Tired of competitors outranking you? It usually comes down to one thing: their backlinks. Learning how to find backlinks of competitors reveals their secret strategy. It actually and truly shows you who trusts them and where you can earn similar recognition.

Let’s cut to the chase. Here’s a straightforward and effective way from Postpack to find these links and use them to boost your own site’s authority.

Why Competitor Backlinks Matter

Every backlink is a vote of confidence from another site. When a site with good authority links to your competitor, Google takes notice. By finding those links, you can identify:

• Which websites are willing to link to content like yours?
• What type of content earns the most backlinks?
• How your domain authority compares to others in your niche.

Step 1: Identify Your True SEO Competitors

Not every brand in your space is a real SEO competitor. You’re competing against the websites that rank for the same keywords you do.

Here’s how to find them:

1. Search your main keywords in Google.
2. Note the top 5–10 sites ranking for those terms.
3. Ignore huge directories (like Wikipedia or Amazon). Focus on sites creating content like yours.

Tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz can make this faster. They allow you to see which sites share your keyword pool — so you can track backlinks more efficiently.

Step 2: How To Find Backlinks Of Competitors Using SEO Tools

Here’s where the fun starts. You’ll use a backlink checker tool to view all the websites linking to your competitors.

Popular options include:

• Ahrefs’ Site Explorer – great for detailed backlink profiles.
• Semrush Backlink Analytics – helpful for domain authority and anchor text analysis.
• Ubersuggest – ideal for beginners or quick link audits.

According to Ahrefs’ study on link growth and referring domains,
sites with diversified, high-quality backlinks consistently outperform competitors in organic rankings.

Enter your competitor’s domain, and you’ll see:

• Referring domains (who links to them).
• Anchor texts (what words were linked).
• Link types (follow or nofollow).
• Page authority of linking sites.

This data shows you where their SEO strength really comes from.

Step 3: Play Detective with Their Links

So you’ve got this list after learning how to find backlinks of competitors. Good. But before you start firing off emails, stop and ask yourself: “Why did this site link to them?”

Look at each link like a clue:

• Are they actually important? Does this site have a good reputation? Would you be impressed if they mentioned YOU?
• Does this even make sense? A link from a pet blog won’t help your tech startup. Look for logical connections.
• How does the link read? If it says “Best Portland plumbers” and their name is “Best Portland Plumbers,” that feels… forced. Natural links use brand names or phrases like “learn more.”
• Does anyone actually read this site? Check their social media. Do posts get engagement? Comments? A link from a ghost town probably won’t help much.

The goal here isn’t to copy their links – it’s to understand WHY they earned them. Maybe they created an amazing infographic or wrote a killer guest post. Your job is to figure out the “why,” then do it even better.

Step 4: Find the “Link Gap”

This is the secret behind link-building pros. A link gap analysis compares your backlinks with your competitors’ to find sites linking to them but not to you.

These “gap” domains are your best prospects — they’ve already been linked to similar content.

Steps to perform it:

1. Use Ahrefs’ Link Intersect or Semrush’s Backlink Gap tool.
2. Add up to five competitors.
3. Review the overlapping sites that link to them.

Once you’ve spotted the missing links between you and your rivals, the next step is to build a solid backlink plan that turns those gaps into opportunities. You can learn how in our detailed backlink strategy guide

Step 5: Earn Links, Don’t Just Ask For Them

You have your target list. Now, forget spamming them with link requests. The real game is about providing value that makes them want to link to you.

Here are a few effective ways to start:

• Write for Them: Offer a unique, high-quality guest post to a relevant blog.
• Be a Problem Solver: Find broken links on their site (a “404 error”) and politely suggest your similar content as a replacement.
• Get Listed: Many sites have “Resource” or “Helpful Links” pages. If your guide or tool is genuinely the best, propose it for their list.
• Claim Your Mentions: Use a free tool like Google Alerts to see when people talk about your brand online. A quick, friendly “Thanks for the mention!” can often turn into a live link.

Step 6: Monitor and Update Your Strategy

Backlinks can change over time. Competitors may gain or lose links — and so can you. Regularly check your backlink profile to stay ahead.

Use SEO tools to:

• Track new referring domains.
• Disavow spammy or toxic links.
• Keep a healthy link growth pattern.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even seasoned marketers slip up. Watch out for these traps:

• Copying competitor links blindly without checking quality.
• Ignoring nofollow links (they can still bring traffic).
• Chasing only DA — relevance matters more.
• Skipping anchor text analysis — over-optimized anchors can trigger penalties.

A smart strategy balances data with common sense.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. Why is finding competitor backlinks so important?

It reveals the actual websites that trust your niche. This gives you a proven roadmap of where to focus your own outreach efforts.

2. What’s the fastest way to start?

Use a free tool like Ahrefs’ Backlink Checker or Semrush’s Free Version. Just pop in your competitor’s URL for an instant list.

3. I have the list. Now what?

Don’t just collect links. Analyze them. Look for patterns: Are they getting links from guest posts, product reviews, or resource pages? This tells you what content works.

4. Should I just email every site on the list?

No. Filter first. Prioritize links from high-authority, relevant sites and ignore spammy, “toxic” ones that could harm your site.

5. What’s the biggest mistake people make?

Asking for the same link. Instead, see why the link was earned, then create a better, more comprehensive resource to pitch.

6. Can I find these opportunities without paid tools?

Partially. Use advanced Google searches like “your niche” + “write for us” or “your topic” + “resources” to find sites that actively publish guest content.

Final Words

Competitor backlink research isn’t about imitation — it’s about innovation. Every backlink tells a story of content, relationships, and relevance. If you listen closely, you’ll find clear patterns to follow and improve. Knowing how to find backlinks of competitors gives you the power to uncover what’s working for them — and build something even stronger. Start your backlink discovery today with Postspack’s SEO insight tools, and turn your competitors’ links into your next growth opportunity.