What Are Resource Pages?
Resource pages are webpages that link to content, products, tools, and services a creator thinks their audience will find helpful.
Resource pages primarily link to external pages. For example, a paleo diet site can create a resource page containing links to various books and websites that would be useful to their visitors.
Bloggers use resource pages to provide value and improve their visitors’ user experience. Such pages also attract traffic, generate revenue, and establish the blogger and site as an authority on the topic and niche. They are also a great source of backlinks.
How to Create a Resource Page
Resource pages are generally straightforward to create. You only need to ensure you include trustworthy resources that are useful to your audience. Once done, build backlinks to the page.
1 Understand Your Audience
If you have been blogging for a while, you should have an idea of the sort of resources your audience would be interested in. They may have sent you messages, including emails, to request your opinion and recommendations on specific topics or issues.
Your audience will also typically leave questions in your comment section and social media pages. These are great methods to identify the type of resource content to create.
Du kannst auch review your competitor’s site to see the sort of resource pages they have published. SEO tools like Semrush and Ahrefs are also handy for uncovering resource pages audiences in your niche are searching for.
2 Gather Your Links
The next step is to gather the links you would include in your resource page. The specific links would differ depending on the type of content you want to create. For example, if you have run a site where you teach yoga, your resource page could include:
- Internal links to your content (articles, audio, podcasts, and videos)
- External links to sites that sell yoga equipment and tools
- Internal or external links to yoga and meditation apps
Your resource page can even contain a combination of all three, making it a one-stop shop for anyone interested in yoga.
3 Create Your Resource Page
Now, draft your resource page. The final look of the resource page would vary. However, make sure to include a description of the content, product, tool, or service when possible, and let your visitors know why you included it in your resource page.
You should also tell your visitors why you trust the resource, how long you have been using it, and why it is the best resource for them. You can also tell your visitors how the resource helped you and how it can help them.
The specific length of the description would vary depending on the length and intent of the resource page. Generally, pages with many entries are usually less detailed than those with fewer entries. For example, the resource page below has over 15 entries, so it provides a brief description of each entry.
4 Update Your Resource Page
A resource page is not a one-and-done thing. You have to continuously update it. Remove resources that are outdated and do not stay true to their promise, and add new ones you have discovered.
You should also regularly inspect the links to ensure they still work as expected. Resource pages should not return 404 Not Found errors. Those are bad for usability and can hurt the credibility of your site and resource pages.
How to Build Backlinks Using Resource Pages
Bloggers use resource pages to build backlinks to their sites. Specifically, they look for resource pages relevant to their product, service, or niche, create one or more relevant resources, and then message the blogger to request a backlink pointing to their resource.
1 Find Resource Pages in Your Niche
The first step is to search for existing resource pages that might link to you. These resources should be relevant to your product, service, or niche.
There are multiple ways to do this. One method is to use SEO tools to uncover the sites that link to your competitors’ resource pages.
You may also do something called resource page broken link building. In this case, you will use SEO tools to find broken links on resource pages and then recommend your content as a replacement.
You can also search for relevant sites on Google. To get started, enter relevant search terms into Google. We have provided some examples below.
- “your niche” + “resources”
- “your niche” + “useful links”
- “your niche” + “recommended tools”
- “your niche: “ + “best resources”
- “your niche: “ + “free tools”
Google should return some resource pages. Review them to see the type of content, products, and services they link to and whether your content will make a good fit. Once done, proceed to the next step.
2 Create a Link-Worthy Resource
Next, create relevant content that those resource pages could link to. If you already have such content, review it to ensure it is relevant to the site.
The specific resource you would create would vary. It may be a tool, blog post, video, or even a product or service. Just make sure it is better than what is already out there. In the case of a product or service, ensure it delivers on its promise.
3 Request for Backlinks
Now that you have created your resource, reach out to relevant sites and recommend it to them. Do not explicitly ask for a link, but make it clear that you want them to link to you. You can consider the email template below for your outreach.
Hi [Name],
I noticed your awesome resource page at [Their resource page URL] — great job!
I recently [published/released/launched] something relevant that allows [how it benefits their audience].
Thought it might be a useful addition for your readers. Check it out here: [Link to your resource].
Let me know what you think!
Regards,
[Your name]
Optionally, instead of asking for a link, you can suggest a reciprocal link. For example, you may decide to add their link to your resource page or blog post if they agree to add you to their resource.
Resource Pages Best Practices
Resource pages are a great way to build trust and earn revenue. This often puts bloggers in a fix since the trustworthy resources they could promote may not earn them revenue, and the resources that earn them revenue may not be reliable. Here are some best practices to help navigate that.
1 Do Not Break Your Visitor’s Trust
Your visitors follow your resource page links because they trust you. Resource pages are built on trust, and visitors will consider you untrustworthy when a site, product, or service you recommended to them does not work as expected.
Some visitors will also compare the products and services on your resource page with what you actually use. For example, if you are a cook, they could check whether the frying pans in your resource page are the same ones you use.
While there will be instances where you can use different products from what is on your resource page, you should understand that such practices can hurt your credibility, especially when they are affiliate links. If you are recommending it, then you should use it.
2 Link to Resources You Use
The most ideal links are those that point to products and services you have used and found helpful. If you are linking to affiliate pages, then make sure the products and tools you link to actually deliver on their promise.
Considering bloggers rely on affiliate links for revenue, your best bet is to link to a combination of affiliate and non-affiliate links, as resource pages that link exclusively to affiliate links do not build trust.
One great way to find trustworthy affiliates is to check out the affiliate programs of the products and services you use. This ensures you recommend products you actually use and get paid when your visitors use them.
3 Do Not Make It Self-Promotional
Your resource pages should not be overly promotional. While it will typically contain links to your content, tools, products, and services, you should ensure that you only include such links when they are helpful to the visitor and deliver on their promise.
4 Include an Affiliate Disclosure
If your resource page includes affiliate links, then make sure to include a disclosure informing your visitors that you may earn a commission when they purchase items using your link. This improves transparency and helps to build trust with your audience.