How to Steal Backlinks (Ethically) From Competitors

Let’s get one thing straight: we’re not talking about shady hacks or breaking the SEO police code. 

We’re talking about ethically stealing backlinks from your competitors—because why should they have all the fun (and the Google rankings)?

This method works whether you’re running a niche blog, an e-commerce store, or a B2B SaaS site. And best of all—it’s repeatable. 

Source: Linkedin User

Step 1: Dig Into Your Competitor’s Backlinks

Fire up Ahrefs Site Explorer (or a similar SEO tool like SEMrush) and plug in your competitor’s domain.

• Go to the Backlinks tab
• Filter for DoFollow links
• Sort by URL Rating (UR) 30+

This instantly shows you where the “link juice” is flowing from. You’re not guessing—you’re working from proven data.

Step 2: Spot Their Link-Worthy Content

Not all backlinks are created equal. Click the Linked Page column in Ahrefs to see what content earned the link.

Look for:

• Blog posts with original research
• In-depth guides
• Free tools or calculators
• Case studies or industry reports

Ask yourself: Can I create something better?
Spoiler: 9 times out of 10, yes you can.

Step 3: Build a 10x Better Version

Take the same topic and:

• Add fresh data (current year stats)
• Include custom visuals and infographics
• Cover angles your competitor missed
• Offer free templates, checklists, or downloads

This is a modern spin on Brian Dean’s Skyscraper Method—except you’re not just taller, you’ve got better lighting, a rooftop bar, and working Wi-Fi.

Step 4: Create Your Backlink Hit List

Export the referring domains list from Ahrefs.

• Remove low-quality or irrelevant sites
• Find the right contact (editor, content manager, etc.)
• Send a short, value-first pitch:

“Saw you linked to [Competitor’s Post]. Here’s something fresher, deeper, and more up-to-date—your readers will love it.”

Pro tip: Keep it conversational, not corporate.

Step 5: Scale It Across Competitors

Don’t stop at one rival. Repeat the process for your top 3–5 competitors.

Track:

• Responses
• Wins
• Relationships you build along the way

Each backlink win makes your next outreach email way more convincing (“Hey, [Other Site] linked to us too…”).

Suggested Reads: 

• AI Marketing Agency Killer Prompt
• Why Your Blog Isn’t Ranking (And How to Fix It in 20 Steps)

Conclusion

A great way to gain backlinks is to look at your competitors’ links. Once you find content that’s attracted links, create a superior version and pitch it to the same people. 

This is a much faster way to grow your links than typical, slow SEO methods. Explore more AI tools and SEO strategies at TheAISurf.

FAQs

Q1: Is stealing backlinks legal?

Yes—if you’re creating original, higher-value content and reaching out ethically. You’re not “taking” the link; you’re offering a better alternative.

Q2: How long until I see SEO results?

Initial effects of a backlink building effort might be noticeable in a couple of weeks, but you should expect the biggest ranking improvements to appear over a three to six-month period, depending on the level of competition.

Q3: Can I do this without paid SEO tools?

You can use free backlink checkers, but paid tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush make the process much faster and more accurate.