MCP Server: Connect Claude, Codex or Cursor

Connect your assistant with one paste

Copy the setup brief and paste it into Claude, Codex or Cursor. The assistant reads it, adds the SEO Backlinks MCP server to its own settings and asks you for your API key. If your app can't change its own settings, use the manual setup below.

Setup brief

Set up the SEO Backlinks MCP server so you can order and track my link-building campaigns.

- MCP endpoint (Streamable HTTP): https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp
- Auth: my SEO Backlinks API key, sent as the header "Authorization: Bearer <key>". I create keys in my dashboard under Settings > API Keys (https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/settings). Ask me for the key; never guess one.

How to add it, depending on which app you are:
- Claude Code: claude mcp add --scope user --transport http seo-backlinks https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer <key>"
- Codex: export SEO_BACKLINKS_API_KEY=<key>, then: codex mcp add seo-backlinks --url https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp --bearer-token-env-var SEO_BACKLINKS_API_KEY
- Cursor: in ~/.cursor/mcp.json add under "mcpServers": "seo-backlinks": { "url": "https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer <key>" } }
- Claude Desktop: in claude_desktop_config.json add under "mcpServers": "seo-backlinks": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp", "--header", "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}"], "env": { "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer <key>" } }, then restart Claude Desktop.

Once connected, call list_packages and list_campaigns to check it works.
Tools: list_packages, list_clients, list_campaigns, get_campaign, book_campaign.
book_campaign charges the card saved on my SEO Backlinks account: always show me its quote and wait for my yes before confirming.

Get your API key

Sign in or create an account.Sign in to your dashboard, or create an account if you don't have one yet.
Open Settings > API Keys. Go to Settings in your dashboard and open API Keys.
Create a key and copy it. The key is shown once, so copy it before you close the window.

Keep the key private. Anyone who has it can see the campaigns on your account and book new ones.

Manual setup

Prefer to add the server yourself? Use the snippet for your app and replace cr_live_... with your API key. The endpoint is https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp (Streamable HTTP) and the key goes in an Authorization: Bearer header.

Claude Code

claude mcp add --scope user --transport http seo-backlinks https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer cr_live_..."

Codex

export SEO_BACKLINKS_API_KEY=cr_live_...
codex mcp add seo-backlinks --url https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp --bearer-token-env-var SEO_BACKLINKS_API_KEY

Codex reads the key from SEO_BACKLINKS_API_KEY each time it starts, so add the export line to your shell profile as well.

Cursor

Add this to ~/.cursor/mcp.json. If the file already lists other servers, add the seo-backlinks entry inside your existing mcpServers block.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "seo-backlinks": {
      "url": "https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer cr_live_..." }
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

Add this to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop. It connects through the mcp-remote bridge, so Node.js needs to be installed on your computer.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "seo-backlinks": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/api/mcp",
               "--header", "Authorization:${AUTH_HEADER}"],
      "env": { "AUTH_HEADER": "Bearer cr_live_..." }
    }
  }
}

Once connected, ask your assistant to run list_packages and list_campaigns to check it works.

What it can do

The server gives your assistant five tools. Four of them only read your account. One places orders, and only after you approve the quote.

list_packages: the packages you can order, with price, billing and the minimum number of placements each one guarantees.
list_clients: the client websites on your account.
list_campaigns: every campaign, with its status and the links delivered so far.
get_campaign: each link a campaign has delivered, with the article URL, the page it links to, the anchor text, the domain authority and the date it landed.
book_campaign: orders a campaign for one of your clients. The first call returns a quote only. It charges the card saved on your account only after you approve the quoted total.

Full documentation

The MCP server documentation in your dashboard has the full reference. The same API key also works with the SEO Backlinks REST API.

FAQs

Is there a publisher list to choose from?

No. We run digital PR campaigns: our team develops stories and pitches them to journalists, so coverage is earned and the publications depend on the story and editorial interest. Each package guarantees a minimum number of placements.

Will my assistant spend money without asking?

No. The first book_campaign call only returns a quote. Your card is charged only when the assistant calls it again with the total you approved, and the setup brief tells it to wait for your yes. Monthly packages renew each month until you cancel.

Which apps work?

Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client that supports Streamable HTTP with a custom Authorization header.

Is there a REST API too?

Yes. The same API key works with the REST API, documented at https://dashboard.seobacklinks.co.uk/docs/api.