How to Monitor Backlinks Lost in Ahrefs or Semrush
To monitor lost backlinks, use the 'Lost Backlinks' report in both Ahrefs and Semrush. These tools track removed or inactive links, helping you identify which backlinks are gone, when they disappeared, and why. React accordingly to recover or replace lost links and maintain your SEO rankings.
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Key Takaways
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to track lost backlinks?
Ideally, you should monitor your backlink profile weekly or at least monthly to catch potential issues before they affect your rankings.
How often should I check for lost backlinks?
Ideally, you should monitor your backlink profile weekly or at least monthly to catch potential issues before they affect your rankings.
Can I recover lost backlinks?
Yes, if the page still exists, reach out to the site owner with a polite ask to reinstate the link or offer updated, better content to relink.
What are common reasons backlinks are lost?
Common reasons include deleted pages, site restructuring, broken links, changed editorial policies, or a switch to 'nofollow' tags.
Do lost backlinks always hurt SEO?
Not always. Losing low-quality or toxic backlinks may actually help. However, high-authority links lost without replacement can negatively affect rankings.
Step by Step Plan
Log Into Your Backlink Monitoring Tool
Access your Ahrefs or Semrush dashboard with an active subscription to unlock full backlink tracking capabilities.
Navigate to the Backlink Report Section
In Ahrefs, go to 'Site Explorer' > 'Backlink Profile' > 'Lost'. In Semrush, visit 'Backlink Analytics' > 'Backlinks' tab, then set the filter to ‘Lost’.
Filter Lost Links by Date and Source
Select a relevant timeframe (e.g., past 30 days) to identify recent backlink drops, and sort by referring domain or authority score for prioritization.
Filter Lost Links by Date and Source
Reasons include page no longer exists (404), link removed from page, domain deindexed, or switched to 'nofollow'. Both tools display this data clearly.
Take Action: Reclaim or Replace
Reach out to webmasters to restore the link, update outdated content, or build new backlinks to compensate for the loss and preserve your SEO value.
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