklinkGenie to Codex once and use it from the Codex CLI or IDE extension: review pitches against what you just shipped, draft replies to editors, and check which links went live.

Set it up

1

Create an API key

Create the key in BacklinkGenie under Settings → MCP. Keys start with bg_live_ and are shown once. MCP access is on the Growth and Agency plans.
2
Put the key in an environment variable

Codex reads the token from an environment variable, so the key never sits in a config file.
~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc
```
export BACKLINKGENIE_API_KEY="bg_live_your_key"
```
3
Add the server

Run this once, or add the same table to ~/.codex/config.toml.
Terminal
```
codex mcp add backlinkgenie --url https://app.backlinkgenie.com/mcp \
  --bearer-token-env-var BACKLINKGENIE_API_KEY
```
4
Or edit config.toml

Same result, written by hand. Then type /mcp in a Codex session to check the tools loaded.
~/.codex/config.toml
```
[mcp_servers.backlinkgenie]
url = "https://app.backlinkgenie.com/mcp"
bearer_token_env_var = "BACKLINKGENIE_API_KEY"
```

C Codex

BacklinkGenie connected

We shipped CSV export today. Which pending pitches go to posts about reporting tools? Rewrite those to mention it.

Used list_drafts Used edit_draft

3 of the 8 pending pitches go to reporting roundups (techradar.com, zapier.com, g2.com). I rewrote the second paragraph of each to mention CSV export; all three passed the quality check. Approve them, or see the new text first?

Example with fictional product Margin.

Also try

What you can do from Codex

Step-by-step guides with a prompt to copy, the tools Codex calls and what to expect back.

Find link opportunities

Start a run that finds posts in your niche where your product belongs, then read the report.

Review and approve pitches

See what's waiting, tighten the wording and approve the ones you like without opening the dashboard.

Reply to editors

Find the editors who answered, get a reply drafted with the exact placement, and send it once you've read it.

Import target posts

Hand the agent specific posts you want to be in. It checks them, finds the contact and drafts the pitch.

Monitor your backlinks

Check which won links are still live and followed, and re-check one the moment you suspect it changed.

Get a weekly link report

Pitches sent, replies, reply rate and links won, summarised the way you want and sent where you want.

Update your pitch after a launch

Update how BacklinkGenie describes your product, so new pitches mention what you just shipped.

Manage your outreach blocklist

Add competitors, partners and sites you've had bad experiences with to a blocklist the agent always respects.

Tools used in this example

list_drafts

Pitches waiting for your approval, with the post, contact and why it fits.

edit_draft

Changes a pitch's subject or body. Edits go through the quality check before they're saved.

Codex can use all 22 tools. See the full list on the MCP page or browse example prompts.

What stays the same as the dashboard

Codex works on the same account, sites and mailboxes as the BacklinkGenie dashboard, so you can switch between them freely. Pitches still wait for approval, every edit goes through the quality check, and sending stays inside each mailbox's daily limit. Read more about how the outreach engine works, or check whether it's a better fit than Pitchbox or BuzzStream for your team.

Questions people ask

Does the IDE extension use the same setup?

Yes. The Codex CLI and IDE extension share ~/.codex/config.toml, so adding the server once covers both.

Why an environment variable instead of the key in the file?

bearer_token_env_var keeps the secret out of config files you might sync or commit. Codex reads the variable when it connects.

What does a 401 or 403 mean?

401: the key is wrong, revoked or the variable isn't set in the shell Codex started from. 403: the account isn't on a plan with MCP access.

BacklinkGenie for Claude

Custom connector (paste the URL). Sign in, no key.

BacklinkGenie for ChatGPT

Custom connector (paste the URL). Sign in, no key.

BacklinkGenie for Cursor

MCP server in mcp.json. Uses an API key.

MCP server reference

Endpoint, auth and every tool in detail.

Prompts to try

A library of prompts for pitching, replies and reporting.

Pricing

MCP access is on the Growth and Agency plans.

Get your free prospect report first

No card needed. Connect Codex when you move to Growth or Agency.

Get your free prospect report See pricing