How to Use Semrush Backlink Analysis: Proven Complete Guide (2026)

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Your affiliate content site is growing — but your rankings are not moving the way the content quality suggests they should. Before you publish another article, it is worth asking a different question: are your competitors earning backlinks you are not, and if so, on which articles and why? Semrush backlink analysis is the tool that answers those questions directly. This guide gives you the exact workflow for an affiliate content site — not a generic agency framework, but a focused process for a publisher with 30-50 articles who needs to understand their backlink position and turn that understanding into a concrete next step.

Running an affiliate content site alongside 30 years in finance has taught me this: for a small content site, backlink analysis is not primarily about cleaning up toxic links — it is about understanding what makes competitor articles earn links naturally, so you can create better versions of the same content. That shift in perspective changes how you use the tool entirely.

Quick Answer: Semrush Backlink Analysis for Affiliate Sites

To run a Semrush backlink analysis, go to Backlink Analytics in the left menu, enter your domain or a competitor’s domain, and click Analyse. The three numbers that matter most for an affiliate content site at an early stage are: referring domains (unique sites linking to you), Authority Score of those domains, and which specific pages on competitor sites are earning the most links. Use that page-level data to identify what types of content earn links in your niche — then create better versions. Everything else in the tool is secondary until you have a consistent publishing workflow and enough articles to warrant a full link audit.

Why Semrush Backlink Analysis Matters — and What Most Guides Get Wrong

Backlinks remain one of Google’s top three ranking factors. But for an affiliate content site at an early stage, the primary value of backlink analysis is not what most guides focus on.

Most tutorials covering Semrush backlink analysis are written for agencies managing large client sites with hundreds of backlinks to audit, toxic links to disavow, and link building campaigns to track. If you have a 40-article affiliate site that has been live for under two years, that is not your situation. You probably have a modest number of backlinks, no meaningful toxic link problem, and no outreach campaigns running. The tool has a different value for you.

For an affiliate content publisher, Semrush backlink analysis is most valuable as competitive intelligence. A properly structured Semrush backlink analysis session takes under 30 minutes and produces a concrete content action. You want to know: which articles on competitor sites are earning backlinks, from what kinds of sites, and with what anchor text? That data tells you what content your niche rewards with links — which is a direct input to your content strategy. The link-building insight comes before the link-building activity. First understand the landscape. Then decide what to create.

For context on how this fits into a broader competitive research workflow, our guide on Semrush competitor analysis covers the full picture including keyword gaps, traffic benchmarking, and the 90-minute competitive research sequence.

The Three Semrush Backlink Metrics That Actually Matter at an Early Stage

Focus on three numbers and ignore everything else in the tool until your site has significant scale. Referring domains, Authority Score of those domains, and links per page on competitor articles — these three tell you everything you need from a Semrush backlink analysis at this stage.

Referring Domains — not total backlinks. In any Semrush backlink analysis, a single site linking to you 50 times counts as one referring domain but 50 backlinks. Referring domains is the number that matters for rankings — Google values links from many unique sites far more than many links from the same site. When analysing your own profile or a competitor’s, always look at referring domains first.

Authority Score of referring domains. In your Semrush backlink analysis, a link from a domain with Authority Score 60+ carries significantly more weight than ten links from domains scoring under 20. When reviewing your backlink profile, look at the distribution of Authority Scores in your referring domains — not just the total count. A site with 50 links from high-authority domains will outrank a site with 500 links from low-authority ones.

Links per page on competitor articles. This is the most underused metric in Semrush backlink analysis for affiliate publishers. Enter a competitor’s domain, navigate to the Indexed Pages report, and sort by referring domains. You will see exactly which articles on their site earn the most backlinks. This is not random — it reflects what content your niche considers linkworthy. A competitor’s review article earning 40 referring domains tells you that review-style content in your niche attracts links. That is a content strategy signal.

How to Run a Semrush Backlink Analysis: Step-by-Step

Open Semrush, navigate to Backlink Analytics from the left-hand menu under Link Building, and enter your domain. This gives you the starting picture of your own link profile before you begin competitor research.

Step 1: Analyse your own domain. Start every Semrush backlink analysis session by entering your domain and clicking Analyse. The Overview tab shows your Authority Score, total backlinks, referring domains, and monthly trend data. Note your referring domain count and Authority Score as your baseline. These are the numbers you are working to grow.

Step 2: Check your Indexed Pages report. This is one of the most underused steps in a Semrush backlink analysis. Click the Indexed Pages tab. This shows which of your articles are earning backlinks and how many referring domains each page has. Most affiliate content sites will find that their pillar articles and review articles earn the majority of links, while tutorial articles earn very few. This pattern is normal and informs where to focus future link-building activity.

Step 3: Enter a competitor domain. Every Semrush backlink analysis should include at least two competitor domains. Return to the Overview tab and enter a competitor’s domain in the Compare section, or open a new Backlink Analytics search. You can compare up to five domains simultaneously. Look at their referring domain count and Authority Score relative to yours — this gives you a realistic sense of how far ahead or behind you are on link authority.

Step 4: Run the Indexed Pages report on the competitor. This is the most valuable step in a Semrush backlink analysis for an affiliate publisher. Sort by referring domains to see which competitor articles earn the most links. Open the top 5-10 articles in a new tab and read them. Ask: what makes this article linkworthy? Is it the depth of research, the original data, the comparison format, the definitive verdict? The answer shapes what you should write next.

Step 5: Check anchor text distribution. The final step in your Semrush backlink analysis is reviewing anchor text. Click the Anchors tab for your own domain. A healthy anchor text profile has a mix of branded anchors (your site name), generic anchors (“click here”, “read more”), and a moderate number of keyword-rich anchors. If you see heavy concentration of exact-match keyword anchors, that is a pattern worth monitoring — it can look unnatural to Google over time. For a young site, branded and generic anchors dominating your profile is entirely normal and healthy.

How to Use the Semrush Backlink Gap Tool

The Semrush Backlink Gap tool shows you sites linking to your competitors but not to you — making it the most actionable output of a Semrush backlink analysis for an affiliate publisher planning outreach.

Navigate to Backlink Gap under the Gap Analysis section in the left menu. Enter your domain alongside 2-4 competitor domains and click Find Prospects. Semrush shows you every referring domain linking to at least one competitor that does not link to your site.

The practical use for an affiliate content site: filter results by Authority Score — prioritise sites above 40. These are the domains already demonstrated to link to content in your niche, making them realistic outreach targets once you have created content worth linking to. Do not start outreach before you have the content. A high-authority site will only link to you if the article genuinely adds value their readers cannot get elsewhere.

The Semrush backlink analysis Backlink Gap output is not an outreach list yet — it is a research list. Use it to understand what types of sites link in your niche (resource pages, roundup articles, comparison sites, educational institutions) and what those sites are linking to (data-driven articles, original research, comprehensive guides). That pattern informs what content you should create to earn links organically.

How to Identify Toxic Backlinks in Semrush

For most affiliate content sites under two years old, toxic backlinks are not a significant problem — and this part of a Semrush backlink analysis reflects that reality. Google is generally effective at ignoring low-quality links, and manual penalties from toxic links are rare unless there has been active participation in link schemes. That said, the Backlink Audit tool is worth running quarterly to maintain awareness.

To run a backlink audit, create a project for your domain in Semrush if you have not done so already. Navigate to Backlink Audit under the Link Building section and click Start Backlink Audit. Semrush crawls your backlink profile and assigns each link a Toxicity Score — a measure of how likely the link is to be considered manipulative or spammy by Google.

Links are categorised as Toxic, Potentially Toxic, and Non-Toxic. For a young affiliate site, focus only on links marked Toxic with a score above 70. Below that threshold, the risk is low and the effort of disavowal outweighs the benefit. For Toxic links you want to remove: first try contacting the linking site to request removal. If that fails, add the domain to your disavow list and submit it to Google via Search Console. Semrush integrates directly with Google Search Console to streamline this workflow.

The honest caveat: disavowing links incorrectly can harm your rankings by removing links that were actually helping you. If in doubt on any individual link, leave it. The risk of over-disavowing is real and underappreciated. Our Semrush Site Audit guide covers the broader technical health workflow that sits alongside backlink analysis.

Is Semrush Good for Backlink Analysis? Honest Assessment

Semrush is strong for backlink analysis but not the strongest tool available for this specific use case — and being honest about that helps you use it correctly.

Semrush indexes over 43 trillion backlinks from 390 million referring domains — one of the largest databases available. New links are added within approximately 40 minutes of being published, and the interface is updated every 15 minutes. For most affiliate content site needs — understanding your own profile, benchmarking against competitors, and identifying the Backlink Gap — Semrush is more than sufficient.

Where Ahrefs has a meaningful advantage over Semrush backlink analysis: referring domain coverage. Ahrefs indexes 500 million referring domains versus Semrush’s 390 million, and its crawler discovers new links faster. If link building becomes a central and daily activity for your site — with active outreach campaigns, link velocity monitoring, and competitive link intelligence at scale — Ahrefs is the stronger dedicated backlink tool. For an affiliate content publisher where backlink analysis is one part of a broader SEO workflow rather than the primary activity, Semrush covers the use case well within a single subscription. Our full Semrush vs Ahrefs comparison covers this trade-off in detail.

According to Backlinko’s 2026 comparison, Semrush leads in raw backlink count while Ahrefs leads in referring domain coverage — a distinction that matters more at scale than at an early affiliate site stage.

Turning Backlink Data Into a Content Strategy

Backlink data without a content decision is just numbers. The true output of a Semrush backlink analysis should always be a specific content action — either an article to write, an existing article to improve, or a content type to prioritise.

Here is the specific workflow for converting Semrush backlink analysis into content strategy for an affiliate site:

1. Run the Indexed Pages report on 2-3 competitor domains. Export the top 10 articles by referring domains for each competitor.
2. Open each article. Identify the content type — is it a comparison, a definitive guide, a data-driven piece, a troubleshooting article? Map the content type to the referring domain count.
3. Identify the pattern. If comparison articles consistently earn 3x the links of how-to articles in your niche, that is a strong signal to prioritise comparison content in your publishing schedule.
4. Check whether you have published similar content. If a competitor’s comparison article earns 45 referring domains and you have not written a comparison for the same topic, that is a gap worth filling — and filling with a better, more authoritative version.
5. Add the identified content gaps to your content plan alongside the keyword gap data from your Semrush keyword research workflow. The combination of keyword demand and proven link-earning content type from your Semrush backlink analysis is how you build articles that both rank and attract links.

Common Mistakes Affiliate Sites Make With Backlink Analysis

Focusing on total backlinks instead of referring domains. In a Semrush backlink analysis, total backlinks is a vanity metric. Five hundred links from one site is less valuable than fifty links from fifty different sites. Always filter by referring domains first.

Running the Backlink Audit before having enough links to audit. A site with under 100 referring domains does not need a weekly backlink audit. Run it quarterly, check for genuinely toxic links above a score of 70, and spend the rest of your time creating content. The audit becomes more valuable as your link profile grows.

Disavowing links that are actually neutral or helpful. The Toxicity Score is an estimate, not a verdict. Some links flagged as potentially toxic are perfectly fine. Always manually review any link before disavowing — especially if it comes from a site in a related niche with a reasonable Authority Score.

Treating the Backlink Gap output as a ready-made outreach list. Sites identified in the Backlink Gap have demonstrated willingness to link to content in your niche — but they will only link to your content if it is genuinely worth linking to. Build the content first. Then consider outreach.

Ignoring the Indexed Pages report entirely. This is the single most useful report in Semrush backlink analysis for an affiliate content publisher. Knowing which competitor articles earn the most links is a direct input to your content strategy that most site owners completely miss. Our full Semrush review explains how the backlink tools sit within the broader platform workflow.

What To Do Next

Open Semrush and run this Semrush backlink analysis in three steps — total time: 20 minutes.

1. Enter your own domain. Note your referring domain count and Authority Score.
2. Enter your top competitor’s domain. Run the Indexed Pages report sorted by referring domains. Open the top 5 articles by link count in new tabs.
3. Read those 5 articles. Write down what content type each one is and why you think it earned links. That list is your next content strategy input.

If you do not yet have a Semrush account, the free backlink checker at semrush.com/analytics/backlinks/ shows the top 25 backlinks for any domain without registration — enough to run a basic competitor check before committing to a paid plan. For a full breakdown of whether the subscription makes sense at your current stage, read our honest assessment in Is Semrush Worth It?

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is Semrush backlink analysis data?

Semrush backlink analysis data is highly reliable for keyword ranking correlation and competitive benchmarking. It indexes over 43 trillion links and updates every 15 minutes. Where it is less precise: referring domain coverage is slightly smaller than Ahrefs (390 million vs 500 million domains), meaning some backlinks — particularly from newer or smaller sites — may appear in Ahrefs before they appear in Semrush. For the competitive benchmarking use case that matters most to affiliate publishers, the data is more than sufficient.

How often should I run a Semrush backlink analysis?

For an affiliate content site under 100 referring domains, a monthly check on your own profile and a quarterly full audit is appropriate. Check competitor backlink profiles whenever you are planning new content — the Indexed Pages report is a content strategy input, not just a monitoring tool. As your site grows past 200 referring domains, increase the frequency of your own profile monitoring to catch any negative SEO activity early.

What is the difference between Backlink Analytics and Backlink Audit in Semrush?

In a Semrush backlink analysis workflow, Backlink Analytics is the research tool — you use it to analyse any domain’s backlink profile, including competitors. No project setup required. Backlink Audit is the health monitoring tool — you use it specifically for your own domain, connected to a Semrush project, to identify toxic links and track profile changes over time. For competitive research, use Backlink Analytics. For maintaining the health of your own profile, use Backlink Audit.

Can I use Semrush backlink analysis on the free plan?

Yes, partially. The free Semrush tools show the top 25 backlinks and basic metrics for any domain without requiring an account. A free registered account gives you limited daily searches in Backlink Analytics. For the full Indexed Pages report, competitor comparisons, and Backlink Gap analysis that form the core of a useful affiliate site workflow, the Pro plan is the minimum. The free tools are useful for initial evaluation before committing to a subscription.

How do I find who links to my competitor in Semrush?

Enter the competitor’s domain in Backlink Analytics and click Analyse. The Overview tab shows total referring domains and backlinks. Navigate to the Backlinks tab for a full list of every site linking to them, with the Authority Score of each linking domain, the anchor text used, and the specific page being linked to. Use the Backlink Gap tool to isolate sites that link to competitors but not to you — those are your highest-priority outreach targets once you have relevant content to offer them.

Final Thoughts

A well-structured Semrush backlink analysis is most valuable for an affiliate content site when used as competitive intelligence rather than a link auditing tool. Understanding what makes competitor articles earn links is the highest-value output of any Semrush backlink analysis at an early stage. Understanding which competitor articles earn links — and why — is a direct input to a better content strategy. The Backlink Gap tool tells you where to direct future outreach effort once that content exists. The Backlink Audit keeps your own profile clean on a quarterly basis.

For a complete breakdown of what Semrush offers beyond Semrush backlink analysis and whether the subscription makes sense for your affiliate site at its current stage, read our full Semrush review.

• How to Use Semrush for Competitor Analysis — the 90-minute competitive research workflow
• How to Do Keyword Research with Semrush — affiliate content keyword workflow
• How to Use Semrush Site Audit — fix critical SEO errors step by step
• Semrush vs Ahrefs — which tool is better for backlink analysis
• Semrush Pricing Explained — every plan, limit, and what backlink tools each tier includes

Backlink data and tool features update frequently. Always verify current specifications at Semrush’s official backlink knowledge base. For an independent comparison of Semrush’s backlink capabilities, Search Engine Journal’s Semrush review provides a useful third-party perspective.