Competitor Backlink Analysis for SEO Strategy
SEO & SearchintermediateClaude 3.5 Sonnet or GPT-4o. Claude excels at structured analysis and can synthesize complex backlink data into actionable recommendations. GPT-4o provides faster processing if you're analyzing multiple competitors. Both handle the multi-step reasoning required to connect backlink patterns to content strategy.
When to Use This Prompt
Use this prompt when you need to understand your competitor's link-building strategy and identify realistic opportunities to improve your own domain authority. It's especially valuable when launching a new content initiative or SEO campaign where you need to compete for visibility against established competitors in your space.
The Prompt
You are an SEO strategist analyzing competitor backlink profiles to identify link-building opportunities and content gaps.
## Task
Analyze the backlink profile of [COMPETITOR_DOMAIN] to uncover:
1. High-authority domains linking to them (Domain Authority 40+)
2. Content types and topics that attract the most backlinks
3. Link patterns by source type (news, industry publications, resource pages, directories)
4. Gaps where competitors have links but [YOUR_DOMAIN] does not
5. Actionable link-building opportunities for [YOUR_DOMAIN]
## Input Data
Provide the following information about the competitor:
- Competitor domain: [COMPETITOR_DOMAIN]
- Your domain: [YOUR_DOMAIN]
- Industry/vertical: [INDUSTRY]
- Target keywords: [PRIMARY_KEYWORDS]
- Known backlink sources (if available): [OPTIONAL_BACKLINK_LIST]
## Analysis Framework
For each high-authority linking domain, identify:
- Domain authority and relevance to your industry
- The specific page/content that earned the link
- Link anchor text and context
- Whether this source is realistic for your domain to target
- Content angle or value proposition needed to earn a similar link
## Output Structure
Provide your analysis in this format:
1. **Top Linking Domains** - List 10-15 highest-authority domains with DA scores
2. **Content Themes** - Identify 5-7 content topics that consistently attract backlinks
3. **Link Source Breakdown** - Percentage distribution by source type (news, blogs, directories, etc.)
4. **Competitive Gaps** - Domains linking to competitor but not to you (prioritized by authority)
5. **Quick Wins** - 3-5 realistic link-building targets for your domain within 30-60 days
6. **Strategic Recommendations** - Content and outreach strategy to close the gap
## Constraints
- Focus on links from domains with DA 30+
- Exclude low-quality directories and paid link networks
- Prioritize links from topically relevant sources
- Recommend only ethical, white-hat link-building tactics
- Consider your domain's current authority level when assessing feasibility
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Tips for Best Results
- 1.Provide actual backlink data from tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz for more accurate analysis. AI can synthesize raw data better than general assumptions about competitor links.
- 2.Specify your domain's current authority level (DA/PA) so recommendations are realistic. Asking a DA 20 site to target Forbes links is different from a DA 50 site.
- 3.Include your target keywords in the prompt. AI will identify which keywords drive the competitor's most valuable backlinks, helping you prioritize content topics.
- 4.Ask AI to flag 'quick wins' separately from long-term strategy. This helps your team execute fast ROI wins while building the systematic link-building program.
Example Output
## Top Linking Domains
1. TechCrunch (DA 92) - 3 links to competitor
2. Forbes (DA 91) - 2 links to competitor
3. Industry Association Website (DA 68) - 5 links
4. Gartner (DA 87) - 1 link
5. LinkedIn Official Blog (DA 93) - 2 links
## Content Themes Attracting Links
- Industry research reports and original data (32% of links)
- Product/feature announcements (18%)
- Thought leadership articles (22%)
- Case studies and customer success stories (15%)
- Webinar and event announcements (13%)
## Link Source Breakdown
- News & Press (35%)
- Industry Publications (28%)
- Resource Pages & Directories (18%)
- Blogs & Guest Posts (12%)
- Social Media & Forums (7%)
## Competitive Gaps (High Priority)
- TechCrunch: Competitor has 3 links; you have 0. Strategy: Pitch original research or product innovation story
- Industry Association: Competitor has 5 links; you have 1. Strategy: Contribute thought leadership article or sponsor research
- Forbes: Competitor has 2 links; you have 0. Strategy: Develop executive opinion piece on industry trends
## Quick Wins (30-60 days)
1. Submit case study to industry award programs (similar to competitor's 4 links)
2. Pitch guest article to 3 mid-tier industry blogs (DA 45-60)
3. Create original survey/report and distribute to relevant publications
## Strategic Recommendations
Focus on original research and thought leadership content. Competitor's strongest link profile comes from data-driven content and press announcements. Recommend: (1) Quarterly research report, (2) Monthly thought leadership articles, (3) Proactive press outreach for product updates.
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