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:

| Search Query | What It Finds | |-------------|---------------| | "[your topic]" + "weekly roundup" | Weekly content roundups | | "[your topic]" + "best of the week" | Similar weekly collections | | "[your topic]" + "link roundup" | General roundup posts | | "[your topic]" + "monthly roundup" | Monthly collections | | "[your topic]" + "top articles" | Best-of compilations | | inurl:roundup + "[your topic]" | URLs containing "roundup" |

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: | Roundup | Contact | Date Pitched | Featured? | Link Value | Follow-up Needed | |---------|---------|--------------|-----------|------------|------------------|

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.