backlink-analyzer

Original source / Raw SKILL.md

---
name: backlink-analyzer
version: "3.0.0"
description: 'This skill should be used when the user asks to "analyze backlinks", "check link profile", "find toxic links", "link building opportunities", "off-page SEO", "who links to me", "I have spammy links", "how do I get more backlinks", or "disavow links". Analyzes backlink profiles to understand link authority, identify toxic links, discover link building opportunities, and monitor competitor link acquisition. Essential for off-page SEO strategy. For internal link analysis, see internal-linking-optimizer. For competitor link profiles, see competitor-analysis.'
license: Apache-2.0
compatibility: "Claude Code ≥1.0, skills.sh marketplace, ClawHub marketplace, Vercel Labs skills ecosystem. No system packages required. Optional: MCP network access for SEO tool integrations."
metadata:
  openclaw:
    requires:
      env: []
      bins: []
    primaryEnv: AHREFS_API_KEY
  author: aaron-he-zhu
  version: "3.0.0"
  geo-relevance: "low"
  tags:
    - seo
    - backlinks
    - link building
    - link profile
    - toxic links
    - off-page seo
    - link authority
    - domain authority
    - link acquisition
    - link-building
    - backlink-profile
    - toxic-links
    - link-audit
    - referring-domains
    - domain-rating
    - link-outreach
    - disavow
    - dr-score
    - link-quality
    - lost-backlinks
  triggers:
    - "analyze backlinks"
    - "check link profile"
    - "find toxic links"
    - "link building opportunities"
    - "off-page SEO"
    - "backlink audit"
    - "link quality"
    - "who links to me"
    - "I have spammy links"
    - "how do I get more backlinks"
    - "disavow links"
---

# Backlink Analyzer


> **[SEO & GEO Skills Library](https://skills.sh/aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills)** · 20 skills for SEO + GEO · Install all: `npx skills add aaron-he-zhu/seo-geo-claude-skills`

<details>
<summary>Browse all 20 skills</summary>

**Research** · [keyword-research](../../research/keyword-research/) · [competitor-analysis](../../research/competitor-analysis/) · [serp-analysis](../../research/serp-analysis/) · [content-gap-analysis](../../research/content-gap-analysis/)

**Build** · [seo-content-writer](../../build/seo-content-writer/) · [geo-content-optimizer](../../build/geo-content-optimizer/) · [meta-tags-optimizer](../../build/meta-tags-optimizer/) · [schema-markup-generator](../../build/schema-markup-generator/)

**Optimize** · [on-page-seo-auditor](../../optimize/on-page-seo-auditor/) · [technical-seo-checker](../../optimize/technical-seo-checker/) · [internal-linking-optimizer](../../optimize/internal-linking-optimizer/) · [content-refresher](../../optimize/content-refresher/)

**Monitor** · [rank-tracker](../rank-tracker/) · **backlink-analyzer** · [performance-reporter](../performance-reporter/) · [alert-manager](../alert-manager/)

**Cross-cutting** · [content-quality-auditor](../../cross-cutting/content-quality-auditor/) · [domain-authority-auditor](../../cross-cutting/domain-authority-auditor/) · [entity-optimizer](../../cross-cutting/entity-optimizer/) · [memory-management](../../cross-cutting/memory-management/)

</details>

Analyzes, monitors, and optimizes backlink profiles. Identifies link quality, discovers opportunities, and tracks competitor link building activities.

## When to Use This Skill

- Auditing your current backlink profile
- Identifying toxic or harmful links
- Discovering link building opportunities
- Analyzing competitor backlink strategies
- Monitoring new and lost links
- Evaluating link quality for outreach
- Preparing for link disavow

## What This Skill Does

1. **Profile Analysis**: Comprehensive backlink profile overview
2. **Quality Assessment**: Evaluates link authority and relevance
3. **Toxic Link Detection**: Identifies harmful links
4. **Competitor Analysis**: Compares link profiles across competitors
5. **Opportunity Discovery**: Finds link building prospects
6. **Trend Monitoring**: Tracks link acquisition over time
7. **Disavow Guidance**: Helps create disavow files

## How to Use

### Analyze Your Profile

```
Analyze backlink profile for [domain]
```

### Find Opportunities

```
Find link building opportunities by analyzing [competitor domains]
```

### Detect Issues

```
Check for toxic backlinks on [domain]
```

### Compare Profiles

```
Compare backlink profiles: [your domain] vs [competitor domains]
```

## Data Sources

> See [CONNECTORS.md](../../CONNECTORS.md) for tool category placeholders.

**With ~~link database + ~~SEO tool connected:**
Automatically pull comprehensive backlink profiles including referring domains, anchor text distribution, link quality metrics (DA/DR), link velocity, and toxic link detection from ~~link database. Competitor backlink data from ~~SEO tool for gap analysis.

**With manual data only:**
Ask the user to provide:
1. Backlink export CSV (with source domains, anchor text, link type)
2. Referring domains list with authority metrics
3. Competitor domains for comparison
4. Recent link gains/losses if tracking changes
5. Any known toxic or spammy links

Proceed with the full analysis using provided data. Note in the output which metrics are from automated collection vs. user-provided data.

## Instructions

When a user requests backlink analysis:

1. **Generate Profile Overview** -- Key metrics (total backlinks, referring domains, DA/DR, dofollow ratio), link velocity (30d/90d/year), authority distribution chart, profile health score.

2. **Analyze Link Quality** -- Top quality backlinks table, link type distribution, anchor text analysis (brand/exact/partial/URL/generic), geographic distribution.

3. **Identify Toxic Links** -- Toxic score, risk indicators by type (spam, PBN, link farms, irrelevant), high-risk links to review, disavow recommendations (domain-level and URL-level).

4. **Compare Against Competitors** -- Profile comparison table (referring domains, DA/DR, velocity, avg link DA), unique referring domains, link intersection analysis, competitor content attracting most links.

5. **Find Link Building Opportunities** -- Link intersection prospects, broken link opportunities, unlinked mentions, resource page opportunities, guest post prospects, priority matrix (effort vs impact).

6. **Track Link Changes** -- New and lost links for last 30 days with DA, type, anchor, dates. Net change and links to recover.

7. **Generate Backlink Report** -- Executive summary, strengths, concerns, opportunities, competitive position, recommended actions (immediate/short-term/long-term), KPIs to track.

   > **Reference**: See [references/analysis-templates.md](./references/analysis-templates.md) for complete output templates for all 7 steps above.

### CITE Item Mapping

When running `domain-authority-auditor` after this analysis, the following data feeds directly into CITE scoring:

| Backlink Metric | CITE Item | Dimension |
|----------------|-----------|-----------|
| Referring domains count | C01 (Referring Domain Volume) | Citation |
| Authority distribution (DA breakdown) | C02 (Referring Domains Quality) | Citation |
| Link velocity | C04 (Link Velocity) | Citation |
| Geographic distribution | C10 (Link Source Diversity) | Citation |
| Dofollow/Nofollow ratio | T02 (Dofollow Ratio Normality) | Trust |
| Toxic link analysis | T01 (Link Profile Naturalness), T03 (Link-Traffic Coherence) | Trust |
| Competitive link intersection | T05 (Profile Uniqueness) | Trust |

## Validation Checkpoints

### Input Validation
- [ ] Target domain backlink data is complete and current
- [ ] Competitor domains specified for comparison analysis
- [ ] Backlink data includes necessary fields (source domain, anchor text, link type)
- [ ] Authority metrics available (DA/DR or equivalent)

### Output Validation
- [ ] Every metric cites its data source and collection date
- [ ] Toxic link assessments include risk justification
- [ ] Link opportunity recommendations are specific and actionable
- [ ] Source of each data point clearly stated (~~link database data, ~~SEO tool data, user-provided, or estimated)

## Example

**User**: "Find link building opportunities by analyzing HubSpot, Salesforce, and Mailchimp"

**Output**:

```markdown
## Link Intersection Analysis

### Sites linking to 2+ competitors (not you)

| Domain | DA | HubSpot | Salesforce | Mailchimp | Opportunity |
|--------|-----|---------|------------|-----------|-------------|
| g2.com | 91 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Get listed/reviewed |
| capterra.com | 89 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Submit for review |
| entrepreneur.com | 92 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Pitch guest post |
| techcrunch.com | 94 | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | PR/news pitch |

### Top 5 Immediate Opportunities

1. **G2.com** (DA 91) - All competitors listed
   - Action: Create detailed G2 profile
   - Effort: Low
   - Impact: High authority + referral traffic

2. **Entrepreneur.com** (DA 92) - 2 competitors have links
   - Action: Pitch contributed article
   - Effort: High
   - Impact: High authority + brand exposure

3. **MarketingProfs** (DA 75) - All competitors featured
   - Action: Apply for expert contribution
   - Effort: Medium
   - Impact: Relevant audience + quality link

### Estimated Impact

If you acquire links from top 10 opportunities:
- New referring domains: +10
- Average DA of new links: 82
- Estimated ranking impact: +2-5 positions for competitive keywords
```

## Tips for Success

1. **Quality over quantity** - One DA 80 link beats ten DA 20 links
2. **Monitor regularly** - Catch lost links and toxic links early
3. **Study competitors** - Learn from their link building success
4. **Diversify your profile** - Mix of link types and anchors
5. **Disavow carefully** - Only disavow clearly toxic links

## Link Quality and Strategy Reference

> **Reference**: See [references/link-quality-rubric.md](./references/link-quality-rubric.md) for the complete link quality scoring matrix (6 weighted factors), toxic link identification criteria, link profile health benchmarks, and disavow file guidance.

> **Reference**: See [references/outreach-templates.md](./references/outreach-templates.md) for email outreach frameworks, subject line formulas, response rate benchmarks, follow-up sequences, and templates for each link building strategy.

## Reference Materials

- [Link Quality Rubric](./references/link-quality-rubric.md) — Quality scoring matrix with weighted factors and toxic link identification criteria
- [Outreach Templates](./references/outreach-templates.md) — Email frameworks, subject line formulas, and response rate benchmarks

## Related Skills

- [domain-authority-auditor](../../cross-cutting/domain-authority-auditor/) — Backlink data feeds directly into CITE C dimension; run after this analysis for full domain scoring
- [competitor-analysis](../../research/competitor-analysis/) — Full competitor analysis
- [content-gap-analysis](../../research/content-gap-analysis/) — Create linkable content
- [alert-manager](../alert-manager/) — Set up link alerts
- [performance-reporter](../performance-reporter/) — Include in reports
- [entity-optimizer](../../cross-cutting/entity-optimizer/) — Branded backlinks strengthen entity signals



---

## Referenced Files

> The following files are referenced in this skill and included for context.

### references/analysis-templates.md

```markdown
# Backlink Analysis Output Templates

Detailed output templates for each step of the backlink analysis workflow. Use these templates when generating analysis deliverables.

---

## 1. Profile Overview Template

```markdown
## Backlink Profile Overview

**Domain**: [domain]
**Analysis Date**: [date]

### Key Metrics

| Metric | Value | Industry Avg | Status |
|--------|-------|--------------|--------|
| Total Backlinks | [X] | [Y] | [Above/Below avg] |
| Referring Domains | [X] | [Y] | [status] |
| Domain Authority | [X] | [Y] | [status] |
| Domain Rating | [X] | [Y] | [status] |
| Dofollow Links | [X] ([Y]%) | [Z]% | [status] |
| Nofollow Links | [X] ([Y]%) | [Z]% | [status] |

### Link Velocity

| Period | New Links | Lost Links | Net Change |
|--------|-----------|------------|------------|
| Last 30 days | [X] | [Y] | [+/-Z] |
| Last 90 days | [X] | [Y] | [+/-Z] |
| Last year | [X] | [Y] | [+/-Z] |

### Authority Distribution

```
DA 80-100: [X]%
DA 60-79:  [X]%
DA 40-59:  [X]%
DA 20-39:  [X]%
DA 0-19:   [X]%
```

**Profile Health Score**: [X]/100
```

---

## 2. Link Quality Analysis Template

```markdown
## Link Quality Analysis

### Top Quality Backlinks

| Source Domain | DA | Link Type | Anchor | Target Page |
|---------------|-----|-----------|--------|-------------|
| [domain 1] | [DA] | Editorial | [anchor] | [page] |
| [domain 2] | [DA] | Guest Post | [anchor] | [page] |
| [domain 3] | [DA] | Resource | [anchor] | [page] |

### Link Type Distribution

| Type | Count | Percentage | Assessment |
|------|-------|------------|------------|
| Editorial | [X] | [Y]% | High quality |
| Guest posts | [X] | [Y]% | Good |
| Resource pages | [X] | [Y]% | Good |
| Directory | [X] | [Y]% | Moderate |
| Forum/Comments | [X] | [Y]% | Low quality |
| Sponsored/Paid | [X] | [Y]% | Risky |

### Anchor Text Analysis

| Anchor Type | Count | Percentage | Status |
|-------------|-------|------------|--------|
| Brand name | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |
| Exact match | [X] | [Y]% | [Warning if >30%] |
| Partial match | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |
| URL/Naked | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |
| Generic | [X] | [Y]% | Natural |

**Top Anchor Texts**:
1. "[anchor 1]" - [X] links
2. "[anchor 2]" - [X] links
3. "[anchor 3]" - [X] links

### Geographic Distribution

| Country | Links | Percentage |
|---------|-------|------------|
| [Country 1] | [X] | [Y]% |
| [Country 2] | [X] | [Y]% |
| [Country 3] | [X] | [Y]% |
```

---

## 3. Toxic Link Analysis Template

```markdown
## Toxic Link Analysis

### Risk Summary

**Toxic Score**: [X]/100
**High Risk Links**: [X]
**Medium Risk Links**: [X]
**Action Required**: [Yes/No]

### Toxic Link Indicators

| Risk Type | Count | Examples |
|-----------|-------|----------|
| Spammy domains | [X] | [domains] |
| Link farms | [X] | [domains] |
| PBN suspected | [X] | [domains] |
| Irrelevant sites | [X] | [domains] |
| Foreign language spam | [X] | [domains] |
| Penalized domains | [X] | [domains] |

### High-Risk Links to Review

| Source Domain | Risk Score | Issue | Recommendation |
|---------------|------------|-------|----------------|
| [domain 1] | 95/100 | Link farm | Disavow |
| [domain 2] | 85/100 | Spam site | Disavow |
| [domain 3] | 72/100 | PBN | Investigate |

### Disavow Recommendations

**Domains to disavow** ([X] total):
```
domain:[spam-site-1.com]
domain:[spam-site-2.com]
domain:[link-farm.com]
```

**Individual URLs to disavow** ([X] total):
```
[specific-url-1]
[specific-url-2]
```
```

---

## 4. Competitive Backlink Analysis Template

```markdown
## Competitive Backlink Analysis

### Profile Comparison

| Metric | You | Competitor 1 | Competitor 2 | Competitor 3 |
|--------|-----|--------------|--------------|--------------|
| Referring Domains | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
| Domain Authority | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
| Domain Rating | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
| Link Velocity (30d) | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |
| Avg Link DA | [X] | [X] | [X] | [X] |

### Unique Referring Domains

**Links only you have**: [X] domains
**Links competitors share**: [X] domains
**Links competitors have, you don't**: [X] domains -- Opportunity

### Link Intersection Analysis

**Sites linking to competitors but not you**:

| Domain | DA | Links to Comp 1 | Comp 2 | Comp 3 | Opportunity |
|--------|-----|-----------------|--------|--------|-------------|
| [domain 1] | [DA] | Yes | Yes | Yes | High - All competitors |
| [domain 2] | [DA] | Yes | Yes | No | High - 2 competitors |
| [domain 3] | [DA] | Yes | No | No | Medium - 1 competitor |

### Content Getting Most Links (Competitor Analysis)

| Competitor | Content | Backlinks | Content Type |
|------------|---------|-----------|--------------|
| [Comp 1] | [Title/URL] | [X] | [Type] |
| [Comp 2] | [Title/URL] | [X] | [Type] |
| [Comp 3] | [Title/URL] | [X] | [Type] |

**Insight**: [What content types attract most links in this niche]
```

---

## 5. Link Building Opportunities Template

```markdown
## Link Building Opportunities

### High-Priority Opportunities

#### 1. Link Intersection Prospects

Sites linking to multiple competitors but not you:

| Domain | DA | Why Link | Contact Approach |
|--------|-----|----------|------------------|
| [domain 1] | [DA] | [resource page about X] | Suggest your resource |
| [domain 2] | [DA] | [links to similar tools] | Pitch your tool |
| [domain 3] | [DA] | [industry roundup] | Request inclusion |

#### 2. Broken Link Opportunities

| Source Page | Broken Link | Suggested Replacement |
|-------------|-------------|----------------------|
| [URL] | [broken URL] | [your relevant page] |

#### 3. Unlinked Mentions

| Site | Mention | Your Page to Link |
|------|---------|-------------------|
| [domain] | Mentioned your brand | [homepage] |
| [domain] | Referenced your data | [research page] |

#### 4. Resource Page Opportunities

| Resource Page | Topic | Your Relevant Content |
|---------------|-------|----------------------|
| [URL] | [topic] | [your content] |

#### 5. Guest Post Prospects

| Site | DA | Topic Fit | Contact |
|------|-----|-----------|---------|
| [domain] | [DA] | [relevance] | [contact info/page] |

### Link Building Priority Matrix

| Opportunity Type | Effort | Impact | Priority |
|------------------|--------|--------|----------|
| Link intersection | Medium | High | Highest |
| Broken links | Low | Medium | High |
| Unlinked mentions | Low | Medium | High |
| Resource pages | Medium | High | High |
| Guest posts | High | High | Medium |
```

---

## 6. Link Change Tracking Template

```markdown
## Link Change Tracking

### New Links (Last 30 Days)

| Source | DA | Type | Anchor | Date |
|--------|-----|------|--------|------|
| [domain 1] | [DA] | [type] | [anchor] | [date] |

**Total new links**: [X]
**Average DA of new links**: [X]
**Best new link**: [domain] (DA [X])

### Lost Links (Last 30 Days)

| Source | DA | Reason | Action |
|--------|-----|--------|--------|
| [domain 1] | [DA] | Page removed | Reach out |
| [domain 2] | [DA] | Link removed | Investigate |

**Total lost links**: [X]
**Net change**: [+/-X]

### Links to Recover

| Lost Link | Value | Recovery Strategy |
|-----------|-------|-------------------|
| [domain 1] | High | Contact webmaster |
| [domain 2] | High | Update content they linked to |
```

---

## 7. Backlink Report Template

```markdown
# Backlink Analysis Report

**Domain**: [domain]
**Report Date**: [date]
**Period Analyzed**: [period]

## Executive Summary

Your backlink profile is [healthy/needs attention/concerning].

**Key Stats**:
- Referring domains: [X] ([+/-Y] vs last month)
- Average link authority: [X] DA
- Link velocity: [X] new links/month
- Toxic link percentage: [X]%

## Profile Strengths

1. [Strength 1]
2. [Strength 2]
3. [Strength 3]

## Areas of Concern

1. [Concern 1]
2. [Concern 2]

## Opportunities Identified

| Opportunity | Potential Links | Effort | Priority |
|-------------|-----------------|--------|----------|
| Link intersection | [X] sites | Medium | High |
| Broken links | [X] sites | Low | High |
| Resource pages | [X] sites | Medium | Medium |

## Competitive Position

Your referring domains rank #[X] among [Y] competitors.

| Rank | Domain | Referring Domains |
|------|--------|-------------------|
| 1 | [domain] | [X] |
| 2 | [domain] | [X] |
| 3 | [domain] | [X] |

## Recommended Actions

### Immediate (This Week)
- [ ] Disavow [X] toxic links identified
- [ ] Reach out to [X] unlinked mentions

### Short-term (This Month)
- [ ] Pursue [X] link intersection opportunities
- [ ] Fix [X] broken link opportunities
- [ ] Recover [X] recently lost links

### Long-term (This Quarter)
- [ ] Create linkable asset targeting [topic]
- [ ] Launch guest posting campaign
- [ ] Build [X] resource page links

## KPIs to Track

| Metric | Current | 3-Month Target |
|--------|---------|----------------|
| Referring domains | [X] | [Y] |
| Average DA of new links | [X] | [Y] |
| Link velocity | [X]/mo | [Y]/mo |
| Toxic link % | [X]% | <5% |
```

```

### references/link-quality-rubric.md

```markdown
# Link Quality Rubric

Comprehensive reference for evaluating backlink quality. Use this rubric to assess individual links, audit entire link profiles, perform competitive link gap analysis, and prepare disavow files.

---

## 1. Individual Link Quality Evaluation

### Scoring Methodology

Evaluate each link across six factors. Multiply score (1-5) by factor weight to produce a weighted score. Sum all weighted scores for a final Link Quality Score (LQS).

**Rating Scale:**
- **LQS 4.0-5.0**: Premium link — high authority, topically relevant, editorial placement
- **LQS 2.5-3.9**: Acceptable link — provides value, typical of healthy profiles
- **LQS 1.0-2.4**: Low quality — minimal value, review for potential risk

### Factor 1: Domain Authority (25% weight)

| Score | DR / DA Range | Characteristics | Examples |
|-------|-------------|-----------------|---------|
| 5 | DR 70+ | Major publication, established authority | NYTimes, Forbes, BBC, major university sites |
| 4 | DR 50-69 | Strong domain, recognized in industry | Industry publications, large blogs, government sites |
| 3 | DR 30-49 | Moderate authority, established site | Mid-tier blogs, regional publications, niche authorities |
| 2 | DR 15-29 | Low authority, newer or smaller site | Small blogs, newer companies, personal sites |
| 1 | DR <15 | Very low authority | New sites, abandoned sites, thin content sites |

**Notes:**
- DR/DA is a proxy, not the sole indicator. A DR 30 site that is highly relevant to your niche may be more valuable than a DR 70 site in an unrelated field.
- Check if the domain's authority is organic (earned over time) or inflated (bought links, PBN).

### Factor 2: Topical Relevance (25% weight)

| Score | Relevance Level | Description |
|-------|----------------|-------------|
| 5 | Exact match | Same niche, same subtopic. A link from a CRM review site to your CRM product. |
| 4 | Closely related | Same industry, adjacent topic. A marketing blog linking to your email tool. |
| 3 | Broadly related | Same general field. A business blog linking to your SaaS product. |
| 2 | Tangentially related | Loose connection. A general news site mentioning your product in a tech roundup. |
| 1 | Unrelated | No topical connection. A cooking blog linking to your B2B software. |

**How to assess relevance:**
1. Read the linking page content. Is it about your topic?
2. Check the linking site's overall focus. Is it in your industry?
3. Look at the surrounding content. Does the link make editorial sense?
4. Check the site's other outbound links. Are they topically coherent?

### Factor 3: Traffic to Linking Page (15% weight)

| Score | Estimated Monthly Traffic | Characteristics |
|-------|--------------------------|-----------------|
| 5 | 10,000+ visits/month | High-traffic page, likely drives referral traffic |
| 4 | 1,000-9,999 visits/month | Solid traffic, some referral value |
| 3 | 100-999 visits/month | Moderate traffic, primarily SEO value |
| 2 | 10-99 visits/month | Low traffic, SEO value only |
| 1 | <10 visits/month | No meaningful traffic, minimal value |

**Why traffic matters:**
- Links from pages with real traffic are more likely to be genuine editorial placements.
- Google likely weights links from pages that receive traffic more highly.
- Referral traffic from the link provides direct business value beyond SEO.

### Factor 4: Link Position (15% weight)

| Score | Position | Description |
|-------|----------|-------------|
| 5 | In-content, editorial | Naturally placed within the article body as a citation or resource |
| 4 | In-content, contextual | Within the body text but in a "resources" or "further reading" section |
| 3 | Author bio or about section | Part of a contributor's bio or about page |
| 2 | Sidebar or dedicated links section | Widget, blogroll, or sidebar placement |
| 1 | Footer, sitewide, or hidden | Footer link, sitewide template link, or visually obscured |

**Key principle:** Editorial in-content links carry the most weight because they represent a genuine endorsement. Footer and sitewide links are devalued by search engines.

### Factor 5: Anchor Text (10% weight)

| Score | Anchor Type | Example (for a CRM product) |
|-------|------------|----------------------------|
| 5 | Descriptive, natural | "this customer relationship management platform" |
| 4 | Partial match, natural | "CRM tools for small businesses" |
| 3 | Brand name | "Acme CRM" |
| 2 | Naked URL | "https://acmecrm.com" |
| 1 | Generic | "click here", "read more", "this website" |

**Important nuance:** A natural link profile has a MIX of all anchor types. Too many exact-match anchors (score 5) can signal manipulation. The ideal distribution is:
- Brand anchors: 30-40%
- Naked URLs: 15-25%
- Generic anchors: 10-20%
- Descriptive/partial match: 15-25%
- Exact match: 5-15%

### Factor 6: Follow Status (10% weight)

| Score | Status | Description |
|-------|--------|-------------|
| 5 | Dofollow, editorial | Standard followed link from editorial content |
| 4 | Dofollow, non-editorial | Followed link from directory, profile, or user-generated content |
| 3 | Sponsored (rel="sponsored") | Properly disclosed sponsored/paid link |
| 2 | UGC (rel="ugc") | User-generated content link (forums, comments) |
| 1 | Nofollow (rel="nofollow") | Explicitly nofollowed link |

**Notes:**
- Google treats nofollow as a "hint" rather than a directive since 2019.
- Nofollow links from high-authority sites (e.g., Wikipedia) still provide brand value and referral traffic.
- A healthy profile naturally includes a mix of followed and nofollowed links. Typical ratio: 60-80% dofollow, 20-40% nofollow.

---

## 2. Example Link Profile Assessments

### Example A: Strong Link Profile

| Characteristic | Value | Assessment |
|---------------|-------|-----------|
| Total referring domains | 1,200 | Healthy for a mid-size SaaS company |
| Dofollow ratio | 72% | Natural distribution |
| Average linking domain DR | 38 | Solid average authority |
| Top anchor: brand name | 35% | Natural brand dominance |
| Exact match anchors | 8% | Within safe range |
| Topical relevance (sampled) | 75% related | Strong relevance signal |
| Link velocity | +25/month net | Steady organic growth |
| Toxic link estimate | 3% | Below 5% threshold — healthy |

**Verdict:** Healthy profile with natural link distribution. Continue current strategy.

### Example B: At-Risk Link Profile

| Characteristic | Value | Assessment |
|---------------|-------|-----------|
| Total referring domains | 800 | Adequate but thin for competitive niche |
| Dofollow ratio | 92% | Suspiciously high — may indicate link manipulation |
| Average linking domain DR | 18 | Low average authority |
| Top anchor: exact match keyword | 42% | Over-optimized — risk of penalty |
| Exact match anchors | 42% | Far above safe threshold (>15%) |
| Topical relevance (sampled) | 30% related | Many irrelevant links |
| Link velocity | +80/month net | Unnaturally high — investigate |
| Toxic link estimate | 18% | Above 10% threshold — action needed |

**Verdict:** Profile shows signs of manipulation. Immediate actions needed: disavow toxic links, diversify anchor text, slow down link acquisition pace.

### Example C: New Site Link Profile

| Characteristic | Value | Assessment |
|---------------|-------|-----------|
| Total referring domains | 45 | Expected for a 6-month-old site |
| Dofollow ratio | 65% | Natural |
| Average linking domain DR | 28 | Reasonable for early-stage outreach |
| Top anchor: brand name | 40% | Healthy |
| Exact match anchors | 5% | Conservative and safe |
| Topical relevance (sampled) | 80% related | Well-targeted outreach |
| Link velocity | +8/month net | Appropriate for new site |
| Toxic link estimate | 1% | Clean profile |

**Verdict:** Healthy foundation. Focus on scaling link acquisition while maintaining quality standards.

---

## 3. Competitive Link Gap Analysis Methodology

### Step-by-Step Process

**Step 1: Identify competitors**
Select 3-5 direct competitors who rank for your target keywords.

**Step 2: Pull referring domain data**
Export the full referring domain list for each competitor from ~~link database.

**Step 3: Create intersection matrix**

| Referring Domain | You | Comp 1 | Comp 2 | Comp 3 | Overlap Count |
|-----------------|-----|--------|--------|--------|---------------|
| example-a.com | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 |
| example-b.com | No | Yes | Yes | No | 2 |
| example-c.com | No | Yes | No | No | 1 |
| example-d.com | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 3 (already have) |

**Step 4: Prioritize opportunities**

| Priority | Criteria | Rationale |
|----------|---------|-----------|
| Highest | Links to 3+ competitors, DR 50+, relevant | If all competitors have it, it is likely linkable |
| High | Links to 2+ competitors, DR 30+, relevant | Strong signal of willingness to link in niche |
| Medium | Links to 1 competitor, DR 50+, relevant | May be less accessible but high value |
| Lower | Links to 1 competitor, DR <30, or low relevance | Diminishing returns |

**Step 5: Analyze link context**
For each high-priority opportunity, visit the actual linking page to understand:
- Why did they link to your competitor? (resource page, mention, guest post, etc.)
- What content on your site could replace or complement that link?
- What outreach angle would work? (broken link, better resource, relationship)

**Step 6: Create outreach plan**
Build a prioritized list with contact information, outreach angle, and template selection.

---

## 4. Disavow File Format Guide

### When to Disavow

Only disavow links when you have clear evidence of risk. Unnecessary disavow can hurt your rankings.

| Situation | Disavow? | Reasoning |
|-----------|----------|-----------|
| Obvious PBN links | Yes | Clear manipulation signal |
| Paid links you cannot get removed | Yes | After attempting removal |
| Spam attack (negative SEO) | Yes | Protect from third-party manipulation |
| Low-quality directory links | Maybe | Only if pattern is excessive |
| Foreign language spam | Yes | If clearly unnatural |
| Low-DA sites with real content | No | Low quality is not toxic |
| Nofollow links from any source | No | Already nofollowed; no risk |

### Disavow File Format

The disavow file is a plain text file (.txt) uploaded to Google Search Console.

```
# Disavow file for example.com
# Generated: [date]
# Reason: Toxic link cleanup

# Individual URLs to disavow
https://spam-site.com/page-with-link
https://another-spam.com/toxic-page

# Entire domains to disavow (use for sites with multiple toxic links)
domain:link-farm-example.com
domain:pbn-network-site.com
domain:spam-directory.net
```

### Disavow File Best Practices

| Practice | Why |
|----------|-----|
| Comment every entry or group | Future auditors need to understand why |
| Use `domain:` for sites with multiple bad links | More thorough than individual URLs |
| Use individual URLs when only one page is toxic | Avoid disavowing good links from the same domain |
| Keep a changelog | Track what was added and when |
| Review quarterly | Remove entries if domains have been cleaned up |
| Never disavow your own domain | Common mistake that causes severe damage |
| Back up before uploading | Keep previous version in case of errors |

### Disavow Review Workflow

| Step | Action | Tool |
|------|--------|------|
| 1 | Export full backlink profile | ~~link database |
| 2 | Filter for known toxic patterns | Spam score, DR <10, foreign spam |
| 3 | Manual review of flagged links | Visit each flagged domain |
| 4 | Attempt removal via email first | Contact webmasters |
| 5 | Wait 2 weeks for removal responses | Track outreach results |
| 6 | Add non-removed toxic links to disavow | Format as .txt file |
| 7 | Upload to Google Search Console | Disavow Links tool |
| 8 | Document all actions and dates | Internal records |
| 9 | Re-check in 4-6 weeks | Verify processing |

---

## 5. Link Profile Health Benchmarks

### Healthy Profile Indicators

| Metric | Healthy Range | Warning Sign | Critical |
|--------|-------------|--------------|----------|
| Dofollow ratio | 60-80% | >90% | >95% |
| Exact match anchor % | <15% | 15-25% | >25% |
| Brand anchor % | 25-45% | <15% | <5% |
| Toxic link % | <5% | 5-10% | >10% |
| Referring domain growth | Positive, steady | Flat | Declining |
| Average linking DR | 25+ | 15-25 | <15 |
| Link diversity (unique domains / total links) | >0.3 | 0.1-0.3 | <0.1 |
| Topical relevance (sampled) | >60% | 40-60% | <40% |

### Industry-Specific Benchmarks

Authority expectations vary significantly by industry vertical.

| Industry | Typical DR Range (Top 10 Sites) | Typical Referring Domains | Link Difficulty |
|----------|-------------------------------|--------------------------|----------------|
| Finance / Insurance | DR 60-90 | 5,000-50,000+ | Very High |
| Health / Medical | DR 50-85 | 3,000-30,000+ | Very High |
| Technology / SaaS | DR 40-80 | 1,000-20,000+ | High |
| E-commerce (general) | DR 35-75 | 500-15,000+ | High |
| Legal | DR 40-70 | 1,000-10,000+ | High |
| Education | DR 50-90 | 2,000-25,000+ | Medium-High |
| Local services | DR 15-45 | 50-500 | Medium |
| B2B niche | DR 25-60 | 200-5,000+ | Medium |
| Blog / Content site | DR 20-70 | 100-10,000+ | Medium |
| New startup | DR 5-25 | 10-200 | Starting point |

_Note: These are general ranges. Actual requirements depend on your specific keyword competition._

```

### references/outreach-templates.md

```markdown
# Outreach Templates

Copy-ready outreach email templates for each link building strategy. Includes subject line variations, follow-up sequences, personalization tips, and response handling scripts.

---

## General Outreach Principles

Before using any template, follow these rules:

| Principle | Why It Matters |
|-----------|---------------|
| **Personalize every email** | Generic emails get deleted. Reference specific content. |
| **Lead with value** | Explain what is in it for them before making your ask. |
| **Keep it short** | 100-150 words maximum for initial outreach. |
| **One clear ask** | Do not combine multiple requests in one email. |
| **Professional sender address** | Use [email protected], not a free email provider. |
| **No attachments on first email** | Attachments trigger spam filters and reduce trust. |
| **Follow up (once or twice)** | Most responses come from follow-ups, not initial emails. |
| **Track everything** | Log outreach in a spreadsheet or CRM for accountability. |

---

## 1. Broken Link Building Templates

### Template 1A: Broken Link — Direct Approach

**Subject:** Found a broken link on your [topic] page

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I was reading your article on [specific article title] — great resource on [brief compliment about content].

I noticed the link to [description of broken link resource] in the [section name] section seems to be broken (returns a 404).

I recently published a guide on [your topic] that covers similar ground: [Your URL]

It might work as a replacement if you are updating the page. Either way, wanted to give you a heads-up about the broken link.

Best,
[Your Name]

---

### Template 1B: Broken Link — Roundup Page

**Subject:** Quick heads-up about [their page title]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Your [topic] resource page is one of my go-to references — really well curated.

I noticed [X] links on the page are no longer working:
- [Broken URL 1] — returns 404
- [Broken URL 2] — domain expired

If you are updating the page, I have a [content type] that covers [topic]: [Your URL]

Happy to suggest other replacement resources too if that would help.

Thanks for maintaining such a useful list,
[Your Name]

---

### Follow-Up (5-7 days after initial email)

**Subject:** Re: [original subject]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Just bumping this up in case it got buried. I spotted a broken link on your [page title] and thought you would want to know.

No worries if the page is staying as-is — just wanted to make sure you saw it.

[Your Name]

---

## 2. Guest Post Pitching Templates

### Template 2A: Guest Post — Topic Pitch

**Subject:** Guest post idea: [proposed title]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I have been following [their site name] for a while — your recent piece on [specific article] was especially [specific compliment].

I would love to contribute a guest post on [proposed topic]. Here is what I have in mind:

**Title:** [Proposed title]
**Angle:** [1-2 sentences describing the unique angle]
**Why your readers would care:** [1 sentence on value to their audience]

I have written for [1-2 relevant publications] previously. Here are a couple of samples:
- [Sample URL 1]
- [Sample URL 2]

Would this be a fit for [their site name]?

Best,
[Your Name]
[Your title / credentials]

---

### Template 2B: Guest Post — Expertise Pitch

**Subject:** [Your expertise area] contributor for [their site]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I am [Your Name], a [your role/expertise] with [X years] experience in [field]. I noticed [their site] covers [topic area] extensively and thought I could contribute something useful.

Three topic ideas that might work for your audience:

1. [Title idea 1] — [one-line description]
2. [Title idea 2] — [one-line description]
3. [Title idea 3] — [one-line description]

Happy to adjust angles or pitch different ideas. I can also share writing samples if helpful.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

---

### Follow-Up (7-10 days after initial email)

**Subject:** Re: [original subject]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Checking back on my guest post pitch. I know editorial calendars fill up fast, so no worries if the timing does not work.

If any of the topics I suggested could work down the road, happy to keep in touch for a future slot.

[Your Name]

---

## 3. Resource Page Outreach Templates

### Template 3A: Resource Page — Direct Suggestion

**Subject:** Resource for your [topic] page

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I found your [topic] resource page while researching [related topic] — it is a really well-organized collection.

I thought [your resource title] might be a good addition to the [specific section] section. It covers [brief description of what it covers and why it is useful].

Here is the link: [Your URL]

No pressure at all — just thought it might be useful for your readers.

Best,
[Your Name]

---

### Template 3B: Resource Page — Value-Add Approach

**Subject:** A few resources for your [topic] page

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I have been using your [topic] resource page as a reference and really appreciate the curation work.

I wanted to suggest a few resources you might consider adding (not all mine):

1. [External resource title] — [URL] — Great for [reason]
2. [Your resource title] — [Your URL] — Covers [topic]
3. [Another external resource] — [URL] — Useful for [reason]

I included a couple of third-party resources alongside mine since they genuinely complement your page.

Thanks for maintaining such a useful list,
[Your Name]

---

## 4. Unlinked Mention Outreach Templates

### Template 4A: Unlinked Brand Mention

**Subject:** Thanks for mentioning [brand name]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Just came across your article [article title] — thanks for mentioning [your brand/product]. Really appreciate the kind words about [specific thing they said].

Quick request: would you be able to add a link to [Your URL] where you mention us? It would help your readers find us directly and help us out with attribution.

Totally understand if it is not possible. Either way, glad you found [product/service] useful.

Best,
[Your Name]

---

### Template 4B: Unlinked Data/Research Mention

**Subject:** Thanks for citing our [research/data]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I noticed you referenced our [study/statistic/data point] in your article [article title]. Thanks for citing our research.

If you are able to add a link to the original source, it would help your readers verify the data and access the full [study/report]: [Your URL]

We actually just updated it with [new data point] that might be relevant to your piece as well.

Thanks,
[Your Name]

---

### Follow-Up (5-7 days)

**Subject:** Re: [original subject]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Just a quick follow-up on adding a link for the mention of [brand/research] in your article. I know updating published content can be low priority, so no rush.

If it helps, the exact URL is: [Your URL]

Thanks again for the mention,
[Your Name]

---

## 5. Digital PR / Data-Driven Outreach Templates

### Template 5A: Original Research Pitch

**Subject:** New data: [key finding headline]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

We just published [study/survey/analysis] that found [most surprising or newsworthy finding].

Key findings:
- [Finding 1 — the headline stat]
- [Finding 2 — supporting data]
- [Finding 3 — counterintuitive insight]

Full report: [Your URL]

Given your coverage of [their beat/topic], I thought this might be worth a mention. Happy to provide additional data, quotes, or custom analysis for your audience.

[Your Name]
[Your title]

---

### Template 5B: Expert Commentary Pitch

**Subject:** Expert source for your [topic] coverage

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I saw you are covering [topic/trend] and thought I could be a useful source.

I am [Your Name], [your credentials — brief]. I have [specific experience relevant to their coverage].

A couple of angles I could provide commentary on:
- [Angle 1]
- [Angle 2]

Happy to jump on a quick call or provide written quotes. Available on short notice.

[Your Name]
[Your title, company]
[Phone number for urgent requests]

---

## 6. HARO / Source Request Templates

### Template 6A: HARO Response — Expert Source

**Subject:** [HARO] Re: [original query title]

**Body:**

Hi [Journalist Name],

Re: your query on [topic].

**Source:** [Your Name], [Title] at [Company]
**Credentials:** [1-2 sentences on relevant expertise]

**Response:**

[2-3 paragraphs directly answering their query. Be specific, quotable, and concise. Lead with the most valuable insight.]

**Key quote:** "[One highly quotable sentence they can use directly]"

Happy to elaborate or provide additional data. Available at [email] or [phone].

[Your Name]

---

### Template 6B: HARO Response — Data Source

**Subject:** [HARO] Re: [original query title] — with data

**Body:**

Hi [Journalist Name],

For your piece on [topic], here is data from our [study/platform/analysis]:

- [Statistic 1]: [data point with context]
- [Statistic 2]: [data point with context]
- [Statistic 3]: [data point with context]

Source: [Your URL for attribution]

**Expert quote from [Your Name], [Title]:**
"[Quotable insight interpreting the data]"

Full dataset available if needed for additional analysis.

[Your Name]
[Contact info]

---

## 7. Skyscraper Technique Templates

### Template 7A: Skyscraper — Better Resource

**Subject:** Updated resource on [topic]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

I noticed you linked to [competitor's article title] in your post on [their article title].

We just published an updated version of that topic: [Your URL]

It includes [specific improvements over the original]:
- [Improvement 1 — e.g., "2025 data instead of 2022"]
- [Improvement 2 — e.g., "interactive calculator included"]
- [Improvement 3 — e.g., "covers 3 additional sub-topics"]

If you think it would be a better resource for your readers, I would appreciate you considering swapping the link. No worries either way.

Best,
[Your Name]

---

## 8. Relationship Building Templates

### Template 8A: Initial Relationship — No Ask

**Subject:** Loved your piece on [topic]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Just read your article on [specific article title] and wanted to say it was genuinely one of the best pieces I have read on [topic].

The section on [specific section] was especially useful — I actually shared it with my team and we are implementing [specific takeaway].

No ask here, just wanted to let you know your work is making an impact.

[Your Name]

---

### Template 8B: Follow-Up After Relationship Building (2-4 weeks later)

**Subject:** [New topic] — thought of your readers

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Following up on our exchange a few weeks back. I just published something your audience might find useful: [Your URL]

It covers [brief description] with a focus on [specific angle].

Would love to hear your thoughts if you get a chance to read it.

Best,
[Your Name]

---

## 9. Follow-Up Sequences

### Standard Follow-Up Timeline

| Email | Timing | Purpose | Tone |
|-------|--------|---------|------|
| Initial outreach | Day 0 | Make the ask | Professional, value-forward |
| Follow-up 1 | Day 5-7 | Gentle reminder | Casual, brief |
| Follow-up 2 | Day 14 | Final attempt | Short, no-pressure close |
| Stop | After follow-up 2 | Do not send more | Move on |

### Follow-Up 2 Template (Final Attempt)

**Subject:** Re: [original subject]

**Body:**

Hi [Name],

Last follow-up on this — I know you are busy.

[One-sentence reminder of what you asked]

If the timing is not right, no worries at all. Feel free to bookmark [Your URL] for whenever it might be useful.

Best,
[Your Name]

---

## 10. Response Handling Scripts

### Positive Response — They Will Add the Link

**Reply:**

That is great, [Name] — really appreciate it.

The exact URL is: [Your URL]
Preferred anchor text (just a suggestion): [anchor text]

Let me know if you need anything else. Happy to return the favor anytime.

Best,
[Your Name]

---

### Positive Response — They Want a Guest Post

**Reply:**

Wonderful, I would love to contribute. Here is what I am thinking:

**Title:** [Proposed title]
**Outline:**
1. [Section 1]
2. [Section 2]
3. [Section 3]

**Estimated length:** [word count]
**Delivery timeline:** [date]

Do you have any editorial guidelines or specific requirements I should follow?

Best,
[Your Name]

---

### Neutral Response — They Are Interested but Noncommittal

**Reply:**

Totally understand, [Name]. No rush at all.

I will keep [Your URL] updated with [latest data/content], so it will be here whenever the timing works.

Feel free to reach out if I can ever be a source or contributor for [their site].

Best,
[Your Name]

---

### Negative Response — They Decline

**Reply:**

Completely understand, [Name]. Thanks for letting me know.

If anything changes or if I can ever be helpful as a source, do not hesitate to reach out.

Best,
[Your Name]

_Note: Never argue, push back, or send additional follow-ups after a decline. Keep the relationship positive for potential future opportunities._

---

### No Response — After Full Sequence

Do not send further emails. Add to a "re-engage in 3-6 months" list. When you re-engage, use a completely new angle or piece of content. Never reference the fact that they did not respond previously.

---

## 11. Personalization Tips

### Research Checklist Before Sending

| Check | Where to Find | How to Use |
|-------|-------------|-----------|
| Their name (correct spelling) | About page, LinkedIn, byline | Use in greeting and body |
| Recent article they wrote | Their blog, Google "[name] + [site]" | Reference in opening line |
| Their social media | Twitter/X, LinkedIn | Mention a recent post or shared interest |
| Their publication's audience | About page, media kit | Tailor your value proposition |
| Content they have linked to before | ~~link database, their recent articles | Match the type of content they prefer |
| How they prefer to be contacted | Website contact page, social bio | Some prefer Twitter DMs over email |

### Personalization Levels

| Level | Effort | Response Rate Impact | When to Use |
|-------|--------|---------------------|-------------|
| **Zero** (template only) | Minimal | Baseline (lowest) | Never recommended |
| **Basic** (name + site name) | Low | +20-30% | Bulk outreach to lower-priority targets |
| **Moderate** (+ specific article reference) | Medium | +50-80% | Standard outreach to mid-tier targets |
| **Deep** (+ shared interest, social reference, mutual connection) | High | +100-200% | High-priority targets (DR 60+ sites, key relationships) |

---

## 12. Subject Line Variations by Strategy

### High-Performing Subject Line Patterns

| Strategy | Subject Lines (pick one) |
|----------|------------------------|
| **Broken link** | "Found a broken link on your [topic] page" / "Quick heads-up about [page title]" / "Broken resource on [their site]" |
| **Guest post** | "Guest post idea: [title]" / "[Topic] contributor for [their site]" / "Content pitch for [their site]" |
| **Resource page** | "Resource for your [topic] page" / "Suggestion for your [topic] list" / "Addition for [page title]?" |
| **Unlinked mention** | "Thanks for mentioning [brand]" / "Re: your mention of [brand/data]" / "Quick favor re: [their article]" |
| **Digital PR** | "New data: [headline stat]" / "Exclusive: [finding]" / "[Topic] research for your coverage" |
| **Skyscraper** | "Updated resource on [topic]" / "Better version of [competitor content]" / "Thought you'd want to see this" |

### Subject Lines to Avoid

| Avoid | Why |
|-------|-----|
| "Link exchange opportunity" | Screams spam and violates Google guidelines |
| "SEO partnership" | Immediately signals manipulative intent |
| ALL CAPS or excessive punctuation | Triggers spam filters, looks unprofessional |
| "I'd love a backlink" | Too direct; leads with your need, not their value |
| Misleading subjects ("Re:" when no prior conversation) | Damages trust immediately |
| Long subjects (>60 characters) | Gets truncated in inbox, lower open rates |

```



---

## Skill Companion Files

> Additional files collected from the skill directory layout.

### _meta.json

```json
{
  "owner": "aaron-he-zhu",
  "slug": "backlink-analyzer",
  "displayName": "Backlink Analyzer",
  "latest": {
    "version": "3.0.0",
    "publishedAt": 1772640417488,
    "commit": "https://github.com/openclaw/skills/commit/133bf96199b3b5df323adb7dc3e841f3b9b3f76b"
  },
  "history": [
    {
      "version": "2.0.0",
      "publishedAt": 1771042784574,
      "commit": "https://github.com/openclaw/skills/commit/30588b9fb8f65f8fac01b3c019a0f1a250a11a0b"
    },
    {
      "version": "0.1.2",
      "publishedAt": 1770824214763,
      "commit": "https://github.com/openclaw/skills/commit/631884d930e5271bc193dfa090e579a54d2b9c47"
    },
    {
      "version": "0.1.1",
      "publishedAt": 1770739473213,
      "commit": "https://github.com/openclaw/skills/commit/3b070a6613d68ddc09894602f7eea4ce0f709b83"
    },
    {
      "version": "0.1.0",
      "publishedAt": 1770559548594,
      "commit": "https://github.com/openclaw/skills/commit/916e3c0647071461da75f67e758d55e6aa009668"
    }
  ]
}

```