Foundation & Setup

Competitor Backlink & Keyword Analysis — Step-by-Step Guide

Analyze top competitors' backlink profiles, content strategies, and keyword gaps. Identify replicable link opportunities and content gaps.

Medium High Impact 1-2 hrs Online Local Hybrid
Pro Tip

Use Ahrefs "Link Intersect" or Semrush "Backlink Gap" to find sites linking to 2+ competitors but not you — these are the warmest outreach prospects because they have already shown interest in your topic.

Warning

Don't just copy competitors. Focus on gaps and angles they missed. Blindly replicating their strategy puts you permanently behind them.

Step-by-Step Guide

1

Use Ahrefs/Semrush to export competitor keyword rankings

In Ahrefs, go to Site Explorer > enter competitor URL > Organic Keywords. Export the full list. In Semrush, use Domain Overview > Organic Research > Positions. Repeat for each competitor.

2

Identify keywords they rank for that you don't (content gaps)

In Ahrefs, go to Content Gap tool (Site Explorer > Content Gap). Enter your domain and up to 3 competitors. This shows keywords ALL competitors rank for but you don't.

  • Filter by search volume > 100 and keyword difficulty < 40 for quick wins
  • Group by search intent: informational, commercial, transactional
  • Flag keywords with high business value even if volume is low
3

Export their backlink profiles

In Ahrefs Site Explorer > Backlinks. Filter by "One link per domain" and "Dofollow" for a clean list. Export as CSV. Look at referring domains, not individual links.

4

Find sites linking to 2+ competitors but not you

Use Ahrefs Link Intersect tool. Enter your domain in "But doesn't link to" and competitor domains in the other fields. These sites have demonstrated interest in your topic and are likely to link to you too.

5

Prioritize by difficulty and business value

Create a spreadsheet scoring each opportunity: Business Value (1-5) x Acquisition Likelihood (1-5) = Priority Score. Start with high-priority, low-effort opportunities.

Video Tutorial

AI Prompt

I'm analyzing my competitors for SEO opportunities. Here are my top 3 competitors: [LIST URLS]

Based on common SEO analysis patterns, help me create:
1. A keyword gap analysis template — what columns and data points should I track?
2. A backlink opportunity scoring system (rate link prospects by DA, relevance, likelihood of acquisition)
3. A content gap framework — how to identify topics competitors rank for that I don't
4. An outreach email template for backlink opportunities I find
5. A prioritized action plan based on the typical competitive landscape in [INDUSTRY]

Tools & Resources

Ahrefs Content GapSemrush Backlink Gap

Learn More

How to Do Competitor Analysis for SEO — AhrefsarticleCompetitive Analysis Guide — Backlinkoarticle

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