Backlinks act like votes of trust from other websites. When quality sites link to yours, Google sees your content as valuable. But not every backlink helps. Some can actually hurt your rankings.

That’s why learning how to check backlinks manually is a must. It helps you spot links that build your authority and remove those that don’t.

Here’s a simple, smart guide — with a touch of AI — to help you do it right.

Why Manual Backlink Checking Still Matters

Most marketers rely only on SEO tools like Ahrefs, Moz or SEMrush. While these tools are powerful, they can’t always tell the whole story. They might miss context, intent or link placement. It can only be spotted by human eyes.

If you’re just starting to build a solid link foundation, check out our detailed guide on Backlink Strategy Template That Works To Rise Fast on Google — it helps you understand where these backlinks come from and how to manage them better.

When you manually review your backlinks, you can:

• Identify toxic backlinks that harm your rankings.
• Understand the relevance of each referring domain.
• Review anchor text diversity to avoid keyword stuffing.
• Evaluate follow vs nofollow links for balanced SEO.
• Spot real link-building opportunities your tools might skip.

Here’s a quick stat to show why this matters:

According to Backlinko, over 94% of web pages have zero backlinks. That means if you’re earning links — and checking them right — you’re already ahead of most websites.

Step 1: How to Check Backlinks Manually Using Reliable Sources

Before you analyze anything, gather your full list of backlinks. You can use both Google tools and SEO software to do this.

1. Google Search Console (Free Option)

• Log into Google Search Console (GSC).
  
• Go to Links → External Links → Top Linking Sites.
  
• Click “More” and export your backlink list.

This gives you the official data straight from Google — your safest starting point.

2. SEO Tools for Detailed Insights

Efficient and reliable Platforms like Ahrefs, Ubersuggest and Moz show extra details such as referring domains, anchor text, link authority and much more. You’ll also see metrics like domain authority (DA) and actual trust flow, which help judge a site’s strength.

3. Manual Google Search Trick

You can even find backlinks manually by typing this into Google:

“yourdomain.com” -site:yourdomain.com

This will bring the pages mentioning your website that are not part of your own domain — a simple but effective way to uncover hidden backlinks.

Step 2: Evaluate Each Backlink’s Quality

Once you have your backlink list, it’s time to inspect them one by one.

Relevance of the Linking Page

Visit the linking page. Does it discuss topics related to your website?
If you run a tech blog, a backlink from a marketing or business blog fits perfectly. But a link from a gambling or adult site? That’s a red flag.

Domain Strength

Check the domain authority (DA) or trust flow of the linking site. Higher numbers mean more credible and powerful websites.

A backlink from a DA 70+ site has far more SEO value than one from a low-quality blog.

Anchor Text Check

The anchor text — the clickable part of a link — should look natural and relevant.
Avoid sites that use exact-match keywords repeatedly; it can signal manipulation to Google.

Follow vs. Nofollow Links

Right-click the link, select “Inspect,” and look for rel=”nofollow”.

Follow links pass SEO power (link equity), while nofollow links don’t — but both are important for a natural backlink profile.

Link Placement

Where the link appears matters. Links placed within the main content of an article are far more valuable than those hidden in the footer or sidebar.

Step 3: Use AI for Smarter Organization

AI isn’t here to replace your manual process — it’s here to save time and improve accuracy.
You can upload your backlink list to a Google Sheet and use AI-powered add-ons to:

• Sort links by quality.
• Highlight duplicate anchor texts.
• Detecting spammy patterns.
• Suggest which backlinks need review or removal.

Think of AI as your assistant, not your decision-maker. It helps you speed up your work while keeping human judgment in control.

Step 4: Take Action on Your Backlinks

Alright, you’ve got your list. Now what? Don’t just let it sit there. Here’s how to actually use it.

Keep the Winners

You found some links from legit sites in your field.That’s your foundation. Don’t just check a box and move on. Think about how you can build a real connection with those sites. Could you share their work? Could you collaborate down the line? These are your allies.

Toss the Trash

Found links from spammy,irrelevant sites? Your first move is simple: just ask them to take the link down. Be cool about it—most of the time, it’s not personal. If they ignore you, then you can disavow the link through Google. It’s basically telling Google, “Don’t associate me with that.”

Find the Lost and Found

Notice any good links that have disappeared? The page probably got moved or deleted. It’s worth a quick, friendly email to the site owner to let them know the link is broken. A simple “Hey, just wanted to let you know…” can often get that valuable link restored.

Step 5: Study Competitor Backlinks

Want to grow your link profile faster? 

• Study your competitors.
• Look at who links to them, what type of content earns those links and how they use anchor text.
• You can then target the same sources with better or more updated content.

This manual analysis often reveals link-building opportunities you won’t find anywhere else.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced SEOs make backlink errors. Watch out for these:

• Ignoring link relevance and focusing only on DA.
• Overusing the same anchor text.
• Not checking follow/nofollow balance.
• Disavowing too quickly without manual review.
• Failing to track lost backlinks regularly.

Your Questions About Checking Backlinks Manually

1. Are there any free ways to check backlinks?

Yes!Google Search Console is the best free option. It shows you who’s linking to your site directly from Google’s own data.

2. What should I look for when I check a backlink?

Open the page and ask:Does this site look legit? Is my link in the actual content or just stuffed in a footer? Does it make sense in context?

3. How do I spot a bad backlink?

If the site looks spammy,has unrelated content, or your link is in a weird list with casino or pill sites, it’s probably a bad one.

4. Should I freak out if I find spammy links pointing to my site?

Nah, don’t panic. Google is pretty good at ignoring junk links. Everyone gets some.

5. Can I see who’s linking to my competitors?

Yep! This is a great trick. Use a tool to find their backlinks, then visit those sites to see if you can get a link too.

6. Do nofollow links even matter?

They matter for traffic!A nofollow link from a big blog or news site can send tons of visitors, even if it doesn’t directly help rankings.

7. Why can’t I just trust the authority score?

Because a high-authority site about gardening probably doesn’t care about your tech startup.Relevance matters more than a number.

8. This seems tedious. Is it really worth it?

Honestly, yes. Spending 10 minutes actually looking at your links tells you more than just staring at a spreadsheet of numbers. You’ll spot real opportunities and problems..

Final Thoughts

Checking backlinks manually gives you the real story behind your website’s SEO strength. Automated tools can help, but your own analysis ensures accuracy and strategy. When you know exactly how to check backlinks manually which lift or lower your site, you control your growth.

And if you’re managing backlinks for multiple clients or large projects, consider Postpack’s backlinks service. It combines expert manual review with smart automation — helping businesses keep their backlink profiles safe and search-engine ready.