Episode: 140 The Email Decision: Spam or Opportunity?

Blog Post: How to Handle Unsolicited SEO Emails Like a Pro

As a website owner, you’ve probably received your fair share of unsolicited emails. They often come through your contact form with messages like, “We’d love to share a guest post on your site” or “You’ve won a badge for being a top photographer—add it to your website and link back to us!” These emails can be confusing, and while most are spammy attempts at link-building, some may be legitimate. In this episode of their podcast, Meredith and her husband break down how to deal with these messages effectively.

At the core of the episode is a thoughtful discussion about the motivations behind these emails. Many of them aim to build backlinks for SEO purposes. While some are outright shady—embedding links in hidden code or pushing irrelevant content—others might be well-intentioned, albeit still self-serving. Recognizing the difference is crucial.

Meredith’s husband shares a practical evolution in his response strategy. Once quick to delete or ignore these emails, he now takes a more nuanced approach:

If the message seems authentic and professionally written, he may respond to feel out the sender’s intentions.
He recommends starting a light negotiation. For instance, asking for reciprocal value like a backlink in return or inquiring whether the content is unique (to avoid duplicate content penalties).
He stresses the importance of caution when clicking on links. If the email came through a website contact form, it’s safer because embedded tracking is less likely. Still, it’s best to copy and paste the domain into your browser rather than clicking directly.
He advises against placing unfamiliar badges or code on your site, especially if the source isn’t reputable. These can hide shady SEO links that harm your site’s credibility.

He also highlights a key SEO principle: you have to give before you get. Many of these cold emails fail because they offer nothing in return. A more compelling approach—like offering valuable content or collaboration—would be more successful.

Interestingly, Meredith’s husband shares examples of companies that started with these kinds of outreach emails and eventually became reputable, like Clutch and Expertise.com. While they looked spammy at first, the links they offered turned out to be valuable later on. This illustrates the challenge: sometimes these emails are from startups trying to build something legitimate.

Key Takeaways for Website Owners:

Most unsolicited SEO emails are not worth your time—but not all are worthless.
Look for well-written, sincere communication and a clear offer of value.
Never blindly add unknown code or badges to your site.
Be cautious about links—especially those with suspicious URL parameters.
Consider negotiating for something in return if you decide to reply.