Backlinks don’t last forever. They vanish silently, taking their ranking power with them. Unless you’re actively monitoring, you won’t know they’re gone until traffic drops.
Lost vs Broken Backlinks
A lost backlink has been completely removed from the linking page. A broken backlink still exists but points to a URL returning an error (404, 500, etc.).
Both hurt SEO. Different fixes.
Why Links Disappear
Sites lose 5-10% of backlinks annually. Common causes:
- Content updates — Webmasters prune external links when refreshing articles
- Site redesigns — CMS migrations without proper redirects wipe links
- Domain expirations — Entire sites disappear, taking all outbound links
- Intentional removal — Webmasters cleaning up spam warnings or swapping to competitor links
- Page consolidation — Multiple pages merged into one, original pages deleted
News sites, tech blogs, and affiliate sites see higher churn due to fast content turnover.
How to Find Lost Backlinks
SEO Tool Reports
Ahrefs: Site Explorer > Backlinks > Lost. Filter by date range.
SEMrush: Backlink Analytics > Backlinks > filter to “Lost” with date range.
Moz: Link Explorer > Lost Links.
Export monthly and compare reports to catch losses early.
Google Search Console
The Links report shows linking pages (sampled data). Watch for significant drops in total links or linking domains.
Manual Verification
Keep a spreadsheet of your top 50-100 backlinks. Quarterly, visit each page and confirm your link exists. This catches:
- Links changed to
rel="nofollow" - Links removed from pages that still exist
- Links pointing to wrong URLs after site changes
Backlink Validation
SEO tools show a link exists in their database. That doesn’t mean it’s working now.
Verify Your Backlinks Actually Work
Backlink Checker Pro validates your backlinks by checking each one:
- Link existence — is the link actually on the page?
- Dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, or UGC status
- Page accessibility — noindex, bot blocks, errors
Upload your backlink report (CSV, Excel, PDF) and get instant verification.
Verify Your Backlinks Free →Recovery Strategies
Direct Outreach
For links removed during site updates:
Subject: Quick question about [their article title]
Hi [Name],
I noticed your article on [topic] previously linked to our guide on [your topic]. Looks like the link was removed during an update.
Would you consider reinstating it? Happy to update our content if that helps.
[Your name]
Expect 10-20% success rate. Higher with existing relationships.
Wayback Machine Documentation
For deleted pages:
- Go to web.archive.org
- Enter the URL that contained your link
- Find a snapshot showing your link
- Screenshot for documentation
- Reach out asking them to restore the content
Find Replacements
When recovery is impossible (domain expired, webmaster unresponsive), focus on new opportunities. Two links from DA 40 sites offset one lost DA 50 link.
Know When to Move On
Not every link is worth chasing. Skip recovery for:
- Low-authority sites
- Irrelevant niches
- Sites with minimal traffic
Preventing Link Loss
Build relationships. Links from people who know you last longer than links from strangers.
Create evergreen content. Comprehensive guides stay relevant. Hot takes become outdated.
Set up alerts. Most SEO tools offer notifications for new/lost backlinks. Catch losses early.
Monitor your own pages. If your linked pages return errors or have bad content, webmasters remove links proactively.
Diversify. Don’t let one domain provide 30% of your backlinks.
Monitoring Schedule
Weekly: Check top 10 most valuable backlinks, review tool alerts
Monthly: Export and compare backlink reports, prioritize recovery outreach
Quarterly: Manual verification of top 50 links, analyze loss patterns
What is a lost backlink?
A lost backlink is an inbound link that previously existed but has been completely removed from the linking page. Unlike broken backlinks (which point to error pages), lost backlinks no longer exist anywhere on the source page.
How do I find lost backlinks?
Use Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz to track backlink changes. Look for "Lost Links" reports and compare monthly exports. For important links, manually verify by visiting the linking page.
Can I recover lost backlinks?
Yes. Contact the webmaster and request reinstatement. Use the Wayback Machine to document deleted pages. Expect 10-20% success on outreach, higher with existing relationships.
How many backlinks do websites lose per year?
Most sites lose 5-10% of backlinks annually through natural decay. News and tech sites see higher rates due to faster content turnover.
Should I try to recover every lost backlink?
No. Focus on high-value links from authoritative, relevant sites. Low-quality or irrelevant links aren't worth the outreach effort.