The real problem: you logged into Ahrefs, clicked “Site Explorer,” and now you’re staring at a table of 10,000 backlinks. You have no idea which ones matter, which ones are spam, or what to do next.
That’s not a tool problem. That’s a process problem.
Most beginners treat a backlink checker like a slot machine. They pull the handle, see a big number, feel good for three seconds, and close the tab. That’s a waste of $99 a month.
Here’s the exact checklist I use when I open the Ahrefs backlink checker for the first time on any site.
Why this matters
Your backlink profile is either helping you rank or slowly poisoning your SEO. You need to know which one is happening. A backlink checker ahrefs can show you both the good and the bad, but only if you know which filters to use.
Step 1: Check your own backlink profile first
Don’t look at your competitors until you know your own situation.
Go to Site Explorer, enter your domain, and click “Backlinks” in the left sidebar. You now see every link pointing to your site.
Your first task is not analysis. Your first task is scanning for red flags.
Look at the “DR” (Domain Rating) column. Sort by low to high. Any link from a DR 0 site could be spam. If you see hundreds of them, you have a toxic link problem.
Step 2: Sort by “New” to find recent links and spam
Click the “New” filter. This shows you links discovered in the last 30 days.
This is the most important filter for beginners. If someone just built 50 spammy links to your site last week, you’ll see them here. If you recently got a link from a relevant blog, you’ll see that too.
Scroll through the list. If you see links from sites that look like they were built by a bot in 2005, add them to a “disavow” list.
Step 3: Use the “Lost” filter to find broken link opportunities
This is where the practical value lives.
Switch to the “Lost” filter. This shows you links that your site used to have but no longer points to you.
Why does this matter? Someone already linked to you once. That means they know your content exists. The link broke for any reason: the page was deleted, the URL changed, or they cleaned up their site.
Now you have a list of people who might say yes if you ask nicely.
Step 4: Analyze a competitor’s top pages (not their homepage)
Stop looking at your competitor’s homepage backlinks. That tells you nothing useful.
Instead, go to Site Explorer, enter their domain, click “Top Pages” instead of “Backlinks.” Sort by “Estimated organic traffic.”
Find the page that gets the most traffic. Click on it, then go to “Backlinks” again. Now you’re seeing the links that actually help that page rank.
This is the real gold. These are the links you need to replicate.
Step 5: Export and prioritize
Do not try to work inside the Ahrefs interface for more than 15 minutes. Export the list as a CSV file.
Open it in Google Sheets. Add a column called “Action” with options like: “Reach out,” “Disavow,” “Ignore,” or “Replicate.”
Sort by DR or traffic value. Pick the top 10 links that deserve your attention. That’s your actual to-do list.
Common mistakes beginners make
- Looking at total backlink count instead of unique referring domains.
- Ignoring the “Lost” filter completely.
- Trying to analyze 500 links at once instead of filtering first.
- Checking a competitor’s homepage and thinking “I need those links too” without checking if the links are relevant.
Mini scenario: how one blogger fixed a traffic drop using the “Lost” filter
A friend runs a small food blog. Traffic dropped 30% overnight. She panicked and thought Google penalized her.
I opened Ahrefs, went to the “Lost” filter, and found that a popular recipe roundup site had removed her link during a site redesign.
One polite email later: the link was restored. Traffic recovered in a week.
She didn’t need a complicated SEO audit. She needed to check what she lost.
FAQ
Q: How often should I check my backlinks with Ahrefs?
A: Once a month is enough for most sites. If you are actively building links, check every two weeks.
Q: What’s the difference between “Backlinks” and “Referring Domains” in Ahrefs?
A: A referring domain is one website. A backlink is one link from that website. One domain can have multiple backlinks.
Q: Can I use the Ahrefs backlink checker for free?
A: Ahrefs offers a limited free version in Site Explorer. You can see a small sample of backlinks for any URL.
Q: Should I disavow every low-DR link?
A: No. If the link is natural and relevant, keep it. Only disavow links that are clearly spammy or from sites that violate Google’s guidelines.
Q: What’s the best way to track my link building progress?
A: Use the “New” filter in Ahrefs every month. Track how many new referring domains you gained and how many you lost.
Final practical takeaway
Stop using Ahrefs as a toy. Use it as a diagnostic tool.
Your monthly routine should be:
1. Check your own profile (New + Lost filters).
2. Check one competitor’s best page.
3. Export, prioritize, take action.
That’s it. That’s the entire process. Do this for three months, and you’ll know your backlink profile better than most people who have paid for the tool for years.
For this use case, recommended SEO tool should be compared by pricing, setup difficulty, support quality, refund policy, and whether it fits your workflow.
FAQ
Q: What should I check first when comparing backlink checker 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 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.
