backlink-analysis

When the user wants to analyze backlinks, audit link profile, or identify link issues. Also use when the user mentions "backlink analysis," "backlink audit," "referring domains," "toxic links," "link profile," or "disavow file." For acquisition, use link-building.

313 stars

Best use case

backlink-analysis is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.

When the user wants to analyze backlinks, audit link profile, or identify link issues. Also use when the user mentions "backlink analysis," "backlink audit," "referring domains," "toxic links," "link profile," or "disavow file." For acquisition, use link-building.

Teams using backlink-analysis should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.

When to use this skill

  • You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.

When not to use this skill

  • You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
  • You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.

Installation

Claude Code / Cursor / Codex

$curl -o ~/.claude/skills/backlink-analysis/SKILL.md --create-dirs "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kostja94/marketing-skills/main/skills/seo/off-page/backlink-analysis/SKILL.md"

Manual Installation

  1. Download SKILL.md from GitHub
  2. Place it in .claude/skills/backlink-analysis/SKILL.md inside your project
  3. Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill

How backlink-analysis Compares

Feature / Agentbacklink-analysisStandard Approach
Platform SupportNot specifiedLimited / Varies
Context Awareness High Baseline
Installation ComplexityUnknownN/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this skill do?

When the user wants to analyze backlinks, audit link profile, or identify link issues. Also use when the user mentions "backlink analysis," "backlink audit," "referring domains," "toxic links," "link profile," or "disavow file." For acquisition, use link-building.

Where can I find the source code?

You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.

Related Guides

SKILL.md Source

# SEO Off-Page: Backlink Analysis

Guides backlink profile analysis: assessing quality, identifying issues, and planning improvements.

**When invoking**: On **first use**, if helpful, open with 1–2 sentences on what this skill covers and why it matters, then provide the main output. On **subsequent use** or when the user asks to skip, go directly to the main output.

## Scope (Off-Page SEO)

- **Backlink audit**: Analyze profile; toxic links; competitive analysis
- **Authority Score**: Monitor domain/page authority; referring domains

## Initial Assessment

Identify:
1. **Domain**: Site to analyze
2. **Tool access**: SEO tools (e.g. Ahrefs, Semrush) or free alternatives
3. **Goals**: Audit for issues, competitive analysis, or growth planning

## Key Metrics

| Metric | Meaning |
|--------|---------|
| **Referring domains** | Number of unique sites linking |
| **Backlinks** | Total number of links |
| **Domain Rating (DR) / Domain Authority (DA)** | Domain strength score |
| **Anchor text distribution** | Mix of branded, generic, exact match |
| **Link velocity** | Rate of new links over time |

## Analysis Framework

### 1. Quality Assessment

- **Relevance**: Do links come from related niches?
- **Authority**: Are referring domains trusted?
- **Context**: Editorial vs. footer/sidebar links?
- **Anchor text**: Natural or over-optimized?

### 2. Risk Signals

| Signal | Action |
|--------|--------|
| **Toxic links** | Consider disavow (use cautiously) |
| **Spammy anchors** | Diversify anchor text naturally |
| **Link schemes** | Remove or disavow |
| **Sudden spike** | Investigate; may trigger penalty |

### 3. Competitive Comparison

- Compare backlink profile to competitors
- Identify link gaps (sites linking to competitors but not you)
- Find link opportunities from competitor backlinks
- See **competitor-research** for full methodology

## Disavow File

- Use only when necessary (manual penalty, toxic links)
- Submit via Google Search Console (see **google-search-console** for Links report and disavow submission)
- **Caution**: Over-disavowing can harm; use sparingly
- **References**: [Google Disavow](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/block-indexing#disavow-links)

## Output Format

- **Profile summary**: Key metrics, trends
- **Quality assessment**: Strengths and weaknesses
- **Risk signals**: Toxic or suspicious links
- **Recommendations**: Link building priorities, disavow if needed
- **Competitive insights**: Link gap opportunities

## Related Skills

- **google-search-console**: Links report, disavow file submission
- **seo-monitoring**: Backlink metrics in full SEO monitoring; quality vs quantity, referral ROI
- **link-building**: Use analysis to plan link building
- **competitor-research**: Competitor backlink analysis; link gap methodology

Related Skills

traffic-analysis

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to analyze website traffic sources, attribution, or dark traffic. Also use when the user mentions "traffic sources," "dark traffic," "direct traffic," "UTM parameters," "traffic attribution," "channel attribution," "attribution optimization," "channel analysis," "traffic analysis," "traffic diversification," "natural traffic benchmark," or "organic vs paid traffic." For GA4 setup, use analytics-tracking.

website-structure

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to plan website structure, decide which pages to build, or prioritize pages for a new or existing site. Also use when the user mentions "website structure," "site structure," "which pages do I need," "page planning," "sitemap planning," "Must Have pages," "website architecture," or "site hierarchy." For a specific page template (e.g. homepage), use homepage-generator or landing-page-generator as appropriate. Not for organic SEO roadmap alone; use seo-strategy.

seo-strategy

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to plan SEO strategy, prioritize SEO work, or understand the SEO workflow. Also use when the user mentions "SEO strategy," "SEO plan," "SEO roadmap," "SEO priority," "SEO audit," "SEO workflow," "where to start SEO," "SEO approach," "organic growth strategy," "why SEO," "SEO value," or "search strategy." For technical/crawl audit execution, use seo-audit. For keyword research, use keyword-research. For AI search visibility, use generative-engine-optimization.

seo-audit

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to run an SEO audit, technical SEO audit, or site health check. Also use when the user mentions "SEO audit," "technical audit," "site audit," "crawl audit," "indexing audit," "SEO health," or "fix SEO issues." For prioritization and organic strategy, use seo-strategy. For GSC data analysis, use google-search-console.

retention-strategy

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to reduce churn, improve customer retention, or plan lifecycle marketing. Also use when the user mentions "retention," "churn," "customer lifecycle," "churn prevention," "at-risk customers," or "loyalty program." For lifecycle, use growth-funnel.

research-sources

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to find information sources for content ideation, competitor monitoring, or industry tracking. Also use when the user mentions "research sources," "information sources," "content ideation," "industry monitoring," "competitor monitoring," "market intelligence," "content research," or "topic research." For keywords, use keyword-research.

product-launch

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to plan a product launch, execute launch channels, or create a launch checklist. Also use when the user mentions "product launch," "launch strategy," "product announcement," "launch channels," or "market launch." For GTM motion and positioning, use gtm-strategy. For cold start and first users, use cold-start-strategy. For Product Hunt day-of, use product-hunt-launch.

pmf-strategy

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to validate product-market fit, measure PMF, or plan before scaling. Also use when the user mentions "PMF," "product-market fit," "product market fit," "Sean Ellis test," "very disappointed," "vitamin vs painkiller," "PMF validation," "premature scaling," or "validate before scale." For GTM after validation, use gtm-strategy.

indie-hacker-strategy

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants indie hacker or bootstrapping founder strategy—growth, channels, Build in Public, or solo founder tactics. Also use when the user mentions "indie hacker," "indie developer," "bootstrapping," "bootstrapped founder," "solo founder," "Build in Public," "scratch your own itch," "Micro-SaaS," "first 100 users," or "solo company." For cold start, use cold-start-strategy.

gtm-strategy

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to plan go-to-market strategy, GTM framework, or market entry. Also use when the user mentions "GTM," "go-to-market," "market entry," "new market," "repositioning," "PLG," "sales-led," "product-led," "marketing-led," "ICP," "buyer persona," "GTM motion," or "market expansion." For launch checklist, use product-launch.

growth-funnel

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to plan growth using the AARRR framework, diagnose growth bottlenecks, or map actions across the customer lifecycle. Also use when the user mentions "growth funnel," "AARRR," "pirate metrics," "acquisition activation retention," "customer lifecycle metrics," or "growth framework." For retention tactics, use retention-strategy.

conversion-optimization

313
from kostja94/marketing-skills

When the user wants to improve conversion rates, run A/B tests, optimize funnels, or reduce friction. Also use when the user mentions "CRO," "conversion rate optimization," "A/B test," "split test," "funnel optimization," "checkout optimization," "form optimization," or "conversion funnel." For pricing psychology, use pricing-strategy.