With every competitor analysis, a backlink analysis should also be carried out, as this is a high priority. In fact, the results and success of link building can improve if an overview of the competition is obtained beforehand.
What is a backlink analysis in relation to competitor analysis?
Every website operator should be aware of which backlinks their website currently has. It is important to find out which pages link to your own and whether these pages are all relevant and up-to-date. A backlink analysis can determine what the link profile looks like and whether it is at all promising. If a competitor analysis is consulted, it is also possible to get an impression of which links may still need to be set.
What are the goals of a competitor analysis for backlinks?
Performing a backlink analysis on the competition usually has several objectives.
Replication of backlinks
Rebuilding backlinks can be worthwhile, as the starting point for each page would be identical. However, you should only buy and rebuild backlinks that are relevant to the topic. All other backlinks are not of great importance and can be neglected.
Find inspiration
When reviewing a competitor analysis, you can also look for inspiration, whereby impulses or food for thought are almost always provided. The links are therefore very valuable for the success of your own website in many respects.
Discover strategies
Link building or a brand presence in general is always based on a strategy. In this context, it is certainly extremely interesting for your own purposes to find out the strategies of the competition as part of a backlink analysis. What does this mean in concrete terms? Let’s take a closer look at two case studies:
- During backlink analysis, a web design service provider discovers that links are being created to it as a result of workshops or reviews. This can be replicated as part of a link building strategy, provided the appropriate financial resources are available.
- A manufacturer of spare parts discovers that its competition contains links from volunteer fire departments, which means that there is apparently a cooperation. This business model could therefore be copied.
At the same time, strategies that do not appear to be very successful can also be identified. This can save time and certainly also financial resources.
How does the procedure for a competitor analysis work?
Data collection is the basis for a careful approach, which can also be used to acquire large quantities of backlinks. There are essential characteristics or factors for this:
- Competitor identification: Who is a direct or indirect competitor? Is there someone in the industry who shapes public opinion? Which rankings exist for favored keywords?
- Collecting data: SEO tools such as Sistrix can be used to collect data to determine backlinks and their (likely) influence on the website .
- Manual overview: With appropriate experience, data found can be viewed manually – however, this is less recommended for large amounts of data, as the error rate increases accordingly.
- Sorting: All this data needs to be sorted again. This can be summarized using Excel, for example, although working with Google Docs is particularly recommended, as anyone authorized can view and edit data.
Due to the large scope of measures required, using a professional link building agency can be an important step.
