Stop Running Backlink Reports You Never Use: A Beginner’s Workflow for Ahrefs

You ran a backlink report from Ahrefs. You saw a bunch of URLs. You closed the tab and went back to writing content.

That’s not a workflow. That’s just data collection.

Most beginners treat the backlink checker by Ahrefs like a trophy case. They check their backlink count, feel good or bad, and stop. But a backlink report is a repair shop, not a museum. You have to pick up the tools.

Here’s how to actually use it.

Why This Matters

A backlink report without a process is just noise. You can’t improve your link profile by staring at it. You improve it by taking specific actions: removing bad links, finding broken opportunities, and spotting patterns in good links.

The goal isn’t to know your backlink count. The goal is to know what to do next.

The 4-Step Beginner Workflow (Not a Checklist)

Most guides give you a checklist of filters. That’s fine, but checklists without context fail. Here’s a workflow that forces you to act.

Step 1: Sort your own profile by “New” and scan for junk first

Most beginners check Domain Rating (DR) first. Don’t. Sort by “New.” The newest links are the most actionable. You can approve, disavow, or follow up.

• Look for links from obvious spam sites (gambling, porn, “free money”).
• Look for links from directories you never submitted to.
• Look for links with nofollow when they should have been dofollow (or vice versa).

If you find a spammy link, mark it for disavow. If you find a good new link you didn’t ask for, note the site and consider a follow-up email.

Step 2: Use the “Lost” filter to find broken link opportunities

Switch to the “Lost” tab. These are links your site had that stopped working. Most beginners ignore this.

• If a lost link was on a high-DR page, check if the page is still live. Sometimes the link was removed, not broken.
• If the linking page is still live but your link is gone, reach out. “Hey, I noticed you removed my link. Did my article break? Can I help fix it?”
• If the linking page is dead (404), this is a perfect opportunity. Find a similar resource on your site and suggest it as a replacement.

Step 3: Analyze a single competitor’s “Best by Links” page

Don’t analyze their homepage. That’s boring. Go to Site Explorer, enter a competitor URL, and click “Best by links.” This shows their pages with the most backlinks.

• Pick the page with the most links that is relevant to your niche.
• Look at the linking pages. Are they resource lists? Roundups? Guest posts?
• Create a similar page on your site. Then reach out to the same linking sites and say, “I saw you linked to a similar page. I have an updated version.”

Step 4: Export and prioritize by action, not by DR

Export your backlink report to a spreadsheet. Delete the columns you don’t need. Keep: Source URL, Target URL, DR, Link Type (dofollow/nofollow), First Seen, Last Seen.

Now sort by action priority:

1. Disavow first: Any link that looks like a paid link, a PBN, or a spam directory. Do this before anything else.
2. Reclaim lost links: Any link that disappeared. Contact the owner.
3. Follow up on new links: Any link you didn’t expect. Thank the owner or ask for an upgrade (e.g., change nofollow to dofollow).
4. Outreach targets: Any link from a competitor’s best page. Build a similar resource and pitch.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

• Checking DR first. High DR doesn’t mean high quality. A link from a DR 90 forum page is useless. A link from a DR 30 niche blog can send real traffic.
• Not filtering by “Lost.” Lost links are pure gold. Most people ignore them because they look negative. They’re actually opportunities.
• Treating nofollow as worthless. If a nofollow link comes from a site that sends referral traffic, it’s valuable. It builds brand awareness.
• Not using “One link per domain.” This filter shows you unique linking domains. Without it, you see multiple links from the same site, which inflates the number.

Mini Scenario: How a Beginner Found a Guest Post Opportunity

A new freelancer was writing for a small tech blog. She checked her competitor’s “Best by Links” page. She noticed a popular article about “Best VPNs for Remote Work” had 40 backlinks.

She clicked on the linking sites. Most were roundup posts like “Top 10 Tools for Remote Teams.” She wrote a similar resource on her own blog. Then she emailed the editors of those roundup posts: “Hi, I noticed you listed tools for remote teams. I just published a guide on VPNs for remote work. It includes a comparison table. Would you consider adding it as a resource?”

She got three new links in two weeks. She didn’t need a high DR site. She needed a process.

FAQ

Q: What should I check first when comparing backlink checker by ahrefs?
A: Start with the real use case, pricing, setup difficulty, limits, support quality, and whether the option matches your workflow instead of choosing only by brand name.

Q: Is backlink checker by ahrefs enough on its own?
A: Usually no. It should be evaluated together with your process, budget, risk level, and the other tools or accounts involved in the workflow.

Q: How do I avoid choosing the wrong option?
A: Use a short checklist, test on a small use case first, read the refund policy, and avoid tools or services that make unrealistic promises.