Choose competitors that actually rank for your target queries
Your business competitors are not always your search competitors. Start with domains and pages repeatedly appearing in the SERPs you want to enter.
This keeps the backlink analysis tied to ranking reality rather than brand familiarity.
Export referring domains and top linked pages
Use a backlink tool to collect domains linking to several competitors. Also note which competitor pages attract the most links. Those pages reveal what kinds of assets earn citations in your niche.
The goal is to understand patterns, not simply copy URLs.
Classify the reason each link exists
Was it a guest article, press mention, tool citation, partner page, resource list, directory entry or product review? The acquisition reason tells you whether the opportunity is repeatable for your site.
This classification is more actionable than sorting by DR alone.
Find overlap across multiple competitors
If the same publication links to several strong competitors, it may be an important industry source. Investigate what each competitor did to earn the reference and whether you can offer a better or different angle.
Shared referring domains often reveal high-priority outreach targets.
Ignore links you cannot justify
Not every competitor backlink is good. Some may be paid, outdated, irrelevant or inherited from old campaigns. Copying everything also copies their mistakes.
Use the analysis to shape link-building outreach, not to recreate another profile link for link.
GuestPostLinks Editorial Team
SEO & Link Building Editors. Articles are reviewed for clarity, factual support and useful link-building context.
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