> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.synscribe.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Link-building SOP

> Build off-page authority — outreach, internal links, and timed bumps — the standard way.

Off-page authority is what turns "ranking on page 1" into "top few, and cited." This is the standard
way to build it — internal links first, then outreach, then timed bumps. Theory:
[Part 1 §1.9](/theory/off-page-link-building-press).

## Principles

* Sequence it after the pages exist. Backlinks are step 6 of the monthly loop, so links point at
  pages already matched to intent and the authority lands where it converts.
* Turn outreach on early. Enable Link Building Outreach under Settings, Features on day one, and
  treat it as an always-on setting rather than a one-off campaign.
* Internal links first. The cheapest authority is your own: a navigable site with a hub and footer
  links ([§1.8](/theory/internal-linking-authority)) often does more than a handful
  of external links.

## The plays

### 1. Internal linking (do this first)

* [ ] Hub page lists the pillar, is SEO-ed, linked from header/footer.
* [ ] Footer internal links to the hub and to key landing pages.
* [ ] Pillar pages reachable by clicking from the homepage; links present in the DOM even if
  visually collapsed.

### 2. Outreach (find, contact, email)

* [ ] Kick off a campaign from a search term plus the target page. See [how-to: 2.5.4](/platform/link-building-kickoff).
* [ ] Let the loop run (it finds relevant sites, identifies contacts, and emails them); review the
  proposals.
* [ ] Handle inbound link-exchange offers by assessing authority and relevance first. See
  [how-to: 2.5.5](/platform/inbound-link-exchange).

### 3. Timed bumps (accelerate the climb)

* [ ] Press release for a quick bump. See [3.10](/sops/press-release) or [how-to: 2.5.6](/platform/press-release).
* [ ] Announcement or listicle posts on external platforms (e.g. Wisp, Medium).
* [ ] Guest posts with a natural backlink. See [how-to: 2.4.4](/platform/guest-post-articles).

## When a new site isn't ranking (recovery)

If the Month-1 checkpoints show too few pages ranking ([3.6 Quality Gate](/sops/quality-gate)),
link-building plays are part of the recovery menu (with Raymond): footer internal links to the hub
and specific landing pages, an announcement or listicle post, a press release, a Medium post, and
other backlink opportunities.

## Ask Pi

The `link-building` skill assesses a domain's authority, finds linkable pages, and drafts insertion
proposals:

```text theme={null}
assess link-building opportunities for [target page] targeting [search term];
find relevant sites and draft insertion proposals. also check our internal linking —
is the hub linked from the footer and are the pillar pages reachable from the homepage?
```

> ❓ **\[needs Raymond]** A dedicated "How to build strong internal links" SOP and the outreach
> cadence (how many touches, follow-up timing) exist in ops but weren't fully captured here —
> confirm the standard. See the [gap register](/gap-register).

**Related:** [3.10 Press release](/sops/press-release) · [Part 1 §1.8](/theory/internal-linking-authority) · [§1.9](/theory/off-page-link-building-press)