How to Find & Check Backlinks (for Any Website)


Backlinks are hyperlinks from different web sites pointing to your web site. And getting high-quality backlinks might help you rank greater within the search outcomes.

On this information, we’ll present you the way to analyze your personal web site’s backlinks. And the way to analyze your opponents’ hyperlinks to seek out new backlinking alternatives.

However earlier than we dive into particular ways, let’s go over what a backlink evaluation includes. 

A backlink evaluation is the method of measuring the amount and high quality of your backlinks and your competitor’s backlinks.

It includes utilizing backlink-checking instruments to grasp:

  • Who’s linking to the web site
  • The standard of the linking domains
  • The anchor text (the clickable textual content that signifies a hyperlink) used for the backlinks
  • The types of backlinks a web site has (which may affect whether or not they cross rating energy)

These particulars present clues a few web site’s backlink profile. And whether or not it’s wholesome. 

For instance, a high-quality backlink profile usually options hyperlinks from a wide range of related and trusted websites. With a variety of anchor texts and varieties of backlinks.

A backlink evaluation is essential for search engine optimisation as a result of it helps you handle your backlink profile. And a robust backlink profile might help you rank excessive in Google’s natural (unpaid) search outcomes.

Plus, a backlink evaluation can uncover new backlink alternatives. 

For instance, throughout your evaluation, you would possibly discover a lot of your backlinks are to case research. This doubtless means case research are a worthwhile, link-worthy kind of content material in your area of interest. 

You possibly can leverage this perception to create extra case research.

Beneath, we’ll discover two efficient strategies for locating backlink alternatives on your web site.

Semrush’s Backlink Analytics device provides you perception into your personal backlinks. And your opponents’ backlinks, too.

First, enter your area (or one among your opponents’) and click on “Analyze.”

Backlink Analytics tool start with domain entered and arrow pointing to Analyze button

You’ll then see a high-level overview of that area’s hyperlink profile. For an in depth take a look at the person backlinks, go to the “Backlinks” tab.

Overview report with Backlinks tab highlighted

You’ll then see insights like particular backlinks, the linking web page’s Authority Score (a measure of its general high quality on a scale from 0 to 100), and the anchor textual content for these hyperlinks. 

Backlinks report with 'Page AS', 'Source page Title and URL', and 'Anchor and Target URL' columns highlighted

Use this report to judge the relevance and high quality of hyperlinks pointing to a web site.

As a result of not all hyperlinks are equal. And it’s worthwhile to think about hyperlink high quality, not simply hyperlink amount. 

For instance, think about you’re within the well being and health area of interest. 

Having just a few hyperlinks from authoritative and related websites like WebMD, Healthline, and Males’s Well being would normally be extra worthwhile than having a number of hyperlinks from random, unrelated websites.

You can too filter and kind the hyperlinks by varied standards, resembling Authority Rating, the present standing of the hyperlink (energetic, new, and misplaced), the time interval when the hyperlinks have been acquired, and the hyperlink kind.

To indicate solely energetic hyperlinks that cross authority, click on the “Lively” and “Observe” tabs on the high of the desk.

Backlinks section with Filter option tabs highlighted

Backlink Analytics additionally allows you to see which pages on a web site have essentially the most backlinks. And which internet sites level to every web page.

Simply go to the “Listed Pages” tab. And also you’ll see essentially the most linked-to content material. Sorted by referring domains—the variety of distinctive websites linking to a given web page.

Clicking the variety of backlinks or domains for a given web page will take you to a report for that particular URL.

Indexed Pages tab opened and hyperlinked numbers in Backlinks and Domains columns highlighted

Analyzing these pages helps you perceive which content material attracts essentially the most backlinks in your area of interest. And how one can create comparable or higher content material to get more links sooner or later. 

Lastly, clicking the “Anchors” tab provides you an inventory of the linked textual content used for every backlink.

Anchors tab selected and 'Anchor Text' column highlighted

This report helps you see what textual content different websites use to hyperlink to your or a competitor’s pages. Which may reveal insights. 

For instance, let’s say a competitor has lots of backlinks with anchor textual content that matches their model identify (like “bellroy” within the picture above). This implies they’ve a excessive degree of brand awareness

Or maybe you’ll spot hyperlinks utilizing anchor textual content that your comparable pages don’t presently use as key phrases. Which can provide you optimization concepts.

You can too test the anchor textual content used for hyperlinks to particular pages. To higher perceive what phrases different websites use to hyperlink to a specific web page.

Whereas nonetheless within the “Anchors” tab, add the URL of the web page you need to test within the enter field. And choose “Actual URL” within the drop-down on the high.

This may present anchor textual content particular to the web page you need to analyze. 

The Backlink Analytics device allows you to discover and analyze the hyperlinks of any web site intimately. However if you wish to know the way to test backlinks that your opponents have however you don’t, use the Backlink Gap device.

To get began, enter your area identify and as much as 4 opponents. Then click on “Discover prospects.”

Backlink Gap tool start with domains entered and arrow pointing to 'Find prospects' button

The device analyzes all of the entered websites and exhibits you referring domains linking solely to your opponents (that is what the default “Finest” tab exhibits).

Prospects table

These are hyperlinks you’re lacking out on. 

Search for prospects with excessive Authority Scores (the “AS” column) and a excessive variety of month-to-month visits. These are doubtless authoritative and fashionable websites.

And since they hyperlink to all your opponents, they’re more likely to be related to your area of interest as nicely.

The device additionally allows you to filter domains by completely different classes, resembling:

  • Weak: These are the websites that hyperlink to you much less ceaselessly than to your opponents. Use this tab to seek out websites it’s possible you’ll need to get extra hyperlinks from.
  • Robust: These are the websites that hyperlink solely to you and to not your opponents. Use this tab to see your distinctive hyperlink benefits.
  • Shared: These are the websites that hyperlink to each you and your opponents. Use this tab to see the way you examine together with your opponents by way of hyperlink amount and high quality from these websites.
  • Distinctive: These are the websites that hyperlink to just one particular area, both yours or one among your opponents. Use this tab to see your opponents’ unique hyperlink sources. And attempt to replicate them.
  • All: This tab exhibits you all of the hyperlinks throughout all of the entered domains. Which may spotlight websites that hyperlink to some however not all your opponents.

When you come throughout a prospect you need to contact for a hyperlink, choose it utilizing the checkbox. Then click on “Begin Outreach.”

'Start outreach' button highlighted

A menu will popup. Choose your web site within the “Undertaking:” part and click on “Ship prospects.”

'Send prospects' button highlighted

This provides these prospects to the Link Building Tool—which we’ll go over later. 

Google Search Console (GSC) might help you discover which internet sites hyperlink to you. Together with different helpful data just like the anchor textual content they use and what number of hyperlinks level to every web page in your web site.

Right here’s the way to discover backlinks with Google Search Console:

  1. Check in to your Google Search Console account
  2. Click on “Hyperlinks” within the left-hand navigation menu
  3. Evaluation the “Exterior hyperlinks” reviews (“Prime linked pages,” “Prime linking websites,” and “Prime liking textual content”)
  4. Click on “Extra” to drill into particular reviews
Links report opened in Search Console, report sections highlighted, and 'More' button in 'Top linked pages' section highlighted

The “Prime linked pages” report tells you what number of incoming hyperlinks every web page has. Together with what number of websites these hyperlinks come from.

Ideally, you desire a vary of related and authoritative referring domains. As a result of that displays a pure profile. 

So, evaluation your pages to see in case you have a variety of various websites linking to every one.

Top linked pages - externally report opened with Top target pages table highlighted

You can too click on a selected web page to evaluation which domains hyperlink to it. 

Top lined pages - externally report for specific URL with first URL in Top sites linking to this page table highlighted

Clicking a site will then present you the precise web page on that area the hyperlink comes from.

Selected URL report showing target page, linking site, total links, and Top linking pages table

The “Prime linking websites” report exhibits you which ones domains hyperlink to your web site essentially the most. And what number of pages they every hyperlink to.

Top linking sites report with first URL highlighted

Clicking a web site exhibits you which ones pages that web site hyperlinks to. And what number of whole exterior hyperlinks (backlinks) come from that web site in whole.

Top target pages report for selected domain showing total links and linked pages

This report might be helpful for recognizing pages that you could be need to construct extra backlinks to. 

Lastly, the “Prime linking textual content” report tells you the hyperlink textual content (anchor textual content) used for the backlinks pointing to you. Sorted by frequency.

Top linking text report showing link text anchors ranked by frequency

Use this report back to hold monitor of your anchor textual content. And ensure it’s related and diversified. 

Whereas checking backlinks, you may as well carry out a fast audit to judge the general high quality of a web site’s hyperlink profile.

Listed below are some issues to search for when doing a backlink audit:

  • Whole variety of backlinks: Extra hyperlinks typically assist, however keep in mind that high quality usually issues greater than amount. So, hyperlinks from related, trusted web sites are essentially the most worthwhile.
  • Variety of referring domains: The next variety of referring domains signifies a extra various and pure hyperlink profile
  • Authority Scores of referring domains: Hyperlinks from respected, high-authority websites in your business are finest. And a excessive rating is an efficient indication of a web site that meets this standards.
  • Anchor textual content range: Diversified, natural-looking anchor textual content is right. Relatively than over-optimized, keyword-loaded hyperlinks.
  • Hyperlink velocity (the speed at which a web site positive factors hyperlinks): Regular, pure development over time is most well-liked. In comparison with an unnatural spike in hyperlinks.
  • Follow vs. nofollow links: “Observe” hyperlinks can cross authority. Nofollow hyperlinks don’t, however they will nonetheless ship some advantages your approach in the event that they’re from fashionable web sites (by way of site visitors and/or model consciousness). 
  • Hyperlink location: Hyperlinks greater up in content material are usually seen as extra worthwhile. As they’re extra more likely to be clicked by a person than these additional down or nested in navigation bars.
  • Toxicity Rating (a metric indicating the danger degree of low-quality hyperlinks): Hyperlinks from low-quality, spammy websites can hurt your web site’s search engine optimisation in case you have too many

Evaluating these components provides you with a way of the general high quality and search engine optimisation worth of your web site’s hyperlink profile.

Use Semrush’s Backlink Audit device to realize insights into your web site’s backlink profile.

Set up a project in Backlink Audit and begin the audit. As soon as it’s prepared, you’ll see a report with the next particulars:

The general Toxicity Rating (primarily based on the proportion of probably poisonous backlinks the positioning has):

Overall toxicity score card showing high toxicity score report

The full variety of referring domains, backlinks, and Authority Rating:

Referring Domains, Analyzed Backlinks, and Authority Score metrics

Essentially the most-used anchor textual content for linking: 

Top 100 Anchors table showing anchor text, domains, and backlinks report

And what number of hyperlinks are observe versus nofollow:

Backlinks by Link Attributes chart

Repeatedly audit your backlinks to grasp the place you may enhance in your hyperlink constructing efforts. 

Related backlinks from authoritative web sites might help your personal web site rank greater within the search outcomes. 

So you may drive extra natural site visitors. And finally, flip extra of that site visitors into leads and gross sales.

A great way to scale your hyperlink constructing efforts is by utilizing Semrush’s Link Building Tool.

This device lets you discover new hyperlink constructing alternatives, handle outreach, and monitor your progress. Multi functional place.

To start, create a project in the Link Building Tool. Or choose a challenge in the event you’ve already created one.

Then, go to the “Prospects” part, the place you may discover a record of internet sites that might doubtlessly hyperlink to you.

Link Building Tool Prospects tab selected and highlighted

Rigorously evaluation every web site and choose those you need to contact by clicking “To In Progress” to maneuver them to the following stage.

To In Progress button highlighted

Go to the “In Progress” tab and select a web site to contact by clicking the “Contact” button subsequent to their identify.

In Progress tab selected and highlighted with arrow pointing to Contact button

Then, write and ship an outreach e mail to them.

Semrush email editor

Make sure you observe confirmed outreach best practices like utilizing personalization and offering worth to the web site proprietor.

Prepared to do that device and the opposite ones talked about on this article?

Sign up for a free trial to begin getting backlinks to your web site as we speak.


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