Moz is such a great resource for all things search engine optimization. Their tools and analytics are extremely helpful in all stages of website optimization. One of the most useful Moz tools – and one of my favorites – is Open Site Explorer (OSE). Below are some of the things you can do with OSE’s insights.
View Your Own Backlink Profile
- See if you have any “spammy” links that are looked upon unfavorably by search engines
- Check your website’s Domain Authority
- Monitor your ratio of Root Domains and Total Links
- Identify links with high spam scores and/or low authority to avoid in the future or remove from your link profile
Compare to Your Competitors
- Perform basic online competitive analysis in your industry
- See where you stack up against the competition
- Get an idea of how much work there is to do to catch up
Explore New Link Opportunities
- Check out some of your competitors’ highest authority links. Can you get them too?
- Compare your website and link metrics side-by-side with competitors
Identify Low-Hanging Fruit
- Find “broken” pages on your website that have inbound links
- Discover external webpages that mention your website but don’t provide a link
- Find websites that link to you competitors but not to you
Find “Just Discovered” Links
- See the newest inbound links coming to your site
- Track your editorial and media coverage
- Find your competitors’ media and editorial coverage. Can you pitch the same editors and publications?
OSE is an extremely versatile tool that can be used for SEO, link building, analytics, media monitoring, public relations, competitive analysis, and more!
Open Site Explorer is included in a Moz Pro subscription. A free 30-day trial is available.
