Link Roundup
A link roundup is a regular post, often weekly or monthly, where a site curates links to the best content on a topic. Pitching fresh, relevant content can earn you a link.
How Roundups Work
A link roundup is a curated post. On a regular schedule, a site owner collects the best articles, tools, studies and resources they found on a topic and publishes them together, usually with a sentence or two about each one. Common titles include “This Week in SEO,” “Friday Finds,” “Monthly Marketing Roundup” or “Best Reads of the Week.”
Roundups exist because curation is useful. Readers trust the curator to filter the noise and point them to the content worth their time. Curators benefit too. A weekly list keeps their site fresh, builds a loyal audience and positions them as a well-informed voice in their niche.
For link builders, roundups are attractive because their whole purpose is to link out. Unlike most link requests, you are not asking an editor to change existing content or make room for a link. You are offering something that could fill next week’s list. A good suggestion saves the curator time, which makes them more receptive than the average site owner.
Links from roundups are usually editorial and contextual. The curator chooses each item, and most include a short description that adds context. Roundup readers are also engaged and actively looking for something to read, so these links often send targeted referral traffic.
Roundups have limits. A single post can contain dozens of outbound links, so each one passes a smaller share of value. New roundups push older ones into archives, where they get less attention over time. Some roundups have small audiences. They work best as a steady supporting source of links rather than a main strategy.
Finding Opportunities
Search engines are the easiest way to find roundups. Use search operators that combine your topic with roundup phrases, such as “keyword” + “weekly roundup,” “keyword” intitle:roundup, “keyword” + “link roundup,” “best posts this week” + “keyword” or “keyword” + “this week in.” Filter results to the past few months to focus on curators who are still publishing.
Competitor backlinks reveal more. Roundup posts often link to the same type of content you create, so checking which roundups link to competitors’ articles surfaces active curators in your niche.
Newsletters are roundups too. Many niches have email newsletters that curate links weekly, often with a web archive. They are worth pitching in the same way as blog roundups, and some have very engaged audiences.
Social media and communities help. Curators often share their roundups on LinkedIn, X and in niche communities, and some accept suggestions publicly.
Once you find candidates, qualify them. Check that the roundup is published regularly, that it covers your topic closely, that it has a real audience and that it links to quality content rather than anything submitted. Note the publishing schedule and any submission instructions, since many curators explain how they prefer to receive suggestions.
Roundups overlap with resource pages, which are permanent curated lists rather than recurring posts. Many sites run both, and resource page link building uses similar research methods.
Pitching Your Content
Timing comes first. Roundup curators work to a schedule, so pitch shortly before they compile each edition. Fresh content stands the best chance, since most roundups focus on what was published recently.
Keep the pitch short. Introduce yourself in a line, share the link, explain in one or two sentences why the piece suits their readers and stop there. Curators review many suggestions and appreciate brevity.
Make it relevant. Pitch content that matches what the roundup usually features. If a curator lists in-depth guides and original research, do not pitch a product announcement. Reference a recent edition to show you read it.
Lead with your strongest work. Roundups favor content that adds something new: original data, a thorough guide, a useful tool or a fresh opinion. A strong linkable asset gives you a much better chance than an average blog post.
Make the curator’s job easy. Offer a one-sentence summary they can use as the description. Some curators copy it directly.
Do not pitch every post. Sending the same curator something every week quickly becomes noise. Save your pitches for your best pieces.
Follow up sparingly. One follow-up is fine if the next edition goes out without your link, but accept that curators choose based on their audience, not your schedule.
Formats like listicle link building share some of the same logic: curated lists reward content that clearly stands out from the crowd.
Building Relationships with Curators
The best results from roundups come from relationships rather than single pitches.
Engage with curators’ work. Read their roundups, share editions you find useful and comment where it adds something. Curators notice people who support their work.
Return the favor where it fits. If you run a newsletter or blog, mention their roundup or link to useful items they found. Keep it genuine rather than transactional, since agreeing to trade links falls into link exchange territory.
Become a reliable source. When curators see that your content consistently meets their standards, they start checking your site for new material themselves. That turns occasional pitches into repeat inclusion without outreach.
Connect beyond the roundup. Curators are often active writers, podcast hosts or editors elsewhere. A good relationship can lead to guest post invitations, interviews and mentions in their other work.
Promote your inclusion. When a roundup features you, share it with your audience and thank the curator publicly. It helps their reach and makes them more likely to feature you again. Wider content amplification habits also help your pieces reach curators on their own.
Communities are a good place to meet curators. Many niche roundup authors are active in industry groups and link building communities, where informal contact feels natural.
Link roundups offer editorial, contextual links from people whose job is to share good content. Find active curators in your niche, pitch fresh and relevant work at the right time, and build relationships that lead to repeat inclusion.