Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between backlinks and referring domains?
Backlinks counts every link. Referring domains counts the different websites they come from. Ten links from one site are ten backlinks but one referring domain, and referring domains is the number that tracks rankings more closely.
Why does this show different numbers from Ahrefs or Google?
Every backlink tool crawls its own slice of the web, so totals never match. Google Search Console shows what Google itself found for your own site. Use one tool consistently and watch the trend.
How many backlinks do I need to rank?
There is no fixed number. Look at how many referring domains the pages ranking for your keyword have, and aim to close that gap with relevant sites.
Can I see a competitor's backlinks?
Yes. Enter their domain. Their strongest links show where sites in your niche already link out, which makes a good list of sites to approach.