Competitor backlink analysis: Find competitor links and replicate them

Competitor backlink analysis sounds fancy until you realize that it’s just a smart SEO strategy. Your competitors have already done the hard work to earn backlinks. Why not let them reveal which link building tactics actually work?

A competitor backlink analysis helps identify websites and pages linking to your competitors’ sites, but not to your site, so you can build backlinks that close the gap and secure fresh backlink opportunities.

In this article, I’ll show you how to find competitors’ backlinks, sort the gold from the garbage, and turn their hard-earned links into your SEO wins with a few clever tricks along the way.

Step #1: Identify your website competitors

Before you can do a smart competitor backlink analysis, you need to figure out who your actual competitors are, because they’re not always who you think.

Your business competitors aren’t always your SEO competitors. Sure, you may sell the same product, but in Google’s eyes, the site outranking you for your primary keywords is your real competitor.

Let’s break this down into the types of competitors that you may have.

Domain-level vs. page-level competitors

• Domain-level competitors: These sites compete with you across many keywords. Think: your industry peers.
• Page-level competitors: These are sites that rank for specific topics or queries, even if they’re not in your niche.

Example: A lifestyle blog ranking above your fitness brand for “best home workout gear” is a page-level competitor, not a direct business rival, but you still want those backlinks pointing to them.

How to find your website’s competitors?

Use two quick methods:

• Keywords you already rank for → see who’s just above or below you.
• Keywords you want to rank for → check the top 10 and note recurring domains.

Use SEO tools to speed this up

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of competitor analysis tools to help you find the right backlink competitors:

Tool	How it helps	Free plan?
Ahrefs	Shows competing domains + overlapping backlinks	Limited
Semrush	“Domain Competitors” + keyword gap analysis	Limited
Moz	“Link Intersect” + keyword competitor discovery	Yes (limited)
Ubersuggest	Competitor discovery + backlink checker for free	Yes
SpyFu	Finds PPC + organic competitors fast	Yes

In this article, I’ll be using Ahrefs as it is my go-to tool for anything related to link building.

Start with 5–10 competitors. Mix in the big industry leaders and those random sites that keep outranking you. These are the sites we’ll reverse-engineer in the next step.

Step #2: Find your competitors’ backlinks

Here’s the fastest way to find competitor backlinks and turn them into actionable prospects.

1. Open Ahrefs Site Explorer and enter your competitor’s domain

Type a competitor’s URL, hit Search, then click Backlink profile → Referring domains.

Ahrefs instantly lists every site that links to your competitor, sorted by Domain Rating (DR). Scroll through the first few pages, those DR-heavy domains? That’s your hit list.

Direct tip: Pay special attention to DR 40–70 sites. They are strong enough to help your rankings, but still within reach for link building outreach pitch.

2. Filter the list to show only valuable links

Use the right-hand filters:

• Link type: Tick “Dofollow” – those pass real equity.
• Platform filter: Stick with platforms like blogs, CMS, or news sites; they’re more likely to hand out real, editorial links you can earn.
• Language and Traffic: Remove foreign-language or zero-traffic sites unless they serve your market.

Export the cleaned list to CSV and paste it into a Google Sheet. Add two quick columns – Relevance and Anchor text, so you know why each link exists.

3. Use Link Intersect to find sites that link to them but not to you

Navigate to Site Explorer → Link Intersect.

Enter up to three more competitors’ domains and your own. Ahrefs shows you the sites that link to your competitors but not to you. These are warm leads for more backlinks. Tag these rows, Easy Win.

4. Remove spammy domains before you proceed

Scan the data for low-quality links by examining backlinks from sites with a low Domain Rating (DR) or irrelevant content. Anything with obvious spam words (casino, pills) gets deleted. One solid backlink beats fifty junk ones.

Quick budget tip: Use the Free Backlink Checker for a snapshot

No paid plan yet? Ahrefs’ free checker gives the top 100 external backlinks and the five strongest referring domains. It’s enough to spot trends before you commit to a full subscription.

Step 3: Decide which competitor backlinks deserve your time

A raw export is step one; smart competitive link analysis is where search engine rankings are won.

Not all backlinks are equal. Use the quick filter below to keep only the specific backlinks that can actually move the needle.

1. Check authority and real visitors

In Ahrefs, click each referring domain and copy the two numbers into your sheet:

Metric	Button Path	Green Zone
DR	Overview → DR	30-90
Monthly traffic	Overview → Organic traffic	500+

A site with decent DR and living, breathing readers is worth chasing. Low traffic often means the backlink won’t send visitors, even if the DR looks nice.

2. Confirm topical relevance in 10 seconds

Hit the URL of the linking page.

Ask yourself: “Would someone on this page care about my topic?”

If not – like a gardening blog linking to a fintech SaaS – don’t waste time. Tag it “Off-topic” and keep digging. Google and users value relevance over raw authority, and so do we.

3. Inspect link placement

Back in Ahrefs’ Backlinks tab, hover over the link preview:

• In-content paragraph? Gold.
• Sidebar, footer, or site-wide? Bronze; keep only if DR is very high.
• Comment spam or forum signature? Skip; that’s the junk every algorithm flags first.

4. Scan the anchor text

Keyword-rich anchors (“best CRM tools”) tell Google why the page links out, but diversify to keep backlink health natural.

5. Score, sort, and purge

Give each row a quick 1–5 “Worth It” score:

• +1 for passing the DR line
• +1 for real traffic
• +1 for topical fit
• +1 for contextual placement
• +1 for a keyword-rich anchor

Anything 4 or 5 goes to your Target tab; delete the rest. Now you’re focused on the links that move rankings and drive more links organically.

This filter plugs a huge gap that most guides leave open. Now you’ve got a trimmed-down list of legit backlink opportunities, real sites, real relevance, real ranking power. That’s your launchpad for the next step of competitor backlink analysis.

Step 4: Grab your competitors’ low-hanging links that you can replicate today

Your competitor backlink analysis sheet now shows just the quality link opportunities. Let’s grab the ones you can replicate today and pump authority into your own backlink profile before tackling tougher plays. Directories, listicles, interviews, and podcasts are common sources of more links that you can replicate from competitors.

1. Claim every directory and citation they use

Open your Target tab and filter for DR 30–70 sites with “directory,” “list,” or “profile” in the URL.

• Add your site to Crunchbase, G2, Capterra, niche directories, and local chambers exactly where the competitor backlinks live.
• Keep business details identical across sites; Google loves consistent NAP data.

These are the quick wins. Just plug-and-play backlinks, your competitors have already handed you the blueprint for.

2. Get onto the same “best of” listicles

Spot pages titled “Top,” “Best,” or “Tools” that link to your competitors.

Use Ahrefs Batch Analysis to check domain authority, page authority, and traffic so you target the highest-value pages first. Email the author one sentence on what’s unique about your product and offer a quick demo link.

“Loved your list of project-management tools. We just added a free plan, think your readers would like it. Mind reviewing us for the next update?”

Listicle editors refresh content for freshness – help them help you. It’s the fastest route to get competitor backlinks without a full guest-post pitch.

3. Replace broken pages with your live resource

Using tools to find your competitors’ broken pages allows you to propose your content as a replacement. In Site Explorer, go to Best by links → HTTP code 404 (these are broken pages) for a competitor’s site. Any high-DR page with lots of inbound links but a 404 status is an instant link opportunity.

• Recreate that content (or a better angle).
• Email each linking website owner:
  “Heads-up: the [Topic] resource you cite is dead. We just released a current guide – feel free to swap the broken link.”

You’re fixing their user experience and earning a dofollow backlink in return.

4. Target link hubs that cite multiple competitors

Run Ahrefs → Link Intersect, add three competitors’ URLs, then sort for sites linking to at least two of them.

• Validate DR 30-90 and topical relevance.
• Email the editor: Mention they already linked to your competitor, drop in a fresh stat or graphic, and suggest your resource as a solid add.

A single pitch can build links and close several competitor backlink gaps.

5. Match Forum, Reddit, and Quora mentions

When threads mention a competitor, join the conversation with genuine value and a resource link. Even if they’re nofollow incoming links, these links can still send traffic, build brand awareness, and spark more backlinks when bloggers pick up the thread.

6. Tick off social and partner profiles

Create identical profiles wherever competitors appear – LinkedIn pages, AppSumo listings, partner resource pages. Even nofollow profile links fill entity gaps in Google’s knowledge graph and round out your link building foundation.

Step 5: Turn competitor insights into your backlink strategies

Your quick wins are live; now we’ll use the richer data from your backlink competitor analysis to win links that seriously boost search engine trust and traffic.

1. Build a better version of their top-linked content

In Ahrefs, open each competitor’s domain and click Best by links → “HTTP 200 only.” You’ll see blog posts and resources with dozens of referring domains.

• Ask why they earned those links – original research, mega guide, slick infographic, or as part of a standout content strategy??
• Make something better – new stats, richer insights, or visuals that actually grab attention.
• Publish, then export the linking domains, craft a personal email:

“Saw you quoted [Competitor]’s 2023 study on remote work. We just released 2025 data + free templates. Thought it might give readers fresher stats; happy to share charts if useful.”

This classic skyscraper approach nets high-quality links from site owners who already value the subject.

2. Guest post where competitors have already published

Filter your sheet for links with anchor text like “author bio” or domains labelled “blog.” These editors clearly accept external content.

• Skim their top posts to match the tone.
• Pitch one precise headline that fills a gap they haven’t covered.
• Mention your competitor piece in their post -shows you’ve done your homework and belong in the same league.

Guest posting is still one of the best link building strategies, especially when you’re trying to boost authority and get in front of the right crowd.

3. Land journalist mentions with ProfNet and expert roundups

If your competitors appear in PR-type quotes, set up Ahrefs Alerts → New backlinks → “Ahrefs rank < 100K.”

• Then register for free ProfNet queries.
• Jump on it fast. Drop a sharp quote, toss in an original stat, and link back to your best page.

Pop open Content Explorer, dig up roundup posts in your niche, and pitch your own angle that actually adds something new. Add your bio and headshot to make it dead-simple for them to feature you, and boom, you’ve got yourself a high-authority backlink.

Step 6: Track, report, and refine your backlink wins

A great competitor link analysis isn’t “set and forget.” Search engines reshuffle daily, so you need a simple loop to stay ahead.

Spot new backlinks in real time:

1. In Ahrefs → Alerts → New → “Past 7 days.”, add your site and top competitors.
2. You’ll get a digest of fresh competitor links plus the referring page’s DR and anchor text – instant intel for your next move.
3. In Ahrefs → Alerts → New → “Past 7 days.”, add your site and top competitors.
4. You’ll get a digest of fresh competitor links plus the referring page’s DR and anchor text – instant intel for your next move.

Review your backlink data weekly:

1. Open Site Explorer → Backlink profile → Referring domains.
2. Sort by date to spot spikes. Tag any toxic backlinks (spam, irrelevant language) to disavow; protect that link’s health early.
3. Open Site Explorer → Backlink profile → Referring domains.
4. Sort by date to spot spikes. Tag any toxic backlinks (spam, irrelevant language) to disavow; protect that link’s health early.

Measure impact, not vanity:

1. Pair backlinks with organic traffic and search engine results changes in Ahrefs or Google Search Console.
2. Did a handful of links bump your target keyword up a spot or two? Double down. If the needle didn’t move, try a different link building tactic.
3. Pair backlinks with organic traffic and search engine results changes in Ahrefs or Google Search Console.
4. Did a handful of links bump your target keyword up a spot or two? Double down. If the needle didn’t move, try a different link building tactic.

Check your anchor diversity and content gaps:

1. Check your anchor text mix – branded, keyword-rich, and generic and make sure it doesn’t look spammy. Ahrefs’ Anchors and Best by Links reports make this dead simple.
2. Noticed a competitor page climbing the ranks? That’s your cue to one-up it, add fresh data, tighter examples, or a better hook to your own version.
3. Check your anchor text mix – branded, keyword-rich, and generic and make sure it doesn’t look spammy. Ahrefs’ Anchors and Best by Links reports make this dead simple.
4. Noticed a competitor page climbing the ranks? That’s your cue to one-up it, add fresh data, tighter examples, or a better hook to your own version.

Give it 30 minutes a week, and your backlink game won’t just stay sharp, it’ll keep you one step ahead of the competition, every time Google shuffles the deck.

Outrank competitors with SaaSMonks’ premium link building services

Stop guessing which backlinks move the needle. SaaSMonks analyzes the exact domains boosting your competitors, then lands contextual links on those same high-authority sites – fast. You gain higher domain authority, stronger search visibility, and steady referral traffic without hiring an in-house outreach team.

Expect a monthly gap report that shows every new link competitors win, and the matching placement our team secures for you. Transparent metrics, zero shady tactics, just white-hat link building services engineered to lift rankings and revenue. If closing backlink gaps sounds easier than chasing them, SaaSMonks is ready when you are.

Wrap-up

Consistent competitor link analysis is less a one-off audit and more a habit. When you regularly check backlinks of your competitors, grade them for authority and relevance, and plug the gaps with smarter content and outreach, your website’s backlink profile compounds in strength.

Search engines notice the steady, quality signals; rankings and referral traffic follow. Don’t just set alerts and forget them. Check in monthly, spot what’s new, and plug those wins right into your link building strategy; that’s how momentum stacks. Do that, and soon other brands will be reverse-engineering your backlinks instead.

FAQs

Q1. How to find competitors’ backlinks?

To find competitor backlinks, plug your competitor’s URL into Ahrefs, head to ‘Referring domains’, and boom! You’ve got their link sources. You can use any other SEO software for a quick snapshot. Export the list and start digging for deeper competitor backlink analysis.

Q2. How do you analyze competitor backlinks?

Look for dofollow links on sites with decent authority (DR 30–90), strong anchor text, and natural placement inside the content. Flag anything spammy, score what’s left, and focus on the links you’d actually want pointing to your own site. Break down your competitors’ backlink strategy and adapt what’s clearly working.

Q3. Should you research your competitors’ backlinks?

Absolutely. Digging into your competitors’ link profiles shows you what’s working, reveals content gaps, and helps you dodge spammy sites. It’s a smarter way to guide your own link building efforts without starting from scratch.

Q4. Which tool is best for competitor analysis?

Ahrefs is a favorite for many pros. Its backlink checker, Link Intersect feature, and real-time alerts helps you see who’s linking to your competitors, spot content gaps, and track fresh backlink wins in real time. Semrush, Moz, and Ubersuggest are strong alternatives, but Ahrefs is the go-to for most SEO pros.