If you’re a digital marketer tracking SEO campaigns, you would know that the speed of link discovery, reporting, and audits are crucial to your work. Links are an essential metric, and as an SEO, if you can’t report them fast enough, you could lag behind. Backlink data is crucial, and in this epic Review, we reveal the best backlink checker. As a bonus, we even offer you a free backlink checking tool!
Recent studies have shown that backlinks are still a priority in SEO rankings. Some may argue that it is the top-ranking factor in SEO strategy.
To rate high in SEO, one needs to have the best tools. SEO is ever changing, and you will need to keep up with the newest and best ways to stay ahead of the game.
But first, what is the best backlink checker?
Here is a quick clue…
The best backlink checker also happens to be the fastest backlink analytics checker.
And in this article, I reveal this awesome backlink checker tool, give you some link building strategies, and show you how to get backlinks.
But first, what are backlinks and why all the fuss?
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What Is a Backlink and Why Is It Important?
Backlinks, as the name implies, link back to your website from another website. Links can come in different forms, like text, buttons, and even images, as long as the visitor clicks on it and is redirected to your page.
A backlink has several benefits. First off, it generates leads and creates brand recognition; however, it is also one of the key factors in SEO ranking.
The reason for backlinks to be a key component of SEO is that it establishes your site as an authoritative site. It not only tells potential clients that you exist, but it also tells Google that you exist and what products, services, and content are related to your website.
In short, it establishes “domain authority.” Domain authority measures how trusted you are on the web. For example, if a large and established company such as Pepsi or Coca-Cola links to your website, it tells algorithms used by search engines that you are a trusted site and have relatable content to those brands.
How to Get Backlinks?
If you are new to this, you may start to wonder how one goes about getting backlinks. Getting backlinks is arguably the most challenging part of SEO. However, some excellent tools and steps can aid you in getting what you need.
Some proven methods for backlink building are:
- Write engaging and relatable content
- Write guest blogs
- Use infographics
- Engage and comment on blogs
There are several other ways that you can increase the backlinks on your site.
How to Check Your Website Backlinks?
Now that you know what backlinks are let’s get started on how to check them.
“Why is this important?” you ask.
There are a few simple reasons. Firstly, you need high-quality backlinks from reputable and recognized brands. Bad or toxic links can actually bring your rating down.
Secondly, you need to make sure that the backlinks come from websites related to your service, products, and content.
Finally, there is always room for improvement. To know in which area you need to improve creates the need for fact-driven data.
There are plenty of SEO tools; some are better than others. However, you are on the right path if you have heard of Semrush or are currently using it. It is one of the best-rated backlink checker tools and claims to be the best backlink checker.
The Best Backlink Checker: Semrush
The Semrush backlink checker is rated as one of the top SEO tools to improve your ranking.
Semrush recently updated their backlink checker to outperform the competition.
To back up their claims, they performed a two-pronged study to prove that they were the best and fastest backlinks tool.
Prong One: The Race
The first prong included a race between the top rating competitors. These competitors included:
- Ahrefs
- Moz
- Majestic
Each company received random URLs from a provider called Common Crawl and asked which tool would find new links first. They, of course, had specific rules that needed to be followed. However, Semrush won the race by outperforming the competition nearly 40% of the time.
Prong Two: The Data
Prong two of the study was meant to test how quickly Semrush would actually find a backlink. In the second step of their research, instead of using random URLs, they used RSS feeds.
Moz and Majestic did not partake in this data collection, as they do not have the timestamp feature required for this part of the study.
However, between Ahrefs and Semrush, the clear winner was the latter. On average, Semrush discovered new links within 19 minutes, while Ahrefs’ time to find a new link was over 100 minutes.
What Sets Semrush Apart?
Semrush was already rated as one of the top backlink checkers before their new update, but now in 2021, they have gone above and beyond.
Semrush made significant changes to the current system to give the best user experience. They rebuilt this specific tool from scratch. The reason for this was to hold the largest database of known links as well as being the fastest to report new links.
When they developed this new tool, they invested over 30,000 hours of work from both engineers and data scientists. This equates to 10 people working for 1.5 years. Additionally, they added 500 serves and 14,000 TBs of storage.
To compare, 14,000 terabytes of storage equates to nearly 3000 years of music to listen to! That is a lot of storage. This goes to show that Semrush has the capabilities to store the largest database when it comes to backlinks.
The 500 new servers allow them to beat the competition in speed and performance, and the overall changes they made to how they store and collect data set them apart from the best competition.
The Backlink Management Suite
Semrush does not just offer a backlink checker; they also invested in providing their users the best experience by building an entire suite that helps bloggers such as you and I manage this key component of SEO.
The suite offers tools such as:
- Competitors report
- Backlink gap
- Bulk analysis
- Backlink audit
- Authority score
- Link building tool
And, of course, the backlink analysis tool, which checks the backlinks of your site.
Some of the backlink tools allow you to identify competitors and find opportunities for backlinks, comparing your site to said competitors.
After finding this data, you can analyze your existing backlinks with the “bulk analysis tool.” It allows you to check the data of up to 200 URLs at a time. Once this analysis is done, you can audit your backlinks.
We talked briefly about toxic links that can bring your site down; these links are usually from spam sites, adult sites, sites that have little or nothing to do with the content of your site, and more. The backlink audit allows you to evaluate the health of your backlinks, including the identification of bad links.
Next, you can check the authority score of your domain. Remember my Pepsi example? Large and established companies are authoritative in the SEO world. After hard work and proper strategy, you can also achieve a trustworthy status that your competitors will covet.
Finally, you can use the link-building tool to keep track of your campaign and strategy. This is a valuable addition to the management suite as it organizes your thought and intention in a user-friendly manner.
Q&A – Some More Killer Features of the Semrush Backlinks Tool
In this Q&A section, we answer your questions on some of the killer features of the Semrush backlinks tool.
#1. What are some of the Killer features of the Semrush Backlinks tool?
We will take a quick look at 3 of the killer features of this tool
1. Google Analytics, Google Search Console, & Google Data Studio Integrations.
These integrations come as standard. Here’s the reality. When you integrate your Google Search Console account to the Backlin tool, you add extra backlinks data to your Backlink Audit campaign. In addition, this also prevents reaching out to already-linking domains in the Link Building Tool.
2. Link Building Tool
With this Semrush tool, you have access to an interface that basically manages your outreach campaigns. You can connect an inbox, generate prospect lists, write emails and undertake follow-ups all within the Semrush tool.
3. Backlink Audit Tool
This Semrush tool helps you to make a detailed analysis of toxic backlinks, toxic score, and toxic markers. You can then reach out to website owners and track toxic link removals. Not only that, you can also build a disavow list to disavow any bad links.
#2. What are the benefits of the Google Analytics Integration?
Integrating with Google Analytics has the added benefit of adding information about traffic from backlinks to your Backlink Audit campaign.
What’s more, in Google Data Studio, you can connect Backlink Analytics data to a custom dashboard.
Need a Free Backlink Checker?
Great News!!
We’ve partnered up with Semrush to give you FREE Trial of their amazing Backlink Management Suite until 2022!
Budgeting is always a crucial component of any campaign, including SEO and backlinks campaigning. Sometimes the budget does not allow for large monthly payments.
You are in luck! Semrush is offering the Backlink Management Suite, including the backlink checker, for free until 2022. You can try it out for a little longer without any expensive monthly fees. If you decide that it is invaluable to your domain health by 2022, you can decide to sign up for a monthly payment. Until then, enjoy all of the premium content for free!
If the budget does not allow you to pay for premium content, you can always look at other backlink checkers.
Cheaper options include:
- LinkMiner
- Ubersuggest
- OpenLinkProfiler
The latter is completely free. LinkMiner has a 10-day trial, while Ubersuggest has free options and premium options.
It goes without saying that Semrush is worth a shot. You can’t go wrong with trying it out over the last little bit of 2021. You will see the value it adds to your domain and how it can improve your SEO ratings.
Checkout the Best Backlink Checker for Free
For a limited period, you can try Semrush, officially the fastest and best backlink checker tool, absolutely free. Simply click on the link in the box below to get started.
But hurry, this free backlink checker offer will not last forever!
Check Your Backlinks Today!
You may have decided, like me, to leave the 9-5 jobs and start something on your own. If you have your backlinks in order, the hardest part is done. The saying “A man is only as good as his tools” may apply in this situation as well.
You can try the best backlink checker today for free! Don’t miss out on this great opportunity.
Do you need more advice on how to lift off your blogging company?
Check out my one-on-one coaching packages and see how I can help you fulfill your dream!
Disclosure of material connection
Some of the links in this article are “affiliate links” as defined by the FTC. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, Astute Copy Blogging will receive an affiliate commission, at no additional cost to you. However, please note that we only recommend the best products and services.
Clint says
Pedro,
This is super informative! Will help me immensely as I grow my blog!!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Pedro Okoro, Chief Editor says
Hey Clint,
Great to see you here at Astute Copy Blogging. Delighted you found the article useful 🙂
Best,
Pedro
Renata Feyen says
Hi Pedro,
I’ve always known it’s important to do guest posting, but I have never gotten round to it. I suppose being one of the ways to acquire backlinks, I need to pay more attention to it as part of an overall strategy.
Thanks for sharing.
Renata
Pedro Okoro, Chief Editor says
That’s it Renata! You’ve basically hit the nail on the head 🙂
Every blogger and every webmaster needs an overall backlinks acquisition policy. Simple as that!
Thanks for stopping by and adding your perspective to our conversation.
Best,
Pedro
Sonia Seivwright says
I have seen alot of Semrush advertisements around social media lately, but had no interest..until now. Thanks for sharing
Lyosha says
Pedro, great guide!
Very helpful to me, to the point without too many needless words just to make the article longer.
It is super easy to follow and use as well!
Pedro Okoro, Chief Editor says
Lyosha,
Thanks for stopping by. Super delighted you found the article helpful 🙂
Best,
Pedro
Chad says
I have been thinking about signing up for Semrush for a while now, I can’t wait to do so, it is such a solid service.
John Ravi says
Hi Pedro,
Great post! I can understand the importance of backlink checking, and how it can add value. I also use SEMrush for checking backlinks, and it is an amazing tool. I think Moz is a close competition, and I have been thinking about trying out that tool but never really got the chance. But I think I am going to stick out with SEMrush, as it is giving me the desired results. What do you think I should do? Any advice for me?
Pedro Okoro, Chief Editor says
Hi John,
Always a pleasure to have you visit Astute Copy Blogging.
Glad you found the article helpful. For me Semrush is the leading SEO tool. Period! Moz is a great competitor. So is Ahrefs. However, Semrush is simply the best. We did an article recently and the research into the article cemented my belief as to the position of Semrush. Its How Jumpshot Demise Revealed the #1 Keyword Research Tool. Check it out when you have a moment.
My advice? Stick with Semrush. It has everything you need 🙂
Thanks again for stopping by.
Best,
Pedro
Jais says
Thanks. Backlinks are really important for every online business. Thanks for such a detailed guide.
Shea says
SEMRush is a great tool! I never sat down to understand it thanks for the information.
Abida says
I have never known of these free amazing tools before. Thanks for sharing. It’s 100% helpful for every bloggers out there. I will definitely check them out💚💝
Kaybee Lives says
This is so helpful. I had been wondering if Semrush was worth the cost, and it sounds like it is. Thanks for the tips and ways to improve my site!
Thena Franssen says
This is really exciting!
I love being able to use a valuable tool like this for free!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Krysten Quiles says
Hi Pedro,
This is so helpful!
Thanks for giving me some great tips about how to go about building my backlinks portfolio!
Will bookmark this for future reference.