The backlink gap between you and your competitor is more than a number. It's your 6‑month action roadmap.
You have 40 backlinks, the competitor has 120. The gap is 80. But that raw number means nothing. What matters is: how many of those 80 can you replicate? How many can you surpass? Break it down, and you get a 6‑month action roadmap.
📅 Oct 13 2026 · ⏱️ ~2‑minute read · 📂 Backlink · Competitive Analysis · Action Plan
Most people doing competitor backlink analysis look at a single metric: the gap.
Then they panic: “The competitor has 120 backlinks, I only have 40. Done, I can’t catch up.”
But the “120 vs 40” figure alone tells you nothing useful.
Useful information is:
- How many of those 120 backlinks are replicable for you?
- How many are “non‑replicable” (e.g., exclusive partnerships of the competitor)?
- Among the replicable backlinks, how many are high‑value?
- How long will it take to close the gap?
Answer these questions, and you have a concrete, executable action roadmap.
Step 1: Categorize the competitor’s backlinks into four groups
Export the competitor’s backlinks with Ahrefs and classify them as follows:
Category A: Replicable + High Value
- The competitor is listed in these directories → you can submit as well
- The competitor has guest posts on these blogs → you can pitch a guest post
- The competitor is indexed on these resource pages → you can apply
Category B: Replicable + Medium Value
- The competitor is listed in low‑DR directories → you can submit, but the value is limited
- The competitor has a profile in a community → you can register
Category C: Non‑replicable
- The competitor was featured in news media → you can’t control that
- The competitor’s exclusive partner mentioned them → you can’t replicate
- The competitor was mentioned at an event → the opportunity has passed
Category D: No Value
- Spam sites with DR < 15 → not worth the effort
- Sites from unrelated industries → not worth the effort
Step 2: Calculate your “replicable gap”
Assume the competitor has 120 backlinks:
| Category | Count | Note |
|---|---|---|
| A (Replicable + High Value) | 35 | You can acquire |
| B (Replicable + Medium Value) | 25 | You can acquire, lower priority |
| C (Non‑replicable) | 40 | Accept reality, drop |
| D (No Value) | 20 | Not worth the time |
Your “real gap” isn’t 80; it’s 60 (A + B).
And of those 60, you only need to focus on the 35 in Category A – they have the highest ROI.
Step 3: Build the action roadmap
Month 1: Replicate Category A backlinks (high‑value, replicable)
| Week | Action | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | Submit the competitor’s high‑DR directory listings (10) | 8‑10 backlinks |
| Week 2 | Submit the competitor’s industry directory listings (10) | 7‑8 backlinks |
| Week 3 | Reach out to blogs where the competitor guest‑posted, propose a guest post | Send 10 emails, 2‑3 replies |
| Week 4 | Apply to the competitor’s resource pages (5) | 3‑4 backlinks |
Month 1 output: ~20‑25 new backlinks.
Month 2: Continue Category A + start Category B
| Week | Action | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Week 5 | Finish remaining Category A directory submissions | 5‑8 backlinks |
| Week 6 | Write and publish guest posts | 1‑2 articles |
| Week 7 | Start Category B directory submissions | 5‑8 backlinks |
| Week 8 | Community participation + partner pages | 3‑5 backlinks |
Month 2 output: ~15‑20 new backlinks.
Months 3‑6: Surpass the competitor
After replicating all doable competitor backlinks, you need to do what the competitor hasn’t:
| Strategy | Description |
|---|---|
| Publish data reports | Content type the competitor doesn’t produce, naturally attracts backlinks |
| Podcast interviews | Channel the competitor hasn’t used |
| Emerging directories | New platforms the competitor hasn’t submitted to |
| Build in public | Build community presence, earn passive backlinks |
Months 3‑6 output: 10‑15 new backlinks per month.
Step 4: Track progress
Create a simple tracking sheet:
| Month | Target backlinks | Actual new | Cumulative total | Gap vs competitor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start | — | — | 40 | 80 |
| Month 1 | 20 | ? | ? | ? |
| Month 2 | 15 | ? | ? | ? |
| Month 3 | 12 | ? | ? | ? |
| Month 4 | 12 | ? | ? | ? |
| Month 5 | 10 | ? | ? | ? |
| Month 6 | 10 | ? | ? | ? |
After 6 months: Your backlinks grow from 40 to ~120, catching up with the competitor’s 120.
But note: The competitor is also growing. Their 120 may become 150 after six months. So your goal isn’t “match their current number,” but “shrink the gap while maintaining growth rate.”
Step 5: Find the competitor’s “blind spots”
A competitor can’t cover every backlink source. They will have blind spots.
How to locate blind spots:
Blind spot 1: Emerging platforms – The competitor may not have submitted to directories or platforms that appeared in 2026. You submit first and gain a first‑mover advantage.
Blind spot 2: Specific content types – If the competitor’s backlinks come mainly from directories and guest posts, but they haven’t done podcast interviews or data reports, that’s your opportunity.
Blind spot 3: Niche industry segments – If the competitor is listed in “generic SaaS directories” but not in “AI‑tool‑specific directories” or “developer‑tool directories,” you have a differentiation chance.
Blind spot 4: Geographic regions – If the competitor builds backlinks mainly in the US market, but not in Europe or Asia, and you have international ambitions, that’s your opening.
Identify those blind spots and focus your efforts there. It’s more effective than “copying every competitor backlink” because you’re doing what they haven’t.
Final
The backlink gap isn’t a panic‑inducing number. It’s an action roadmap.
Classify competitor backlinks → calculate the replicable gap → set monthly plans → track progress → find blind spots.
After six months you won’t just “catch up” – you may have overtaken them.
Because you not only replicated their backlinks but also built new ones in places they never did.
That’s the complete path from “gap analysis” to “surpass strategy.”
BackLinkSubmit Team – We help you quickly replicate competitor directory backlinks. AI matching + manual submission, shrink the gap in 60 days. Learn more →
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