Link building
Backlink profile analysis
I begin by defining the scope of the backlink profile analysis: the domain variant, and whether subdomains, subfolders and language versions are included. I clarify the goal (clean-up, risks, growth plan) and whether I analyse links to the domain or to URLs, lost links, redirects and the history of the profile. I need lists of domains, information about earlier link building, disavow files, data on migrations and consent to processing.
About the service
Backlink profile analysis: defining the scope, data and purpose of the assessment for a domain
About the backlink profile analysis service
A few service details- Defining the domain to be analysed
- Setting the goal of the link analysis
- Data scope: URLs, sections, domain
- Accounting for lost links and redirects
- Checking migrations and URL changes
- Review of past activity and disavow files
Work process
The backlink profile analysis process: from scope to conclusions
We start our cooperation by clarifying what I analyse and which version of the site the work concerns. We then agree the required input data, in order to collect a consistent working set and, on that basis, determine the risks and priorities in the subsequent stages.
- 01/ 03
Defining the scope
At the start I establish the domain to be analysed and its version, and whether to include subdomains, subfolders and language versions, along with the goal of the analysis.
- 02/ 03
Input data
I collect the addresses of domains and subdomains, information about migrations and URL changes, earlier link building activity, disavow files and consent to data processing.
- 03/ 03
Merging and priorities
I merge the data as agreed (links to the domain, sections or URLs, lost links, redirects and the history of the profile) and draw conclusions and priorities.
Defining the scope of the backlink profile analysis
I define the scope of the backlink profile analysis at the start, specifying exactly what is to be assessed and for what purpose. First I determine the domain to be analysed or its version (www/non-www, http/https), and whether subdomains, subfolders and language versions come into play. In parallel we clarify the goal of the analysis: cleaning up the profile, identifying risks or preparing a growth plan. As a result, the later conclusions and priorities refer to the same, clearly defined version of the site.
This is also the stage at which it is decided what the analysis covers at the data level. We agree whether to analyse only links to the domain, or also links to specific sections or URLs. We also determine whether to include lost links, redirects and historical changes in the backlink profile. These arrangements directly affect how the data is collected and merged, and how the risks are interpreted.
Input data requirements
The input data for a backlink profile analysis comprises the set of information that makes it possible to correctly identify the sources of links and the context of changes in the profile. I need the addresses of the domains and subdomains to be covered by the analysis. A list of earlier link building activity, if any was carried out, is also important, because it helps distinguish planned elements from accidental ones. If earlier disavow files exist, they should be made available for review as well.
For a correct assessment of the profile, information about migrations and URL changes that may have affected redirects and the link structure is important. This data makes it easier to recognise which signals result from technical changes and which from activity on third-party sites. Consent to data processing is also required, so that the analytical work can be carried out within the agreed scope. The completeness and currency of the input data affect how complete the working set used in the subsequent stages will be.
Collecting and merging link data
Collecting and merging link data consists of obtaining the list of links and referring domains from the available data sources and combining them into a single working set. At this stage I compile the data so that it matches the scope agreed earlier (e.g. links to the domain or to selected sections/URLs, and possibly lost links and redirects as well). I then organise the merged records into a consistent format that makes it possible to move on to the assessment of quality and risk. In practice, this means preparing the basis on which links and domains can be compared consistently across the whole profile.
The result of the merge is a common base for further work, but the limitations in the availability of link data have to be taken into account. Some information about links may be incomplete or delayed, which affects how broad the picture of the profile is at a given moment. For this reason I treat the working set as material for analysis within the agreed scope, not as a guaranteed, complete list of all links on the internet. Data prepared in this way moves on to the cleaning and deduplication stage.
Cleaning and deduplicating links
Cleaning and deduplicating links is the stage at which I put the merged data set in order so that it is suitable for a reliable assessment of the quality and naturalness of the profile. I remove duplicates and normalise URLs, to avoid counting the same links several times in different notation variants. In parallel I group the data by referring domain, which makes it easier to prioritise the assessment at domain level later on. In addition, I flag inactive and redirected links, because these statuses matter when interpreting signals and risks.
The result of the clean-up is a unified working sheet, the “Sheet of links for analysis”. It contains the list of links, the referring domains and the attributes needed for the later assessment of the quality and risk of the profile. This format makes further analysis easier, including identifying patterns and preparing priority lists. At the same time, statuses such as inactive or redirected remain flagged, so as not to distort the picture of the profile in the subsequent stages.
Assessing the quality and naturalness of the backlink profile
Assessing the quality and naturalness of the backlink profile consists of checking whether the links pointing to the domain look credible, are diverse and support visibility, and of catching patterns that could do harm. I analyse the referring domains for credibility and topical consistency, as well as the types of pages the links come from. I also take into account the placement of the link on the page, the link attributes (e.g. follow/nofollow) and how deep in the site the linked URLs are. This makes it possible to assess whether the profile is balanced or whether a few repetitive patterns dominate.
As part of this assessment I classify the anchors (brand, URL, generic, keyword) and check whether there are any unnatural concentrations or repetitive arrangements. In parallel I review the quality of the referring domains, paying attention to spam signals and network repetition, and I organise the results at domain level to make later decisions easier. In the analysis I take into account sitewide links, the pace at which links are gained or lost, and the share of redirects and errors, because these elements affect how the profile is interpreted over time. The conclusions from this stage are the basis for singling out potential risks and putting the actions in order.
Identifying risks and prioritising actions
Identifying risks and prioritising actions is the stage at which I single out potentially harmful links and domains and set the order of the remedial work. Based on the patterns assessed earlier, I determine what only needs monitoring and what may require more decisive clean-up measures. This applies, among other things, to elements such as unnatural anchor distributions, sitewide links or an unfavourable share of redirects and errors. The result is an organised picture of the problems, which makes it possible to move on to a decision about the scale of the remedial actions.
The outcome of this stage is the “List of risks with priorities”, i.e. a summary of domains and links assigned to specific categories of action: monitoring, contact to request removal, disavowal, and elements that need correcting (e.g. anchors). Such a list organises the work operationally, because it shows where to start and which areas matter most for cleaning up the profile. At the same time, the limitations and dependencies have to be taken into account: there is no full control over third-party sites, and the removal of links depends on the website owners, so carrying out some of the actions may be beyond direct influence. At this stage we also finalise the decision on whether remedial actions are needed, or whether monitoring and selective clean-up are enough.
Testimonials
What clients and the industry say
Feedback from clients and industry people I have worked with on SEO projects.
I had the chance to work with Kuba at Kulturalnie o SEO, an event I organise. Kuba did a great job as a speaker and received high marks from the audience. He showed professionalism and broad knowledge. In other projects at Vestigio, Kuba shows enormous commitment, a willingness to explore and implement new ideas, and excellent organisation of his work.
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