What is a resource page? Resource page link building explained

What is a resource page?

A resource page is a page that lists recommended links on one topic, such as tools, guides or organisations, for a specific audience. Libraries, universities, nonprofits, associations and blogs keep them. Because they exist to link out, resource pages are good outreach targets for genuinely useful free material, though product homepages are a harder sell.

What resource pages look like

They're usually titled "resources", "useful links", "recommended tools" or "further reading", and grouped by sub-topic. Some are a single page; others are a whole section of a site. A university library's research writing page or a nonprofit's list of tools for volunteers are typical.

How to find them

Search your topic with operators like intitle:resources, inurl:links or "useful links". The link prospecting search strings tool builds these for your niche. Pages that link to a competitor's free guide are also strong candidates.

Is the page worth pitching?

It was updated recently and most of its links still work.
It's for an audience your resource genuinely helps.
It links to free tools or guides like yours, not only big organisations.
There's a named person who maintains it, and it doesn't charge for listings.

How to pitch one

Name the page and the section, say what your resource covers and who it helps, and keep it short. If you spot dead links, mention them; that's helpful on its own. Start from the resource page template. BacklinkGenie includes resource pages alongside lists, comparison pages and how-to guides when it searches your niche.

Example

A university library's "Research writing resources" page could add Margin's free guide to keeping sources attached to notes.

Putting it into practice

Where to use it: Resource page email template and Link prospecting search strings. For the longer version, read the full link outreach process.

Questions people ask

What is resource page link building?

It's asking the people who maintain resource pages to add a link to something useful you've made, like a guide, checklist or free tool. It works because those pages exist to link out. It works less well for product homepages.

Should I pitch my homepage to a resource page?

Usually not. Resource page editors prefer free, helpful material. Pitch a guide, template or free tool, and let it lead readers to your product. A free product that fits the page's audience is the exception.

How do I know if a resource page is still maintained?

Check for a recent update date, test a few links for 404s, and look for a named maintainer. A page full of dead links usually hasn't been edited in years, and pitches to it go unanswered.