# How Do You Steal Your Competitors’ Backlinks? - Published: 2023-08-17 (updated 2023-08-21) - Author: [Connectively](https://blog.connectively.us/author/terkel.md) - Topics: [Expert Roundups](https://blog.connectively.us/category/expert-roundups.md) - Source: https://blog.connectively.us/how-do-you-steal-your-competitors-backlinks/ - Publication: Connectively - Publisher: Connectively (Terkel, Inc.) - Editorial policy: https://blog.connectively.us/editorial-policy/ - AI use: The perspectives in this article were written by the named contributors and submitted through Connectively. Connectively's automated system selected them and used AI to write the headline, introduction, section headings, summary sections, and illustration, and to make minor edits for clarity. Articles are assembled and published automatically. Report errors to corrections@connectively.us. In the competitive world of SEO, stealing your competitors’ backlinks can be a game-changer. To help you navigate this, we’ve gathered six expert strategies from content marketing managers and SEO executives. From conducting a competitor backlink analysis to using Ahrefs and NAP details, discover the best ways to outperform your competition. - Conduct a Competitor Backlink Analysis - Track and Replicate Competitors’ Backlinks - Negotiate Directly for Backlinks - Apply the Skyscraper Technique - Utilize the Broken Link Building Strategy - Use Ahrefs and NAP Details ### Conduct a Competitor Backlink Analysis Rather than stealing your competitors’ backlinks, conduct a competitor backlink analysis. This involves using tools such as Ahrefs, SEMRush, or Moz to identify and study the websites that link to your competitors. Understanding where competitors earn their backlinks can provide valuable insights into potential opportunities for your own site. First, look for patterns in their backlinks—are specific types of content attracting more links? Are they guest posting on certain blogs or being featured in industry publications? These could be potential avenues to explore. Also, analyze the quality of these backlinks. High-quality, authoritative sites are more beneficial for SEO than low-quality links. However, it’s important not just to replicate a competitor’s backlink profile but to use this information as a starting point for creating a strategy that aligns with your brand and audience. --- ### Track and Replicate Competitors’ Backlinks One of the best ways to track and steal competitors’ backlinks is by looking at the pages of competitor sites that are consistently acquiring backlinks organically. In Ahrefs, the “top pages by links” feature will allow you to see the top pages by the number of backlinks over the last seven or 30 days. This data will give you insight into what type of content is consistently getting organic links. Now, you have a proven idea of content topics for passive link-building. You can then steal these content ideas to create better content than most of your competitors. Once you start ranking on those keywords, you will also consistently get backlinks and take SERP share from your website competitors. --- ### Negotiate Directly for Backlinks A direct and no-holds-barred approach always works best when the aim is to get things done quickly. Sign up for a backlink checker tool (Ahrefs or Semrush are popular choices) and begin reviewing the websites offering links to your competitors. Once identified, there are two things you can do right away. First, contact these websites and negotiate an arrangement that brings you links. Then, do your research and dig up more websites in the niche that will likely offer you the links. This way, you match your competition’s efforts and go one-up by signing on with more link partners. Stay consistent, and you will soon have a link-building strategy that works way better than your competing brands. --- ### Apply the Skyscraper Technique Brian’s Skyscraper Technique is not outdated. It is still one of the excellent ways to steal your competitor’s backlinks. Most high-quality sites link back to the resources that are helpful to the end readers. All you need to do is find your competitor’s content with a healthy number of backlinks, create a more valuable resource than that, and convince its linking sites to link back to yours. It’s a win-win situation for all—you, the linking site, and the readers (except your competitors!) --- ### Utilize the Broken Link Building Strategy The Broken Link Building Strategy is one of the most effective methods for ethically “stealing” your competitors’ backlinks. Websites often link to resources that, over time, become unavailable, leading to broken links. These offer prime opportunities. Use tools like Ahrefs to identify broken backlinks pointing to your competitor’s website. Once located, create superior, relevant content that could serve as a replacement for the original resource. Reach out to the website owner hosting the broken link, informing them about the issue and suggesting your content as a replacement. Not only does this method help web admins improve their site’s user experience, but it also positions you as a helpful and authoritative figure in your industry. Over time, this strategy boosts your backlink profile and fosters valuable professional relationships. --- ### Use Ahrefs and NAP Details The paid Ahrefs tool allows access to all backlinks from all competitors. It features a “Link Intersect” where multiple domains of competitors and our website can be added to see who is linking them. This is an effective way to identify “link opportunities.” It also saves time that would otherwise be used to filter and remove duplicate websites/domains. The free Ahrefs feature also allows viewing of competitor backlinks, but it provides very limited sites. You can also try a free option through NAP Details. Competitors’ backlinks can be found through their business name or phone number. For instance, entering the brand name of a competitor on SERP will display all business listings and some other backlinks against this website that are indexed in Google. ## Related - [How Do I Find Competitor Backlinks?](https://blog.connectively.us/how-do-i-find-competitor-backlinks.md) - [9 Tips to Build a Comprehensive SEO Strategy](https://blog.connectively.us/9-tips-to-build-a-comprehensive-seo-strategy.md) - [How do I get high DR backlinks?](https://blog.connectively.us/how-do-i-get-high-dr-backlinks.md) - [25 Tips for Structuring Ownership Agreements with Co-Founders](https://blog.connectively.us/25-tips-for-structuring-ownership-agreements-with-co-founders.md)