Competitor Backlinks: How to Find Them and Boost Your SEO

Want to rank higher on Google and attract more visitors to your site? One of the most effective ways to do that is by studying your competitors’ backlinks. Understanding where their backlinks come from can help you identify potential link-building opportunities for your own website, ultimately boosting your SEO performance.

This blog will walk you through the essentials of competitor backlink analysis, show you how to find and assess backlinks you don’t have, and provide actionable strategies to win those links for your site.

What Exactly Is Competitor Backlinks Analysis?

Competitor backlinks analysis is the process of identifying and evaluating the backlinks your competitors have acquired. Backlinks, also known as inbound links, are links on other websites that direct traffic to your site. These links signal to search engines like Google that your content is valuable, trustworthy, and relevant. In fact, a study by Backlinko found that the number of backlinks is one of Google's top-ranking factors, and websites with a higher number of quality backlinks tend to rank significantly higher in search engine results.

So why focus on your competitors' backlinks? Because their backlinks are helping them climb the search rankings.

Research shows that 91% of all web pages get no organic traffic from Google, often due to a lack of backlinks. Understanding your competitors' link-building strategies gives you valuable insights into how to improve your own SEO efforts.

By analyzing which websites link to your competitors, you can identify opportunities to replicate those links, reach out to similar high-authority sites, or even secure better backlinks for your site. This strategic approach can help you close the gap and, potentially, overtake their position in the rankings—giving your site a competitive edge.

Why Are Backlinks Important?

Backlinks play a pivotal role in SEO success and can significantly impact your website's online visibility. Here’s why they matter:

• Boosts Search Engine Rankings: Backlinks signal to search engines that your content is valuable and authoritative. High-quality backlinks from trusted websites tell Google and other search engines that your site deserves a higher ranking on the SERPs. The more strong backlinks you have, the better your chances of outranking competitors.‍
• Drives Referral Traffic: Backlinks don’t just help with rankings—they also serve as direct pathways for users to discover your site. Studies show that websites with a strong backlink profile see more referral traffic. When someone clicks on a backlink from a relevant site, you gain referral traffic from an audience that is 5 times more likely to engage with your content and offerings.‍
• Builds Domain Authority: Search engines often consider the number and quality of your backlinks when assessing your domain authority—a key metric for determining how well your site competes in search results. Websites with a high domain authority are more likely to rank well and attract organic traffic.‍
• Improves Brand Trust and Credibility: Backlinks from reputable websites act as endorsements of your content’s quality. When users see your site linked on well-known platforms, it builds trust, enhances your brand’s reputation, and positions you as an industry leader.‍
• Expands Your Reach and Visibility: A healthy backlink profile helps your website appear in front of broader, more targeted audiences. Links from a variety of sources widen your site's exposure, making it easier for potential customers to find you online.‍
• Enhances Networking Opportunities: Cultivating relationships with websites that link to your competitors can lead to collaboration opportunities and strategic partnerships. Gaining backlinks often involves outreach, which helps you connect with others in your industry and grow your professional network.‍
• Fosters Long-Term SEO Growth: Unlike paid strategies, the benefits of a strong backlink profile compound over time. By continuously earning quality backlinks, you create a lasting foundation that supports your website’s sustained growth and competitive positioning.

Image Source: Vazoola

Backlinks are not just links—they're a powerful currency in the world of SEO. Harnessing their potential can unlock tremendous opportunities to grow your online presence and stay ahead of competitors.

Key Steps to Track and Analyze Competitor Backlinks

Finding and analyzing competitor backlinks doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are the steps to get started.

1. Identify Your Main Competitors

Before you can analyze and find your competitors' backlinks, the first step is to identify who your competitors actually are. This involves pinpointing the websites that dominate the first page of Google for your most important keywords. These sites represent your primary competitors in the digital space, regardless of whether they’re direct competitors selling similar products or indirect competitors running high-traffic blogs within your niche. Keep in mind that even if a site doesn’t sell the same products or services, its high-ranking content could still be competing for the same audience and influencing the visibility of your own website.

To begin this process, focus on your key business-related keywords—the ones that potential customers are most likely to search for when looking for solutions or information you provide. Perform a simple Google search for these keywords and take note of which domains consistently appear at the top of the results. This will give you a clearer picture of who is capturing your audience's attention.

For a more robust competitor analysis, consider utilizing tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz. These platforms allow you to dive deeper into the competition by compiling a comprehensive list of top competitors based on shared keywords, domain authority, and overall visibility. Additionally, these tools can help you uncover valuable insights, such as the strength of their backlink profiles and the strategies they might be using to rank effectively. By combining manual research with these advanced tools, you’ll develop a thorough understanding of who your competitors are and how they’re achieving success in your niche.

2. Use SEO Tools to Discover Backlinks

To analyze your competitors’ backlinks, you’ll need a tool specifically designed for this task. Understanding the sources and types of backlinks your competitors are leveraging can help you uncover new link-building opportunities and improve your SEO strategy. Here are some of the most popular tools to consider:

• Google Search: For those on a budget, Google Search can be used with specific search operators, such as link:[competitor-website.com], to locate publicly visible backlinks. While this method is free, it’s highly limited in scope and won’t provide detailed analysis or metrics, making it less effective for strategic planning.
• Ahrefs: A powerful tool that provides in-depth analysis of any website’s backlinks. It offers details such as the total number of backlinks, referring domains, anchor text distribution, and even the authority of linking domains. Ahrefs also includes features like historical backlink data to track changes over time.
• SEMrush: Known for its versatile SEO tools, SEMrush offers a "Backlink Gap" feature that allows you to compare your backlink profile with competitors. This helps identify gaps and potential opportunities for links that could improve your ranking. Additionally, SEMrush provides metrics like toxic links to help you maintain a clean backlink profile.
• Moz Link Explorer: Moz’s tool focuses on tracking your competitors’ top-performing backlinks, providing insights into the quality and relevance of linking domains. It also calculates metrics like Domain Authority and Spam Score, ensuring you focus on high-value links.

By leveraging these tools, you can gain valuable insights into your competitors’ SEO strategies and refine your approach to link building for long-term success.

Further Reading: 19 Best Tools To Spy On Your Competitors And See If They Copy You

3. Evaluate the Quality of Backlinks

Not all backlinks are created equal, and understanding the difference between high-quality and low-quality links is crucial for crafting a successful SEO strategy. Simply acquiring a large quantity of backlinks won’t guarantee results—in fact, low-quality or spammy links can harm your site’s rankings. That’s why evaluating the quality of your competitors’ backlinks is a key step in competitor backlink analysis.

Here’s what to look for when assessing backlink quality:

• Domain Authority (DA): Measure the strength of the linking domain using tools like Moz, Ahrefs, or SEMrush. Higher domain authority indicates a more reputable and established website, which will pass more value to your site through the backlink. Focus on competitors’ links from domains with a high DA to prioritize outreach to these types of sites.
• ‍Relevance: A backlink from a site that is relevant to your industry or content topic is far more valuable than one from an unrelated website. For instance, if your business sells outdoor gear, a backlink from an outdoor adventure blog will carry more weight with search engines than one from a site about unrelated topics like finance or fashion.‍
• Traffic of Referring Sites: Look at the amount of traffic the referring domains are generating. Backlinks from high-traffic sites not only enhance your search engine rankings but can also bring referral traffic from users more likely to engage with your content. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to gauge the traffic levels of linking websites.
• ‍Anchor Text: Pay attention to the anchor text used in backlinks. Competitors’ backlinks with anchor text that includes relevant keywords can boost their rankings for those terms. Identify these opportunities and use similar strategies in your link-building efforts to improve your SEO performance.
• ‍Link Placement: The location of the backlink on a page matters. Links that appear naturally within the main content of a page are far more valuable than those buried in the footer, sidebar, or comments section. Monitor where your competitors’ links are placed and aim to secure similar high-visibility placements.
• ‍Spam Score or Toxic Links: Evaluate the credibility of the referring sites. Links from spammy or low-quality sites can do more harm than good. Use tools like Moz or SEMrush to identify the spam scores of referring domains and avoid pursuing links from sites with a high spam score.

By prioritizing quality over quantity and understanding the strengths of your competitors’ backlink profiles, you’ll be better equipped to focus your efforts on acquiring high-value backlinks that drive long-term SEO success.

Uncover Backlink Gaps Between You and Your Competitors

Are there backlinks your competitors have that you’re missing? Identifying these opportunities is a game-changer for your link-building strategy.

How to Spot Backlink Gaps?

Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush’s "Link Intersect" or "Backlink Gap" features to compare your website with multiple competitors. These tools will highlight domains linking to your competitors’ pages but not to yours, and leveraging services like SEO VPS Hosting can improve your site’s ability to rank for these links.

For example, if three of your competitors have links from examplehighauthoritydomain.com and you don’t, that domain is a prime target for outreach.

Prioritize High-Value Links

After spotting gaps, focus on securing the highest-value links first. These are often from websites with high domain authority, relevant content, and low spam scores.

4 Proven Tactics to Win Competitor Backlinks

Once you’ve found potential backlink opportunities, it’s time to secure them! Here are four methods to claim those valuable links.

1. Create Better Content (Skyscraper Technique)

Found a competitor backlink pointing to a decent article? Write a better one. The Skyscraper Technique involves creating content that’s more comprehensive, engaging, and up-to-date than anything currently ranking. Reach out to the site owners linking to your competitors and show them how your resource is superior.

For example:

• Add new data and insights.
• Include infographics or other visuals.
• Make the article longer and more actionable.

2. Pitch a Guest Post

If one of your competitors snagged a link by guest posting, you can likely do the same. In fact, 60% of blogs write 1-5 guest posts per month to boost their SEO. Research the site to understand their tone and topic preferences, then pitch a guest post idea aligned with their content strategy.

3. Reclaim Broken Links

Using tools like Ahrefs, you can find broken backlinks on competitor sites. These links often point to outdated or deleted content. If you can create similar content to replace what’s no longer available, you can reach out to the linking site and suggest they link to your page instead.

Further Reading: How to Find and Fix Broken Links to Improve Your SEO

4. Build Relationships With Influencers and Webmasters

Quality backlinks are often the result of strong relationships. Connect with industry influencers, bloggers, and site owners through social media or email. Genuine interactions can eventually lead to opportunities for guest posts, mentions, or backlinks.

Backlink Strategies Every SEO Pro Should Know

Don’t stop at finding competitor backlinks. Diversify your link-building strategy by exploring additional tactics such as:

• HARO (Help a Reporter Out): Respond to journalist queries to earn links from authoritative news sites.
• Local Directories and Listings: Secure backlinks for local SEO, especially if you run a brick-and-mortar business.
• Co-Marketing Campaigns: Collaborate with other businesses for content or events, and cross-link to boost exposure.

Leverage DashClicks Backlinks Service for Your SEO Success

Building a strong backlink profile can be challenging, but DashClicks makes the process seamless and effective. Their backlinks services is designed to help businesses of all sizes secure high-quality, relevant links to boost search engine rankings.

With DashClicks, you get access to meticulously curated backlinks from reputable domains, ensuring that each link aligns with your niche and enhances your SEO strategy.

Whether you're looking to improve domain authority, drive organic traffic, or outpace competitors, white label backlinks service takes the guesswork out of the equation, offering a streamlined approach to building backlinks that deliver measurable results. Elevate your online presence today with DashClicks' expert backlink solutions!

From Studying Competitor Links to Building Better Ones

Competitor backlink analysis is a powerful way to uncover new link-building opportunities, boost your SEO, and outrank your competition. By leveraging the strategies outlined here, you’ll strengthen your website’s authority and attract more organic traffic.

Start by using tools to uncover backlink gaps, create superior content, and build relationships that lead to long-term rewards. And remember—consistency is key in SEO. Over time, these small efforts will add up to major results.

If you’re ready to step up your link-building game, start exploring competitor backlinks today. With a solid plan in place, the rankings (and traffic) will follow.