How to Use Ahrefs Like a Pro: A Detailed Guide for 2026

Ahrefs has remained one of the most powerful tools in the digital marketing toolbox, revolutionizing the way marketers and SEO professionals analyze and improve their online visibility. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or a complete beginner, understanding How to use Ahrefs can make the difference between a solid SEO strategy and a mediocre one.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to use Ahrefs like a pro in 2026. From uncovering new keyword opportunities to monitoring backlinks and analyzing competitors, you’ll discover tips, tools, and strategies that will propel your SEO game to the next level.

What is Ahrefs and Why is It Essential?

Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO software suite that provides a host of tools to help you grow your online presence. Known for its vast database of backlinks, accurate keyword data, and robust site analysis capabilities, it’s widely employed by marketers, content creators, and entrepreneurs to boost their search engine rankings.

Key Features of Ahrefs

Here’s a quick overview of what you can do with the platform:

• Conduct Keyword Research: Discover high-performing keywords and analyze search volume and competition.
• Monitor Backlinks: Stay updated on who links to your site (and your competitors’).
• Analyze Competitors: Uncover competitor strategies, top-performing content, and keyword opportunities.
• Audit Your Website: Identify SEO errors holding your site back and fix them quickly.
• Track Rankings: See how your website performs in search results over time.

The best part? You don’t need to be a tech wizard to make it work. With the right approach, Ahrefs can be your shortcut to boosting organic traffic and dominating your niche.

Getting Started with Ahrefs

Step 1: Set Up Your Account

If you’re completely new to Ahrefs, start by signing up for an account. The platform offers various pricing tiers to fit the needs of small businesses, agencies, and enterprises. Once you’ve signed in, you’ll land on the dashboard, the central hub for all your SEO activities.

If you’re not ready to commit to a subscription, Ahrefs typically offers a 7-day trial for just $7, giving you access to all its premium features.

Step 2: Understand the Dashboard

The Ahrefs dashboard collates an overview of your most important SEO metrics. Here’s what you’ll find:

• Domain Overview: This shows your overall SEO performance based on metrics like Domain Rating (DR), referring domains, and organic search traffic.
• Projects: Set up individual projects for each website you manage. This allows you to track their performance separately.
• Alerts: Configure alerts to receive notifications when critical changes occur, such as gaining or losing backlinks.

Take your time familiarizing yourself with the layout, as it will become your SEO command center.

Mastering Ahrefs Tools for SEO Success

1. Keyword Explorer

The Keyword Explorer is one of Ahrefs’ most popular tools, and for good reason. It helps you uncover search terms your audience actively searches for. Here’s how to use it:

• Enter a Seed Keyword: Start by entering a broad term relevant to your niche (e.g., “plant-based recipes”).
• Analyze Metrics: Ahrefs provides critical insights, including search volume, keyword difficulty (KD), and click-through rates (CTR).
• Discover Related Keywords: Check the “Parent Topic” and “Keyword Ideas” sections to find relevant, lower-competition terms you can target.

Pro Tip: Use the “Questions” filter to find long-tail keywords in the form of questions, perfect for targeting voice search users.

2. Site Explorer

The Site Explorer tool allows you to dig deep into your website or a competitor’s site. Here’s what you can do:

• Analyze Backlinks: Use the “Backlink Profile” tab to see who links to a given domain. Identify high-quality referral sources to replicate their results.
• Discover Top Pages: The “Top Pages” report highlights which pages on a site generate the most organic traffic.
• Uncover Content Gaps: The “Content Gap” feature compares your site with competitors and reveals keywords they’re ranking for but you’re not.

Pro Tip: Export the backlink data to Excel or Google Sheets and prioritze outreach to high-domain rating (DR) sources.

3. Content Explorer

Ahrefs’ Content Explorer lets you search for popular content based on specific keywords. Here’s how to use it:

• Discover Trending Topics: Search your main keyword to find trending blog posts, videos, or other formats that draw traffic.
• Analyze Social Shares: Content is ranked not just by organic traffic but also by social engagement, helping you create viral-worthy material.
• Repurpose Old Content: Identify older, high-performing content pieces on your site and update them for renewed visibility.

Pro Tip: Sort by “Referring Domains” to identify which types of content attract the most backlinks.

4. Site Audit

A poorly optimized website can kill your SEO efforts. With the Ahrefs Site Audit tool, you can identify technical issues that could be holding you back.

• Conduct Regular Crawls: Run a full audit of your site to identify common SEO issues such as broken links, duplicate content, slow page speed, and missing metadata.
• Fix Errors: Ahrefs provides clear explanations and actionable recommendations for fixing each issue.
• Monitor Progress: After implementing fixes, rerun the audit to ensure the problems have been resolved.

Pro Tip: Set up a schedule for regular site audits to keep your site optimized year-round.

5. Rank Tracker

Tracking your rankings is essential to understanding whether your content strategy is working. With Rank Tracker, you can:

• Monitor Progress: Add target keywords to track their movement over time.
• Analyze Competitor Rankings: Compare your ranking performance against competitors to identify areas of improvement.
• View Historical Data: Find out how updates to Google’s algorithm affect your rankings.

Pro Tip: Use Ahrefs’ email notifications to keep tabs on sudden rank changes without logging in.

Advanced Strategies for Ahrefs Users

Once you’ve mastered the basics, consider implementing these advanced tips to take your skills to the next level:

• Build Topic Clusters: Use the Keyword Explorer to group related topics into clusters. This will help create pillar content that dominates search results.
• Optimize for Local SEO: The Site Explorer tool allows you to analyze regional competitors’ strategies, helping you optimize your local business listings.
• Analyze SERP Features: Ahrefs helps you spot opportunities to appear in snippets, image carousels, or FAQs by analyzing competitors’ SERP features.
• Track New Competitors: Use Site Explorer’s “Competing Domains” tab to track emerging players in your industry.

Get the Most Out of Ahrefs in 2026

Ahrefs continues to evolve as one of the most reliable SEO tools available, and staying updated on its features will pay dividends for your website’s visibility and traffic in 2026 and beyond. Whether you’re optimizing your own site or trying to outpace competitors, Ahrefs is a tool that both beginners and professionals can depend on.

Alternatives to Ahrefs

In case you are looking for competitors of ahrefs, these other tools can serve as great alternatives! Newer SEO and digital marketing tools featuring complementary services give the following suggestions:

Semrush: An ultra-powerful multifunctional all-in-one SEO platform with unique offerings tailored for detailed competitor analysis, devising keyword strategies, and comprehensive site auditing performs efficiently.

Content Raptor: Specialized software assists users in preparation of high-caliber SEO briefs alongside optimized content outlines enabling effective creation of in-depth pieces.

Surfer SEO: Known for its top-ranking content analysis, data-driven optimization tips and recommendations aid on-page ranking substantially increasing efficiency as well as effectiveness.

Moz: Provides useful tools such as Keyword Explorer and Link Explorer for Backlink Analysis in addition to the MozBar which offers quick access to vital site-level SEO indicator metrics.

SE Ranking: It offers a comprehensive set of cloud-based SEO solutions performing functions such as keyword research, competitive analysis, backlink monitoring, site audits, and rank tracking which streamlines overall performance greatly surpassing expectations.

Ubersuggest: Features site audits and issues reports while also offering keyword suggestions, content ideas along with backlink data all at no charge through their free plan.

SpyFu: By focusing on competitive keyword research it enhances user experience allowing observation of what keywords competitors rank on or bid using paid affiliate advertisements.

Similarweb: Offers extensive website traffic analytics alongside insights into various sources contributing to the traffic, audience demographics including age ranges earning brackets, country of origin etc.

Raven Tools: Users utilize these tools also referred to white label solutions offering a mix from other products helping perform a multitude serving processes such as precise site audits either automated or manual supplying prompt alerts on ranking changes tracking performed keywords link structure management.

Mangools: User-friendly interfaces offer exceptional value providing newcomers all they need coupled with 5 essential powerful SEO over tool serving one ensure proper advertisement through advanced crawler systems enabling precise ordeal issuing optimal positions estimation ensuring guaranteed placements