Definition
Competitor backlink analysis is a fundamental step in any link building strategy. It involves examining the link profiles of your main competitors to understand how they built their authority and identify replicable opportunities. The analysis covers referring domains, the types of content that attract links, anchor texts used, acquisition velocity, and the techniques employed. Tools like Ahrefs (Link Intersect), SEMrush (Backlink Gap), and Majestic allow you to compare link profiles and find sites that link to your competitors but not to you -- these represent priority targets.
Key Points
- Identify common link sources across competitors that are missing from your profile
- Understand which link building strategies work in your industry
- Link Intersect and Backlink Gap tools are essential for this analysis
Practical Examples
Link Intersect
With Ahrefs Link Intersect, you identify sites linking to 3 of your competitors but not to you. These sites are clearly interested in your niche and are ideal prospecting targets.
Industry benchmark
Analyzing the top 5 competitors for your main keyword, you discover they all have links from specialized blogs. You launch a targeted guest posting campaign on those same blogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Identify your top 5-10 competitors, analyze their backlinks with Ahrefs or SEMrush, use the Link Intersect feature to find gaps, and rank opportunities by relevance and authority.
No, the analysis serves as inspiration, but your strategy should be tailored. Some competitor links are irreproducible, others are not relevant to you. Focus on achievable opportunities that are consistent with your brand.
Go Further with LemmiLink
Discover how LemmiLink can help you put these SEO concepts into practice.
Last updated: 2026-02-07