What Are Unexpected Benefits of Conducting Thorough Backlink Audits?

What Are Unexpected Benefits of Conducting Thorough Backlink Audits?

To uncover the unexpected benefits of conducting a thorough backlink audit, we asked digital marketing executives and CEOs to share their experiences. From discovering collaborative content opportunities to identifying high-potential underutilized pages, here are six expert insights.

• Discover Collaborative Content Opportunities
• Identify Content Gaps
• Improve SEO Health and User Experience
• Quality Over Quantity
• Uncover Brand Mentions and Reputation Management
• Identify High-Potential Underutilized Pages

Discover Collaborative Content Opportunities

Conducting a thorough backlink audit led us to discover high-quality sites that weren't our direct competitors. We launched a GetSales outreach campaign to automate LinkedIn outreach to key individuals like digital marketing managers, editors, and SEO executives. Establishing targeted connections with those sites led to collaborative content projects and guest-posting opportunities.

An unexpected benefit was becoming contributors to some of these sites. For example, after discovering that x.com linked back to us, we reached out and became contributors. We then offered our other link-building partners guest posts on x.com in exchange for guest posts from similar sites, according to Ahrefs' metrics. In this way, we have secured over 50 guest articles across various high-quality sites so far.

We also saw an unexpected surge in engagement on our LinkedIn page's posts. Many of the individuals we connected with started engaging with and reposting our LinkedIn content. This significantly boosted our exposure on LinkedIn. We have been utilizing this strategy to improve our site's SEO along with complementing our social media marketing efforts.

Identify Content Gaps

An unexpected benefit we encountered from conducting a thorough backlink audit was identifying content gaps. During the audit, we analyzed the sources of our high-quality backlinks and noticed trends in the types of content that were attracting links. This insight revealed specific topics and content formats that were in demand but under-represented on our site. By addressing these gaps and creating targeted content, we not only strengthened our backlink profile but also saw a significant increase in organic traffic and user engagement. This approach allowed us to better align our content strategy with market needs and improve our overall SEO performance.

Improve SEO Health and User Experience

One of the surprising benefits I got from performing a full backlink audit was an improvement in our website's overall SEO health and user experience. In our pursuit of cleaning harmful or low-quality backlinks in the first place, identification and rectification of such issues led to a much cleaner and more authoritative backlink profile. It enhanced not only our rankings on search engines but also credibility and user trust in our website. Furthermore, the audit turned up some really nice backlinks that we didn't know about, further improving our domain authority. All in all, it serves to remind you how much more a backlink audit could do for you than just cleaning up the link profile—reinforcing the performance and reputation of the site in ways you couldn't imagine.

Quality Over Quantity

As an SEO expert, backlink audits have taught me an important lesson: quality over quantity. Many business owners assume more backlinks automatically mean higher rankings and traffic. However, backlink audits show the truth is more nuanced.

I've found that even though some sites had hundreds of backlinks, most were low-quality, spammy links that provided little benefit. By pruning these ineffective links, site rankings improved and traffic grew. Focusing efforts on securing high-quality, niche-relevant backlinks, even in lower volumes, has proven far more effective.

For example, one client asked me to build as many backlinks as possible to boost rankings. After analyzing competitors, I found their top-ranking rivals had fewer but higher-authority backlinks. I suggested a quality-over-quantity approach, which the client agreed to test. Within 3 months, rankings rose 15 spots and traffic increased over 50% with only 23 high-quality backlinks.

The unexpected benefit of backlink audits is learning that less can be more. By identifying and removing low-value links, you strengthen the authority and relevance of your remaining backlinks. For the best results, conduct routine audits and focus your link-building on forging meaningful connections with authoritative sites in your industry.

Uncover Brand Mentions and Reputation Management

One unexpected benefit of conducting a thorough backlink audit is uncovering opportunities for brand mentions and reputation management. During the audit, you may discover:

1. Unlinked mentions: Websites mentioning your brand without linking back to you.

2. Inconsistent branding: Variations of your brand name, logo, or messaging across different sites.

3. Review and rating sites: Unclaimed or unmanaged listings on review platforms.

By addressing these issues, you can:

1. Claim unlinked mentions and turn them into valuable backlinks.

2. Standardize your branding across the web, enhancing your online presence.

3. Manage reviews and ratings, improving your online reputation.

This unexpected benefit can lead to improved brand consistency, increased online visibility, and even enhanced customer trust and loyalty. It highlights the importance of regularly auditing your backlinks to uncover hidden opportunities for growth and improvement.

Identify High-Potential Underutilized Pages

Conducting a thorough backlink audit revealed an unexpected benefit: identifying high-potential pages that were being underutilized. During an audit, I discovered a page with several quality backlinks that wasn't driving much traffic. By applying A/B testing, I experimented with various on-page elements, such as headlines, calls-to-action, and layout changes. These small adjustments significantly boosted the page's conversion rate. This experience taught me that a backlink audit isn't just about cleaning up links; it's also an opportunity to uncover hidden gems on your site that can be optimized for better performance. By leveraging data from A/B testing, I could make informed decisions that directly improved our conversion rates.