How to analyze a backlink

[TITOJAX]

My site has around 6k backlinks, which majority seem to be spammy. I understand the whole process to contact the webmaster, try to get them removed, and disavow them if you cannot get them deleted.

1. What are some main signs of spotting domains that generate negative SEO?

2. Time frame to clean up 6k links assuming 50% are bad?

Currently we are looking are a service to take care of this for us, but from reading everything online it seems the only reliable way to do it would be manually. Any recommendations on this would be appreciated.

[TITOJAX]

Thanks for the in depth answer Patrick

[PatrickDelehanty]

Hi Thomas

The best way to assess backlinks are to ask the following questions:

• Does this link help my website?

• Is this link relevant to my website?

• Would I trust this site (that's linking to me) if I landed on it?

• Is the website or content in which I am being linked from topically relevant to my website?

• If you check metrics - does anything about the metrics (domain authority, page authority,Majestic, SEMRush traffic/ranking data, etc) make me feel uneasy?

• Are the links from directory templates? (example)

• Inspect URLs with blatant spam words

• Free

• Porn

• XXX

• Submit

• Directory

• Paid

• Links

• URL

• Sex

• etc.

• Check for multiple domains and URLs on the same IPs

• This can usually show link farms or spam

Hope this helps! Good luck!