How to find backlinks to your site
Finding backlinks is a core SEO marketing task. Start with tools you already have and add dedicated backlink tools when you need depth. Below are practical, prioritized steps I recommend so you can quickly identify and assess inbound links.
- Google Search Console: Open the Links report → External links to see top linking sites and pages. This is the most reliable place to start because it shows links Google has discovered to your site.
- Backlink tools: Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, Moz, or Majestic to pull a comprehensive backlink list, see anchor text, and filter by domain authority or URL rating.
- Analytics check: In Google Analytics, go to Acquisition → All Traffic → Referrals to find referring domains that drive visits; this helps identify links that actually send traffic.
- Manual and search tricks: Use site:yourdomain.com with target keywords or the legacy link: operator to spot links missed by tools. Also search brand mentions in quotes to find unlinked mentions.
- Competitor comparison: Run competitor backlink reports to discover linking opportunities and patterns you can replicate.
After gathering links, prioritize by relevance, authority, and referral traffic. Manually review low-quality or spammy links before deciding to disavow. Finally, set up alerts or automated reports so you can monitor new backlinks and turn high-value links into outreach or partnership opportunities.
