How to Do a Backlink Gap Analysis

What a backlink gap analysis is

A backlink gap analysis identifies websites that link to your competitors but not to your own website. This method focuses on opportunities where a third-party website has already demonstrated a willingness to link to a site within your niche. By targeting these specific websites, you are reaching out to proven link prospects rather than speculating about potential interest.

For example, if you sell handmade jewelry, a backlink gap analysis might reveal a fashion blog that has written about five different jewelry brands—all competitors of yours—but has never mentioned your brand. This blog represents a strong backlink prospect because it frequently links to sites similar to yours.

The 3-competitor rule for prospect quality

When conducting a backlink gap analysis, the most valuable prospects are those that link to multiple competitors but not to your site. LemRank's backlink gap tool identifies referring domains that link to at least two of your competitors but do not link to you. This "2-of-N rule" filters out accidental or one-off links.

For instance, if you track three competitors (Competitor A, Competitor B, Competitor C), the tool will prioritize domains that link to:

• Competitor A and Competitor B, but not you
• Competitor A and Competitor C, but not you
• Competitor B and Competitor C, but not you
• Competitor A, Competitor B, and Competitor C, but not you

This approach maximizes the likelihood that the prospect is genuinely interested in linking to relevant sites within your industry. A domain that links to only one of your competitors might have a very specific reason for that link that does not apply to your site. However, a domain linking to two or more indicates a broader interest in your industry, suggesting a higher potential for a successful outreach.

Filtering out low-quality prospects

Not every backlink prospect identified through a gap analysis will be suitable for outreach. To maintain the quality of your backlink profile, it is important to filter out low-quality prospects. LemRank helps in this process by scoring prospects based on several factors:

• Authority (0-100): This score indicates the overall strength and influence of a domain. Higher scores generally correlate with more valuable backlinks. A domain with an authority score of 10-20 might be questionable, whereas a score of 70+ indicates a strong, reputable site.
• Topical Relevance: Some prospects might link to your competitors but be generally off-topic for your niche. For example, a sports blog linking to a single tech company for a specific product review might not be a good fit for a broader tech company's outreach. LemRank assesses how closely the prospect's content aligns with your industry.
• Link Type: Links can come from various sources. Editorial links, embedded naturally within an article's content, are typically more valuable than directory listings or forum signatures. LemRank distinguishes between link types to help you prioritize. For example, a prospect offering editorial placements would be ranked higher than one that only offers paid directory submissions.

While LemRank's backlink data updates on a 7-day cadence to ensure efficiency and effective use of API resources, you should still conduct a manual review of the remaining prospects. This human assessment can identify nuances that automated scoring might miss, such as a site's overall user experience or recent content quality.

Enriching prospects with contact data

Once you have identified a refined list of high-quality backlink prospects, the next step is to find contact information for outreach. LemRank assists in this by providing integrated tools to locate email addresses and social media profiles associated with the identified domains.

For each prospect, you might find:

• General Contact Emails: e.g., info@example.com, contact@example.com
• Personalized Emails: e.g., john.doe@example.com, sarah@example.com
• Social Media Links: LinkedIn profiles, Twitter handles, etc.

It is advisable to prioritize personalized email addresses as they often lead to direct communication with the content creator or decision-maker. Using tools for email verification before sending your outreach emails can also minimize bounce rates.

Outreach templates that convert linked prospects

Effective outreach to identified prospects starts with a personalized and value-driven message. Since these prospects already link to your competitors, your pitch should focus on why they should link to you as well, highlighting your unique selling points or superior content.

Consider these elements for your outreach emails:

1. Personalized Subject Line: Reference their content or a specific competitor they linked to.
   • Subject: Saw your article on [Competitor Name] - new angle for [Topic]
   • Subject: Quick question about your [Article/Resource Name] on [Topic]
2. Specific Reference: Mention the exact article or resource where they linked to your competitor. This shows you've done your research.
   • "I recently read your article, '[Article Title],' where you mentioned [Competitor's Product/Service]. It was a great read."
3. Value Proposition: Clearly state what unique value your content offers.
   • "We also cover [Topic], but from a slightly different angle, focusing on [Your Unique Aspect]. Our recent guide on [Your Content Title] includes [Specific Data/Example] that might complement your existing resource."
4. Clear Call to Action: Make it easy for them to take the next step.
   • "Would you be open to checking it out? No worries if it's not a fit, but I thought it might be valuable for your readers who are interested in [Topic]."
   • "Let me know if you would like me to send you the link directly."

An example outreach template:

Subject: Saw your article on [Competitor Name] - new angle for [Topic]

Hi [Name],

I hope this email finds you well.

I was recently reading your excellent article, "[Article Title]," on [Prospect Website Name], where you covered [Specific Topic] and linked to [Competitor Name]. I particularly enjoyed [Specific Point They Made in Article].

I'm reaching out because we've also created a comprehensive resource on [Your Topic Name], which offers [Your Unique Angle/Benefit]. For example, we dive deep into [Specific Detail/Data Point] that isn't commonly covered elsewhere.

I believe it could be a valuable addition for your readers looking for [Specific Outcome/Information] on [Topic], complementing the insights you've already provided.

Would you be open to taking a look? I'd be happy to share the link if it seems like something your audience might find useful.

Thanks,
[Your Name]
[Your Website]

How LemRank generates gap prospects

LemRank automates the process of identifying backlink gap prospects. The system performs the following steps:

1. Competitor Backlink Analysis: LemRank regularly analyzes the backlink profiles of your defined competitors. This involves scanning their incoming links from a large database of referring domains.
2. Your Backlink Profile Assessment: Simultaneously, the platform monitors your own backlink profile to determine which domains currently link to your site.
3. Cross-Referencing and Gap Identification: LemRank cross-references the competitor backlink data with your own backlink data. It then applies the "2-of-N" rule, identifying domains that link to at least two of your competitors but conspicuously do not link to your website.
4. Scoring and Prioritization: Each identified gap prospect is then scored based on its authority, topical relevance, and link type, as described in the "Filtering out low-quality prospects" section. This allows you to focus on the most impactful opportunities.

This automated process provides a continuous stream of high-quality, pre-qualified backlink prospects, saving time and increasing the effectiveness of your link-building efforts.

Related

• How to Check Domain Authority
• How to Identify Spam Backlinks
• Link Velocity Explained