Page Contents
- 1 The reason why these types of resource pages are easily discoverable
- 2 Using Google Search Operators to Find Resource Pages for Link Building
- 3 Related Posts
- 4 Examples of Resource Page Backlinks
- 5 How footprints help uncover hidden opportunities
- 6 Determining if a webpage is a resource page or not
- 7 Context is key for determining relevance
- 8 Where this often goes wrong
The process of finding resource pages for link building boils down to finding pages that have been built to list and link to external content. This is not really about searching for links; rather, it is about finding pages that have been built to curate useful resources on a given subject.
Of course, not all pages with this type of structure qualify. It is about how these pages have been structured and what they have been built to provide.
The reason why these types of resource pages are easily discoverable
Resource pages have a number of common characteristics. They tend to be built to curate useful links and resources on a given subject. As a result, they tend to include common keywords and phrases.
This is why they are easily discoverable. Search engines recognize these types of keywords and phrases, and so do humans. Because there are many of these pages, they tend to be easy to find through targeted searches.
Why Do Search Intent Targeted Queries Perform So Well in Search?
Using Google Search Operators to Find Resource Pages for Link Building
The most straightforward method of finding these types of resource pages is by using Google. However, instead of using basic keywords and phrases, the idea is to use search operators to find these types of pages.
Some of these types of keywords and phrases include:
- “Keyword + Resources”
- “Keyword + Useful Links”
- “Keyword + Recommended Sites”
- “Keyword + Helpful Resources”
Additionally, there are several other search operators that can be used to find these types of pages.
These include:
intitle: to find keywords in the title of a webpage
inurl: to look for pages with structured URLs like “/resources/” or “/links/”
For instance, you can use:
intitle:resources + your topic
to look for pages that are clearly designed as resource pages.
The idea is not so much about using the word “resources,” but about recognizing the pattern behind it. As you use it more, you will begin to understand which combinations of words lead you to these pages.
A footprint is a pattern or signal that helps you understand more about a webpage. As it relates to resource pages, it is a shortcut for finding pages where curated lists of resources exist.
A footprint can take many different forms, including:
- The use of page titles like “resources,” “links,” or “recommended”
- The use of URLs like “/resources/” or “/useful-links/”
- The use of sections on a webpage like “further reading” or “additional resources”
Each of these is a straightforward technique. The power of footprints is in using them together.
For instance, it is unlikely for a blog about a specific niche to rank for a query like “keyword + resources.” However, it may still include a resource section within another article.
Using footprints together helps uncover these opportunities.
Determining if a webpage is a resource page or not
It is worth noting that not all pages with lists of links are resource pages.
Some pages might have links but are not resource pages. Others might appear to be resource pages but are not. The difference is in their structure.
A resource page is characterized by:
- A clear intention of curating external content
- Multiple outbound links grouped by topic or category
- Low emphasis on the site’s own content compared to other sources
This is different from a standard blog post, which may include links but is not built around a curated list.
Context is key for determining relevance
Just because a page is a resource page does not automatically mean it is relevant.
A resource page may have a long list of links, but if the context is too broad or loosely related to the topic, it is not as useful as a discovery tool. A smaller, more focused resource page can often be more relevant.
This is where judgment comes in.
It is not about the number of links; it is about alignment. Relevance depends on how closely the intent of the resource page matches the topic.
Where this often goes wrong
One of the biggest problems with resource page discovery is that it can become a quantity based approach.
It is easy to run many queries, collect a large number of results, and assume that more results means better opportunities. In reality, many of these pages may not be true resource pages or may not contain meaningful links.
Another issue is over-reliance on exact match queries.
A page may match the term but still not function as a real resource page. This can also cause you to miss pages that use different naming conventions but are still highly relevant.
There is also a tendency to ignore context, where a page may qualify structurally but not contextually.
Ultimately, discovery works best when it is based on recognizing patterns that consistently lead to useful resource pages.






