Keep the original reference details
Record the referring page, the linked destination and the date the tool reported the change. If you have an earlier record, compare it with the current finding.
Google’s Links report is not a complete live inventory. Reporting and grouping limitations mean an absent row alone cannot establish when a reference was removed.
Inspect the referring page
Open the source and look for the reference. The article may have moved, changed wording or removed an old recommendation. The page itself may be temporarily unavailable.
For example, an event organiser may archive last year’s exhibitor list. A workshop’s link disappearing from the current list can reflect a real change in participation rather than a technical fault.
Read the surrounding content so you understand why the reference existed.
Check the page you control
Confirm that your destination still loads and answers the original question. If your own redesign broke the address, fixing that route may be more useful than contacting the publisher immediately.
Use a relevant redirect when a genuine replacement exists. Do not send a detailed reference to an unrelated homepage just to avoid an error.
Our broken-link guide explains the possible corrections.
Contact the publisher only with a useful reason
If the reference is now broken and you have a suitable replacement, a short factual message may help. Identify the page and the corrected address, then let the publisher decide whether to update it.
Do not demand restoration of an editorial link or repeatedly chase someone who declines. The old placement may no longer serve their audience.
If the reference was part of an agreed advertising arrangement, review that arrangement separately and keep the relationship transparent.
Keep the outcome in perspective
- Confirm the live change.
- Fix any broken destination you control.
- Offer a correction where appropriate.
- Record the outcome and remaining uncertainty.
- Review relevant traffic without assuming a single cause.
A ranking movement near the same date does not prove the lost link caused it. Revisit backlink timing for a more careful approach to attribution.