Moz Link Explorer

How Moz Link Explorer Works

You enter a URL and the tool queries Moz's link index. It returns a list of backlinks and summary metrics. Moz updates its index regularly, but no index covers the entire web. For example, if you enter a competitor's URL, you can see which sites link to them and what anchor text they use.

Moz Link Explorer is a specific tool within the broader category of how seo tools works. The tool shows data like total backlinks, linking root domains, and the number of followed versus nofollowed links. These are types of link metrics that help you understand a site's authority.

It works alongside moz's other products. For instance, how moz pro works provides deeper analysis and historical data. You can also use the mozbar browser extension for on-page metrics.

Key Metrics in Link Explorer

Link Explorer displays several metrics. The most discussed is Domain Authority (DA), a Moz score predicting how well a site may rank. DA is not a Google ranking factor. Another metric is Page Authority (PA), which predicts the ranking potential of a single page.

Spam score rates a site from 0 to 100 based on link quality. Moz provides a moz recommended list of sites with low spam scores for safe link building. You can also see the ratio of dofollow to nofollow links and anchor text distribution.

Commonly used outputs include:

• Total backlinks and linking domains
• Anchor text distribution
• Spam score (0-100 scale)
• Lost and new links over time

Free vs Paid Access

Moz offers a free version of Link Explorer. You need to create an account and verify your email. The free tier includes 10 queries per month.

Paid Moz Pro plans give more queries, historical data, and features like Link Intersect. Link Intersect finds sites that link to competitors but not to you.

The free version is useful for a quick check, but it is limited. For regular link research, a paid plan is necessary. Moz also offers a free browser extension called MozBar for on-page metrics.

Common Uses and Limitations

SEO professionals use Link Explorer for competitor analysis, link building, and monitoring their own backlink profile. It helps identify spammy links that could harm rankings. For example, you can spot links from low-quality directories or paid link networks.

You can also use it to find External Link opportunities by seeing where competitors get links. However, the index is not complete. Different tools report different numbers. A limitation is that Moz's index may miss links from new or obscure sites.

Mistakes to avoid:

• Treating Domain Authority as a Google ranking factor; the consequence is overvaluing a third-party score instead of real search performance.
• Using Link Explorer's backlink counts as complete web coverage; the consequence is missing links because no index captures the whole web.
• Assuming free access equals full functionality; the consequence is incomplete analysis because Moz limits free queries and requires an account.