What we measured ·
What Google shows for "backlink gap analysis" right now
Method: Live Google results (United States, desktop, English) for "backlink gap analysis" retrieved through DataForSEO's SERP API on 2026-10-22. Page types are our own classification of each ranking URL.
The top 8 organic results for "backlink gap analysis" were 4 guides or explainers, 2 product or service pages, 1 free tool, 1 forum or community thread. The first three were moz.com, backlinkgap.com, www.myprofitengine.com. Community threads (www.quora.com) ranked on page one, a sign searchers want first-hand answers, not only vendor pages.
Google showed an AI Overview for this query, citing 6 source domains including www.semrush.com, keywordseverywhere.com, help.seranking.com, www.tapclicks.com. Pages that state the answer directly and early are the ones an Overview can quote.
| Position | Domain | Page type |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | moz.com | Guide or explainer |
| 2 | backlinkgap.com | Free tool |
| 3 | www.myprofitengine.com | Guide or explainer |
| 4 | legiit.com | Product or service page |
| 5 | www.quora.com | Forum or community thread |
| 6 | delante.co | Product or service page |
Step 1: pick competitors
Choose three to five domains that compete with you in search for your important queries, not only direct business rivals. Include at least one competitor of similar size, since its links are the most achievable.
Step 2: run the gap report
In Ahrefs, use Link intersect; in Semrush, Backlink Gap; in Moz, Link Intersect; in SE Ranking, Backlink Gap Analyzer. Enter your domain and the competitors. Filter to domains linking to at least two competitors but not to you; those are the strongest signals that a site links to your category.
Step 3: filter for quality and relevance
Remove spam, scraped directories, and sites unrelated to your topic. Check each remaining domain's traffic and whether it is a real publication or community. Open the linking page and note why it links.
| Linking page type | Why it links | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Best tools list or roundup | Recommends products in your category | Ask to be evaluated, with honest facts |
| Review or comparison | Compares named products | Offer accurate information and access |
| Resource page | Lists useful tools or guides | Suggest your free tool or guide if relevant |
| Integration or partner page | Lists partners | Pursue a genuine partnership |
| News or study coverage | Cites data or announcements | Pitch original research |
Step 4: outreach
Write a short, specific message explaining what you offer the page's readers, not what the link does for you. For lists and comparisons, offer facts, a trial, or a demo so the author can evaluate the product properly. For resource pages, point to a genuinely useful free tool or guide. Track replies and outcomes so you learn which target types respond.
Backlink gaps and AI citations
The sites that link to competitors are frequently the same comparison and review pages that AI answers cite for category questions. Closing the gap therefore helps twice: links for Google rankings and accurate mentions for AI answers. Pair this analysis with a citation gap analysis of the domains AI answers cite for your prompts. SerionFlow does not run outreach; its free citation gap finder and competitor analysis tools help build the target list.
Clear answers
Frequently asked questions
What is a backlink gap?
+
The set of domains that link to your competitors but not to you.
Is there a free backlink gap tool?
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Most full gap reports need a paid backlink tool. Some free tools and suite free tiers show limited data for a quick look.
About the author
Shadrack Kumi · Founder, SerionFlow
Shadrack builds SerionFlow's site research, page generation, and Search Console tooling, and runs the free tools these guides pair with. Search Console figures cited on these pages come from serionflow.com's own property.
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