How to Get Featured in Link Roundups and Expert Roundups

Understanding Roundup Opportunities

Roundups are curated collections that aggregate the best content or expert opinions on a topic. They're excellent link building opportunities because curators are actively looking for quality to include.

There are two main types:

Link Roundups

Weekly, monthly, or periodic posts that curate the best content on a topic. Examples:

• "Best SEO Articles This Week"
• "Monthly Marketing Reads"
• "Top Design Resources of January"

These provide contextual backlinks when your content gets included.

Expert Roundups

Posts that compile expert opinions on a specific question. Examples:

• "25 SEO Experts Share Their Link Building Tips"
• "What Marketing Leaders Predict for 2026"
• "How Top Entrepreneurs Handle Failure"

These provide backlinks and authority positioning when you're quoted.

Both types offer legitimate link building opportunities when pursued correctly.

Part 1: Getting Featured in Link Roundups

Finding Link Roundups in Your Niche

Search Operators:

Example for SEO niche:

• "SEO" + "weekly roundup"
• "link building" + "best articles this week"
• "content marketing" + "Friday roundup"

Building Your List: Create a spreadsheet tracking:

• Roundup name and URL
• Publication frequency
• Curator contact info
• Submission guidelines (if any)
• Notes on what they typically feature

Creating Roundup-Worthy Content

Link roundup curators have standards. They're looking for:

Genuinely Valuable Content:

• Actionable insights, not fluff
• Original perspectives or data
• Well-written and well-structured
• Comprehensive coverage of topic

Recent Publication: Most link roundups focus on content published within their timeframe (usually the past week or month).

Shareability:

• Clear takeaways
• Quotable insights
• Visual elements that enhance
• Professional design and formatting

Approaching Roundup Curators

The Soft Approach (Recommended):

Build relationship before asking:

1. Follow their blog and social accounts
2. Share their roundups when published
3. Comment meaningfully on their content
4. Then suggest your content naturally

The Direct Approach:

For roundups with submission processes or when relationship-building isn't feasible:

Subject: Content suggestion for your [Topic] roundup

Hi [Name],

I've been following your [weekly/monthly] roundup for a while—always
find great reads through it.

We just published a piece that might fit well: [Title]

It covers [brief description of unique value], which I thought your
audience would find useful because [specific reason related to their
audience].

Link: [URL]

No pressure either way—I know you get lots of suggestions. Just
wanted to share in case it's a good fit.

Thanks for curating such a useful resource,
[Your name]

What NOT to Do:

• Don't demand inclusion
• Don't pitch irrelevant content
• Don't spam multiple roundups simultaneously with the same template
• Don't follow up aggressively

Timing Your Outreach

For Weekly Roundups: Reach out 2-3 days before their typical publication day. If they publish Fridays, reach out Tuesday or Wednesday.

For Monthly Roundups: Reach out in the last week of the preceding month or first week of the roundup month.

After Publishing New Content: If you've just published something exceptional, reach out to relevant roundups within 48 hours.

Part 2: Getting Featured in Expert Roundups

Expert roundups feature your insights and perspective, positioning you as an authority while earning backlinks.

Finding Expert Roundup Opportunities

Reactive: Wait for Requests

Sign up for platforms where roundup creators find experts:

• HARO/Connectively
• Help a B2B Writer
• Featured.com
• SourceBottle
• Qwoted

Many expert roundups are sourced through these platforms.

Proactive: Find Creators

Search for who creates expert roundups in your space:

• "[your topic]" + "experts share"
• "[your topic]" + "roundup" + "tips"
• "[your industry]" + "weigh in"
• "[your topic]" + "thought leaders"

Identify creators who publish roundups regularly, then:

• Follow their work
• Engage with existing roundups
• Reach out offering to participate in future roundups

Positioning Yourself as an Expert Worth Including

Roundup creators want experts who:

Have Credible Backgrounds:

• Relevant job title and company
• Verifiable experience
• Published work or thought leadership
• Active industry presence

Provide Quotable Responses:

• Unique perspectives, not generic advice
• Concrete examples and specific insights
• Memorable phrasing
• Appropriate length (not too short, not overwhelming)

Are Reliable:

• Respond promptly
• Follow instructions
• Provide complete information
• Are available for follow-up

Crafting Standout Roundup Responses

When invited to participate in an expert roundup, your response determines whether you stand out or blend in.

The Formula for Memorable Responses:

1. Lead with your unique take (not the obvious answer)
2. Support with specific example or data
3. Close with actionable insight

Example Question: "What's your best link building tip?"

❌ Generic response: "Focus on quality over quantity. Create great content that people want to link to naturally."

✅ Standout response: "Stop thinking about links and start thinking about what would make someone interrupt their writing to add a citation. Last year, our data study on [topic] earned 300+ links because it answered a question writers needed to answer but couldn't without citing us. Find the unanswered questions in your industry and become the answer."

Response Elements That Stand Out:

• Specific numbers and examples
• Counterintuitive insights
• Personal experience references
• Actionable specificity

Following Up Effectively

After participating in an expert roundup:

When Published:

• Share the roundup on your social channels
• Thank the creator publicly and privately
• Link to the roundup from relevant content on your site

Building Ongoing Relationships:

• Engage with the creator's other content
• Refer other experts they might want to feature
• Express interest in future roundups
• Suggest topics for future roundups

Creating Your Own Expert Roundup

Flip the script: Create roundups to attract links and build relationships.

Why Create Your Own Roundup

Link Building Benefits:

• Experts often link to roundups they're featured in
• Experts share roundups with their audiences
• Creates content worth linking to independently

Relationship Benefits:

• Build connections with industry experts
• Position yourself alongside established names
• Create reasons for ongoing interaction

Executing an Expert Roundup

Step 1: Choose a Compelling Question

Requirements:

• Specific enough for focused answers
• Open enough for diverse perspectives
• Relevant to your target audience
• Interesting enough for experts to want to answer

Good examples:

• "What's the most underrated link building tactic that actually works?"
• "How has AI changed your content strategy in 2026?"
• "What's one SEO mistake you see even experts make?"

Poor examples:

• "What is SEO?" (too broad)
• "Is link building important?" (yes/no question)
• "Tell us about yourself" (not focused)

Step 2: Recruit Experts

Who to Invite:

• Mix of well-known and emerging experts
• People actively creating content (they're more likely to share)
• Diverse perspectives (not all the same viewpoint)
• Aim for 10-25 participants

Outreach Template:

Subject: Expert invitation: [Your Question Topic]

Hi [Name],

I'm compiling an expert roundup on [topic] and would love to include
your perspective.

The question: [Your specific question]

I'm reaching out to [X] experts in the space, including [1-2 notable
names if applicable].

If you're interested, I'd need:
- Your response (2-3 paragraphs ideal)
- Brief bio (1-2 sentences)
- Headshot
- Link to your site or preferred URL

Deadline: [Date]

Let me know if you have any questions or need more context.

Thanks,
[Your name]

Step 3: Compile and Publish

• Include expert photo and bio for each
• Link to their sites
• Organize responses logically (group similar perspectives, lead with strongest)
• Add your own introduction and takeaway summary
• Make it shareable (key quotes, graphics)

Step 4: Notify and Promote

Send each participant:

• Link to the published post
• Thank you message
• Request to share (but don't demand)
• Shareable graphics or quotes

Tracking Roundup Success

Metrics to Monitor

Participation:

• Roundup features secured
• Expert roundup invitations received
• Response rate on outreach

Link Metrics:

• Backlinks earned from roundups
• Referring domains from roundup strategy
• Domain authority of roundup sites

Relationship Metrics:

• Ongoing relationships developed
• Repeat invitations received
• Referrals generated

Roundup Tracking Spreadsheet

Track:

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

For Link Roundups

Mistake: Pitching irrelevant content Fix: Only pitch content genuinely relevant to the roundup's audience

Mistake: Mass-emailing the same pitch Fix: Personalize each outreach to the specific roundup

Mistake: Pitching low-quality content Fix: Only pitch your best work—roundup inclusion is earned

For Expert Roundups

Mistake: Giving generic responses Fix: Provide unique, specific insights that stand out

Mistake: Missing deadlines Fix: Respond promptly or decline early if you can't participate

Mistake: Not promoting when published Fix: Share roundups featuring you—it helps everyone

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I pitch to link roundups?

Pitch when you have genuinely relevant, high-quality content. This might be 2-4 times per month for active content creators, or less frequently for others. Quality matters more than frequency.

What's a good success rate for roundup pitches?

Expect 10-20% inclusion rate for well-targeted pitches to link roundups. For expert roundups where you've been invited, nearly 100% if you respond well and on time.

Should I pay to be included in roundups?

Never pay for link roundup inclusion—this violates Google's guidelines and the links often come from low-quality sites anyway. Legitimate roundups feature content based on merit, not payment.

How do I find roundups that are actually worth pursuing?

Check the roundup site's domain authority, look at traffic (via SimilarWeb), and verify the roundup has been published consistently. Avoid sites that exist primarily to sell roundup placements.

Can I participate in too many expert roundups?

Quality over quantity applies here too. Being in every roundup dilutes your expertise positioning. Prioritize roundups from authoritative sources on topics where you have genuine expertise.

Building Your Roundup Strategy

Start with these steps:

1. Build your roundup database: Identify 20-30 relevant link roundups and 5-10 expert roundup creators in your space

2. Create roundup-worthy content: Focus on actionable, original, well-produced content

3. Establish your expertise: Build your profile and thought leadership so roundup creators want to include you

4. Develop relationships: Engage with curators before pitching

5. Track and iterate: Monitor what works and refine your approach

Roundup strategies work best as part of a broader link building approach. Combined with content-based link building and digital PR, roundups provide a steady stream of quality backlinks and authority signals.