Understanding your competitors’ backlink profiles is one of the smartest strategies in SEO. Why? Because if you can see where they’re earning links, you can replicate their strategies, fill gaps in your own, and potentially outrank them in the search results.
With OneClickSEO’s Backlink Gap Tool, you can do exactly that—identify what backlinks your competitors have that you don’t, and find high-value opportunities to close the SEO gap.
Let’s break down how this works, why it’s important, and how to use the tool effectively.
Why Competitive Backlink Analysis Matters #
SEO doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Google ranks websites in relation to others targeting the same keywords. If your competitors have better backlinks, they’re more likely to rank higher.
By analyzing competitor backlinks, you can:
- Discover linking domains in your niche
- Spot patterns in their outreach and partnerships
- Find content types that attract backlinks
- Identify your own gaps—where you’re falling behind
- Reverse-engineer their strategy to build your own
Think of it as competitive intelligence—but for SEO.
What Is the Backlink Gap Tool in OneClickSEO? #
The Backlink Gap Tool is a feature in OneClickSEO that compares your domain’s backlink profile to up to three competitors. It highlights:
- Domains linking to your competitors but not to you
- The authority and spam scores of those domains
- Anchor text used
- Link type (follow vs nofollow)
- How recently the backlink was acquired
This helps you focus on high-opportunity backlinks that are already proven to work in your niche.
How to Use the Backlink Gap Tool #
Step 1: Access the Tool #
- Log into your OneClickSEO dashboard
- Navigate to “Backlink Gap” under the SEO Tools section
Step 2: Enter Your Domain #
- Input your main website URL (e.g., yourdomain.com)
Step 3: Add Competitor Domains #
- You can compare against up to three competitors
- Choose direct rivals with similar audiences and keywords
- Examples: similar blogs, ecommerce stores, local service businesses
- Examples: similar blogs, ecommerce stores, local service businesses
Step 4: Run Analysis #
Click “Compare” and OneClickSEO will scan the backlink profiles of all entered sites.
In a few seconds, you’ll see a side-by-side backlink gap report.
How to Interpret the Results #
The report is typically grouped into sections:
A. Unique Competitor Backlinks #
- Links your competitors have that you don’t
- Highest priority—these are proven backlink sources you can target
B. Shared Backlinks #
- Domains that link to both you and one or more competitors
- Useful for seeing which sites cover your niche broadly
C. Lost Opportunities #
- Sites that used to link to you but now only link to competitors
- Possible link recovery targets
Each link entry includes:
- Referring domain
- DA / DR scores
- Spam score
- Anchor text
- Page Title
- Link Type (follow/nofollow)
- First seen / Last seen
You can filter, sort, and export this list to build a targeted outreach or guest post campaign.
What to Do With the Data #
Once you identify valuable competitor backlinks, here’s how to act on them:
1. Outreach for Guest Posts #
- Reach out to the site where your competitor earned a guest post
- Propose a unique, high-value topic of your own
- Mention any mutual relevance or authority
2. Replicate Linkable Content #
- Find content on your competitor’s site that earned backlinks (e.g., guides, stats, infographics)
- Create something better, newer, or more detailed
- Promote it to the same websites that linked to your competitor
3. Submit to the Same Directories or Lists #
- If a competitor was featured in “Top Agencies in NYC,” try to get your business listed too
4. Monitor Fresh Links Weekly #
- Use OneClickSEO to set alerts for new competitor backlinks
- Be the first to respond to new opportunities
Best Practices for Competitive Link Building #
- Focus on quality over quantity
- Always create unique content—don’t just copy
- Build relationships, not just links
- Avoid spammy directories or PBNs used by competitors—evaluate link health first
- Use OneClickSEO’s Toxicity Filter before replicating any backlink
Common Use Cases #
- Agencies building reports for clients
- Bloggers in competitive niches (health, finance, fashion)
- Local businesses trying to outrank competitors in their city
- Ecommerce sites looking for review or round-up links
- Startups trying to catch up to established brands
Whether you’re new to SEO or a seasoned strategist, the Backlink Gap Tool levels the playing field by showing exactly what’s working in your market.
Bonus: Combine with Keyword Gap Tool #
Want to double your impact?
Use the Keyword Gap Tool alongside your backlink data:
- Find keywords your competitors rank for
- Match those with backlinks they’re getting
- Build content + link campaigns around those gaps
This strategy helps you attack from both sides—content and off-page SEO.
How Often to Use the Gap Tool #
- Monthly for standard tracking
- Weekly during a campaign
- Immediately after launching new content or product pages
Frequent checks keep you one step ahead and help you catch new link trends early.
Conclusion #
If you want to grow your site’s authority fast and ethically, there’s no better tactic than analyzing and replicating your competitors’ backlink strategies. With OneClickSEO’s Backlink Gap Tool, you don’t need guesswork or expensive link analysis software—it’s all built into your dashboard.
Use this intelligence to build smarter campaigns, discover hidden opportunities, and steadily outpace your competition in the SERPs.
