The Best Tools for Tracking Competitor Backlinks

Do you ever feel like you’re playing a never-ending game of cat and mouse with your competitors? You keep tabs on what they’re doing and try to stay one step ahead, yet they always seem to find ways to outrank you. 

One of the best ways to outsmart your competitors is by tracking their backlinks. Knowing where they’re getting their links, you can begin replicating those links yourself. And given the right tools, it’s surprisingly easy to do. Check out some of the best tools for tracking competitor backlinks below.

Why Are Backlinks Important to SEO?

Before we get into the tools, let’s briefly review why backlinks are essential to SEO. Backlinks are links from other websites that point back to your website. Google sees these links as a vote of confidence, and the more backlinks you have, the higher your website will rank in search results.

Not all backlinks are created equal, however. For example, a link from a high-quality website will carry more weight than a low-quality one. This is because Google looks at factors such as the PageRank of the linking website, the anchor text of the link, and whether or not the link is a dofollow or nofollow link.

Different Kinds of Links

There are two different kinds of links you’ll come across when tracking competitor backlinks:

1. Dofollow Links

Dofollow links are the most common type of link, and they’re also the kind of link that will help improve your SEO. These are the links that Google considers when determining your website’s rank.

2. Nofollow Links

Nofollow links, on the other hand, don’t carry as much weight as Google. These are specific links added in the comments section of a blog post or forum, and they don’t necessarily indicate that the linking website is vouching for your website.

Nofollow links can still be helpful, however. They can help increase traffic to your website, and they may eventually lead to dofollow links.

What Factors Influence Competitor Backlink Analysis?

There are a few different factors you need to take into account when analyzing your competitor’s backlinks:

1. The Quality of the Linking Website

When looking at your competitors’ backlinks, please pay attention to the quality of the websites that are linking to them. A link from a high-quality website (one with a high PageRank, for example) will carry more weight than a link from a low-quality website.

2. The Anchor Text of the Link

The anchor text is the text that’s used to hyperlink to another website. So, for example, if I wanted to link to Moz.com, I could use the anchor text “Moz” or “Moz.com.”

Anchor text is essential because it tells Google what your website is about. For example, if most links to your competitor’s website have the anchor text “SEO,” Google will assume that their website is about SEO.

3. The Age of the Link

Older links are usually more valuable than newer links. This is because it takes time for a link to gain authority. So if your competitor has a backlink from a website that’s been around for a while, that’s a good sign.

4. The PageRank of the Linking Website

The PageRank of a website is a measure of that website’s authority. The higher the PageRank, the more power the website has.

5. The Number of Backlinks

Finally, pay attention to the overall number of backlinks your competitor has. The more backlinks they have, the higher their website is likely to rank.

Finding your competitor’s backlink should not be too hard. Here at WowVisible, we use various tools to track competitor backlinks. But there are a few other tools that can be just as effective. So check out our services to see how we can help you improve your SEO.

The Best Tools for Tracking Competitor Backlinks

Now that we’ve gone over the basics let’s look at some of the best tools for tracking competitor backlinks.

1. Ahrefs

Ahrefs is one of the most popular link analysis tools on the market. It’s used by SEO professionals worldwide, and it provides an incredible amount of data on competitor backlinks.

To use Ahrefs, enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar. Ahrefs will then show you a list of all the websites linking to your competitor and information about each link, such as the anchor text, PageRank, and more.

Pros:

• Ahrefs provides a ton of data on competitor backlinks
• The user interface is easy to use and navigate
• Ahrefs offers a 7-day trial, so you can test out the tool before committing to a subscription

Cons:

• Ahrefs can be pricey, with plans starting at $99/month

2. Moz

Moz is another popular link analysis tool, and it’s beneficial for tracking competitor backlinks. Like Ahrefs, enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and Moz will show you a list of all the websites linking to them.

In addition to the usual link data, Moz also provides some unique data points such as the Domain Authority and Page Authority of the linking website. This can help determine the quality of a link.

Pros:

• Moz provides a lot of data on competitor backlinks
• The user interface is easy to use
• Moz offers a free trial, so you can test out the tool before committing to a subscription

Cons:

• Moz can be pricey, with plans starting at $99/month

3. Link Explorer

Link Explorer is a link analysis tool from Moz that’s free to use. Enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and Link Explorer will show you a list of their backlinks.

Link Explorer doesn’t provide as much data as paid Moz tools, but it’s still helpful in tracking competitor backlinks.

Pros:

• Link Explorer is free to use
• The user interface is easy to use
• Link Explorer provides some essential data on competitor backlinks

Cons:

• Link Explorer doesn’t provide as much data as the paid Moz tools

4. Majestic

Majestic is a link analysis tool that’s similar to Ahrefs and Moz. Enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and Majestic will show you a list of their backlinks.

Majestic provides a lot of data on each link, including the Trust Flow and Citation Flow. These metrics can help determine the quality of a link.

Pros:

• Majestic provides a lot of data on competitor backlinks
• The user interface is easy to use
• Majestic offers a free trial, so you can test out the tool before committing to a subscription

Cons:

• Majestic can be pricey, with plans starting at $49/month

5. SEMrush

SEMrush is an all-in-one marketing tool that’s used by businesses all over the world. In addition to link analysis, SEMrush provides tools for keyword research, website audits, and more.

To use the link analysis tool, enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and SEMrush will show you a list of their backlinks.

Pros:

• SEMrush is an all-in-one marketing tool that provides a lot of features
• The link analysis tool is easy to use
• SEMrush offers a free trial so that you can test out the tool before committing to a subscription

Cons:

• SEMrush can be pricey, with plans starting at $99.95/month

6. BuzzSumo

BuzzSumo is a tool that’s used by businesses and individuals all over the world to track their competitor’s backlinks. Enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and BuzzSumo will show you a list of their backlinks.

In addition to the usual link data, BuzzSumo also provides data on the social engagement of each link. This can help determine the quality of a link.

Pros:

• BuzzSumo is easy to use
• BuzzSumo provides data on the social engagement of each link
• BuzzSumo offers a free trial, so you can test out the tool before committing to a subscription

Cons:

• BuzzSumo can be pricey, with plans starting at $99/month

7. Open Site Explorer

Open Site Explorer is a link analysis tool from Moz that’s free to use. Enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and Open Site Explorer will show you a list of their backlinks.

Open Site Explorer doesn’t provide as much data as paid Moz tools, but it’s still helpful in tracking competitor backlinks.

Pros:

• Open Site Explorer is free to use
• The user interface is easy to use
• Open Site Explorer provides some essential data on competitor backlinks

Cons:

• Open Site Explorer doesn’t provide as much data as the paid Moz tools

8. Backlink Watch

Backlink Watch is a free link analysis tool that’s easy to use. Enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and Backlink Watch will show you a list of their backlinks.

Backlink Watch doesn’t provide as much data as some paid tools, but it’s still helpful in tracking competitor backlinks.

Pros:

• Users can track an unlimited number of competitor backlinks for free
• The user interface is easy to use
• Backlink Watch provides some essential data on competitor backlinks

Cons:

• Backlink Watch doesn’t provide as much data as some of the paid tools

9. Link Research Tools

Link Research Tools is a link analysis tool that’s used by businesses all over the world. Enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and Link Research Tools will show you a list of their backlinks.

Link Research Tools provides a lot of data on each link, including the Trust Flow and Citation Flow. These metrics can help determine the quality of a link.

Pros:

• Link Research Tools is easy to use
• Link Research Tools provides a lot of data on each link
• The Trust Flow and Citation Flow metrics can help determine the quality of a link

Cons:

• Link Research Tools can be pricey, with plans starting at $99/month

10. SEO SpyGlass

SEO SpyGlass is a link analysis tool that’s used by businesses all over the world. Enter your competitor’s URL into the search bar, and SEO SpyGlass will show you a list of their backlinks.

In addition to the usual link data, SEO SpyGlass provides data on each linking page’s PageRank. This can help determine the quality of a link.

Pros:

• SEO SpyGlass is easy to use
• SEO SpyGlass provides data on the PageRank of each linking page
• SEO SpyGlass offers a free trial, so you can test out the tool before committing to a subscription

Cons:

• SEO SpyGlass can be pricey, with plans starting at $124.75/month

These are just a few of the many available link analysis tools. By tracking your competitor’s backlinks, you can better understand what links are helping them rank higher than you. Try out a few different tools and see which works best.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Competitor Backlink Checker?

There are several benefits to using a competitor backlink checker tool, such as:

1. Finding New Link-Building Opportunities

One of the main benefits of using a competitor backlink checker is that it can help you find new link-building opportunities. By seeing your competitors’ links, you can try to get some of those links for yourself. This can be a great way to improve your SEO and quickly get ahead of your competition.

2. Keeping Track of Your Progress

Another benefit of using a competitor backlink checker is that it can help you keep track of your progress. By seeing how many backlinks your competitors have, you can track your progress over time and see if you’re gaining ground or falling behind. This information can be precious in ensuring your SEO efforts are on track.

3. Identifying Negative SEO Attacks

One of the less-known benefits of using a competitor backlink checker is that it can help you identify negative SEO attacks. If you suddenly see a drop in your backlink count, it could be because one of your competitors is trying to sabotage your SEO. By using a backlink checker, you can quickly identify these sorts of attacks and take steps to mitigate them.

4. Benchmarking Against Competitors

Finally, another benefit of using a competitor backlink checker is that it can help you benchmark your SEO efforts against your competitors. By seeing their links, you can get an idea of where you need to improve to catch up to them. This information can be precious in terms of formulating an effective SEO strategy.

There are several backlink checker tools out there, but they all work the same way. By inputting your competitor’s website URL, the device will show you a list of all their backlinks and information about each link, such as the anchor text, PageRank, and more. This information can be precious in terms of helping you improve your SEO.

If you’re serious about improving your SEO, then a competitor backlink checker is a tool you should consider using. Taking advantage of its benefits can give you a big leg up on the competition.

What Can You Learn from Tracking Your Competitor’s Backlinks?

Competitor backlink analysis is a powerful tool that can help you improve your SEO in several ways. Here are some of the things you can learn from tracking your competitor’s backlinks:

1. What Links Are Helping Them Rank Higher Than You?

One of the most important things you can learn from tracking your competitor’s backlinks is what links are helping them rank higher than you. By seeing what links they have, you can try to get some of those same links for yourself. This can be a great way to improve your SEO and quickly get ahead of your competition.

2. What Link-Building Strategies Are They Using?

Another thing you can learn from tracking your competitor’s backlinks is what link-building strategies they’re using. By seeing what kinds of links they have, you can get an idea of what strategies are working well for them. Again, this information can be precious in formulating your link-building strategy.

3. Are They Using Any Black Hat SEO Tactics?

One of the things you should be on the lookout for when tracking your competitor’s backlinks is any signs of black hat SEO. If you see a lot of low-quality links, it could indicate that your competitor is using some shady tactics. This information can be beneficial in ensuring you don’t get caught up in any negative SEO.

4. What Can You Do to Beat Them?

Finally, another thing you can learn from tracking your competitor’s backlinks is what you need to do to beat them. By seeing what they’re doing right, you can get an idea of where you need to improve to catch up to them. Again, this information can be precious in formulating an effective SEO strategy.

If you’re serious about improving your SEO, tracking your competitor’s backlinks is a must. By taking advantage of the information it can provide, you can give yourself a big leg up on the competition.

There are several backlink checker tools out there, but they all work the same way. By inputting your competitor’s website URL, the device will show you a list of all their backlinks and information about each link, such as the anchor text, PageRank, and more. This information can be precious in terms of helping you improve your SEO.

If you’re serious about improving your SEO, then a competitor backlink checker is a tool you should consider using. Taking advantage of its benefits can give you a big leg up on the competition.

Conclusion: Competitor’s Backlink Checker Tool

When it comes to SEO, it is important to know what your competition is doing. Tracking competitor backlinks can give you a big advantage. There are several backlink checker tools available, and they all work in the same way. By inputting your competitor’s website URL, the tool will show you a list of all their backlinks and information about each link, such as the anchor text, PageRank, and more. This information can be invaluable in terms of helping you improve your SEO. If you’re serious about improving your SEO, then a competitor backlink checker is a tool you should consider using. Taking advantage of its benefits can give you a big leg up on the competition.

 

If you want to track your competitor’s backlinks and get an edge on the competition, there are a few different ways you can do it. One way is by calling us and asking for a free analysis. We will be happy to provide you with a list of your competitor’s backlinks, so you can see what they’re doing and adapt your own strategy accordingly.