Link Building Tools: Every SEO Professional Should Use

In my experience as an SEO and link building specialist , backlinks play a crucial role in how Google ranks websites . According to Backlinko, 99.2% of all websites have at least one backlink from another site pointing to them. This statistic underscores the critical importance of effective link building for any successful SEO strategy .

By utilizing specialized tools, I significantly simplified the process of link building. Link building tools offer a wide range of functionalities, from conducting in-depth analysis to fostering relationships, enabling users to achieve greater success in SEO. In this article, we explore the key features of some SEO tools.

Key Features of Effective Link Building Tools

Backlink Analysis Tools enable users like me to search vast databases to assess other sites linking to a website.

Key details provided include:

• Number of backlinks
• Referring sites
• Anchor text variety
• How fast backlinks increase?

Keyword Research Tools identify valuable semantics and long-tail search terms to target in content and outreach.?

These tools offer features such as:

• Difficulty ratings for keywords
• How often terms are searched?
• Keyword grouping/analysis
• Checking landing page optimization

Relationship Building Capabilities

By using email outreach tools, you can find link prospects without putting in a lot of manual effort:

• Email templates
• Personalization options
• Bulk sending
• Automated email chains

CRM/Relationship Management Tools empower users to nurture connections by:

• Automatically tracking interactions
• Logging notes/reminders
• Seeing activity/pipeline
• Integrating contact databases

Keeping relationships alive is key for future link opportunities.

Creating and Promoting Content

Content Creation Tools give creative help through:

• Headline/title generators
• Writing templates
• Relevant keyword ideas
• Adding photos, videos, and gifs
• Customizing formatting

These tools simplify the development of compelling, linkable content, providing the necessary resources for outreach efforts.

Subsequently, Content Promotion Tools ensure broader visibility by:

• Scheduling social media posts
• Identifying influencers
• Finding trending hashtags
• Seeing link clicks/social shares
• Distributing blog RSS feeds

Getting content seen by more potential publishers increases link potential a lot.

Having examined key features, let's now explore some top tools:

SEO Tools

Ahrefs

Ahrefs should be in every SEO expert's toolkit for its powerful backlink tracking. Powered by a database indexing 12 trillion site links.

Key features:

• Discover and visualize backlinks by type, anchor text, referring domains, etc.
• Analyze competitors' backlinks to model what works to boost your own links
• Monitor links to your site to identify impactful partnerships
• Check technical website elements
• Spot content gaps compared to rivals to create targeted content
• Export filtered data to inform strategy and planning

SEMRush

SEMRush is used by over 7 million people globally. It gives users tons of data on keywords and rankings, including:

• How hard are keywords to rank for?
• Cost per click and search popularity for 700 million+ English keywords
• Google ranking spots tracked for keyword lists you choose
• Click stats to improve pages
• Location and device-specific rank tracking
• Backlink analysis by anchor text, authority, etc.
• Data on best domains vs subdomains

Moz

Moz offers users detailed link metrics through Mozscape like:

• Comparing your links to your competitors'
• Catching risky backlinks
• Watching how fast new links come in
• Seeing anchor text types across brands, phrases, etc.
• MozRank and Domain Authority scores

Majestic

Majestic gives historic backlink data going all the way back to 1996 across over 1 trillion web pages.?

Users can:

• Filter data by nofollow types, link kinds, and IP prefixes
• Analyze trust and citation flow scores
• Compare link trends over the past 90 days
• Export filtered link results for more analysis
• Specify country subsets for geographic planning
• Review links from recently deleted pages

BuzzStream

BuzzStream makes outreach to bloggers and media easier:

• Email templates to start faster
• Mail merge to customize at scale
• Follow-up sequences to automate
• Campaign data on open and click rates
• Integrates with SEO platforms

Pitchbox

Pitchbox employs AI to streamline blogger outreach:

• AI writing help for first emails
• Delivery tracking for campaign stats
• Automates finding prospects
• Tracks click and open rates

Raven Tools

Raven discovers fresh link opportunities:

• Alerts when sites link to you
• Monitors links from new domains
• Helps recover lost links
• Analyzes redirect paths

Linkody

Linkody simplifies link outreach campaigns:

• Email templates to start faster
• Built-in follow-up reminders
• Tracks all interactions with prospects
• Reports on links earned

NinjaOutreach

NinjaOutreach centralizes blogger outreach:

• Access database of influencers
• Templates to simplify first emails
• Mail merge for personalized outreach
• Email analytics provide open & click rates

Hunter.io

Hunter assists in finding and verifying influencer emails:

• Finds email addresses based on domains
• Bulk verification of deliverability
• Browser extensions for quick outreach
• Previews and checks email identities

CognitiveSEO

CognitiveSEO is an all-in-one SEO platform:

• Tracks new backlinks
• Audits on-page content
• Checks rankings and search results
• Identifies technical problems

LinkResearchTools

LinkResearchTools provides backlink metrics:

• Integrates Ahrefs data
• Customizable spam filtering
• Historic link velocity tracking
• Email reports on metrics

SEO SpyGlass

SEO SpyGlass provides comprehensive rank and link tracking capabilities:

• Granular rank monitoring
• Charts showing link intersections
• Custom dashboards with history
• AI powered analytics

Ontolo

Ontolo enriches link data for outreach:

• Adds missing metadata
• Contextualizes anchor text
• Finds contact information
• Filters link data

AuthorityLabs

AuthorityLabs offers easy to use SEO tools:

• Track core keyword ranks
• Audit backlink profiles
• Research and track keywords
• Monitor website performance

BrightLocal

BrightLocal has local SEO tools:

• Tracks rank for location keywords
• Helps optimize local links
• Builds local directory citations
• Manages local listings

Citation Labs

Citation Labs handles local citations:

• Find relevant local directories
• Automates citation creation
• Audits for duplicate listings
• Standardizes location data

Best Ways to Get the Most from Link Building Tools

I recommend the following tips for maximizing the use of these tools:

• Do regular backlink checkups
• Customize and follow up on outreach
• Create diverse assets that can earn links
• Promote content systematically
• Closely track SEO performance

FAQs:

What are the primary factors to consider when selecting link building tools?

The main things are: comprehensive backlink data, strong analysis, effective outreach features, affordable pricing, and work with other SEO platforms you use. Look at gaps in your current link building and choose tools that fill unmet needs.

How can link building tools help improve website ranking and organic traffic?

More quality backlinks can increase search rankings which drives more organic traffic to target keywords. Link data helps create smarter content and outreach to earn these links. Additionally, tools track SEO progress over time.

Are there any free link building tools available, or do they typically require a subscription?

There are some very limited free entry tools, like Monitor Backlinks or Pitchbox's basic features. But for expansive link data, automated outreach, rank tracking etc. you need upgraded paid plans starting around $30+/month typically.

Why should in-house SEOs invest their budget into paid tools vs relying on free options?

Paid tools give way better analysis (like spam checks), better prospect automation, and tracking. This gets far superior link results and return on investment. The costs pay for themselves through higher rankings, traffic, and revenue!