Backlinks remain one of the most critical ranking factors used by Google and other search engines. However, managing an ever-growing volume of backlinks can be challenging without the right tracking and analytics. This ultimate guide will explore what backlink monitoring entails, why it’s required for SEO success, the types of links to monitor, the best software tools, backlink quality evaluation, toxic link identification, and proven link-building strategies. With robust backlink monitoring and management, explosive organic growth is within reach.
What Is A Backlink Monitor?

A backlink monitor is a tool that allows you to track, analyze, and manage the backlinks pointing to your website. Backlinks are incoming links from other websites to pages on your site and are one of the most important ranking factors in search engine optimization (SEO). By keeping an eye on your backlinks with a backlink monitor, you can ensure your SEO and content promotion efforts are effective.

Backlink tracking provides data and insights into:

• The number of sites linking to you
• The quality and relevance of referring domains
• Anchor text used in backlinks
• If links are follow or nofollow
• New links as you build links over time

Monitoring backlinks regularly enables you to spot toxic links, identify new link building opportunities, analyze competitor links, and ultimately improve your SEO and website traffic.

Why is Backlinks Monitoring Required?

There are a few key reasons why consistent backlink monitoring is crucial:

Track SEO progress: Backlinks are a top ranking factor. Tracking your backlinks over time shows whether your link building efforts are succeeding and positively impacting organic traffic and conversions.

Maintain link quality: Reviewing new backlinks allows you to identify and remove toxic or low-quality links to avoid manual actions from Google.

Uncover threats: A sudden drop in backlinks could signal an algorithmic demotion, negative SEO attack, or lost link sources. Backlink tracking helps diagnose issues.

Find link opportunities: Analyzing competitor links reveals potential websites and pages to reach out to for backlinks.

Prioritize outreach: Sort backlinks by domain authority or traffic levels to determine the most valuable sites to pursue links from next.

Benchmark progress: Compare your domain and page authority metrics over time to evaluate SEO growth.

Regular backlink tracking provides the insights needed to accelerate your SEO results.

Learn: Gamification in Digital Marketing

Types of Links

There are two main types of backlinks to be aware of:

Nofollow Links

Nofollow links pass zero SEO equity or anchor text value. The nofollow attribute was created to allow site owners to link to other sites without endorsing them or passing weight.

Common examples include:

• User-generated content like comments and forum posts
• Blogrolls in sidebars
• Sponsored or paid links
• Links in press releases

While still beneficial for branding and traffic, nofollow links don’t directly influence search rankings.

Dofollow Links

Dofollow links pass link equity and are the most valuable for SEO. These backlinks influence search engine rankings by associating relevance and popularity signals to linked pages.

The best dofollow backlinks come from high authority websites with relevant content and anchor text pointing at targeted keywords. Guest posts, resource links, and earned editorial links are common sources of dofollow links.

Gaining dofollow backlinks should be the focus of any SEO link building campaign.

Best Backlink Monitoring Tools

Backlink tracking isn’t possible manually given how rapidly links can accumulate. Instead, robust backlink monitoring software provides the reporting and analytics needed to fully optimize off-page SEO.

Here are the top backlink checkers and analysis tools available:

1. Ubersuggest

Ubersuggest is a free backlink analysis tool from Neil Patel. It tracks up to 5 domains and offers basic inbound link metrics and top linking pages. The focus is on link opportunity discovery more so than technical link analysis.

2. Rank Signals

Rank Signals provides a range of free backlink reports to registered users. You can access essential metrics like total links, referring domains, and top anchor text. The tool also highlights toxic links and provides weekly monitoring.

3. SmallSEOTools

SmallSEOTools has an easy-to-use backlink checker that shows total links, referring IPs, domains, and pages. The data updates weekly and supports exporting into Excel. There are also useful SEO analyzers for keywords, pages, andDomains.

4. Ahrefs

Ahrefs offers one of the largest backlink indexes through both paid and free plans. It tracks millions of links and domains with complete analytics on growth, referrers, anchor text, and more. Advanced paid users can also perform competitor link analysis.

5. SEMrush

SEMrush provides extensive backlink tracking capabilities in its paid subscription plans. Users can analyze inbound links by page or domain while filtering by dofollow/nofollow, region, URLs, and anchor text. Link intersection and competitor analysis is also possible.

6. Moz

Moz is another robust premium SEO platform that incorporates backlink monitoring. Moz tracks dofollow/nofollow links, page authority flow, and domain authority over custom date ranges. You can also access link opportunity and competitor link data.

7. Majestic

Majestic boasts the largest link index of any SEO tool, with data on over a trillion URLs. In the paid Majestic version, you can perform backlink analysis by URL, domain, or subnet and filter link data in multiple ways. There is also historical information dating back many years.

The tools above provide varying levels of backlink tracking and analytics for managing off-page SEO. Consider cost, features, and link data sources when selecting software.

How to Evaluate the Quality of Backlinks

While landing backlinks is positive, maximizing ranking potential requires acquiring quality links from reputable websites. Here are key indicators for assessing backlink quality:

1. Domain Authority

Domain authority measures the power and trustworthiness of a website on a 0-100 scale according to Moz. Links from high DA sites passing authority to your pages send stronger ranking signals.

2. Relevance of the Linking Site

The content of the websites linking to you matters. Sites closely related to your niche are more credible link sources than random or unrelated sites.

3. Link Placement and Context

Optimally, sites should be linking to you within relevant, high-value content read by your target users. Footer links are also OK but avoid site-wide links or advertising links.

4. Link Diversity

A blend of different link types (editorial, directories, mentions, etc.) from many unique domains is ideal for appearing natural to search engines.

Analyze backlinks based on these quality factors, not just volume. 100 niche editorial links can be exponentially more powerful than 1,000 low-quality directory links. Quality over quantity.

Removing and Disavowing Toxic Backlinks

While assessing backlink quality, you may uncover toxic links from low-quality sites engaged in manipulative SEO tactics. Google may penalize your site for participating in such schemes, whether deliberate or not on your end.

Tactics that can trigger a penalty include:

• Comment spam links
• Article marketing networks
• Link exchanges
• Private blog networks (PBNs)
• Aggressive guest posting
• Junk directories

The best solution is removing toxic links at the source through the site owner. When that fails, Google Disavow links as a last resort, which tells Google to ignore specific backlinks. Note this doesn’t actually delete links, just the PageRank flow.

Focus on Building High-Quality Backlinks

The right backlink sources will come from proactive outreach, promotion, and networking instead of questionable tactics. Here are smart ways to build quality links:

1. Content Creation and Promotion

Create awesome blog posts, tools, and resources that sites naturally want to link to and promote these assets for backlinks.

2. Outreach and Relationship Building

Connect with webmasters and influencers to build relationships that convert into editorial links down the road.

3. Guest Posting Opportunities

Write and secure guest posts on niche authority sites allowing dofollow author bio links back to your site.

4. Social Media Engagement

Be helpful and share great content on social that can lead to new link opportunities.

5. Utilizing Resource Pages and Directories

Industry hubs and directories based on merit can provide theme-relevant links.

The links you build moving forward dictate future SEO success. Embrace white hat tactics that focus on value, content, and relationships.

Read: SEO Tools to Save Your Time and Improve Your Results

Wrapping It All Up

Vigilant backlink monitoring provides the insights needed to maximize your SEO strategy and increase website traffic. Prioritize tracking both link volumes and quality over time while being wary of toxic links threatening your progress.

With the right backlink building and management approach, dramatic search engine rankings and organic growth are within reach. Leverage these backlink monitoring best practices to propel your website to new heights!