Backlink Audit Checklist
For site owners and SEOs inheriting a site, recovering from a drop, or doing a yearly profile check. Allow time to collect data from more than one source, since no single tool sees every link.
- critical
Why and how
- Why it matters
- Each source has partial coverage. Search Console shows what Google reports for your site, and tools add links Google does not list.
- How to check or fix it
- In Search Console open Links, Top linking sites, and export. Then export the full list from Ahrefs or Semrush and merge by linking URL.
- critical
Why and how
- Why it matters
- Thousands of links from one site count far less than links from many independent sites.
- How to check or fix it
- Group by referring domain in your tool and record the total with the date as a baseline.
- important
Why and how
- Why it matters
- Sharp spikes can mean a negative SEO attempt, a viral piece, or a paid scheme by a past vendor.
- How to check or fix it
- Open the referring domains graph in Ahrefs or Semrush and inspect any month that jumps well above the trend.
- important
Why and how
- Why it matters
- A profile dominated by exact-match commercial anchors is a classic sign of manipulation.
- How to check or fix it
- Open the Anchors report. Brand names, URLs and generic phrases should make up most of a natural profile.
- important
Why and how
- Why it matters
- Spam links are usually ignored by Google, but patterns of paid or hacked links can still deserve action.
- How to check or fix it
- Check each suspect domain manually for thin content, unrelated topics, link-for-sale pages, and injected pill or casino text.
- critical
Why and how
- Why it matters
- A manual action for unnatural links changes the whole plan and requires a reconsideration request.
- How to check or fix it
- Open Security and Manual Actions, then Manual actions, and read any listed issue.
- important
Why and how
- Why it matters
- These are the links most likely to violate guidelines and the ones you are responsible for.
- How to check or fix it
- Ask previous vendors and staff for lists, then match them to the exported profile by domain.
- critical
Why and how
- Why it matters
- Links to dead URLs pass nothing. Fixing them recovers value cheaply.
- How to check or fix it
- In Ahrefs use Best by links with a 404 filter, then 301 each URL to the closest live page.
- important
Why and how
- Why it matters
- Links lost when an editor changed a page are often restored if you ask politely.
- How to check or fix it
- Open the Lost backlinks report, filter by referring domain strength, and email the site owner about the top ones.
- nice
Why and how
- Why it matters
- These attributes change how Google treats a link, so the profile may be weaker than the raw count suggests.
- How to check or fix it
- Filter by link type in Ahrefs or Semrush and note the share of followed editorial links.
- nice
Why and how
- Why it matters
- Without notes, the next audit repeats the same analysis from scratch.
- How to check or fix it
- Save a sheet with each flagged domain, decision, and date. Repeat after any major campaign or twice a year.
Progress is saved in this browser only. Nothing is sent to a server.
Common questions
How often should I run a backlink audit?
Twice a year is enough for most sites. Run one sooner after a ranking drop, an agency change, or a Search Console manual action message.
Do I need to remove every spammy backlink?
No. Google says its systems ignore most spam links automatically. Act on links you or a vendor built that clearly break the guidelines, or when you have a manual action.
Do these next
Disavow File Checklist
Decide whether you need to disavow links, build the file in the right format, submit it in Search Console and avoid harming good links.
Link Building Checklist
Plan and run a link building campaign that earns relevant, editorial links to the pages that matter, without risking a spam penalty.