I always use the oficial extension of Chrome "MozBar", with this tool you can see the links of websites that you think is your best competitors, For example you can search in Google with MoxBar active the word that represent your website "web desing" and you can see the results with DA and PA values, them go to high values for invetigate where this web have reffer inks. And now you have to try get links of this page.
Sound simple but it´s really hard work. The best way to appear first in Google is have the best content in your sector.
Good luck!