If a site links to three of your competitors, it covers your category and might link to you. Link intersect analysis finds those sites. The work is not copying competitors' links, many of which you would not want, but finding the relevant places your product is missing from.
Short on time? Comppound does this work for SaaS companies. AI-native, and a person reviews every page.
Have us do itRun the intersect
In a backlink tool, enter two or three competitors and your own site, and list the sites that link to the competitors but not to you. Sort by how many competitors each one links to: sites linking to several are the most likely to cover your category.
Sort by type
Group the results, because each type needs a different approach:
- Lists and roundups: ask to be considered, with accurate details
- Reviews and comparisons: offer a trial and correct information
- Directories and marketplaces: submit a listing
- Resource pages: suggest your most useful guide or tool
- Paid or spammy links: ignore
Comppound can do this for you
Want the links and mentions earned for you?
Comppound finds where your competitors are mentioned and you are not, then earns your place with research, partner listings and honest outreach. No bought links.
- Competitor link and mention gaps
- Original research and PR angles
- Partner, directory and review listings
Give them a reason
For each target, decide what you can offer: a better resource, accurate product details, a tool their readers would use. A request with no reason is easy to ignore; one that improves their page is easy to accept.
Worked example · an illustration, not a client result
Tallyroom's intersect shortlist
The intersect against two competitors returned many sites. After removing irrelevant and paid links, a short list remained.
| Site type | Count kept | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| “Best time tracking tools” roundups | Several | Ask to be reviewed, offer a trial |
| Agency resource pages | A few | Suggest the free timesheet template |
| SaaS directories | A few | Submit listings |
| Paid listicles | Removed | Ignore |
Do it yourself
Run your first intersect
- 1Choose two or three competitors you meet in sales.
- 2Run a link intersect in a backlink tool against your site.
- 3Remove irrelevant, paid and spammy sites.
- 4Group the rest by type and write the offer for each type.
- 5Contact the ten most relevant this month.
Free tool for this: Free AI visibility report
Common mistakes
Copying every competitor link
Some of their links are paid, irrelevant or spammy. Copy only what fits.
Templated outreach
Identical emails to every site get identical silence. Personalise to the page.
Forgetting to update listings
Once listed, keep details current. Out-of-date listings mislead readers and assistants.
Rather not do it yourself?
Want the links and mentions earned for you?
Comppound finds where your competitors are mentioned and you are not, then earns your place with research, partner listings and honest outreach. No bought links.
- Competitor link and mention gaps
- Original research and PR angles
- Partner, directory and review listings
Questions
Any of the main ones offers a link intersect or link gap report. Use whichever your team already has.
Similar idea, different data: a keyword gap compares searches you rank for; a link gap compares sites that link to you.
Key terms
- Link IntersectLink intersect analysis finds sites linking to several of your competitors but not to you, revealing realistic link prospects.
- Competitor Keyword ResearchCompetitor keyword research studies which searches competitors rank for and which pages drive their traffic, to find gaps and openings in your coverage.
- Resource Page Link BuildingResource page link building finds pages that curate useful links on a topic and asks their owners to consider adding your resource.
- SaaS Directories and Review SitesSaaS directories and review sites list software products with reviews and comparisons. Their links are often qualified, but their visibility matters.
- Link ProfileA link profile is the full set of links pointing to a site, described by who links, to which pages, with what anchor text and attributes.
- Keyword GapA keyword gap is a set of searches your competitors rank for and you don't. Gap analysis finds them so you can decide which are worth covering.
