When another PitchResponse user finds your listing in the marketplace and wants to exchange links with you, they will submit a request through the platform. This article explains where to find those requests, how to evaluate them, and what to do next.
Where to Find Your Requests #
All incoming link exchange requests appear in the My Requests area within the Backlink Exchange section of PitchResponse. This is your central inbox for everything exchange-related: new requests waiting for your review, exchanges in progress, and completed exchanges.
You will see requests for all of your active listings in one place, regardless of how many sites you have listed.
Reviewing an Incoming Request #
Each request will show you the details the requester submitted:
- The site they are proposing to link from, including their content URL
- The anchor text and match type they are requesting from you
- Their alternative anchor text options
- Any suggested copy, images, or additional notes they have included
- Whether the exchange is a 1:1 or 3-way structure
Before accepting or declining, take time to evaluate the request carefully.
Is their site a good fit?
Review the domain they are linking from. Does it have reasonable authority? Is it topically relevant to your own content? A link from a high-DR site in a completely unrelated niche may carry less value than one from a mid-DR site with strong topical alignment.
Does the proposed URL make sense?
Look at the specific page they are proposing to link from. Is it an established, indexed piece of content that is relevant to the page on your site they want linked to? A link placed naturally within relevant content is worth significantly more than one buried on an unrelated page.
Is their anchor text request reasonable?
Consider whether the anchor text they are requesting would fit naturally within your content. Exact-match anchor text for highly competitive keywords can look unnatural if your content does not organically use that phrase.
For 3-way requests: Verify that the third site specified in the chain is a legitimate, appropriate domain. In a 3-way exchange you will be linking to someone other than the party linking to you, so make sure you are comfortable with that destination.
Accepting a Request #
If the request looks like a good fit, accept it. At that point both parties move forward with fulfilling their respective sides of the exchange based on the terms laid out in the original request. There is no separate negotiation step, so if you have specific requirements or preferences around how you would like to be linked to, make sure to include those in the Notes field when submitting your own requests.
If an incoming request does not contain enough information for you to feel confident accepting it, it is fine to decline and wait for a more complete request from the same or another requester.
Declining a Request #
If a request is not a good fit, whether because the site is not relevant, the metrics do not meet your standards, or the terms do not work for you, you can decline it. There is no obligation to accept every request that comes in.
You do not need to explain your reasoning when declining, though a brief and courteous note can help maintain goodwill in a marketplace where you may encounter the same parties again.
Keeping Up with Requests #
If you have active listings, it is worth checking your My Requests area regularly. Requesters are often working through multiple potential partners at once, and a slow response may result in them moving on to another listing. Timely responses, even declines, reflect well on your listing’s reputation within the marketplace.
What Happens Next #
Once you have accepted a request and both parties have agreed on terms, the exchange moves into the fulfillment stage. Each party places their link, submits proof, and the exchange is verified and marked complete. For a full walkthrough of that process, see 05. Completing an Exchange and Submitting Proof.