In brief: Broken link building finds broken links on other websites and offers their owners a relevant working replacement. It makes sense only where the new resource genuinely replaces the original informational value.
How I use broken link building in practice
In practice, I connect broken link building to a specific journey for both person and robot. I check what the server actually returns, what renders, and where the next step leads. A technical task receives priority only according to its impact on discoverability, clarity, or conversion, not according to the colour in an automated audit.
What to watch out for
Beware of fixing a score rather than a problem. Broken link building can look correct in a tool while an important page remains unavailable or unclear. A blanket change without sampling and rollback is just as dangerous: a technical change can easily affect hundreds of URLs at once.
Questions for the decision
- What exactly does the server return, and what does a person see at an important URL?
- Is it an isolated error or a pattern in a shared template?
- What is the impact on discoverability, usability, or conversion?
- How will we test the change before a broad rollout?