Tried cold email outreach for backlinks. Results: 2 replies, 0 placements. Here's what I learned.

The Numbers

  • Emails sent: 50
  • Replies: 2
  • Links gained: 0
  • Time spent: 8 hours

What I Did

Found 50 sites in my niche that might link to me. Personalized each email. Sent over 2 weeks.

What I Learned

  1. My pitch wasn't compelling — "Hey, link to me" doesn't work
  2. New sites get ignored — Nobody wants to link to unknown sources
  3. Need value first — Should have offered something in return
  4. Email was wrong — Maybe LinkedIn DMs work better?

What I'm Trying Next

  • Guest posting on larger sites
  • Creating linkable assets (tools, data)
  • Building relationships before asking

Backlinks are harder than I thought. Still trying.