You finally logged into Moz’s Link Explorer. You see a big number next to “Total Links.” Maybe it’s 5,000. Maybe it’s 50,000. Your first instinct is to scroll. Don’t.
That number is a trap. It tells you nothing about which links are helping you, which are hurting you, and which you should ignore. You need a process, not just a tool.
Why this matters: Using Moz as a backlink checker gives you incredibly detailed data. But without a filter, you’ll waste hours looking at spammy directories or irrelevant forum posts. A good process turns raw data into a list of actual, actionable opportunities.
Step-by-Step Checklist: Moz Backlink Checker
This checklist assumes you’ve entered your domain into Moz Link Explorer. Do not look at the total link count. Start here instead.
Step 1: Go to the “Top Pages” Report First
Ignore the “Inbound Links” tab initially. Click “Top Pages.” This shows you which pages on your site have the most link value. Sort by “Linking Domains.” This gives you a quick snapshot of your strongest content. If a page you care about isn’t here, that’s a problem.
Step 2: Filter by Domain Authority (DA)
Go to the “Inbound Links” tab. Click “Filters.” Set a minimum DA. For a beginner, start at DA 20. This instantly removes 70% of the noise—spammy blog comments, link farms, and automated directories. You now have a manageable list of links that might actually pass value.
Step 3: Sort by “Last Found”
Most people sort by “Highest DA.” Don’t. Sort by “Last Found” (newest links first). This shows you who linked to you recently. A new link from a DA 35 site is often more useful than an old link from a DA 70 site that is now dead or irrelevant.
Step 4: Check the “Spam Score” Column
Moz assigns a Spam Score (0 to 17) to each linking domain. If the Spam Score is 8 or higher, the link might be toxic. If the Spam Score is 12+, consider disavowing it. A high Spam Score on a low-DA link is a red flag. If the Spam Score is high but the DA is high too, investigate manually.
Step 5: Look at Link Type (NoFollow vs. DoFollow)
In the results table, you’ll see a “Link Type” column (DoFollow or NoFollow). For SEO value, you want DoFollow links. But don’t ignore NoFollow links entirely. A NoFollow link from a major news site (like Forbes or The Guardian) can drive referral traffic and build brand awareness. Know the difference and prioritize accordingly.
Step 6: Spot Missing Orphan Links
Use the “Lost” filter. This shows you links you had that Moz no longer finds. Sometimes it’s a temporary crawl issue. Often, it means the link was removed. Look at the “Lost” tab monthly. If a high-value link disappears, you can reach out to the site owner.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make with Moz
- Judging a link by DA alone. A DA 80 link from a paid directory is less valuable than a DA 40 link from a highly relevant industry blog. Context matters.
- Ignoring the anchor text. Look at the “Anchor Text” column. If all your links have the same commercial anchor text (like “best SEO tools”), that’s unnatural and could trigger a manual review. Look for a healthy mix.
- Not exporting the data. Moz allows you to export to CSV. Do this. Then you can sort, filter, and prioritize in a spreadsheet, which is faster than clicking through the interface.
- Checking your site only once. Your backlink profile changes weekly. Set a reminder to run this checklist once a month.
Mini Scenario: How One Blogger Found a Guest Post Opportunity
Anna runs a small gardening blog. She used Moz Link Explorer to check her competitor’s “Top Pages.” She found that her competitor’s most linked-to page was a guide on “Composting for Beginners.” Anna exported the “Inbound Links” for that page, filtered by DA over 25, and found 15 sites that had linked to that guide.
She then checked those 15 sites to see if they accepted guest posts. Three of them did. She pitched a more specific angle (“Composting in Small Apartments”), and two sites accepted. Within a month, she had two new, relevant backlinks from DA 35+ sites.
The key insight: She didn’t use Moz to check her own backlinks. She used Moz to find opportunities by looking at competitor links.
FAQ
Q: What should I check first when comparing backlink checker moz?
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 moz 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.
