Ahrefs
What is Ahrefs?
Ahrefs is one of the leading SEO tools on the market and is used by over 1 million SEO experts worldwide. The tool offers comprehensive functions for Keyword Analysis, Backlink Audit, Content Management and competitive research.
Core Features of Ahrefs
Ahrefs is divided into several main areas:
- Keywords Explorer - For comprehensive keyword research
- Site Explorer - For analyzing websites and backlinks
- Content Explorer - For content marketing and idea generation
- Position Tracker - For monitoring keyword rankings
- Site Audit - For Website Technical analysis
Keywords Explorer - Keyword Research
The Keywords Explorer is the heart of Ahrefs for keyword research. Here you will find:
Search Volume and Difficulty
Finding Keyword Ideas
Ahrefs offers various methods for keyword idea generation:
- Broad Match - Finds all keywords with the search term
- Phrase Match - Keywords with exact phrase
- Exact Match - Identical keywords
- Related Terms - Related terms
- Questions - Question keywords
- Also Rank For - Keywords the page already ranks for
Understanding Keyword Metrics
Keyword Difficulty (KD)
- Scale from 0-100
- 0-30: Easy to rank
- 31-70: Medium difficulty
- 71-100: Very hard to rank
Search Intent Categories
- Informational: "How does..."
- Navigational: "Facebook Login"
- Commercial: "Best Laptops 2025"
- Transactional: "Buy Laptop"
Site Explorer - Backlink Analysis
The Site Explorer enables comprehensive backlink analysis:
Backlink Metrics
Evaluating Backlink Quality
Important factors for backlink quality:
- Domain Rating - Higher DR = more valuable
- Relevance - Links from topic-related pages
- Anchor Text - Natural anchor text distribution
- Link Position - Links in content vs. footer
- Spam Score - Low spam probability
Content Explorer - Content Marketing
The Content Explorer helps with content strategy:
Finding Top-Performing Content
Using search filters:
- Language - Content language
- Published - Publication period
- Word count - Minimum number of words
- Domain Rating - Minimum DR of linking pages
- Traffic - Minimum traffic of pages
Generating Content Ideas
- Top Pages - Most linked articles
- Top Content - Most shared content
- Questions - Frequently asked questions
- Trending - Currently popular topics
Rank Tracker - Ranking Monitoring
The Rank Tracker monitors keyword positions:
Setting up Tracking
Important settings:
- Keywords - Terms to monitor
- Search Engine - Google, Bing, etc.
- Location - Geographic position
- Device - Desktop, Mobile, Tablet
- Language - Search language
Ranking Reports
Automatic reports:
- Daily updates
- Weekly summaries
- Monthly trends
- Alerts for ranking changes
Site Audit - Technical SEO
The Site Audit analyzes technical SEO problems:
Audit Categories
Ahrefs vs. Competition
Comparison with Other Tools
Best Practices for Ahrefs
Efficient Usage
Daily routines:
- Check rankings - Check new positions
- Monitor backlinks - Identify new links
- Competitor Analysis - Observe competition
- Content Ideas - Find new topics
Weekly tasks:
- Site Audit - Fix technical problems
- Keyword Research - Research new keywords
- Backlink Outreach - Conduct link building
- Content Planning - Fill content calendar
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Typical Ahrefs mistakes:
- Only looking at KD - Also consider other factors
- Too many keywords - Focus on relevant terms
- Outdated data - Perform regular updates
- Ignoring Long-Tail - Also use specific keywords
Ahrefs API and Automation
API Integration
Ahrefs offers a comprehensive API for:
- Retrieving keyword data
- Exporting backlink information
- Synchronizing ranking data
- Creating custom reports
Automation with Zapier
Popular automations:
- New backlinks via email
- Ranking alerts for changes
- Generate weekly reports
- Collect content ideas
Costs and Plans
Ahrefs Prices 2025
Checklist: Using Ahrefs Optimally
Setup and Configuration
- [ ] Set up account with appropriate plan
- [ ] Create projects for different websites
- [ ] Add keywords to Rank Tracker
- [ ] Define competitors for monitoring
- [ ] Set up alerts for important changes
Keyword Research Workflow
- [ ] Collect seed keywords
- [ ] Find keyword ideas using various methods
- [ ] Determine search intent for each keyword
- [ ] Evaluate keyword difficulty
- [ ] Create content plan based on keywords
Backlink Strategy
- [ ] Analyze backlink profile of your own website
- [ ] Identify competitor backlinks
- [ ] Find link opportunities
- [ ] Start outreach campaigns
- [ ] Regularly check link quality