Best Methods and Tools for Monitoring your Website's Backlinks
-
Recently, I've launched two websites. I want to make sure I'm doing a good job monitoring our link building efforts. I'm see a lot of tools out there to supplement my use of Open Site Explorer. What I want to know is what tools I should be using to monitor my links? My ultimate goal would be to have the data to track the number of links I'm adding a month so that I can use it for reporting.
There is another layer. Because the sites are new, OSE is actually not reporting any links found. I can only find reported links through Google Search Console. Any advice? Is this something where I will just have to wait for everything to get indexed?
-
Hi
Ahrefs is definitely a better option than SEMrsuh for this, because it has a more accurate link database. SEMRush and Moz both have less link data, so Ahrefs would give you the most complete picture. I suggested SEMrush because it is free tool (sort of, 10 free requests per day + 10 with an account).
-
Thanks everyone! I'll check all those resources out.
Are there a lot of overlaps with SEM Rush, Ahrefs and Moz?
-
Hi
I would go for Ahrefs and Majsitc site Explorer along with Google Webmaster.
In my opinion, use of these would give you a snopysis of new and exsiting backlinks for your site. You can also try MOZ site explorer tool. However, this is relatively new and has less data than the other two.
-
Another vote for Ahrefs.
I personally wouldn't use SEMrush for stuff like this as their backlink data isn't going to be as comprehensive. There is always Majestic as well, but I find that a bit clunky now.
Try the free trial with Ahrefs - you wont be disappointed
-Andy
-
Hi Jason,
My personal preference is Ahrefs. Now I do gather data from other sources, but I find ahrefs gives you the highest number of active links.
Thanks
-
Personally I use semrush.com to quickly monitor the backlinks to a website. It will give you a nice overview of all the referring ip’s and url’s and you can export it into Excel. However there is no option to see the changes over time (at least not in the free version). In Moz under “Links > Competitive metrics” on the History tab you can see graphs that compare some link data with your competitors over time. To get more information for a rapport I export the data from semrush once a week. This way I can show all the link metrics over time with the top referring domains for a website compared to the competitors. And yes it can take some time before the link metrics are indexed.
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
1000's Backlinks from ONE Root Domain - Positive or negative?
One of my website's link is placed over a comment. This website has a "recent comments" section in the footer which is hence appearing on all the websites pages. All tools including - Google Search Console, Majestic and MOZ are showing 45000+ links from that root domain. Questions: Are these links harmful to my rankings? Should I get all those links disavowed? Should I disavow the root domain or leave the link that lies on the home page? What if there are up to 10 links coming from a domain? is that harmful too? Apart from disavowing, is there any other option to get this fixed? If at all this counts as an issue... Thanks in advance!!
Link Building | | Ishrat-Khan0 -
Best Methods - Link Building
We are having more and more "new" customers coming to us who have been hit by various algorithms imposed by google. After we have run a site health check and corrected everything, we plan and come up with a link development plan which suits the clients needs. Much of out link development work is safe comprising of; 1. Guest Blog Posts - where we develop creative content with the customer to publish. 2. Industry blog posts - where bloggers write about i.e. "the company" 3. Social media - posting pictures, commenting on forums, etc 4. Paid directories with authority We don't develop links in any other way and it brings results in the long term. Is anyone out there doing something else? Link building can sometimes be like walking on a tight rope. Thanks and happy holidays Gary - Elite Group Marketing London
Link Building | | GaryVictory0 -
Disvow tool - how do i know?
If i submit links via Google webmaster tools disvow tools - do i get any kind of confirmation it worked or not from Google? I have a standard message saying 'disvow links updated' as soon as i submitted it. Also how long roughly does this take to work, does it work much? I removed as many links as i could and the remaining ones submitted to this tool in the correct format. Any info much appreciated as usual people.
Link Building | | pauledwards0 -
What is the best backlink? Homepage or specific post?
I am working hard to get backlinks from other blogs by submitting deal tips. I am a deal blog so I am wondering - is it better to get a backlink to a specific post that will expire because it is a time sensitive deal or sale? Or is it better to get a backlink to my homepage? I focus on the best blog with PR of 7 and DA of 72 as well as others that are high up there. In case I am not being clear, which backlink is better? A. www.mysite.com B. www.mysite.com/awesome-sale-of-the-day Sometimes I won't have a choice but just wondering what I should focus on or if it even matters. Thanks!
Link Building | | dealblogger0 -
BackLinks Less than other software
Why Domains BackLinks to my sites are less than link in google webmaster tools or in the other software? In google web master tools i find 323 domains backlink, in other online software the number of domain links is similar. There are great problem when i must download the backlink to upload in other seo software for different analysis, example buzzstream Thank You.
Link Building | | agasystem0 -
URL shortener and backlinks
Are there any SEO benefits drawn from creating backlinks with Google url shortener service(especially for the very deep links) or for the do-follow link juice I have to use a complete address?
Link Building | | SirMax0 -
Should a site run it's own affiliate program to get inbound links?
I've recently signed an ecommerce client who runs their affiliate program through Commission Junction. If they were to bring their program in-house and eventually get all those affiliate links pointed to their domain, would those links be counted?
Link Building | | HunterW0 -
What's the best way to find some guest blogging opportunities?
In the forum's experience, what have you found the best way to find guest blogging opportunities? e.g. google search syntax that has worked well and other more diverse methods would be appreciated! Thanks
Link Building | | PeterAlexLeigh0