Introduction
Link building is still one of the strongest levers in SEO—when it’s done with relevance, quality, and consistency. Ahrefs is one of the most trusted toolsets for link building because it helps you discover who links to competitors, uncover gaps in your backlink profile, identify broken-link opportunities, and prioritize outreach based on real metrics.
In this guide, you’ll learn a step-by-step approach to Ahrefs link building, including the best reports to use, how to evaluate prospects, and how to turn data into links that move rankings.
What is Ahrefs link building?
Ahrefs link building refers to using Ahrefs’ SEO tools—like Site Explorer, Content Explorer, Keywords Explorer, and the SEO Toolbar—to find backlink opportunities and manage link acquisition tactics. The goal isn’t to “get links for the sake of links,” but to earn backlinks from pages that are:
- Relevant to your topic or audience
- Trusted (strong site quality and editorial standards)
- Capable of sending value (ranked pages with traffic and visibility)
Ahrefs doesn’t build links automatically. Instead, it gives you the intelligence to choose the right targets and craft smarter outreach.
Why use Ahrefs for link building?
Ahrefs is especially useful for link building because it combines a large backlink index with clear reporting. Here are the biggest advantages:
- Competitive insights: See where competitors earn links and why.
- Opportunity discovery: Find broken links, unlinked mentions, and resource pages.
- Prioritization: Use metrics like Domain Rating (DR), URL Rating (UR), organic traffic estimates, and referring domains to focus your efforts.
- Content-led link building: Discover link-worthy topics, then pitch or create assets that earn mentions.
Key Ahrefs tools for link building
Before diving into tactics, it helps to know where to look inside Ahrefs.
Site Explorer
Use Site Explorer to analyze any domain or URL—yours, a competitor’s, or a potential prospect. Core reports for link building include:
- Backlinks and Referring domains
- Best by links (most-linked pages)
- Top pages (pages driving organic traffic)
- Anchors (how sites are being linked)
Content Explorer
Content Explorer is ideal for finding pages that already attract links in your niche. It’s also useful for prospecting publishers and identifying topics that consistently earn backlinks.
Keywords Explorer
While primarily a keyword tool, it supports link building by helping you:
- Find topics with strong search demand
- Identify SERPs where backlinks strongly influence rankings
- Spot “link intent” queries (statistics, templates, guides, comparisons)
Ahrefs SEO Toolbar
The browser extension lets you quickly evaluate pages while prospecting—checking link metrics and indexing signals without constantly switching tabs.
How to find link building opportunities in Ahrefs
Below are proven methods you can run repeatedly. The best approach is to pick 1–2 tactics, systemize them, and scale quality outreach.
1) Competitor backlink research (steal what works)
Start by identifying 3–10 competitors (or top-ranking sites) for your primary topics. In Site Explorer, plug in a competitor domain and review:
- Referring domains: Who links to them?
- Backlinks: Which specific pages are linking?
- Best by links: Which competitor pages attract the most links?
What to do with the data:
- Look for repeatable link sources (industry blogs, associations, resource lists).
- Identify patterns: Do they earn links from statistics posts, tools, free templates, or original research?
- Create a “prospects” list of domains that link to multiple competitors—these are often the easiest wins.
2) Find backlink gaps with Link Intersect
Ahrefs’ Link Intersect (found within Site Explorer under competitive analysis) shows sites that link to your competitors but not to you.
How to use it:
- Enter 2–5 competitor domains in the “show me who links to these” fields.
- Enter your domain in the “but doesn’t link to” field.
- Filter results by relevance and quality signals (traffic, DR, language).
Why it works: If a site has already linked to content like yours, you’re not educating them on the concept—you’re offering a better or more fitting resource.
3) Broken link building (high-leverage and helpful)
Broken link building is a classic tactic: find broken outbound links on relevant pages, then suggest your content as a replacement.
Two ways to do it in Ahrefs:
- Find broken pages with links: In Site Explorer, check a competitor’s Best by links report and filter for HTTP 404 pages. These pages may have backlinks you can reclaim with a better resource.
- Find broken outbound links on prospects: In Site Explorer for a relevant site, use outgoing link reports (where available) and look for broken external links.
Outreach angle: You’re doing the site owner a favor by pointing out an issue and offering a clean fix.
4) Resource page and “best of” list prospecting
Many niches have curated pages like “best tools,” “recommended resources,” “useful links,” or “where to learn X.” These pages are often designed to link out—which makes them prime targets.
How to find them with Ahrefs:
- Use Content Explorer and search for footprints like: “resources”, “useful links”, “recommended tools”, “best [topic] tools”.
- Filter results by Referring domains (to find pages with link traction) and Organic traffic (to prioritize pages that rank).
Tip: Don’t pitch generic pages. Create a specific asset that fits the list (a tool, template, checklist, or a genuinely strong guide).
5) Find unlinked brand mentions
If people mention your brand, product, or key team members without linking, that’s often the easiest outreach you’ll ever do.
How to do it: Use Content Explorer to search for your brand name in quotes. Then filter out your own domain and look for pages that mention you but don’t link.
Outreach angle: Ask if they can turn the mention into a link to the most relevant page (homepage, product page, or supporting resource).
6) Build “linkable assets” based on what already earns links
One of the fastest ways to improve link building results is to stop guessing what people will link to. Instead, use Ahrefs to reverse-engineer proven link magnets.
Process:
- In Site Explorer, review competitor Best by links.
- Identify the format: stats pages, glossaries, calculators, free tools, original research, case studies, curated lists.
- Create a better version: more current, more comprehensive, better design, clearer UX, and stronger examples.
- Promote it to the sites already linking to similar assets (via Link Intersect and backlink reports).
How to evaluate link prospects in Ahrefs
Not every link is worth pursuing. Use Ahrefs data to qualify prospects quickly.
Focus on relevance first
A relevant link from a modest site can beat an irrelevant link from a high-DR site. Check:
- Is the website topically aligned with your business?
- Is the page contextually related to your content?
- Would the site’s audience genuinely benefit from your resource?
Use DR/UR and referring domains as supporting metrics
Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR) are useful for comparing prospects, but they’re not quality guarantees. Use them to prioritize outreach, not to make final decisions alone.
Check organic traffic (a strong quality signal)
If a site gets real organic traffic, it’s more likely to be editorial, maintained, and trusted. In Site Explorer, review the domain’s estimated organic traffic and whether it has stable growth (rather than sharp spikes and drops).
Look at outbound link behavior
Pages that link out to dozens of unrelated websites can be a red flag. When evaluating a prospect, ask:
- Do they link out naturally and sparingly?
- Are the outbound links relevant and editorial?
- Is the content written for humans (not keyword-stuffed)?
Outreach tips to turn Ahrefs data into links
Ahrefs helps you find opportunities, but outreach quality determines your conversion rate. Here are practical ways to improve results.
Keep your pitch specific and useful
Reference the exact page, the exact section, and why your resource improves the reader’s experience. Avoid vague “please add my link” requests.
Match the right URL to the right context
Don’t default to your homepage. Link relevance matters. If you’re pitching a broken-link replacement, your page should cover the same intent as closely as possible.
Offer value beyond the link
Depending on the situation, value can include:
- Updated stats or a better source
- A clearer explanation or improved design
- A quote, expert input, or a small contribution to their article
Be consistent and track outcomes
Create a simple workflow: prospects → qualification → outreach → follow-up → results. Track who replied, who linked, and which tactics produced the highest-quality links so you can double down.
Common mistakes to avoid with Ahrefs link building
- Chasing DR only: High DR with low relevance rarely delivers lasting value.
- Pitching the wrong asset: A mismatch between their page and your URL kills conversion.
- Ignoring traffic signals: A link from a site with no organic visibility is often low-impact.
- Over-automation: Template-heavy outreach can burn your brand and reduce replies.
- Not refreshing your linkable assets: Outdated resources attract fewer links over time.
Conclusion
Ahrefs link building works best when you treat it as a system: research what earns links, identify realistic prospects, create or match the right content asset, and run thoughtful outreach. Start with competitor analysis and Link Intersect for quick wins, then layer in broken link building, resource page outreach, and unlinked mention reclamation. With consistent execution, you’ll build a backlink profile that supports stronger rankings and long-term organic growth.
