Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Backlink Check agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The Backlink Check skill teaches an AI agent to look at who links to a website, how strong those linking sites are, which anchor text they use, and which links are new or lost. It is written for SEO specialists, marketers and site owners who want that analysis without building spreadsheets by hand. After reading this guide you will know what the skill does, how to install it, what it needs to run, and how to ask for a backlink report in plain language.
Backlink CheckRyze-AI-Adgent/open-seo-mcp-skills · MIT Download the skill Quick start
- 1Get the skill. Download the backlink-check ZIP from this page and unzip it.
- 2Place or upload it. Put the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/, or upload it under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps.
- 3Connect Ryze. Add the free Ryze MCP connector at https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcp.
- 4Connect a backlink provider. Connect DataForSEO Backlinks, or ahrefs or semrush as an alternative.
- 5Ask in plain language. Request something like "check my backlinks for example.com" and name a competitor if you want a gap list.
- 6Review the verdict. Read the verdict and summary first, then the tables, keeping in mind that third-party numbers are index estimates.
What is an agent skill and what does Backlink Check do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file. The file tells an AI agent when a task applies and how to carry it out. Backlink Check is one such skill, and its main file is SKILL.md.
Once installed, the agent can produce a backlink profile for any domain: referring domains, authority, anchor text, and new or lost links. If you name a competitor, it compares the two sites and builds a link gap list, meaning strong domains that link to the competitor but not to you. That list works as an outreach target list.
- Profile summary: total backlinks, referring domains, dofollow share and authority distribution
- Top referring domains by rank
- Anchor text distribution
- Flags for spammy anchor patterns, link velocity spikes and low-authority domination
- Link gap versus a named competitor
- For your own site with Google Analytics connected: which linking domains actually send visitors
What you need before installing
The skill relies on a connected SEO data provider rather than inventing numbers. It needs the free Ryze MCP connector, plus a DataForSEO Backlinks connection or, as an alternative, a connected ahrefs or semrush provider. A Google Analytics connection is optional and only used for the traffic cross-check on your own site.
If no backlink provider is available, the agent is instructed to stop and say which connection is missing rather than guess link counts.
- Ryze MCP connector (free): https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcp
- DataForSEO Backlinks connection, or a connected ahrefs or semrush provider
- Google Analytics connection (optional, own site traffic cross-check only)
claude mcp add ryze --transport http https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcpHow to install the Backlink Check skill
Download the backlink-check ZIP from this page and unzip it. For a personal setup, place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.
If you use the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills. The licence is MIT.
- Personal install: ~/.claude/skills/backlink-check
- Project install: .claude/skills/backlink-check inside your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload
How to connect the Ryze connector
Claude Code users can add the connector from the terminal with the command shown here. In claude.ai, Claude Desktop or Cursor, add it as a custom connector using the same URL.
The skill's source file links to a setup guide for connecting Claude to the Ryze connector, which you can read if the steps above are unclear.
- Claude Code: use the add command shown above
- claude.ai, Desktop or Cursor: add a custom connector with https://connector.get-ryze.ai/mcp
How to trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. Ask in ordinary language. The skill's description lists phrases that should activate it, so using similar wording helps. Name the domain you want analysed, and name a competitor if you want a comparison.
Be specific about what you want included, such as referring domains, anchors or the gap list, to shape the output.
- "Check my backlinks for example.com"
- "Backlink profile of example.com"
- "Who links to them?"
- "Link gap vs competitor.com"
- "Show new and lost links for example.com"
What the report contains and how to read it
The output opens with a verdict in one paragraph on profile strength, plus the gap versus a competitor if you asked for one. It then shows a profile summary table, top referring domains, the anchor distribution and, when a competitor was named, an outreach list with domain, authority and the page that links to the competitor.
All third-party numbers are labelled as index estimates. The file states they will not match a provider's raw data exactly, so use them for comparison and prioritising, not as precise measurements.
- Verdict first, then tables and lists
- Third-party figures labelled as index estimates
- Quality flags for exact-match commercial anchors, velocity spikes and weak domain mix
Safety notes: scripts and network use
According to the skill's description, it does not run scripts. It does use the network, because it queries your connected SEO data provider and, for your own site, Google Analytics if you have connected it.
Figures depend on which provider you connect. Check the source data before using results for sensitive decisions, especially when auditing a site you do not control.
- Runs scripts: no
- Uses network: yes, through your connected providers
- Review data sources before high-stakes decisions
Tips for better backlink reports
Give the full domain you care about, and add one competitor when you want a gap list. Run the check periodically to watch for new or lost links and anchor patterns that look unnatural. Use the outreach list as a starting shortlist and review each domain before contacting it.
- Name one competitor for a useful link gap list
- Repeat the check on a schedule to catch lost links early
- Verify individual domains before outreach
- Connect Google Analytics only if you want the traffic cross-check on your own site
What people use it for
- Preparing a link-building plan by finding strong domains that link to a competitor but not to you
- Checking whether your anchor text looks natural or shows a run of exact-match commercial phrases
- Spotting new or lost links during a periodic link quality review
- Comparing your referring domain mix with a competitor's before a content push
Frequently asked questions
Is the Backlink Check skill free?
The skill is published under the MIT licence. The Ryze MCP connector is listed as free, but the backlink data comes from a connected provider such as DataForSEO, ahrefs or semrush, which you connect yourself. Check those providers' terms for any costs.
What do I need to install the backlink-check skill?
You need the backlink-check folder, placed in ~/.claude/skills/ or a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or uploaded under Settings → Capabilities → Skills in the Claude apps. You also need the Ryze MCP connector and a DataForSEO Backlinks connection or an ahrefs or semrush provider.
Why don't the authority numbers match my backlink tool exactly?
The skill labels third-party figures as index estimates. Provider raw data and the figures shown in the report can differ, so use them for comparison rather than exact measurement.
Does the skill run scripts on my computer?
No. The skill's description says it does not run scripts. It does use the network to query your connected SEO data provider and, optionally, Google Analytics.
What if the agent says a connection is missing?
The skill is designed to stop and name the missing connection instead of making up link counts. Connect DataForSEO Backlinks, or ahrefs or semrush, and ask again.
Can it show which linking sites actually send visitors?
Yes, for your own site, if Google Analytics is connected. The skill runs a referral sessions report by source to note which linking domains bring visitors.
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Our verdict
Backlink Check suits SEO specialists, marketers and site owners who want a fast profile and a competitor link gap list, provided they already have a backlink data provider connected. If you need guaranteed link counts or exact authority scores, or you plan to audit a site you do not control for sensitive decisions, verify the source data or choose a dedicated tool with direct access to the raw figures.
Download the skill