What is Ahrefs? A guide to its core SEO features

What is Ahrefs? A 2025 overview of its core features

If you’re asking “what is Ahrefs?” or wondering about its purpose, here’s the answer: Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO platform designed to help businesses and marketers improve search visibility through backlink analysis, keyword research, competitor analysis, and site auditing. Used by SEO professionals worldwide, Ahrefs combines powerful data collection with intuitive tools to inform data-driven strategies.

In 2025, Ahrefs continues to evolve with cutting-edge features. The platform now scans over 8 billion pages every 24 hours with AhrefsBot, refreshing its index every 15-30 minutes to deliver real-time SEO data. This infrastructure—powered by 3,600 servers and 505 PB of SSD storage—gives Ahrefs one of the largest and most current backlink databases available, making it indispensable for understanding Ahrefs and leveraging its features effectively.

At IncRev, we rely on Ahrefs daily to drive compliant, brand-safe link building and SEO advisory for our clients across 40+ countries. Whether you’re new to SEO or a seasoned expert, understanding Ahrefs’ core capabilities is essential for maximizing your digital marketing ROI.

Site Explorer: Analyzing backlinks and traffic in 2025

The Site Explorer remains Ahrefs’ flagship tool for backlink analysis and competitive intelligence. By entering any domain or URL, you can instantly uncover:

• Total backlinks and referring domains with real-time updates
• Domain Rating (DR) and URL Rating (UR) scores that estimate authority
• Organic search traffic estimates based on keyword rankings
• Top-performing pages and content assets driving visibility
• Historical backlink growth and loss trends

For brands asking “what is Ahrefs used for,” Site Explorer is often the starting point. At IncRev, we use it to conduct in-depth competitor analysis, identifying link building opportunities and content gaps that inform our clients’ strategies. The tool’s ability to estimate traffic potential helps prioritize which pages and keywords will deliver the greatest impact—critical for forecasting ROI in link acquisition campaigns.

Keywords Explorer: Uncover lucrative keyword opportunities

Keywords Explorer is Ahrefs’ powerful keyword research tool, offering data-driven insights that fuel content strategies. If you’re wondering how to do keyword research with Ahrefs, this is your starting point. Key features include:

• Keyword difficulty (KD) scores from 0-100, estimating ranking complexity
• Search volume and traffic potential estimates for realistic forecasting
• Keyword ideas and variations, including long-tail opportunities
• SERP analysis showing current top rankers and SERP features
• Parent topic clustering to identify content hub opportunities

The 2025 version now includes enhanced AI-powered suggestions and integration with Ahrefs SEO Toolbar, a free browser extension offering on-page checks and SERP metrics directly in your browser. This makes keyword research more accessible for teams at every skill level.

Our team at IncRev uses Keywords Explorer to identify high-potential keywords with manageable competition, allowing us to create targeted content that drives organic traffic for clients in regulated industries like finance and health, where compliance and precision matter.

Content Explorer: Discover high-performing content

Content Explorer allows you to find the most popular content for any topic across the web. This tool is invaluable for:

• Identifying trending content ideas in your niche
• Analyzing top-performing articles by social shares and backlinks
• Uncovering link building and content promotion opportunities
• Finding journalists and publishers who cover your topics

We leverage Content Explorer to develop data-backed content strategies that resonate with audiences and earn valuable backlinks. For brands seeking to understand what Ahrefs is and how it supports content marketing, this tool bridges the gap between ideation and execution.

Master keyword research with Ahrefs: Step-by-step guide

Learning how to do keyword research with Ahrefs is essential for any SEO strategy. Here’s a practical, step-by-step tutorial using Keywords Explorer to uncover opportunities that drive rankings and traffic.

1. Enter seed keywords: Start by entering 1-3 broad terms related to your business in Keywords Explorer. For example, if you’re in financial services, try “investment advice” or “retirement planning.”
2. Review keyword difficulty (KD): Ahrefs assigns each keyword a difficulty score from 0-100. Target keywords with KD scores below 30 if you’re building authority; established sites can pursue higher KD terms.
3. Analyze search volume and traffic potential: Don’t just look at search volume—check “Traffic Potential” to see how much traffic the top-ranking page actually receives. This accounts for multiple keyword variations.
4. Explore “Matching terms” and “Questions”: Use these tabs to discover long-tail keywords and question-based queries that align with user intent. Long-tail keywords often convert better and face less competition.
5. Check SERP features: Review which SERP features (featured snippets, People Also Ask, etc.) appear for your target keywords. Optimizing for these can increase visibility.
6. Export and prioritize: Export your keyword list and prioritize based on business relevance, KD, and traffic potential. Build content around clusters of related keywords to establish topical authority.

This process answers the question “how to use Ahrefs for keyword research” with a repeatable framework. At IncRev, we layer this with compliance checks and brand safety filters, ensuring every keyword aligns with our clients’ risk profiles and market positioning.

Using Keywords Explorer for gap analysis and ideas

One of the most powerful features within Keywords Explorer is the ability to perform keyword gap analysis. This uncovers terms your competitors rank for that you don’t, revealing untapped opportunities.

How to run keyword gap analysis in Ahrefs:

1. Navigate to “Competing Domains” within Site Explorer for your site
2. Identify 2-3 direct competitors with similar DR and traffic profiles
3. Use the “Content Gap” tool (accessible from Site Explorer’s sidebar)
4. Enter your domain and up to 10 competitor domains
5. Review the list of keywords competitors rank for but you don’t
6. Filter by search volume, KD, and SERP features to prioritize
7. Develop content strategies targeting these ahrefs keyword gap opportunities

The ahrefs keyword ideas feature also generates semantically related terms, helping you build comprehensive content hubs rather than isolated pages. This approach aligns with advanced keyword strategies at IncRev Academy, where we teach clients to think in topic clusters, not just individual keywords.

Understanding Ahrefs: Your Swiss Army knife for SEO

Ahrefs is more than just a backlink checker—it’s a robust platform offering a wide array of tools for link building, keyword research, competitor analysis, rank tracking, and site audits. Let’s break down some of the core components that make Ahrefs indispensable for modern SEO.

Advanced Ahrefs techniques: Elevate your SEO game

While Ahrefs’ core features are powerful on their own, true mastery comes from leveraging advanced techniques and lesser-known functionalities. Here are some pro tips we employ at IncRev to maximize results, including insights from 2025 feature enhancements like Entities & Topics in Brand Radar and Ahrefs Connect for 18+ tool integrations.

Link Intersect: Uncover untapped link prospects

The Link Intersect tool helps identify websites linking to multiple competitors but not to you. This presents a goldmine of potential link building opportunities. Here’s how to use ahrefs link intersect effectively:

1. Enter 2-3 competitor domains in the Link Intersect tool (found under “More” in Site Explorer)
2. Analyze the resulting list of websites linking to them but not you
3. Prioritize high-quality, relevant prospects by filtering for DR >40 and traffic >1,000
4. Develop personalized outreach strategies to secure backlinks, emphasizing unique value propositions
5. Track outreach success and refine your approach based on response rates

Link intersect is particularly effective for competitive niches where understanding who links to rivals reveals editorial relationships and partnership opportunities. At IncRev, we integrate this with our compliance frameworks to ensure every outreach campaign aligns with brand-safe link building services.

Content Gap analysis: Find keyword opportunities you’re missing

The Content Gap tool compares your website’s keyword profile against competitors, revealing terms they rank for that you don’t. This insight is invaluable for content planning and answers the question “how to find content gaps with Ahrefs vs. competitors.”

1. Enter your domain and 2-3 competitor domains in the Content Gap tool
2. Review the list of keywords your competitors rank for (especially positions 1-10)
3. Identify high-potential keywords relevant to your business with realistic KD scores
4. Develop content strategies to target these keywords, including topic clusters and internal linking
5. Monitor ranking progress and iterate based on performance data

For ahrefs content gap analysis, we recommend running this quarterly to stay ahead of competitive shifts. The tool also highlights “low-hanging fruit”—keywords where competitors rank weakly, presenting quick-win opportunities.

Broken link building with Ahrefs

Broken link building is a white-hat SEO technique that involves finding broken links on other websites and suggesting your content as a replacement. Ahrefs makes this process efficient:

1. Use Site Explorer to analyze a relevant website’s outgoing links
2. Navigate to “Outgoing links” under “Links” in the sidebar
3. Filter for broken (404) links using the “HTTP code” filter
4. Identify broken links pointing to content topics you cover
5. Create or identify suitable replacement content on your site
6. Reach out to the website owner, suggesting your content as a fix that improves user experience

This strategy is particularly effective for publishers and niche media sites. At IncRev, we use broken link building ahrefs workflows to secure high-authority placements in regulated industries, where editorial integrity and compliance are paramount.

Link building strategies using Ahrefs tools

Ahrefs link building capabilities extend far beyond basic backlink checking. The platform offers a suite of tools designed to support every stage of a professional link acquisition campaign—from prospecting to outreach to performance tracking.

For brands asking “what are the best Ahrefs tools for backlink building,” the answer includes Link Intersect, Site Explorer’s backlink analysis, Content Explorer for digital PR, and the newer Ahrefs Connect integrations that streamline workflows with CRMs and project management tools.

Link Intersect and outreach for brand-safe links

Beyond basic ahrefs backlink analysis, the Link Intersect tool reveals sites linking to competitors but not you—ideal for targeted ahrefs outreach. Here’s an advanced workflow:

1. Identify competitor clusters: Group competitors by similarity (same niche, similar DR, overlapping keywords) rather than treating all as equal
2. Run multiple Link Intersect queries: Test different competitor combinations to surface diverse prospect pools
3. Qualify prospects rigorously: Check for real traffic (use Ahrefs organic traffic estimates), editorial standards, and brand alignment before outreach
4. Personalize outreach at scale: Use data from Content Explorer and Site Explorer to reference specific articles, authors, and topics in your pitches
5. Track and optimize: Monitor response rates, link placements, and ranking impacts to refine future campaigns

At IncRev, we layer compliance checks into this process, ensuring every link prospect meets brand safety standards. This is especially critical for clients in finance, health, and gaming, where risky backlinks can trigger regulatory scrutiny or Google penalties.

Content gap analysis: Finding opportunities Ahrefs uncovers

Understanding ahrefs content gap tools is essential for competitive SEO. This feature helps you discover keywords your competitors rank for that you’re missing—often the difference between page 1 and page 3 rankings.

Step-by-step guide to running ahrefs content gap analysis:

1. Access the tool: In Site Explorer, enter your domain, then click “Content Gap” under the “Organic Search” section
2. Add competitors: Enter 3-10 competitor domains that closely match your business model and audience
3. Set filters: Filter by keyword volume (e.g., 100+), keyword difficulty (match to your domain’s authority), and organic traffic to prioritize high-impact opportunities
4. Analyze intent: Review the SERP for each keyword to understand search intent—informational, commercial, transactional, or navigational
5. Identify quick wins: Look for keywords where competitors rank in positions 4-10 with lower DR than you—these are “low-hanging fruit”
6. Plan content: Develop content strategies targeting these gaps, including topic clusters and internal linking plans to maximize topical authority
7. Track progress: Use Rank Tracker to monitor ranking improvements and iterate based on performance

The content gap ahrefs workflow is particularly powerful when combined with IncRev content planning guide methodologies, which emphasize compliance, brand safety, and data-driven decision-making.

For competitive gap analysis ahrefs users, remember that quantity isn’t quality—focus on keywords that align with business goals and user intent rather than chasing every gap. At IncRev, we prioritize keywords that support our clients’ revenue models and regulatory compliance requirements.

Maximizing ROI with Ahrefs: IncRev’s approach

At IncRev, we’ve refined our Ahrefs workflow to deliver maximum value for our clients. Here’s a glimpse into our process:

1. Comprehensive site audit

We begin by conducting a thorough site audit using Ahrefs’ Site Audit tool. This helps us identify technical SEO issues, on-page optimization opportunities, and content gaps that may be holding back a website’s performance. In 2025, we leverage the tool’s AI-powered insights to prioritize fixes by impact.

2. Competitor benchmark

Using Site Explorer and Content Gap analysis, we benchmark our clients against their top competitors. This provides a clear picture of the competitive landscape and helps us set realistic goals and expectations based on current authority, backlink profiles, and content quality.

3. Strategic keyword targeting

Leveraging Keywords Explorer, we identify high-potential keywords that align with our clients’ business objectives. We focus on a mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords to drive both immediate traffic and long-term growth, always filtering through compliance and brand safety lenses.

4. Content strategy development

Using insights from Content Explorer and our keyword research, we develop a comprehensive content strategy. This includes optimizing existing content and planning new pieces to fill gaps and capture targeted keywords, with special attention to SEO best practices.

5. Proactive link building

We use Ahrefs’ backlink analysis tools to identify link building opportunities and develop outreach campaigns. This includes strategies like broken link building, resource page link building, and strategic guest posting—all filtered through IncRev’s compliance and brand safety frameworks.

6. Ongoing performance tracking

Ahrefs’ rank tracking and traffic estimation features, including the new Rank Tracker 2.0 with bulk editing and SERP intent shifts, allow us to monitor our clients’ progress over time. We use this data to refine our strategies and demonstrate ROI through transparent reporting tied to business outcomes.

Ahrefs tutorials: From beginner guides to advanced SEO audits

Whether you’re asking “how to use Ahrefs” as a beginner or seeking advanced tactics, structured tutorials are essential. Here’s a curated learning path for mastering Ahrefs in 2025:

Beginner Ahrefs tutorial checklist

• Set up your account: Choose the right plan (Lite for individuals, Standard for small teams, Advanced for agencies)
• Add your first project: Verify your site to unlock full features like rank tracking and site audit
• Run a site audit: Identify technical SEO issues with the ahrefs site audit guide and prioritize fixes by impact
• Explore Site Explorer: Analyze your own domain’s backlink profile, top pages, and organic keywords
• Research your first keyword: Use Keywords Explorer to find a target keyword with manageable difficulty
• Check a competitor: Use Link Intersect or Content Gap to uncover one actionable opportunity

Advanced Ahrefs techniques

For users asking “ahrefs how to use” at an advanced level, focus on:

• Batch analysis: Export large datasets from Site Explorer or Keywords Explorer and analyze in Excel/Google Sheets for custom insights
• API integration: Use Ahrefs API (available on higher plans) to automate reporting and integrate with your CRM or BI tools
• Historical data analysis: Track Domain Rating (DR) changes over time to identify algorithm updates or link profile issues
• SERP feature targeting: Optimize specifically for featured snippets, People Also Ask, and other SERP features using Ahrefs’ SERP analysis
• International SEO: Use Ahrefs’ country-specific databases to research keywords and competitors in 170+ countries

At IncRev, our ahrefs content explorer explained sessions for clients emphasize hands-on practice with real business scenarios. We believe the best way to learn is by doing, supported by expert guidance that ties tactics to outcomes.

Ahrefs vs. competitors: Is it the best SEO tool in 2025?

One of the most common questions we hear is “is Ahrefs worth it?” and “ahrefs vs SEMrush—which is better?” The answer depends on your specific needs, but here’s an objective comparison to help you decide.

Ahrefs vs. SEMrush: 2025 feature comparison

According to a 2025 comparison, Ahrefs leads in backlink analysis with its larger, more frequently updated index, while SEMrush excels in PPC research and all-in-one marketing suites. Many professionals, including our team at IncRev, use both tools for complementary strengths.

Is Ahrefs worth it for your business?

The answer to “is Ahrefs worth it” depends on your priorities:

• Choose Ahrefs if: Your primary focus is link building, backlink analysis, content gap research, or organic SEO—and you need the most accurate backlink data available
• Choose SEMrush if: You need integrated PPC tools, social media tracking, or a broader marketing suite alongside SEO
• Use both if: Budget allows and you want best-in-class backlink data (Ahrefs) plus comprehensive marketing analytics (SEMrush)

At IncRev, we leverage Ahrefs’ strengths in backlink intelligence and content gap analysis to inform our link building strategies, while complementing with other tools for specific use cases. Our advice: invest in Ahrefs if link building and organic visibility are core to your growth strategy.

Unleash your SEO potential with IncRev and Ahrefs

While Ahrefs is an incredibly powerful tool, its true potential is unlocked when wielded by experienced professionals. At IncRev, we combine our deep expertise in SEO strategy with Ahrefs’ robust feature set to deliver exceptional results for our clients.

Our approach integrates the latest Ahrefs capabilities—including 2025 feature enhancements like Entities & Topics in Brand Radar, Rank Tracker 2.0, and Ahrefs Connect—with proprietary compliance frameworks, global publisher networks spanning 20,000+ premium sites, and data-driven advisory that ties every tactic to business outcomes.

Whether you’re seeking to understand ahrefs for the first time, master advanced techniques like ahrefs link intersect and content gap analysis, or implement a comprehensive link building strategy with brand safety at its core, IncRev provides the expertise and execution to maximize your investment.

Ready to take your SEO efforts to the next level? Partner with IncRev to leverage the full power of Ahrefs and our proven strategies. Contact us today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can help you achieve your digital marketing goals with compliant, high-velocity link building and SEO advisory.