How-to: Find and Replicate Backlinks

As part of a Backlinko study 11.8 million search results were examined. One conclusion drawn is that websites with many backlinks achieve higher rankings than competitors with few backlinks. Even Google confirmed, that backlinks are among the most important factors to improve your Google rankings. This off-page optimization is something you should definitely deal with if you want to do SEO (search engine optimization) or want to improve in it.

“[S]tudies consistently show that links matter as a ranking factor, but they also show that Google is dialing up their emphasis on the quality/authority of those links. ” – Eric Enge, Moz

What does this tell us? Not only is it incredibly important to have backlinks at all. The quality and authority of the links are becoming increasingly important for Google and other search engines. In this article, you will learn how to find backlinks, differentiate between low-quality and high-quality backlinks, and how to replicate the right links.

Brief and crisp: How to find replicable backlinks

Are you aware of the importance of backlinks in your SEO strategy for more visibility? Then the only thing missing is to find the right backlinks. But how and where do you find the right links? The short answer to this question is: Check where your competitors have their links. Then you only need to replicate them.

Quick guide: How to find backlinks from any website and build them:

• Step 1: Find your strongest competitors using a competitive analysis.
• Step 2: Find your competitors backlinks using a backlink check.
• Step 3: Filter the backlinks so that only useful (e.g., same language and high-quality) backlinks remain. Sort these by priorities.
• Step 4: Take a closer look at the remaining links and filter them again so that only replicable backlinks appear in your list.
• Step 5: Analyze the context: Would your link provide added value? Then contact the author.

WHAT – that was too fast? The details of the individual steps are given in the following step-by-step guide.

Step-by-step guide: How to find replicable backlinks from your competitors' websites

We show you step by step how to find backlinks and how to make them work for you.

Finding Backlinks - Step 1: Have the right attitude

Your backlink building will not be completed overnight. You should be aware of this both before and during the process. Before you act hastily out of impatience, you should calmly develop a long-term plan for the off-page optimization and internalize this.

Finding Backlinks - Step 2: Find out who your competitors are

Your competitors are all companies with websites that currently appear at the top of the Google rankings. They have at least one thing in common: a high visibility index.

Of course, you could simply start a search query in Google and manually analyze your competitors. However, this takes valuable time. SEO analysis tools save you this work, allowing you to focus on the really important things.

Your concrete procedure using Semrush as an example:

Usually, you only need to enter your domain – as in the “Domain Overview” section in Semrush:

The tool finds out in just a few seconds which pages have made it to the top of the rankings and compares them using relevant criteria:

Finding Backlinks - Step 3: Have backlinks displayed on any website

SEO tools allow you to search for backlinks by entering any URL. You can find a list of the eight best SEO tools on OMR Reviews. The tools analyze websites and list all the backlinks that point to the entered domain or a related subpage. The analysis report usually also contains the following information:

• Where does the link come from? (the referring website)
• What are the linked terms (anchor text) to the target page?
• How high is the (estimated) traffic for the referring website?

Think about the following at this point:

• What and how many backlinks do the competing websites have?
• What backlinks do you possibly have compared to the competition?

By the way: Google likes “clique thinking”. Your backlinks should therefore be found on the pages where you encounter your strongest competitors. Google recognizes the commonality and considers you as belonging.

Your concrete procedure using the example of Semrush:

Backlink Gap compares up to five competitors. You see the commonalities and differences between the selected backlink profiles. You can compare either complete domains or specific URLs. The analysis shows you - depending on which button you click - all domains that

• refer to all competitors, but not to you (“Best”).
• refer less to your domains than to competitors (“Weak”).
• only refer to your domains (“Strong”).
• refer to all analyzed domains (“Common”).
• refer to only one domain (“Unique”).

Backlink Analytics from Semrush shows you the actual competition level (in percent), the number of commonly used domains, and the total number of used domains. The higher the competition level, the more important the competitors are for your further actions. You also learn which competitors value high-quality link building.

The trend diagram of the paid version quickly tells you which competitors have built up many backlinks. The following factors are analyzed:

• Authority Score (evaluates the quality of a domain)
• Estimated website visits (monthly visits)
• Number of analyzed domains linked to the referring one (Matches)
• Referring domains
• New links, lost links or follow links of certain competitors

Referring domains that match multiple competitors can be useful. Referring domains with few matches can be an indication of lower backlink chances.

Finding Backlinks - Step 4: Filter useful backlinks

Now it's time to separate the wheat from the chaff, because your report will contain a lot of data. Backlinks that point to a homepage do not necessarily help you (unless you want to create backlinks to your homepage). First, look at the pages you want to replicate backlinks from. Be on the lookout especially for Do-Follow links, but No-Follow links are also interesting. Your further course of action depends on whether you want to create backlinks for existing or new content.

Finding backlinks for existing or new content: What's the difference?

In principle, the more high-quality backlinks your website has, the better. Because good backlinks improve your Page-Rank.  

• If you are starting with a new domain, you intend to build a competitive link profile.
• If you already have a website, you want to adapt your backlink profile to that of the top-ranked ones.

These are two different goals and thus two different approaches.

Creating backlinks to existing content

If you want to replicate links to your existing content, you should look for similar content.

• Step 1 – Find a similar backlink-rich page: Browse through your report for similar pages that already have many backlinks.
• Step 2 – Get Inspired: In order for the backlinks you want to replicate from the selected pages to match your content, you can orientate yourself to the content structure of these websites. It is important that you do not try to copy these 1:1. Your goal should be to create content that is not only as good, but even better. You can achieve this, for example, by packing even more added value for your target group or making the content more user-oriented.

Creating backlinks for new content

If you want to attract links with new content, take a closer look at your competitors. What is the content structure of the pages with the most links?

• Step 1 – Analyze top 10 results for your search query: Look at how many backlinks the ten most successful websites on your topic have. You could do this manually, but we recommend against it. Instead, use an SEO tool  to display a SERP overview with just a few clicks.

• Step 2 – Check, filter, and sort the backlinks: Now you have found the websites with many backlinks and should go through them. Even though it may seem like a lot of work at first, don't be scared. This is quite normal. Once you have filtered out the backlinks that you are really looking for and that you can also replicate, your list will be reduced. Some tools offer filter functions with which you can delete foreign language or low-quality websites from the results in a few seconds. Your focus should be on editorial and content-rich links. Now filter the remaining pages. The websites that generate a lot of traffic are especially important for you.

How can you distinguish low-quality backlinks from high-quality ones?

Backlink analysis tools analyze and rate backlinks from websites. The following factors determine whether Google classifies backlinks as high quality:

• Anchor texts
• Website authority on the linking page
• Relevance on the linking page
• Position on the linking page
• Reputation of the linking page
• Alt attributes
• Web directories (e.g., industry register)

You should generally stay away from these backlinks:

• All websites that do not match your topic
• Websites saturated with external links
• Websites without added value
• Websites that obviously sell many backlinks
• Websites that have only one goal: to distribute backlinks

Your concrete procedure using Semrush as an example:

In Semrush, you can display all domains with the “All” filter. You can then export these as an Excel or CSV file. Depending on what you want to find and replicate backlinks for, you can now filter and sort your data. For example, you could display the referring domains of your competitors and sort them by authority score. The higher the score, the more lucrative the link source. Make sure to replicate links from various sources, otherwise you risk a penalty from Google.

With the backlink report, you can keep an eye on your competition all the time. Semrush analyzes changes in the competitors' backlink profile and thus presents their new collaborations and most successful content. If you select “lost”, Semrush will inform you about domains you could contact.

Finding Backlinks - filter for replicable backlinks

Now you only have high-quality backlinks left in your list. They are also sorted by priorities. You should now check this list a little more closely. Divide it into replicable and non-replicable backlinks.

Your concrete procedure using Semrush as an example:

“Indexed Pages” show you URLs of your competitors that are particularly often linked. Focus on the domains with the most backlinks. Competitors seem to be doing a lot of things right when it comes to content creation.

Finding Backlinks - analyze the context

Check in this context:

• Why was the link created or what is the context?
• Would your content provide added value?

If you conclude that adding or exchanging your content would definitely be an enrichment, you should contact the authors. Keep in mind that they may receive a large number of requests. So you have to score with good arguments to convince them of you.

Your concrete procedure:

Under no circumstances should you use standard emails, like

“Hi,

I just came across your guide. Great!

One of my articles would fit well with it.

What do you think about adding to your post?

Many greetings“

Be creative, likeable and convincing: Why should authors take the trouble to even read your articles? Don't let them search for good arguments themselves - build them directly into your message and arouse their interest to deal with your proposal more closely. Good reasons could be, for example, a suitable recommendation, an existing relationship, or the link to a source.

The context-related recommendation of backlinks

People link to people – not just to their articles. The recommendations are characterized by these features:

• They are the desirable links.
• They are relatively difficult to replicate.
• An example: bloggers or experts who recommend a product.

Possible arguments that could move authors to exchange links:

• They currently refer to a broken or outdated link.
• Your articles are more detailed or unique than the current article.

Facts and figures underpin theses and arguments. Therefore, authors refer as much as possible to trusted sources. Many different sources can be the basis:

• Statistics
• Graphics
• Pictures
• Definitions
• Recommendations

Possible arguments that could move authors to exchange links:

• Your statistic is more detailed, specific or up-to-date than that of the current article.
• Your graphic is better prepared or of higher quality than that of the current article. 

4 proven techniques for building backlinks in scale

One thing does not change in any technique in backlink building: “Content is King.” The quality of your content should therefore always be the highest priority. We explain how the three popular techniques differ.

Linkable assets

As the name suggests, Linkable-Assets are about content that is worth linking to. These contents are created based on informational keywords. With a keyword research you find out which keywords are at the focus of the search intention.

Examples are keywords with “statistics”. You only need a trustworthy and current source. You create an appealing graphic based on this. You now have a Linkable-Asset. An example keyword would be “organic search traffic statistics”.

Create unique content and distribute it

For this, your content must be innovative, informative, and/or entertaining. So the first step is done with the creation of special content. Now you just need to promote the content (e.g., via your social media channels and your newsletter).

Stumble upon your own content on the web

Perhaps your content is already being shared or mentioned without you knowing about it. So with this technique, you actively go looking for your content.

You can find images and graphics from your pages again via the image search. If you are active on YouTube, you should always observe who is using your videos. In such a case, you can simply ask webmasters to provide a proper source reference. Check if you were linked and the URLs are correct at the same time. Improve your anchor text at the same time, if necessary.

Collaborations with guest authors

You also have the option to work with guest authors. This can have some advantages, like increased traffic. But even with guest authors, quality comes before quantity.

Check off at least these quality criteria before you collaborate with guest authors:

• Topical relevance
• Authority
• Outgoing links
• Traffic

Where do you have the best chances and the greatest use to be linked?

Websites with a lot of range and traffic are very attractive to you – that's clear. This is the case in blogs, with famous personalities and well-known brands. However, it is also the most difficult there to get a backlink. They usually only publish your content if you already have a name and your content impresses them directly.

It's a bit easier with professional bloggers. You have promising chances there to get a place. But for this, you really have to blow them away.

Small and new blogs, on the other hand, are always happy about high-quality content.

What are the best tools to find backlinks?

Finding the right backlinks is easier than it might seem at first glance - provided you use a suitable SEO tool. Users have the seven best free SEO tools, Enterprise SEO tools and Tools for international SEO rated for you. You can find their feedback on OMR Reviews. These SEO programs are particularly popular with users:

1. Semrush:

With a Link Building Tool you can capture people who might set a new link to your website. For this purpose, the Backlink Gap from Semrush is suitable, which will help you to recreate the backlinks of your competitors.

2. Sitechecker:

With the Backlink Checker you can check websites for existing backlinks via the domain name.

3. Ahrefs:

The Site Explorer shows you the backlink profile of any website or URL.

4. Moz Pro:

In Meet Link Explorer from MOZ you can enter the URL of a website for which you want to see information.

 5. Majestic:

With the Backlink Checker you can analyze backlinks for up to 400 URLs.

6. SEO Spyglass:

You can use the SEO SpyGlass for all areas around links: research, cleaning, and competitive analysis.

7. SE Ranking:

With the Backlink Checker you can check backlinks and develop a link building strategy.

 8. LinkMiner by Mangools:

The LinkMiner helps you find good backlinks that you can easily replicate.

 9. Seobility:

With the Backlink Check you can check your link profile or that of your competitors.

10. Sistrix:

With the Backlink Check you can discover link sources of your competitors and monitor your own backlinks.

 11. nightwatch:

With the nightwatch Backlink Tracker you can monitor your backlink campaigns and their effects.

Tips: How to find and wisely use backlinks

We have further tips for you to get high-quality backlinks efficiently:

• Focus on selected collaborations: Form collaborations when adding and exchanging your backlinks only if you stand behind them (quality over quantity).
• Collaborations with the big ones are possible: Create a list of authoritative pages of your industry. With a Keyword Research Tool you can display websites with a high domain authority.
• Check websites for broken links with Off-Page-Tools: If you are a good alternative, you could take the place.
• Conduct a link check in the Google Search Console: When doing link building it does not always have to be about new links. Ask to get more backlinks from websites that have already linked to your website.

With dubious links, you risk a Google penalty – here are a few tips so it doesn't even get that far:

• Avoid bought backlinks.
• Avoid backlinks from unattractive websites.
• Avoid backlinks from websites without internal links.
• Avoid backlinks from websites that permanently link Wikipedia.

Conclusion: A good placement without backlinks is possible, but rare

The importance of backlinks is proven and confirmed by Google. So, the right backlinks are definitely worth it. Finding and replicating backlinks is a great way to build quality backlinks. After all, the competition has already done a big part of the work. You just have to use their findings for you. Nonetheless, building backlinks can sometimes – especially in the beginning – be a bit tricky.

Successful bloggers and experts should be included in your favor whenever possible. Fortunately, there are plenty of SEO tools available that make this task manageable and affordable for all types of businesses – from the self-employed to large corporations.

FAQ Finding Backlinks

How do you find replicable backlinks from any website?

With a backlink checker, you can check where your competitors' links come from. Then you just need to replicate them. More information can be found in our detailed step-by-step guide to finding replicable backlinks.

How can you build backlinks in scale?

The quality of your content must always be the highest priority. You can build backlinks using Linkable-Assets, outstanding content, searching for your own content, and guest posts.

What are the best tools for finding backlinks?

These SEO tools are currently most popular with users:

• Semrush
• Sitechecker
• Ahrefs
• Moz Pro
• Majestic
• SEO Spyglass
• SE Ranking
• LinkMiner by Mangools
• Seobility
• Sistrix
• nightwatch