Using GSC for Backlink Data: A Clear Guide to the Links Report

Where to find backlink data in GSC

1. Open your property in Google Search Console.
2. In the left menu, go to Links.
3. Review the four main blocks:
   • External links → Top linked pages (which of your pages get linked the most)
   • External links → Top linking sites (which domains link to you)
   • External links → Top linking text (anchors that other sites use)
   • Internal links (your site’s own interlinking to each page)

Tip: Use the “More” links to open the detailed view for each block. Filters and exports are available there.

What GSC backlink data shows

• Which of your pages attract links: Top linked pages helps you spot “link magnets” (guides, tools, original research).
• Who links to you: Top linking sites lists domains that reference your pages.
• How they link: Top linking text shows common anchor phrases used to link to your site.
• Internal link counts: the Internal links section shows how your link equity flows within the site.

Why this matters: You can validate digital PR efforts, discover pages worth updating and promoting, and fix internal linking gaps for important URLs.

Key limitations to understand

• It’s not a full backlink index. GSC often shows a subset, not every link that exists.
• No link quality scoring. You don’t see metrics like “authority,” spam scores, or toxicity assessments.
• Limited historical analysis. There’s no native timeline to chart link growth over time.
• Sampling & export limits. UI exports are typically capped (often ~1,000 rows per view). Large sites will need multiple filtered exports.
• Follow/nofollow breakdown is not exposed. GSC doesn’t split links by attribute in the Links report.
• No official Links API. You can’t programmatically fetch the Links report via the standard Search Console API; exports are manual.

Bottom line: GSC is a reliable, free snapshot—great for validation and quick wins—but not a full backlink intelligence platform.

How to export and organize the data

1. Open one of the detailed views (e.g., Top linked pages → More).
2. Use Export → choose Google Sheets or CSV.
3. If you have many links, use filters to export in logical batches (e.g., by path like /blog/, or by domain groups).
4. Standardize columns across exports (e.g., target_url, linking_domain, anchor_text, count), then merge sheets for analysis.

Tip: Keep an “Audit” tab where you record actions taken (e.g., “improved internal links to /guides/xyz on 2025-10-18”). It makes future reviews faster.

Practical analyses to run

1) Find “link magnets” you should update and resurface

• Sort Top linked pages by link count.
• Identify evergreen guides/tools and refresh them (new data, examples, visuals).
• Add clear CTAs and internal links to related revenue pages.

2) Anchor text sanity check

• Scan Top linking text to ensure anchors look natural and relevant.
• Excessive exact-match anchors can look unnatural. Diversify with branded and partial-match mentions via outreach/content promotion.

3) Strengthen internal links to key pages

• Open the Internal links section and sort by link count.
• Important pages with low internal link counts should get links from navigation, hubs, and related articles.
• Use descriptive, helpful internal anchor text.

4) Validate PR and partnership campaigns

• Check if new coverage appears in Top linking sites.
• Compare against your campaign log to confirm pickup and guide future outreach.

5) Spot irrelevant or low-value linking patterns

• Look for odd anchors or irrelevant domains. Often these are harmless, but you can monitor them.
• Use the disavow tool only when necessary and with caution.

How to combine GSC with other sources

• Third-party link indexes: Tools like Ahrefs, Majestic, and Moz provide larger indices, historical charts, and link quality signals. Use them to complement GSC’s snapshot.
• Analytics & revenue: Tie link surges to performance. Did a new high-authority mention precede a rankings or CTR lift?
• Editorial calendar: Update strong linked pages before peaks (seasonality, launches) to capture more value.

Workflow tip: Use GSC to validate that “the right pages” are getting links, then double-down with internal linking and conversion improvements on those pages.

FAQ: GSC & backlinks

Is GSC backlink data complete?

No. It’s often a subset. Treat it as a trustworthy sample straight from Google, not a comprehensive inventory.

Can I get GSC backlinks via API?

Not from the standard Search Console API. The Links report doesn’t have an official API endpoint—use manual exports.

Does GSC show follow vs nofollow?

No. The Links report doesn’t expose link attributes; use crawlers or third-party tools if you need that breakdown.

How often is the data updated?

It’s not real-time. Expect delays of several days. Large sites can see longer lags.

Should I use the disavow tool?

Only in clear cases (e.g., unnatural link schemes you can’t remove). For most sites, it’s not needed.

Quick checklist

1. Open Links in GSC and review:
   • Top linked pages
   • Top linking sites
   • Top linking text
   • Internal links
2. Export key views to Sheets/CSV (filter and batch if needed).
3. Identify link magnets → refresh content, add internal links, strengthen CTAs.
4. Check anchor text health in Top linking text.
5. Fix internal linking gaps to priority pages.
6. Validate PR and partnership campaigns against Top linking sites.
7. Monitor periodically (monthly/quarterly) and log changes.

Takeaway: GSC’s backlink view is perfect for quick validation and prioritization. Use it alongside richer link indexes and your performance data to decide where to invest next.