The Local Link Building Prompt Pack

You are a local SEO specialist helping a business find sponsorship opportunities that include a backlink.

Business details:
- Business name: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME]
- Location: [CITY, STATE/COUNTY]
- Industry: [YOUR INDUSTRY, e.g. accountancy, personal training, wedding photography]
- Target customer: [WHO YOU SERVE, e.g. small business owners, couples aged 25-40]

Task: Generate a list of 15 specific types of local events, organisations, and community groups in [CITY] that commonly accept small business sponsors and publish a sponsor page or sponsor list on their website. For each, include: (1) the type of organisation, (2) why businesses in [INDUSTRY] are a natural fit, (3) what to search in Google to find the actual local version.

Constraints: Focus only on organisations where the sponsor page is publicly listed on their website and likely to include a dofollow link. Exclude national organisations with local chapters unless the local chapter maintains its own website. Prioritise organisations where the sponsorship is under [BUDGET, e.g. $500] or is in-kind.

You are a local SEO consultant identifying nonprofit and charity backlink opportunities for a local business.

Business details:
- Business name: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME]
- Location: [CITY, STATE/COUNTY]
- Industry: [YOUR INDUSTRY]

Task: List 10 types of local charities, community foundations, and nonprofits in [CITY] that are likely to:
(a) have their own domain (not just a Facebook page)
(b) publish a supporters, donors, or partners page with links
(c) be relevant or adjacent to [INDUSTRY] in some way

For each, write a one-line explanation of why the link would be contextually relevant and a specific Google search string to find real local examples.

Constraints: No national charities unless you can confirm their local chapter has a standalone website. Focus on organisations with active websites updated in the last 12 months.

You are a local SEO specialist. I want to find local sports teams, clubs, and venues in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY] that accept business sponsors and publish a sponsors section on their website.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], a [DESCRIBE YOUR BUSINESS IN ONE SENTENCE].

Task: Generate 12 specific types of local sports organisations (grassroots clubs, youth leagues, amateur teams, community sports facilities) that typically run sponsor programmes and publish sponsor acknowledgements online. For each:
1. Name the type of organisation
2. Explain the audience overlap with [YOUR TARGET CUSTOMER DESCRIPTION]
3. Provide the exact Google search query to find real examples in [CITY]
4. Suggest one in-kind or low-cost sponsorship angle that would make the pitch easy to accept

Prioritise clubs with an active website that gets updated at least monthly. Skip national leagues and professional teams.

You are a local SEO consultant. I want to find local business awards, recognition programmes, and best-of lists in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY] that:
(a) include a winners or finalists page on their own domain
(b) link to the businesses they recognise
(c) are run by credible local organisations (chambers of commerce, business journals, local newspapers, industry associations)

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [DESCRIBE IN ONE SENTENCE].

Task: Generate 10 specific types of local awards or recognition programmes my business could legitimately enter or be nominated for. For each, include: the type of programme, why [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] would be a credible entrant, and the Google search string to find the real local version. Also flag which ones typically publish a permanent winners page versus a one-off social media post.

Constraints: Only include programmes that have a proven history of publishing winner pages online. No pay-to-win awards where the link is essentially a paid placement dressed as recognition.

You are a local SEO specialist conducting a competitor directory audit.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY], based in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY].
My top 3 local competitors:
1. [COMPETITOR NAME + WEBSITE]
2. [COMPETITOR NAME + WEBSITE]
3. [COMPETITOR NAME + WEBSITE]

Task: For each competitor, generate the specific Google search queries I should run to find every directory, citation site, and listing site that references them. Include:
- The search strings (e.g. "[competitor name]" site:yelp.com OR site:yell.com)
- A method for finding niche or local-only directories I would miss with a generic search
- A framework for prioritising which found directories are worth submitting to, based on: domain authority indicators, whether the listing links back to the business website, whether the directory is indexed in Google

Output a step-by-step process I can follow manually using free tools (Google search, Moz free checker, Ahrefs free version). No paid tools required unless I already have them.

You are a local SEO consultant identifying high-value niche directory opportunities.

Business details:
- Business name: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME]
- Industry: [YOUR INDUSTRY]
- Sub-niche or specialisation: [E.G. organic food, commercial plumbing, immigration law]
- Location: [CITY, STATE/COUNTY, COUNTRY]

Task: Generate a list of 15 specific types of niche directories, association member directories, and professional body listing pages that a [INDUSTRY] business in [CITY] should be listed on. For each:
1. Name the type of directory or body
2. Explain why this listing carries local SEO weight
3. Provide a Google search string to find the specific real version
4. Flag whether it is free, paid, or requires membership

Constraints: Prioritise directories where the listing page links directly to my website. Skip generic local directories (Yell, Yelp, Google Business) as I already know about those. Focus on niche, industry-specific, or geographically specific directories that most competitors overlook.

You are a local SEO specialist. I want to find locally run websites, community portals, and local media sites in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY] that maintain a local business directory or resource list.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [DESCRIBE IN ONE SENTENCE].

Task: Generate 10 types of locally focused web properties that commonly include business directories or recommended supplier lists, such as:
- Local neighbourhood websites or community portals
- Local parenting or family resource sites
- Local expat or relocation guides
- Local business improvement district websites
- Local newspaper or news site business directories

For each, provide:
1. A description of the site type
2. Why a [INDUSTRY] business would fit naturally
3. The Google search string to find real local examples in [CITY]
4. Whether submission is typically free or requires a fee

Focus on sites with a real editorial presence, not automatically generated directories with no human oversight.

You are a local SEO consultant helping a business identify partner link opportunities.

Business details:
- Business name: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME]
- Industry: [YOUR INDUSTRY]
- What you do: [ONE SENTENCE DESCRIPTION]
- Location: [CITY, STATE/COUNTY]
- Existing referral relationships: [LIST ANY BUSINESSES YOU ALREADY REFER TO OR RECEIVE REFERRALS FROM]

Task: Map out all the types of complementary businesses, suppliers, and service providers that serve the same customer as [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] but do not compete with you. For each category:
1. Explain the natural referral relationship
2. Suggest the specific link placement that makes sense (e.g. their resources page, their partners page, their blog)
3. Write a one-sentence value proposition for why they should link to you

Generate at least 20 categories. Then rank them from most to least likely to have an existing partners or resources page on their website.

Constraints: Focus on businesses that serve the same geographic area. Include both business-to-business and business-to-consumer relationships where relevant.

You are a local SEO specialist. I want to identify local suppliers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and trade partners who list their clients, stockists, or approved contractors on their website.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY], in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY].
Products or services I buy from suppliers: [LIST THE MAIN THINGS YOU SOURCE FROM SUPPLIERS]

Task: Generate a strategy for finding suppliers and trade partners who maintain a "where to buy," "find a stockist," "approved contractors," or "our clients" page that includes backlinks.

Include:
1. The types of suppliers most likely to maintain this kind of page
2. Google search strings to find real examples (both national suppliers and local ones)
3. A method for checking whether the page includes actual followed links versus just name mentions
4. A short pitch angle for approaching a supplier to get listed if I am already their customer

Constraints: Focus only on legitimate supplier relationships where I genuinely buy from or am accredited by the supplier. No manufactured relationships.

You are a local SEO consultant. I want to find local anchor institutions in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY] that maintain resource pages, preferred supplier lists, or community partner pages that include links to local businesses.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY], serving [TARGET CUSTOMER].

Anchor institutions to consider include: local universities and colleges, hospitals and health trusts, local councils or government bodies, business improvement districts, libraries, schools, and large employers with community programmes.

Task: For each type of anchor institution:
1. Identify the specific pages or sections most likely to link to local businesses (e.g. local supplier policies, community impact pages, wellbeing resource lists)
2. Explain what a [INDUSTRY] business would need to offer to earn a listing
3. Write a Google search string to find the relevant pages in [CITY]
4. Flag the realistic timeline (quick win vs. longer relationship build)

Constraints: Only include link placements where the institution has a documented history of linking to external businesses, not just listing them as text. Provide at least 10 institution types.

You are an experienced outreach copywriter. Write a short, warm outreach email from a local business requesting a sponsorship that includes a link on the organisation's website.

Details:
- Sender: [YOUR NAME], [YOUR BUSINESS NAME]
- Recipient organisation: [ORGANISATION NAME]
- Recipient contact (if known): [CONTACT NAME OR "the team"]
- What the organisation does: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION]
- Why we are a natural fit: [ONE REASON, E.G. we serve the same audience, we share values around X]
- What we are offering: [E.G. $200 cash sponsorship, in-kind services worth $X, both]
- What we want in return: a link on their sponsors page at [URL IF KNOWN]

Tone: Warm, direct, local. No corporate speak. Write as if one local business owner is writing to another. Keep it under 150 words. No fake urgency. No hollow compliments. Get to the point in the first sentence.

Do not use: em dashes, curly quotes, words like "synergy", "excited to reach out", "hope this finds you well", or any phrase that sounds like a mass template.

Output: Subject line + email body only. No preamble.

You are an outreach copywriter. Write a short, specific email requesting that a local website add my business or resource to their existing resources or recommended suppliers page.

Details:
- Sender: [YOUR NAME], [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [WEBSITE URL]
- Recipient site: [SITE NAME + URL]
- The specific page I want a link on: [URL OF THEIR RESOURCES OR PARTNERS PAGE]
- What my business offers that fits their page: [ONE SENTENCE, E.G. we provide free monthly tax tips that their small business readers would find useful]
- Any existing connection: [E.G. I have been a member since 2023, OR cold contact]

Tone: Confident and specific. No grovelling. No "I noticed you have a great site." Start with what I bring to the table, not what I want from them.

Email length: Under 120 words.

Do not include: a long company biography, multiple requests in one email, any request to "check out" my website without a specific reason, or the phrase "I was wondering if."

Output: Subject line + email body only.

You are a local SEO outreach specialist. Write a short email proposing a mutual link exchange between two complementary local businesses.

Details:
- My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [WHAT YOU DO], [WEBSITE URL]
- Their business: [THEIR BUSINESS NAME], [WHAT THEY DO], [THEIR WEBSITE URL]
- Relationship: [E.G. we have referred clients to each other informally, OR we have never spoken]
- What I am proposing: I link to them from [MY PAGE URL] and they link to me from [THEIR RELEVANT PAGE URL]
- Why it helps their readers: [ONE SENTENCE on why my site is useful for their audience]

Tone: Straightforward. Treat them as a peer. Make it easy to say yes by being specific about exactly what I am proposing. No vague "collaborate" language.

Length: Under 130 words.

Do not use: "mutually beneficial," "win-win," "synergy," or any phrase that sounds like a pitch deck. Write like a local business owner talking to another.

Output: Subject line + email body only.

You are an outreach specialist. Write a single follow-up email for a link building outreach that received no reply.

Context:
- My original email was sent [NUMBER] days ago
- I asked [ORGANISATION NAME] to [BRIEFLY DESCRIBE ORIGINAL REQUEST, E.G. add me to their suppliers page]
- I have not received a reply
- I do not know if they saw it

Tone: Light, human, not pushy. Acknowledge you are following up without making them feel guilty. Give them a clear, low-friction action.

Length: Under 80 words.

Do not include: a full re-explanation of the original request, any guilt language like "just checking in again," pressure tactics, or multiple questions. One ask, clearly stated.

Do not use: em dashes, curly quotes, or the phrase "circling back."

Output: Subject line (can differ from original) + email body only.

You are a local SEO consultant. I want to find local blogs, news sites, and online publications in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY] that regularly cover [INDUSTRY] topics or serve my target audience.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [WHAT YOU DO].
My target reader: [WHO YOUR IDEAL CUSTOMER IS].

Task: Generate 15 types of local online publications, community blogs, and news sources that would logically cover topics relevant to my business. For each:
1. Describe the publication type
2. Explain what type of content they typically publish that could include a mention of or link to my business
3. Provide the Google search string to find real local examples in [CITY]
4. Suggest the specific angle I would use to pitch them

Constraints: Focus only on publications with their own domain and a history of publishing original content. Exclude social media pages with no linked website. Include both editorial features and regular columns or roundups where I could contribute.

You are a PR and outreach specialist. Write a short pitch email proposing a regular expert column or guest contribution to a local publication.

Details:
- My name and business: [YOUR NAME], [YOUR BUSINESS NAME]
- Publication I am pitching: [PUBLICATION NAME + URL]
- Their audience: [DESCRIBE THEIR READERS]
- My expertise: [ONE OR TWO SENTENCES on what you know that their readers would find useful]
- Proposed column angle: [YOUR SUGGESTED COLUMN TITLE OR TOPIC, E.G. "A monthly tax Q&A for local small business owners"]
- What I want from the placement: a byline with a link to my website

Tone: Confident, specific, peer-to-peer. Do not undersell the offer. Make it clear why their readers benefit, not just why I want exposure.

Length: Under 150 words.

Do not include: a list of every topic I could cover, a request for them to tell me what they need, or any phrase that starts with "I was wondering."

Output: Subject line + email body only.

You are a digital PR strategist. Help me create a pitch for a data-led local story that local and regional press would cover, with a link back to my website as the source.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY], in [CITY, STATE/COUNTY].
Data or insight I have access to: [DESCRIBE ANY DATA YOU HOLD, E.G. booking trends, client survey results, pricing data, seasonal patterns, anonymised job data]

Task:
1. Suggest 5 specific story angles I could build from my data that would be genuinely newsworthy for a local audience in [CITY]
2. For each angle, write a two-sentence pitch summary a journalist could take directly to their editor
3. Suggest 5 types of local and regional media outlets in [CITY] to target with this story
4. Write a short pitch email template I can adapt for each outlet

Constraints: All story angles must be based on real data I could realistically have. No fabricated statistics. Focus on stories that have a clear local angle specific to [CITY] rather than a generic national story.

You are a local SEO specialist. I have identified a list of potential link opportunities and I need to prioritise them.

My link prospect list:
[PASTE YOUR LIST HERE, one per line, with the site URL and the type of link (directory, sponsorship, partner, press, etc.)]

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY], [CITY].

Task: For each prospect, score it out of 10 on the following criteria:
1. Relevance (how closely related is the site to my industry or location?)
2. Likelihood of a followed link (does the site typically link out, or just mention?)
3. Ease of acquisition (how much effort is required to get the link?)
4. Trust signals (does the site look legitimate, updated, and indexed in Google?)

Then provide an overall priority score and group prospects into: Quick wins (act this week), Worth pursuing (next 30 days), Low priority (if you have spare time).

Constraints: Base scoring on observable signals only. Do not assume high DA from site appearance alone. Flag any prospects that look like link farms or low-quality directories I should skip entirely.

You are a local SEO strategist. Build a 90-day local link building action plan for my business based on the opportunities I have identified.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY], [CITY, STATE/COUNTY].
Current domain authority (if known): [DA OR "unknown"]
Time I can invest per week: [HOURS PER WEEK]
Budget for sponsorships or paid listings: [MONTHLY BUDGET OR "zero"]

Opportunities I have already found:
[PASTE YOUR LIST OF IDENTIFIED OPPORTUNITIES]

Task: Create a week-by-week action plan for 12 weeks that:
1. Sequences the opportunities in logical order (quick wins first, relationship-based links later)
2. Assigns specific tasks to each week (research, outreach, follow-up, submission)
3. Includes realistic targets (e.g. 2 submissions sent per week, 1 partnership email per week)
4. Flags which weeks require the most effort versus light maintenance weeks

Constraints: Keep the plan realistic for a business owner spending [HOURS PER WEEK] on this. Do not assume I have a team. Every task should be completable by one person with no specialist tools beyond a free Moz or Ahrefs account.

You are a local SEO consultant. Help me identify which of my existing business relationships have the potential to become backlinks.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY], [CITY].

Existing relationships to audit:
- Current clients or customers: [LIST OR DESCRIBE YOUR CLIENT BASE]
- Suppliers and vendors: [LIST KEY SUPPLIERS]
- Business associations or groups I belong to: [E.G. local chamber, BNI, trade body]
- Businesses I have referred clients to: [LIST IF ANY]
- Businesses that have referred clients to me: [LIST IF ANY]
- Any media or press coverage I have received: [LIST IF ANY]

Task: For each category, identify:
1. The specific type of link each relationship could yield (testimonial link, partner page, supplier directory, member directory)
2. Whether a link is likely to exist already (and how to check)
3. A one-line reason the other party would say yes to adding a link
4. The lowest-friction way to make the ask

Prioritise by likelihood of getting a yes with minimal effort.

You are an outreach specialist. Write a short, natural email asking a client or customer to publish a testimonial on their website that includes a link back to my site.

Details:
- My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [WEBSITE URL]
- Client contact: [CLIENT NAME], [THEIR BUSINESS NAME]
- What I did for them: [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE WORK]
- Result or outcome they experienced (if known): [DESCRIBE THE RESULT]
- Where I would like the testimonial to appear: [E.G. their suppliers page, their case studies section, their about page]

Tone: Warm, personal, not transactional. This is a real relationship. Do not make it feel like a link building tactic. Frame it as wanting to share their success story and give them credit for the results.

Length: Under 120 words.

Do not include: a template-sounding opener, any mention of SEO or backlinks, or pressure language. The ask should feel like a natural extension of the relationship.

Output: Subject line + email body only.

You are a local SEO specialist. I have been invited to speak at or appear at a local event and I want to ensure the event organisers link back to my website.

Details:
- Event name and organiser: [EVENT NAME], [ORGANISER WEBSITE]
- My role: [SPEAKER / PANELIST / WORKSHOP LEADER / EXHIBITOR / OTHER]
- My website: [YOUR WEBSITE URL]
- The specific page I want linked: [HOME / BIO PAGE / LANDING PAGE / OTHER]

Task:
1. Write a short, friendly email to the event organiser requesting that my speaker or exhibitor profile include a link to my website
2. Suggest the specific page or section of their site where the link should appear
3. Write the exact bio text I should send them that naturally includes my website URL and gives them ready-to-use copy

Constraints: The email should read as a practical, helpful request, not as a link building ask. Frame it as making their job easier by providing ready-to-use bio copy. Keep the email under 100 words. Keep the bio under 80 words.

You are a local SEO consultant. Design a simple link building tracking spreadsheet for a small business owner with no technical SEO background.

My business: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME], [INDUSTRY].
Tracking tools I have access to: [LIST AVAILABLE TOOLS, E.G. Google Search Console, Ahrefs free, Moz free, or none]

Task: Design the exact column headers and structure for a spreadsheet that tracks:
1. Each link opportunity I have identified
2. The outreach I have sent
3. Whether the link has been placed
4. How to verify the link is live and followed
5. The impact on my search rankings over time

For each column, explain: what to record, how to find that information, and how often to update it.

Also include a simple monthly review checklist I can run through in under 30 minutes to assess whether my link building is working.

Constraints: Assume I am managing this alone with no agency. Keep the spreadsheet simple enough that I will actually use it. No more than 12 columns.

You are a local SEO consultant. Write a short monthly link building progress report for a local business to share with a client, business partner, or internal stakeholder.

Business details:
- Business name: [YOUR BUSINESS NAME / CLIENT BUSINESS NAME]
- Reporting period: [MONTH AND YEAR]
- Links acquired this month: [NUMBER]
- Links in progress (outreach sent, awaiting response): [NUMBER]
- Links identified but not yet pursued: [NUMBER]
- Top 3 links acquired (site name + URL): [LIST THEM]
- Any ranking changes observed: [DESCRIBE OR "none noted yet"]

Task: Write a one-page summary report that:
1. Opens with a plain-English summary of what was achieved this month
2. Highlights the three best links and why they matter
3. Sets expectations for next month in one paragraph
4. Flags any blockers or decisions needed

Tone: Clear, professional, no jargon. Assume the reader knows their business but does not know SEO. Translate everything into plain English.

Length: Under 300 words. No bullet-point overload. Short paragraphs only.