Linkable Assets: How to Create Successful Link Magnets With AI

I thought I knew how to get backlinks—until I discovered the power of linkable assets.

Imagine generating high-quality backlinks on autopilot, without the tedious and costly outreach campaigns. Sounds too good to be true? It’s not.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to create linkable assets that naturally attract backlinks, saving you up to 80% on your link-building costs and countless hours of manual work.

You’ll learn how to craft:

• Calculators
• Interactive Maps
• Name Generators
• Statistics Pages
• Surveys and Quizzes
• Custom GPT Tools
• And much more

By the end of this guide, you’ll have the tools and knowledge to transform your SEO strategy and watch your backlink profile grow organically.

Let’s dive in.

How Do Linkable Assets Work?

Think about it: Why would major publications like the BBC or The Sun link to your website?

Because you offer something valuable and unique that their audience needs.

By reverse-engineering successful PR campaigns and creating assets that journalists, bloggers, and influencers find irresistible, you can generate a steady stream of high-quality backlinks.

Why Linkable Assets Are Game-Changers for SEO

Ever tried getting backlinks in competitive niches like gambling, adult entertainment, or CBD? It’s like climbing Everest without oxygen—pure hell.

Backlinks are votes of confidence in Google’s eyes, but acquiring top-tier links is nearly impossible through traditional methods. Outreach is time-consuming, expensive, and often yields minimal results.

So, what’s the solution?

Creating linkable assets that attract backlinks naturally.

By offering valuable resources, tools, or data, you encourage others to link to your site without you having to lift a finger. This strategy not only saves you time and money but also builds your site’s authority and boosts your rankings.

And…

They are generally evergreen meaning you’ll get links over time for free. Especially if they get picked up in the media and shared again. 

Now, let’s explore how you can create these powerful linkable assets step by step.

The Process: Creating Linkable Assets

Creating linkable assets may seem daunting, because of the creative nature.

The great news is, if you follow a structured process, it can help you efficiently develop resources that naturally attract backlinks.

Note: Not all of the types of linkable assets require the full steps. 

The steps are:

1. Idea Generation

If you’re struggling to brainstorm what tool to create. 

Always start at the end.

Here’s how to get unlimited ideas…

By reverse-engineering successful campaigns.

Steps:

Start with BIG news sites you want links from.

• Popular News Websites:
  • bbc.com
  • nypost.com
  • dailymail.co.uk
  • thesun.co.uk

Idea creation stage.

• Types of Assets:
  • Calculators
  • Interactive Maps
  • Surveys

Then reverse-engineer popular linkable assets.

• Use Google Search Operators:
  • site:dailymail.co.uk calculator
  • site:dailymail.co.uk interactive map
  • site:dailymail.co.uk survey
  • Or even better: site:example.com [your niche] [type of asset]

By reverse-engineering successful linkable assets on big news sites, you can generate ideas for your own tools that have a high potential for attracting backlinks.

This process takes time. 

But I did a lot of the hard work for you. 

I’m giving you FULL access to an exclusive Airtable database. It took over 80 hours to pack all the data for the 600+ proven tool campaigns, GUARANTEED to suck in links like a vacuum.

2. Data Sourcing

Reliable data is the backbone of most of the valuable linkable assets.

Here are some free places to find usable data:

• Government and Public Data: Utilize data from official sources like the U.S. Census Bureau, YouGov, and many others.
• Research Reports and Surveys: Access data from reputable organizations or industry-specific research firms.
• APIs and Open Data Platforms: Use APIs from platforms that provide data relevant to your project.
• … and many others. 

I give away the full list along with use cases and how to in my linkable assets course. (coming soon) 

3. Tool Development

With your idea and data in place, it’s time to bring your linkable asset to life.

Use AI tools. Leverage AI platforms like ChatGPT or Claude to help generate the code snippets (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) for the tool.

You can build entire tools without extensive programming knowledge.

Next you want to test and refine the code using JSfiddle to visually check it.

You can also use ChatGPT Canvas or Claude Artifacts.

No-Code platforms. I’m not a huge fan of this method but it shouldn’t be overlooked. If you don’t want to touch code, use no-code or low-code platforms like Bubble, Glide, or WordPress plugins to build interactive elements without writing code.

Collaborate with developers. For more complex projects, consider hiring a freelance developer from platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.

Integrate with WordPress. Upload your code via the WP File Manager plugin. Choose to embed the code on a page or assign it a dedicated URL.

4. Content Creation

Enhance your tool with high-quality content to improve its value and SEO performance.

• Write an Engaging Introduction: Explain what the tool does and why it’s valuable to the user.
• Include Clear Instructions: Make it easy for users to understand and use your tool effectively.
• Optimize for SEO: Use relevant keywords in your titles, headings, and meta descriptions to improve search engine rankings.

One of my favorite websites that has fully embraced this method is Authority Astrology.

They even used this method and made a custom GPT into a subscription business model.  

5. Design and User Experience

A well-designed tool increases user engagement and shareability.

• User-Friendly Interface: Ensure your tool is intuitive and easy to navigate.
• Responsive Design: Make sure it’s accessible on all devices, including mobile and tablets.
• Visual Appeal: Use clean layouts, appealing graphics, and consistent branding to enhance the user experience.

6. Promotion and Outreach

After creating your linkable asset, promote it to maximize its visibility and backlink potential.

• Social Media Sharing. Share your asset on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Reddit to generate buzz.
• Shareable. Add shareable buttons to the tool, encouraging organic shares which leads to links.
• Pitch to Journalists and Bloggers. Reach out to writers who cover your niche and offer your tool as a valuable resource for their audience.
• Tool directories. Share on places like Product Hunt for quick backlinks and traffic. 

Even though these methods generate backlinks, it’s always important to promote them.

Why?

1. They have a higher chance of getting links compared to guest posting. 
2. Getting a few links help them rank organically. 

7. Monitoring and Iteration

Continuously improve your linkable asset based on performance metrics and user feedback.

1. Track Backlinks
   • Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush.
2. Analyze Traffic
   • Monitor with Google Analytics.
3. Update Content
   • Keep your asset fresh with new data or features.
4. Use SEO Tools
   • Spindrift can help identify missed keywords.
5. Consistency
   • Regularly publish and promote new assets.

Okay, let’s look at the options. 

Statistic Pages

Stats Pages are a great way to build backlinks without needing to outreach.

Here’s why:

• ✅ Writers and Journalists Constantly Need Data and Stats.
  They’re always on the hunt for fresh, reliable statistics to back up their stories.
• ✅ High Likelihood of Earning Backlinks.
  A huge percentage of searchers looking for stats end up linking to statistics pages in their content.
• ✅ Page 1 Rankings Lead to Natural Backlinks.
  If your stats page ranks well, it naturally attracts backlinks without additional effort.
• ✅ Steady Stream of Passive Links Boosts Overall SEO.
  Consistent backlinks improve your site’s authority and overall organic traffic.

Stats Pages are optimized around “[Topic] + statistics” keywords.

And who tends to search for statistics keywords?

That’s right: bloggers and journalists!

And when they use one of your stats in their article, they’ll usually link back to your stats page.

Real-World Example: 

ExplodingTopics.com

How Brian Dean scaled this approach with Exploding Topics, to get over 32,000 backlinks (which he recently sold to SEMRush). His secret growth strategy was creating statistics posts at scale.

Here’s how he did it:

1. Created Over 540 Statistics Posts
   • Smartphone Usage Stats: Attracted 1,588 referring domains.
   • Online Review Stats: Garnered 1,232 referring domains.
   • Startup Failure Stats: Generated 1,135 referring domains.
2. Leveraged Business Positioning
   • His niche is trends, allowing him to create stats on virtually any topic.
3. Built a Link-Earning Machine
   • By focusing on stats posts, he designed ExplodingTopics to passively earn thousands of backlinks.

How to Create Statistics Pages Quickly

You can create these pages at 10x the speed you used to, thanks to tools like Perplexity AI.

Steps to Create a Statistics Page:

1. Use Perplexity AI

Simply type…

 “Give me data-driven statistics on [your topic].”

For example: “Give me data-driven statistics on the moon.”

2. Focus on Numbered Statistics

Numbered statistics get the best results because they’re concise and easily quotable.

That’s why I ask for data driven statistics. 

If you reverse engineer stat pages, you’ll always see the majority of the links come from numbers.

3. Create a Bulleted List

Place a bulleted list of key stats near the start of your article.

This makes it easy for journalists and bloggers to find and reference your data.

4. Optimize the Title and Headings

Sticking with the moon example. 

This gives you the perfect content for:

• Interesting facts about the Moon
• Moon statistics: These will shock you
• Moon statistics and facts

5. Structure Your Content Well

Use secondary keywords as headings.

These are less competitive headings like “moon landing statistics” to capture searches.

Present stats in a listicle-style format for easy reading.

Improving and Optimizing Your Statistics Pages

1. Revisit After 3–9 Months

Once the page is getting traffic.

2. Identify Missing Keywords

Spindrift will show keywords your page is ranking for but hasn’t explicitly mentioned.

3. Update Your Content

You should always be doing this for SEO, but it’s especially effective with statistical pages.

Add the missing keywords/stats to optimize your content and capture more traffic.

Scale Up

• Create Multiple Statistics Pages

Use Perplexity AI to generate stats on various topics within your niche.

This broadens your reach and increases the potential for backlinks.

Do You Need to Be in Position 1 to Get Links?

Most of the time, yes.

The good news is that statistics pages are generally easier to rank. 

But I have some tips below…

Statistical Pages Creation Tips

Tip 1: Use Low-Cost Google Ads

What you can do is run low-cost Google ads for fast traffic (until ranking).

As SEOs, we tend to be a bit closed minded with Ads, but these are cheap—no one bids on them.

And you’ll gain immediate visibility while you naturally get backlinks to rank organically.

And… 

Journalists often click on top results due to tight deadlines. They have 10 other articles to write that day, so they click the top result.

This strategy alone lands solid backlinks from BIG news sites.

Tip 2: Image Link Building

But here’s where it gets even better…

Boost your statistics page’s backlink potential with this simple trick from Stacey MacNaught.

It’s simple.

1. Add a Relevant Image

Create an image related to your stats page.

Use your own photo or generate one using tools like Midjourney.

2. Upload to Flickr with a Creative Commons License

For example, if you’re making a stat page on burnout, upload an image of someone with their head on a desk—sites love using these types of images.

3. Benefit

Flickr images rank well in Google Image Search, and the platform gets its own internal traffic.

Big news sites often use these images and will link back to you for attribution.

4. Monitor Usage

Perform a reverse image search every few months.

You can use tools or Google. 

Right click on the image and go to Google lens. 

It will then show you if the image is used anywhere. 

If someone uses your image without attribution. 

Politely request it via email, to their corrections department, and request proper attribution under the Creative Commons license.

It’s that easy.

This simple move can land even more links to your statistics page, creating a cycle that drives more backlinks.

Tool Pages

You can create tool pages to generate links and traffic to your website. 

• Calculators
• Name Generators
• Interactive Maps
• Quizzes and Surveys
• And more…

You can build all of these tools easily with ChatGPT and upload them to WordPress (or your CMS).

Benefits:

• Get backlinks that your competitors don’t have.
• Protection from algorithm updates.
• Higher search rankings.
• Increased revenue.

I’ve built a complete video course on how YOU can build these tools yourself. It’s available here.

Calculators

Calculators offer real value to users and are highly shareable, making them powerful for link building.

• Useful Resource: People rely on calculators for practical insights.
• Highly Shareable: They attract natural backlinks from blogs and media.
• Easy to Build: Use programming or AI tools to create them.

How to Create a Calculator

1. Identify a Need
   What problem does your audience need to solve? (e.g., mortgage payments, savings goals, BMI, more in the airtable).
2. Design and Build
   Use programming languages or AI tools to create a functional, user-friendly calculator.

Calculators are one of my favorite tools to build. 

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Dating Calculator

For example, below is a simple dating calculator that has over 50+ referring domains, including links from Daily Mail, iHeart, and NY Post.

It’s a tool that shows how many people are your type in the United States.

It’s a simple calculator built to see how many people are your type. 

The results come back based on the U.S. Census Bureau data.

They have even updated it to match current trends.

They even added a popular trend of a man in finance 6’5 with blue eyes. 

If they are savvy, they can repitch this to get additional links. I’ll touch on outreach in the promotion section. 

• Referring Domains: 50+
• Best Links: Daily Mail, iHeart, NY Post
• Why It Worked: Fun, data-driven, and easy to share.

Example 2: How Often Should You Upgrade Your iPhone?

• Referring Domains: 113+
• Best Links: NY Post, CBS News, Fortune
• Why It Worked: Tech-focused, solves a common question for iPhone users.

Example 3: Birth Chart Calculator

Generates personalized birth charts based on astrology.

• Referring Domains: 1,100+
• Best Links: Yahoo, NY Post, The Knot
• Why It Worked: Popular niche with a loyal following.

Why Calculators Work

• Practical Value: Solves real problems with immediate answers.
• Shareability: Easy to distribute on social media and blogs.
• SEO-Friendly: Frequently used tools attract consistent organic traffic.

Tips for Success

• Solve a Real Problem: Make sure your calculator addresses a common need.
• Optimize for SEO: Use relevant keywords in the title and meta descriptions.
• Promote Widely: Share on social platforms, Reddit, and through outreach to relevant blogs.

Calculators are a powerful tool for engaging users and driving backlinks. 

Whether it’s for finance, lifestyle, or health, creating and promoting a well-designed calculator can generate valuable traffic and links for your site.

You just need a creative angle, I’ve even seen a calculator on how many calories does shoveling snow burn?

Granted this is very niche, and doesn’t have too many links, but it still has a couple of DR 80+ links. 

Interactive Maps

Interactive maps engage users, drive shares, and attract high-quality backlinks. Here’s why they work:

• High Engagement: People love exploring maps.
• Visual Appeal: Complex data becomes easy to digest.
• Versatility: Fits industries from travel to finance.
• Link Magnet: Journalists and bloggers can’t resist unique, data-driven maps.

How To Create An Interactive Map:

1. Gather Reliable Data
   • Use trusted sources like government stats or proprietary research.
2. Choose the Right Tools
   • Mapbox Studio: Customizable but can get pricey with viral traffic.
   • Google Maps API: Easy but has usage limits.
   • Tableau Public: Great for visualizations without heavy coding.
3. Design for Clarity
   • User-friendly interface
   • Clear visuals with distinct colors
   • Responsive for all devices

You can also create interesting maps with Strava using this website Exploremap.io.

Real-World Examples:

Example 1: McCheapest

Interactive map of Big Mac prices across the U.S.

• Referring Domains: 50+
• Best Links: CBS News, HuffPost, Yahoo
• Why It Worked: Unique data, high engagement, viral on Reddit.

Example 2: Polluted UK Rivers

Interactive map reveals just how polluted your local waterway is

• Referring Domains: 63+
• Best Links: The Guardian, Daily Mail, City AM
• Why It Worked: Simple, location targeted, shareable.

Why interactive maps work:

• People Love Comparisons: Regional price differences create buzz.
• Visual Storytelling: Maps turn data into a compelling narrative.
• Highly Shareable: Visual content gets shared more on social media.

Tips for success:

• Find a Unique Angle: Present data in a new or interesting way.
• Leverage Trends: Tap into current events or popular topics.
• Optimize for SEO: Use relevant keywords in titles and descriptions.
• Promote on Reddit: Post to r/InternetIsBeautiful for organic traction.

Overcoming Challenges:

• Data Sourcing: Use reliable sources or scrape data responsibly.
• Technical Skills: Use easy tools like Google Maps if you’re not a developer.
• Cost Management: Start with free platforms but consider scalability.

Interactive maps are a proven strategy for generating interest and backlinks. Whether you’re in travel, finance, or any other industry, they set your content apart and drive serious results.

Name Generators

Name generators are fun tools that attract shares and backlinks.

You’ll see a lot of these around business name generators by website hosting companies, however, plenty of other niches perform very well in the category, take pets for example. 

Here’s a great story…

At 16, Beau Jessup found a unique business idea: naming babies.

While on a trip to China, she was asked to name a little girl.

Surprised by the responsibility, she took it seriously.

Beau asked the mother about the traits she wanted for her child.

The result? The name “Eliza.”

It was a hit.

This sparked an idea.

Beau created Special Name, a website that helps Chinese parents choose English names for their babies.

She named the first 162,000 babies for free.

Now, for just $1, parents select five traits, and her system generates three name options.

It’s quick, easy, and culturally appropriate.

The site has exploded.

Names like Katherine and William top the list.

Beau has named over 688,000 babies so far.

And she’s using the profits to pay for her university degree.

How to Create a Name Generator

1. Choose a Theme
   Make sure it aligns with your niche (e.g., “Startup Name Generator” or “Fantasy Character Name Generator”).
2. Develop Logic
   Use algorithms, word databases, or AI to generate names based on user inputs.
3. Build and Share
   Ensure the tool is simple, fast, and easy to share across social media.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Wu-Tang Name Generator

Generates unique Wu-Tang Clan-style names for fun and entertainment.

• Referring Domains: 120+
• Best Links: Rolling Stone, Complex, Genius
• Why It Worked: Iconic, fun concept with broad cultural appeal.

Example 2: SciFi Name Generator

Generates a Sci-fi name for gamers and writers.

• Referring Domains: 80+
• Best Links: The Story Shack, En World, Amplitude Studios
• Why It Worked: Niche appeal, simple and engaging.

Example 3: Podcast Name Generator

Generates creative podcast names for aspiring podcasters.

• Referring Domains: 61+
• Best Links: Libsyn, Name Cheap, Wonder Share
• Why It Worked: Valuable for content creators, highly shareable.

Why Name Generators Work

• Fun Factor: Users enjoy playing around with names.
• Personalization: Generated names feel unique and tailored.
• Viral Potential: Quick, shareable content perfect for social media.

Tips for Success

• Choose a Popular Theme: Pick something relevant to your audience.
• Optimize for SEO: Use relevant keywords in the title and descriptions.
• Promote Strategically: Share on social platforms like Reddit for organic traffic.

Name generators are an easy way to create a linkable asset that engages users and drives backlinks. Whether you’re in tech, entertainment, or any niche, they’re a proven tool for growing traffic.

Surveys & Quizzes

Surveys and quizzes are interactive tools that capture attention and provide valuable data. Here’s why they work:

• Highly Engaging: People love interactive content that’s personal.
• Insightful: Collect valuable data that is unique from your audience.
• Link-Worthy: Shareable results attract links from blogs and publications.

How to Create Surveys & Quizzes

1. Create Engaging Questions
   Use platforms like SurveyMonkey or Typeform to craft questions that resonate with your audience.
2. Collect and Analyze Data
   Feature the quiz on your blog, facebook groups, and even run ads.
3. Publish and Promote
   Share the results with your audience and pitch them to industry blogs and media outlets.

Real-World Examples

Example 1: From Burnout to Balance: AI-Enhanced Work Models

Explores how AI is transforming work-life balance and addressing employee burnout.

• Referring Domains: 90+
• Best Links: Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Wired
• Why It Worked: Timely topic, AI focus attracts both business and tech audiences.

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Example 2: When Vacations Aren’t Enough

A troubling trend of burnout among employees and its impact on job retention.

• Referring Domains: 60+
• Best Links: Bloomberg, Financial Times, Visier Blog
• Why It Worked: Addresses a critical workforce issue, with actionable insights for employers.

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Example 3: Why 33 Percent of New Employees Quit in 90 Days

The reasons behind high turnover in the first 90 days of employment.

• Referring Domains: 50+
• Best Links: SHRM, Business Insider, Fast Company
• Why It Worked: Eye-catching statistic with practical implications for HR and business leaders.

Why Surveys & Quizzes Work

• Interactive: Users are more likely to engage with personalized content.
• Data-Driven: Provides insights that can inform your content or strategy.
• Viral Potential: Fun quizzes get shared, while valuable survey results earn backlinks.

Tips for Success

• Keep It Fun or Relevant: Ensure questions are engaging or useful to your audience.
• Leverage the Data: Use the insights to create reports or resources.
• Promote on Social Media: Share on Twitter or LinkedIn for maximum reach.

Pro tip: Use quizzes to collect emails, drive the visitor to a product, and collect valuable information. 

Surveys and quizzes are a great way to engage your audience, gather unique data to create valuable content and earn backlinks.

Free Tools and Software

Free tools and software are a great way to add value and attract backlinks. Here’s how you can create custom tools:

• Valuable Linkable Asset: Attracts natural links, even in competitive niches.
• Cost-Effective: Build it with ChatGPT and upload it to WordPress without needing a developer, saving you money.
• Easy to Share: Tools get natural backlinks from blogs and publications.

How to Create Custom GPT Tools

1. Access ChatGPT’s Custom Feature
   Head to the Explore section to start building your own GPT.
2. Define the Purpose
   Decide what value your tool will offer—e.g., guest post finder or content generator.
3. Build and Configure
   Set up the instructions and conversation starters that guide the user.
4. Enable Web Browsing
   Allow GPT to pull live data for dynamic, up-to-date responses.
5. Save and Share
   Share the unique link with your audience to drive traffic and engagement.

Creating a custom GPT isn’t an optimal way to generate links to your website.

It does give you a high authority DR 91 link, and can be powered up by other people linking to the page. 

However, it’s better to use an AI model to create a tool to embed on your website, as previously covered. 

Real-World Examples

Example 1: VEED.IO

VEED IO Gets $1.1M/mo traffic using free tool marketing.

• Referring Domains: 100+
• Best Links: Zapier, Apple, Hubspot
• Why It Worked: Useful for content creators, easy to use and share.

Example 2: Ahrefs backlink checker

Helps users find backlinks on a website.

• Referring Domains: 100+
• Best Links: Shopify, Hubspot, Buffer
• Why It Worked: Saves time for website owners, highly shareable.

Why Free Tools Work

• Utility: People love tools that solve problems or save time and money.
• Shareability: Tools get shared naturally, earning backlinks.
• Low Barrier: Depending on the tool, you don’t need deep technical skills to build them because of AI.

Tips for Success

• Solve a Common Problem: Make sure your tool addresses a pain point.
• Optimize for SEO: Use relevant keywords in your tool’s title and description.
• Promote Across Platforms: Share your tool on blogs, social media, and relevant forums.

Promotion Strategies

Once you’ve built a linkable asset. 

You can wait till your ranking to get inks naturally. 

If you’ve gone for an easy keyword it won’t take long. 

But, you can kick start the process of getting these links below.

Reddit

Reddit is one of the best ways to start driving backlinks naturally.

It gets over a BILLION search traffic each month. 

If you post in popular subreddits, and the asset is shareable, It will pick up a ton of shares.

Which will get seen by journalists who are always looking on the platform for new ideas. 

Popular data subreddits to use around data to post in:

1. r/InternetIsBeautiful – Showcases beautifully designed websites or apps.
2. r/DataIsBeautiful – A subreddit for visualizations and infographics related to data.
3. r/DesignPorn – For beautifully designed websites, software, and digital products.
4. r/interestingasfuck – Shares interesting and visually striking content from all over the internet.
5. r/BestOfWeb – Highlights the best content and websites found on the web.
6. r/datasets – A community for sharing, finding, and requesting datasets.
7. r/DataScience – Discusses data science, machine learning, and related fields.
8. r/MachineLearning – A space for all things machine learning, including data and algorithms.
9. r/bigdata – Focuses on topics related to big data, analytics, and trends in the data industry.
10. r/Visualization – For sharing visualizations and discussing best practices for representing data.

Real-World Example: McCheapest.com

Sacha from JournoFinder launched McCheapest.com and hit it big. Here’s what happened:

• 100,000 views in the first 48 hours
• DR 33 within days of launch
• Hundreds of high-authority mentions

The best part?

ZERO outreach. No emails. No pitches.

Let’s take a look at some of the coverage/links:

• Yahoo (DR92)
• MSN (DR92)
• iHeart (DR91)
• MIT Technology Review (DR90)
• Times Union (DR83)
• The Sun (DR80)
• …and hundreds more.

A Nexstar Media journalist covered the site, leading to syndication across 120+ U.S. news websites, including ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox affiliates (average DR70). Some even featured unique regional content.

This is exactly how he did it.

About McCheapest.com

McCheapest is a quirky one-page interactive map showing Big Mac prices across every McDonald’s in the U.S. Inspired by McBroken.com (DR51), Sacha knew this content would resonate.

How it was made:

• Data Collection:
  • Sacha commissioned a mobile app scraper from Fiverr for under $100. Mobile apps = goldmine for unique data.
• Map Development:
  • Used MapLibre GLJS for the frontend and Tegola for the self-hosted backend—both open-source tools.
  • Note: For those starting out, Mapbox Studio is recommended for its ease of use and free tier. However, if your site goes viral, costs can escalate quickly. Setting up your own map tech stack can be complex, so weigh your options carefully.
• Hosting:
  • Hosted on DigitalOcean as a static site for $0.

But there was an issue. 

Redditors are tough. Sacha had 0 karma and 0 credibility. Here’s what worked:

• Build Karma:
  Posted cute puppy pics to boost his karma.
• Strategic Posting:
  Posted McCheapest on r/InternetIsBeautiful at 8 AM EST. This got instantly 5,000 real-time users on the page.
• Massive Reach:
  1.7 million views in 48 hours. The interactive map sparked discussions and shares across Reddit.

Why it worked:

Unique data with fresh and interesting insights, and high total addressable market (TAM)—everyone knows McDonald’s. 

Single-page app. This removes potential negative comments/downvotes from someone seeing less relevant or affiliate/service pages. 

(Pro Tip: You can 301 redirect later—Sacha did this too.)

Multiple talking points. Every McDonald’s location/region created a talking point for people in comments, podcasts, blogs, and news articles.

The regional price variations drove PR on a massive scale!

This wasn’t a one-off. 

Sacha replicated the success with another concept, gaining 150,000+ hits, making it to the front page of Reddit, and getting even better links.

This demonstrates that with the right strategy, such successes work.

Results without outreach. Several journalists saw the viral Reddit post and reached out via Reddit DMs and the email provided on the site.

This triggered the compound effect. With multiplesStories going live within 24 hours of posting, and once a couple of big sites posted about it, many of the others do as well. 

Unique data + strategic Reddit promotion = massive reach and backlinks without outreach.

Pitching to Journalists

1. Find Relevant Journalists
   • Use tools like Journofinder or Google.
2. Personalize Your Pitch
   • Reference their work which should be similar to what your pitching and explain the value of your asset.
3. Provide Value
   • Offer exclusive data or insights.
4. Follow Up
   • A polite follow-up can increase your chances.

If you ever update the tool, like what I mentioned with the dating calculator, make sure you re-pitch to get additional links.

Leveraging Product Hunt

1. Submit Your Tool
   • Create a compelling listing.
2. Engage with the Community
   • Respond to comments and feedback.
3. Gain Exposure
   • Product Hunt can drive significant traffic and backlinks.

Conclusion

Creating linkable assets is one of the most effective ways to generate high-quality backlinks while saving time and money.

By focusing on providing real value through statistics pages, calculators, interactive maps, and custom tools, you attract backlinks organically and strengthen your site’s authority.

Remember, the key is to provide value.

• Create something useful, engaging, or entertaining.
• Promote it effectively.
• Continuously monitor and improve.

Now it’s your turn.

Go out there and start building those linkable assets.

Your backlink profile—and your wallet—will thank you.