Many of our partners have specific guidelines for link exchanges. Below, you can see one of our partner\u2019s guidelines where. According to this guideline, we can\u2019t use branded or long anchors, or place our links in the introduction or conclusion of the content. Ignoring these guidelines is one of the most common link building mistakes<\/a> that can lead to link rejection. So, take the time to read the guidelines and follow them to increase the chances of link approval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reason 2: You did not meet site metrics requirements: <\/strong>Some link partners are picky about the link building metrics<\/a> of the page they\u2019re linking to. For instance, some only want to link to sites with a domain rating (DR) of 50 or higher, while others don\u2019t mind linking to lower DR websites. It\u2019s always a good idea to check if there are specific metric requirements before sending a link request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reason 3: You placed the backlink in a restricted blog: <\/strong>Some domains have a list of restricted blog pages where link insertions are not available. If you have done a text edit on one of these pages, your backlink will get rejected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Reason 4: You sent an irrelevant text edit: <\/strong>If your requests get rejected because of relevancy, it means that the suggested link insertion<\/a> feels off-context. Always make sure the backlink fits naturally into the content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reason 5: Your partner links to only blog pages: <\/strong>Some partners only accept links to blog pages and won\u2019t link to service or landing pages. Make sure to clarify this in advance before sending a link request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reason 6: Your website has a high spam score: <\/strong>Some websites reject backlinks if a site has a high spam score, as they worry it could negatively affect their own score. Even though we don\u2019t give much weight to spam score ourselves (and even Moz suggests<\/a> it doesn\u2019t make your website spammy), many of our partners still consider it a big deal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, now that you know common reasons for link rejections, let\u2019s explore how we handle them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And no, crying and feeling sad isn\u2019t an option here (just saying)!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s what we do when your backlink request gets rejected. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Every SEO team runs into link building challenges<\/a> at some point, and rejection is one of the most common. The first thing we do when a backlink gets rejected is to find out why<\/em><\/strong>. We always ask our partners the reason behind link rejections so we can make some tweaks and send a new request.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually, if you are in touch with website editors, they tell you why the rejection happened, as they\u2019re the ones making changes on the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, there are cases when you might not get a clear answer, especially when you\u2019re working with link builders, as they don\u2019t have direct access to the website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No matter who you are in touch with, just do your best to dig into the rejection reasons, so you can send out a new request and make that backlink live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once we find out why our backlink was rejected, we inform our client success managers who are responsible for link requests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If the reason behind a rejection is something easy to fix, like content relevance<\/a>, then our client success managers arrange another link request and content writers try to find the best spot for integrating the client\u2019s anchor text as naturally as it is possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, sometimes, the rejection can\u2019t be fixed. For example, if the partner\u2019s metrics requirements weren\u2019t met, we can\u2019t do anything in this situation. What we can do is send a new request for a different client, one that fits the partner\u2019s metrics criteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once we\u2019ve made all the necessary changes and the new link request aligns with our partner\u2019s guidelines, our link builders send it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At this point, they are responsible for backlink management<\/a> aka monitoring the status of their link requests. This can be easily tracked with a simple spreadsheet, so they know if the request is still pending, live, or rejected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sending follow-up emails<\/a> is key! Of course, we don\u2019t want to spam anyone. If there\u2019s a tight deadline, we\u2019ll follow up a bit more often, but usually, we check in every two to three days to keep things on track without bothering and annoying partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some of our best tips on increasing the chances of getting your backlink requests approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip 1: Ask for guidelines early:<\/strong> When you start working with a new partner, always ask for their guidelines (if any) to learn what they expect and minimize the rejection rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip 2: Contact partners who owe you backlinks<\/strong>: Remind partners of any backlinks they owe you. This allows you to send the request more confidently and reduces the chances of rejection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip 3: Track and follow up<\/strong>: Keep track of all pending requests and follow up on time. This shows you\u2019re committed to the exchange and makes your partner work on your request more effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip 4: Be patient with delays<\/strong>: Being ignored by partners is usually a link exchange red flag<\/a>. When things take longer than expected, the link requests become automatically rejected. However, your link partners might be dealing with work or personal issues, so it\u2019s key to stay understanding and kind!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip 5: Get to know your partners well<\/strong>: The better you know your clients, the better you know their preferences, and picky sides. This knowledge can help you make requests that lead to live backlinks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip 6: Provide value in follow-ups<\/strong>: Always try to give value during follow-ups. We often offer new websites during this stage for link exchanges. This way, partners become more motivated to make our backlinks live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip 7: Don\u2019t rely on memory: <\/strong>When working with 100+ partners throughout a link building campaign<\/a>, it can be challenging to remember every single detail. That\u2019s why we advise you to record every interaction with your partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/link-building-guidelines-example.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow to Handle a Rejected Backlink Request: 3 Easy Steps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Learning Backlink Rejection Reason<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Informing Client Success Managers About Rejections<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Sending a New Link Request & Following-Up <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7 Tips To Prevent a Backlink Request from Getting Rejected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Email](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/followup-example-email.png\")
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![\"A](\"https:\/\/saynine.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/link-exchange-spreadsheet-example.png\")
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