How to Use Google Analytics to Analyze Your Backlink Traffic

Google Analytics is one of the most powerful tools available for tracking the success of your website. It can help you understand how visitors find your site, and it can give you insights into the efficacy of your advertising and marketing. One of the most effective ways to use Google Analytics is to analyze your backlink traffic. 

 How to Use Google Analytics to Analyze Your Backlink Traffic

Backlinks are links from other sites pointing to your site. They indicate that your site has useful information and can be used as an SEO Boost, helping to drive more visitors to your site. Analyzing your backlink traffic can help you understand which backlinks are providing the most traffic and the effectiveness of their optimization. 


To begin, go to the Acquisition tab within Google Analytics. You can then click on “All Referrals” to get a comprehensive list of all your backlinks. This list will include both direct links and search engines. Once the list is open, you can click on the “# of Sessions” column to sort the list based on the number of sessions each backlink is driving. 


You can also analyze the traffic from specific backlinks by entering their URLs into the “Filter” field. This will show you the exact amount of sessions each URL is driving and the overall engagement you’re getting from the link. You can also click on “Secondary Dimension” to check demographic information about the visitors from each specific link. This data can help you understand the type of people you’re reaching from a particular backlink and whether they’re engaging with your content. 


Another great way to use Google Analytics to analyze your backlink traffic is to use the “Exclude Referral Traffic” feature. This allows you to exclude any backlinks that you’re manipulating in some way, such as using paid services or link exchanging, which can often confuse traffic analysis. This will give you a better idea of the true effectiveness of your natural backlinks and help you understand which backlinks are providing the best results organically. 


Google Analytics is an extremely valuable tool for webmasters and SEO professionals, and it can be used to analyze your backlink traffic. By taking a closer look at the number of sessions each link is driving, the type of visitors from each link, and excluding referral traffic, you can have a better understanding of the true value of your backlinks and make informed decisions about your SEO and marketing campaigns.