A comprehensive SEO strategy is conducting a backlink analysis to see how your site stacks up against your competitors. Keep reading to learn more about competitor backlinks, why they matter for your business, and how to find competitor backlinks by looking at 6 of the best tools in today’s marketplace.
It is vital to keep an eye on what your competitors are doing to remain competitive. This also applies to your website and search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
What are Competitor Backlinks?
Competitor backlinks are exactly what they sound like, links from other websites that point to your competitor’s website. These links act as votes of confidence and signals to search engines that the site is authoritative and trustworthy. As a result, sites with more backlinks tend to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs)
Why Do You Need Competitor Backlinks?
Conducting a competitor backlink analysis can give you valuable insights into the link-building strategies of your competitor’s website. This information can inform your link-building efforts and develop a more robust SEO strategy. In addition, by understanding your competitors’ links, you can identify opportunities to get similar links for your website.
For example, if you notice a competitor has several links from high-quality directories, you could submit your site to relevant directories. If you see that a competitor has secured several guest blog post opportunities, you could reach out to similar websites in your industry to pitch your guest blog posts. Conducting a competitor backlink analysis can help you identify new opportunities for link building and help you improve your overall SEO strategy.
Importance of Competitor Backlink Analysis
It is essential to monitor your backlink profile and keep track of your competitors’ backlink profiles. Competitor backlink analysis can give insight into which websites are linking to your competitors and how you can earn similar links. Additionally, competitor backlink analysis can help you identify link-building opportunities and strategies you may not have considered before. As a result, competitor backlink analysis is an essential tool for any website owner or SEO professional who wants to rank highly on search engine results pages.
Best tools to find competitor backlinks
With so many different tools out there in today’s market, we will narrow them down to 6 of the best to not only help find competitor backlinks, but they’re also jammed packed with other features to help you reach your desired online presence;
1. Semrush.com
SEMrush gives you the competitive intelligence necessary to win in online marketing. You can use it for SEO and PPC, social media research, or video advertising tracking, which are crucial when making your company stand out from its competitors.
You can use SEMrush to;
- Research your competitors,
- Find the most effective keywords for your campaign,
- Discover the best time to beat your competition in SERP,
- Track your site’s rankings in different search engines,
- Get ideas for new content, products, or services,
- Explore new advertising opportunities.
SEMrush is essential for any online marketer looking to stay ahead of the competition.
Related Reading: Best SEMrush reports for SEO
2. Ahrefs
Ahrefs.com is a tool that allows users to research keywords, track their website’s SEO progress, and spy on their competition. It is a comprehensive platform that provides a wealth of information and data to help users improve their website’s ranking in search engines.
Ahrefs.com has been a valuable resource for many online marketers and SEO professionals. In recent years, it has become one of the most popular tools for research and analysis in the SEO industry.
Ahrefs.com offers many features and tools, including a keyword research tool, a backlink checker, and a competitor analysis tool. It is an essential tool for anyone looking to improve their website’s ranking in search engines.
Related reading; Ahref vs Moz
3. Majestic.com
Majestic is a website that provides users with information on the size, age, and history of websites. The site also provides users with data on backlinks, traffic, and keyword rankings. In addition, Majestic offers users a free trial to explore the site’s features. The site is easy to use and provides a wealth of website information.
Overall, Majestic is an excellent resource for anyone interested in learning more about the internet or improving their website.
4. Google Search Console
Google Search Console is an excellent way to keep tabs on your website’s Google search results. You don’t have to sign up for it, but doing so will give you access and data that can help ensure the site remains visible in organic rankings while offering suggestions on how best to use their tools!
Search Console includes features such as:
- Reporting: You can use Search Console to see how often your site appears in Google search results, which drives traffic to your site, your site’s click-through rate, and more.
- Testing tools: Search Console includes tools you can use to test how Google crawls and renders your site, so you can identify issues preventing Google from indexing your site correctly.
- Message centre: The Message centre is where you can find messages from Google about problems with your site. For example, if Google detects that your site has been hacked, you’ll receive a notification in Search Console.
If you’re concerned about how your site is performing in Google search results or if you’re troubleshooting an issue with your site, signing up for Search Console is an excellent first step.
5. Moz.com
Moz.com is a leading resource for search engine optimization (SEO). The site offers a wealth of articles, tips, and tools to help businesses improve their ranking in search results. In addition, Moz.com provides regular updates on algorithm changes and industry news.
While the content on Moz.com is primarily focused on SEO, the site also offers a few other features worth exploring.
- The MozBar toolbar, for example, allows users to see detailed information about the SEO of any website they visit.
- The MozCast Weather Report shows how volatile the search results are for a given keyword.
- The Moz Local listings tool helps businesses ensure that their listing is accurate and up-to-date across all major directories.
Moz.com is an essential resource for anyone looking to improve their online presence.
6. Smallseotools.com
Smallseotools.com is a website that provides various tools and resources for webmasters and SEO professionals. The site offers;
- Keyword research,
- Link building,
- Webmaster management tools.
It also provides an extensive selection of articles and tutorials on various aspects of search engine optimization. In addition, Smallseotools.com offers a free online course on SEO basics. This course covers keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building. The course is self-paced and includes quizzes and assignments to help users learn the material.
Smallseotools.com is a great resource for your needs, whether you’re just getting started with SEO or looking for advanced tips and tricks.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Conducting a Competitor Backlink Analysis
1. Choose Your Competitors
The first step in conducting a competitor backlink analysis is identifying which websites you want to track. When choosing competitors, consider factors like size, location, and industry. It is also helpful to select websites that have similar SEO goals as your own. For example, if you run an eCommerce website selling women’s clothing, you might want to track the link-building efforts of other eCommerce stores that sell women’s clothing. Once you’ve chosen your competitors, it’s time to gather data.
2. Gather Link Data for Each Competitor’s Website
There are several ways to gather link data for each competitor’s website. The method you choose will depend on the size of your budget and the amount of time you have available.
If you have the budget for it, many paid tools like;
- Moz Pro or
- Ahrefs
Both can provide detailed information about competitor backlinks. These tools can be pricey, but they offer many features and benefits that make them worthwhile investments for many businesses.
If you don’t have the budget for a paid tool, there are some free alternatives available as well, like;
- Google Search Console or
- SmallSEOTools Backlink Checker.
Both can provide basic information about competitor backlinks. No matter which method you choose, make sure you gather data for at least three months so that you can get an accurate picture of each website’s link-building efforts over time
3. Analyze the Data
Once you have gathered data from each competitor’s website, it’s time to start analyzing it to look for patterns and trends. Look at factors like;
- Anchor text,
- Link type,
- Linking domain authority,
- Linking page authority,
- Follow/nofollow ratio, and
- Linking C-Block IP address range
This will help you understand which websites are linking to each competitor and the quality of those links. Use this information to inform your link-building efforts moving forward so that you can secure high-quality links from authoritative websites in your industry.
Are competitors backlinks worth it?
Links from websites in the same niche are more valuable than general links, and links from high-authority websites are worth more than links from lesser-known sites. This is where competitor backlinks come in. By analyzing your competitor’s backlinks, you can identify the most valuable links and then strive to acquire those same links. While it may take some time and effort, building competitor backlinks can be a highly effective way to improve your website’s search engine ranking.
Bonus tips
Use SEMrush to find competitor backlinks. SEMrush offers a free trial that allows users to see detailed information about any website’s link profile. The tool includes;
- Data on the number of links
- Page Authority
- Domain Authority
SEMmrush is a great tool for quickly identifying high-quality links from your competitors’ websites. The tool lets you see which websites link to your competitors’ websites the most, so you can focus your link-building efforts on those sites.
Summary
Competitor backlinks can be a valuable source of information for your SEO efforts. By analyzing your competitor’s links, you can get an idea of what content is popular and resonates with their audience and find potential link-building opportunities. Use the tools and methods we outlined in this post to gather competitor backlinks today!