Backlinks are like little votes from other websites. They tell Google, “Hey, this page is useful.” And when Google sees many good backlinks pointing to your page, it may push your page higher in search results.
So, if you are doing SEO or just curious about how your website is doing, you should check your backlinks often.
Now the big question is…
How to check backlinks in Google search?
Let us go step by step in a super easy way.
What Are Backlinks?
Before we jump into how to check them, let us quickly understand what backlinks are.
- A backlink is a link from one website to another.
- If Website A links to Website B, then Website B has a backlink from A.
- It is also called an “inbound link” or just “link.”
Why are backlinks important?
- They help Google understand if your content is trusted.
- Good backlinks can boost your rankings.
- More links = more chances for people to find you.
Why You Should Check Your Backlinks
There are many reasons to check backlinks. Here are a few simple ones:
- To see who is linking to you
- To find bad or spammy links
- To track your SEO progress
- To copy what works for your competitors
- To find new partnership or guest post opportunities
How to Check Backlinks in Google Search?
You can use Google Search to spot some backlinks, but keep in mind—Google won’t show you the full picture.
Google does not show full backlink data in the normal search. You cannot just type “show me all backlinks” and get a full list.
But still, there are a few smart ways you can use Google Search to spot backlinks.
Let us talk about those first.
Method 1: Use Google Search Operator link:
This is an old trick. It does not show everything, but you can still give it a try.
What to do:
- Go to Google
- Type: link:yourwebsite.com
- Example: link:example.com
What happens:
- Google will try to show some pages that link to your site
- It may show a few backlinks
But keep in mind:
- This shows very few results
- It is not accurate
- It is just a fun way to test if some links exist
Method 2: Search for Brand or URL Mentions
Sometimes people mention your site but do not link to it.
This method helps you find those mentions.
What to do:
- Type on Google: “yourdomain.com”
- Or: “Your Brand Name”
What you get:
- Google will show pages where your domain or brand is mentioned
- Click and check if there is a clickable backlink or just a plain mention
Tip:
If there is no link, you can contact the site owner and ask nicely for a backlink.
Method 3: Use Google Search Console (Real Backlink Data)
This is the most powerful and real way to check backlinks from Google.
What to do:
- Visit: search.google.com/search-console
- Sign in with your Google account
- Add your website and verify it
- Go to the Links section (on the left panel)
You will see:
- Top linked pages (external)
- Top linking websites
- Top anchor texts
What you can do with this data:
- Export the backlinks
- See who links to your blog or homepage
- Find which content gets more links
- Spot spammy or strange backlinks
- Plan future link-worthy content
And yes, it is 100% free.
Method 4: Check Image Backlinks Using Google Images
Some people use your images and link to you. Some do not.
Here is how you can check:
What to do:
- Go to images.google.com
- Type “yourdomain.com”
- You will see where your images are being used
- Visit those pages and check if they linked to your site or not
Bonus Tip:
If they used your image without linking, send them a friendly message to ask for credit with a backlink.
Method 5: Use site: Search for Specific Sites
Let’s say you think a specific website may have been linked to you.
Try this search:
- site:competitorwebsite.com yourdomain.com
What this does:
- Tells Google to check that site and show pages where your site is mentioned
- Helps you find backlinks from forums, blog comments, guest posts, etc.
Very useful if you are doing competitor backlink research.
Method 6: Find Links Inside PDF Files and Docs
Backlinks do not always come from web pages. Some come from PDFs, Word docs, or even PowerPoint files.
You can find those too.
What to do:
- Google search: “yourdomain.com” filetype:pdf
- You can also search:
- “yourdomain.com” filetype:doc
- “yourdomain.com” filetype:ppt
What happens:
- Google shows all documents with your domain inside
- You can check if they contain real backlinks
This is great for finding hidden backlinks in reports, whitepapers, and study materials.
Method 7: Use inurl: or intitle: to Find Deeper Mentions
These are search tricks to find resource pages or roundups that might link to you.
Try searches like:
- inurl:resources yourdomain.com
- intitle:links yourdomain.com
Why this works:
- Sometimes people list useful links on resource pages
- This search helps you discover if your domain is already listed
You might find places where your backlink is sitting—or where you can request to be added.
How to Analyze Your Backlinks (In Simple Words)
Now that you can check backlinks, the next step is knowing what to do with them.
Here is how you can analyze your links:
1. Look at the Linking Site
Ask these questions:
- Is it a real website or does it look spammy?
- Does it have helpful content or just random articles?
- Is it in the same niche or topic as your site?
- Does it have real traffic and social activity?
Why it matters: Links from spammy or unrelated sites can hurt your rankings.
2. Check Link Placement
Where the link is placed makes a big difference.
- Inside a blog post = Good
- Sidebar or footer = Less value
- Author bio = Okay, but not very strong
Why it matters: Google gives more value to links placed naturally in the main content.
3. Look at Anchor Text
Anchor text is the part that people click on.
- Is it your brand name?
- Is it a keyword you care about?
- Is it just “click here”?
Best practice: Mix of branded, exact match, and generic anchor texts is the safest.
4. See If You Get Traffic From It
Use Google Analytics or other tools:
- Do you get visitors from that backlink?
- Is it bringing quality traffic (people who stay and read)?
Why it matters: A backlink that brings real people is more valuable than just an SEO boost.
5. Check If the Page Is Indexed
Go to Google and search:
site:the-page-url.com
If Google is not indexing the page, the link may not pass much value.
Why it matters: Only indexed pages can pass link juice.
6. See How Many Other Links Are on the Page
- If the page links to hundreds of other sites, your link might not be strong.
- A few relevant links = higher value for you.
Why it matters: Link equity is shared. Too many links dilute the value.
7. Check If It Is a Dofollow Link
Use tools like Ahrefs, MozBar, or browser extensions to check if the link is dofollow or nofollow.
Why it matters:
- Dofollow links pass SEO value.
- Nofollow links do not, but they can still bring traffic or brand exposure.
8. Look for Context and Relevance
- Is the link surrounded by related content?
- Does the paragraph around the link make sense?
Why it matters: Contextual links are more natural and carry more weight in search engines.
9. Analyze Domain Strength
You do not need a fancy tool. Just check:
- Is the site ranking for keywords?
- Does it have an active blog?
- Does it have social media presence?
Why it matters: Strong sites pass more trust and authority to your site.
10. Check the Link’s Age
New links may take time to show value. Older links that stay live for months or years are more powerful.
Why it matters: Long-term links show trust and stability to Google.
Other Free Tools You Can Use (Besides Google)
If you want more backlink data, here are some helpful free tools:
1. Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker
- Website: ahrefs.com/backlink-checker
- Type your website URL
- It shows the top 100 backlinks
- Also shows referring domains, anchor text, and more
2. Ubersuggest by Neil Patel
- Website: neilpatel.com/ubersuggest
- Enter your domain
- Click on Backlinks in the left menu
- Shows total backlinks, new and lost links, anchor text
3. SEO Review Tools
- Website: seoreviewtools.com
- Use the “Backlink Checker” tool
- Also offers other free SEO tools
4. Small SEO Tools – Backlink Checker
- Website: smallseotools.com/backlink-checker
- Paste your URL
- See backlinks, domains, and even anchor text
- Easy to use and completely free
5. OpenLinkProfiler
- Website: openlinkprofiler.org
- Shows up to 200 backlinks for free
- Gives link freshness, industry category, and link type
6. RankWatch Backlink Checker
- Website: rankwatch.com/backlink-checker
- Just enter your URL
- Shows top backlinks and referring pages
- Good for quick overview
7. Moz Link Explorer (Free Account Required)
- Website: moz.com/link-explorer
- Sign up for a free Moz account
- Limited free searches per month
- Check inbound links, anchor text, and domain metrics
All of these tools are beginner-friendly. Try a few of them and compare results.
Each one gives you a different view of your backlink profile.
How to Check Competitor Backlinks
This is where things get exciting.
Checking your own backlinks is good. But checking your competitors? That is smart.
Here is how to do it:
- Step 1: Use Ahrefs Free Backlink Checker
- Go to ahrefs.com/backlink-checker
- Type your competitor’s domain
- You will see their top 100 backlinks
- Note the websites linking to them
- Step 2: Try Ubersuggest
- Visit neilpatel.com/ubersuggest
- Enter your competitor’s domain
- Go to the “Backlinks” section
- You will see who is linking to them and how
- Step 3: Use SEO Review Tools or OpenLinkProfiler
- Both show backlink data for free
- Helps you discover new linking opportunities
- Step 4: Use Google Search (Old Trick)
- Type this in Google:
link:competitorwebsite.com - It shows a few pages linking to your competitor
- Not very complete, but still worth a quick look
- Type this in Google:
Once you find these backlinks, reach out to those websites. Try to get them to link to your content too!
Tips to Get More Quality Backlinks
Since you are checking backlinks, maybe you also want to get more of them.
Here are some easy tips:
1. Write Helpful Content
- Lists
- How-to guides
- Templates
- Tools
- Stats
People love linking to helpful stuff.
2. Ask People Politely
- If someone mentions you, but did not link—ask them nicely.
- If someone linked to an outdated page—offer your better one.
3. Guest Post on Real Blogs
- Find blogs in your industry.
- Write a helpful article.
- Include a link to your own site (naturally).
4. Use Broken Link Building
- Find broken links on other sites.
- Suggest your own link as a replacement.
5. Join Communities
- Be active on Reddit, Quora, LinkedIn
- Share your articles if they are helpful
- Sometimes people link to them
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Let us quickly talk about what not to do when checking or building backlinks.
- Avoid buying spammy backlinks – They can harm your site in the long run.
- Do not use auto backlink tools – These often create low-quality or irrelevant links.
- Do not focus only on numbers – A few good links are better than many bad ones.
- Do not ignore Google Search Console – It gives free backlink data straight from Google.
- Do not forget your competitors – Analyzing their backlinks can give you new ideas and opportunities.
Quick Summary Table
| Task | Tool | Result |
| Basic backlink check | link:yourdomain.com in Google | Very limited |
| Brand or URL mention check | “yourdomain.com” in quotes | Shows mentions |
| Real backlink data | Google Search Console | Accurate and trusted |
| Competitor backlink check | Ahrefs/Ubersuggest | Discover new link ideas |
| Backlink cleanup | Google Search Console + manual check | Remove bad links |
Final Thoughts
Checking backlinks does not have to be hard. Even without paid tools, you can do a lot using Google Search and Search Console.
If you do this regularly:
- You will understand your SEO better
- You will find great link opportunities
- You will grow your site faster
So go ahead. Open up Google Search Console. Explore who is linking to you. Check what is working. And use that info to grow smarter, not harder.
And remember… backlinks are not just for search engines. They are connections. Relationships. Trust signals. Treat them that way.
