How To Do Journalist Request Link Building

In today’s post, we’re blending the topic of journalist request link building into the broader context of digital PR. If you’re just getting started with digital PR, using journalist requests to build links is one of the most effective and cost-efficient methods. Although it can take some time, it’s an excellent way to secure high-quality backlinks.

In this guide, I’ll cover why journalist request link building is important, some key platforms to get started with, and tips on optimising your responses when sending them out.

Also we’ll take a look at some of the better platforms to use, and considerations around proactive expert commentary to sit alongside the journalist request link building you’re doing. 

 

Why Are Journalist Request Links Important?

The main benefit of journalist request link building is the opportunity to earn high-authority backlinks that typically point to the homepage of your site. These links are natural and branded, often referencing your business or consultancy. Most of the time, these backlinks will be pointed at your homepage, making them some of the most organic and natural links you can acquire through outreach.

Another significant advantage, especially if you’re working with an agency, is that you won’t need to worry about the authority of the backlinks as much. Many agencies have metrics around domain rating and authority, so they filter out links that don’t meet certain criteria. This helps ensure that the links you do secure maintain their authority over time, unlike some publishers who might decline in quality or sell their site to questionable owners.

For example, we have very clear, defined minimum metrics that we have to meet for our journalist request link building service, and for our blogger outreach as well.

Without minimums, how do you know what you’re working towards, and what ‘good’ looks like? 

Additionally, securing links through journalist requests from well-known platforms like Forbes or Shopify means you don’t have to worry about domain authority decay. These publications remain high quality and offer solid links, whether they are follow or no follow. Google is smart enough to understand the context and relevance of such links, so they are valuable either way.

Another great benefit is how these links position you as an authority in your niche. You can feature “As Seen In” sections on your website, showing visitors that you’ve been referenced in authoritative publications. This builds trust and showcases your expertise, and in an era where this is crucial for E-E-A-T and broader SEO success, the benefits span outside of just the clear authority transfer from the backlinks.

Essentially, you’re proving to search engines that you’re an authority business or website, not just saying so within your content (you have the external ‘votes’ of confidence via high-authority backlinks to vouch for your expertise!). 

 

What Are The Best Platforms for Journalist Request Link Building?

When it comes to platforms for receiving journalist requests, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are a few that we recommend:

1. Qwoted

If you have a budget for a premium platform, Qwoted is arguably one of the best options. Everything is handled within the platform, and you can filter requests by keywords relevant to your niche. You can even set up keyword monitoring, which is extremely useful.

Qwoted also allows you to see how many pitches have already been sent for each request, giving you an edge. If a request has only one or two submissions, it makes sense to jump on it quickly. On the other hand, if there are already 30 submissions, you might want to pass unless you have a very unique angle.

 

2. Help a B2B Writer

Help a B2B Writer is a free platform (at least at the time of this post) that sends daily emails with requests directly to your inbox. Like Qwoted, you can select topics of interest, such as SEO or photography, and receive relevant requests.

Interestingly, some requests might overlap between platforms, meaning you may see the same opportunities on both Qwoted and Help a B2B Writer, as journalists often distribute their requests across multiple trusted platforms.

But, it’s an incredible platform and one that we use a lot for our own outreach as well. 

 

3. Editorielle

Editorielle is particularly useful for B2C and e-commerce businesses, especially those based in the UK, though it also covers North America and worldwide. Like other platforms, you can filter requests by categories that are most relevant to you.

It isn’t as widely talked about as some other platforms, but it’s a handy tool that sends daily emails with opportunities, allowing you to respond and then move on quickly.

 

4. Featured

While we don’t use this platform as much for our clients, Featured can be a good option if you’re just getting started and have a limited budget. You can filter opportunities by domain rating and attribution type, making it easier to focus on the types of links you want to pursue. Like Qwoted, everything is managed within the platform itself, streamlining the process.

 

5. Manual Outreach

The final approach would be to do your outreach manually. The problem with journalist requests is that it can take a while to finish a campaign, especially if you’re in a niche industry, because ultimately you can only respond to the requests that are coming through each day. If you’re doing proactive campaigns, you can take the data or opinion directly to the journalist. If something happens in the news, you can pitch yourself as an expert and provide comment to the journalist.

Look for journalists who have covered similar topics in the past, and build up a list of journalists that you can outreach to when an opportunity arises.

A final mention within this section too goes to #journorequest on X (formerly known as Twitter). For those just getting started, you can find requests for free this way, and there are still tons of reputable publications and journalists looking to hear from experts like you on specific subject matters. 

 

Why is Proactive Expert Commentary Important As Part Of This Link Building Approach? 

We like to combine proactive expert commentary alongside the journalist requests, as it means that we’re not waiting and waiting for requests to come through. 

You can look for opportunities manually by search for something like “I’m a cleaning expert” (or whatever your niche is), sort results by the last year, and start to look at the types of things that journalists are covering consistently:

That way, not only can we obtain the email information for the journalists via a platform like Hunter.io, but we can also create expert commentary opportunity lists based on what specific journalists have been favouring in the way of articles, commentary pieces or even broader topics in the past. 

For example, we got our cleaning client in The Express with this type of proactive approach:

And, if the press release isn’t picked-up, you can always repurpose it, or even use it on your website. So, the effort is never wasted either way! 

 

Tips for Optimising Your Journalist Request Responses

Here are a few tips to improve your chances of success when responding to journalist requests:

 

1. Use a Professional Domain Email

If you’re sending responses via email (outside of a platform), always use a professional domain email address rather than a Gmail or similar account. This helps ensure that your request looks legitimate and doesn’t come across as outsourced or spammy. For example, james@completewhitelabel.com rather than jamescompletewhitelabel@gmail.com…

 

2. Tailor Your Response

Be sure to address the request specifically. Journalists often have a clear idea of what they need, so give them exactly what they’re asking for. Avoid going off-topic or providing unnecessary information that doesn’t align with their request.

 

3. Keep It Concise

Journalists and publishers are often busy and don’t have time to read long-winded responses. Introduce yourself briefly, validate your expertise with a quick sentence, and then dive into your answer.

 

4. Respond Quickly

Timing is key. Some platforms send requests at specific times of the day, so being ready to respond promptly can make all the difference.

Whether you or a member of your team is handling requests, make sure you’re in place to respond as soon as possible. The quicker you can get your pitch in, the better your chances of standing out before the journalist has received too many responses.

 

5. Include a Strong Email Signature

Just like using a professional domain, make sure your email signature reinforces your authority. Include a brief summary of why you’re an expert in your field, your headshot, LinkedIn profile, and links to other relevant platforms like your website or social media. This gives journalists an easy way to verify who you are and boosts your credibility.

 

6. Request a Backlink

Always ask for a backlink with your response. You can phrase it politely—something like, “If you’re happy to use this, would you mind including a backlink to our site as part of the attribution?” This opens up a dialogue and makes it easier to follow up later if the link is missed. Some publications don’t link out, so it’s useful to track which sites consistently avoid linking and prioritise those that do in the future.

 

Conclusion

Journalist request link building is an incredibly effective way to secure high-authority backlinks and showcase your expertise. By using trusted, quality platforms, you can start building valuable links that help boost your authority in a manner that isn’t deemed spammy or otherwise unnatural from a link building perspective. 

If you’d prefer to outsource this process, our agency offers a combined service that includes proactive expert commentary alongside journalist request work, ensuring you get the best results across different platforms. Contact us to get started with our team on journalist request link building.