Ahrefs Data Analysis Prompts
Last updated: April 2026
In my experience, good prompts transform Ahrefs from a data repository into a strategic analyst. Without clear direction, you drown in metrics. With these tested prompts, you'll extract actionable insights on competitor gaps, content opportunities, and backlink strategies. I've crafted these through daily use, focusing on outputs that directly inform business decisions. Expect to move from raw data to clear recommendations.
Find Competitor Content Gaps
beginnerIn Site Explorer, analyze [competitor-domain.com]. Export all pages receiving organic traffic. Filter to show pages where their 'Traffic' is > [500] monthly visits but their 'Keyword Difficulty (KD)' is < [20]. Sort by 'Traffic' descending. I want to identify low-competition topics they rank for that I can target.Expected Output
A filtered list of competitor URLs with high traffic and low keyword difficulty. Columns include URL, Traffic, KD, and Top Keyword.
Generate Keyword Clusters for a Topic
beginnerIn Keywords Explorer, search for the broad topic '[core topic, e.g., vegan protein powder]'. Use the 'Parent Topic' report. Export the list of all child keywords. Filter for 'Volume' > [100] and 'KD' < [40]. Group the exported list manually by search intent (informational, commercial, transactional).Expected Output
A spreadsheet of related keywords with metrics, pre-filtered for volume and difficulty, ready for intent-based clustering.
Audit Your Top-Performing Pages
beginnerIn Site Explorer, analyze [your-domain.com]. Go to 'Top Pages' for organic traffic. Export the top [50] pages. Add a column in your spreadsheet calculating 'Traffic / Number of Backlinks'. Identify pages with high traffic but surprisingly low backlink counts, as these are potential link-building targets.Expected Output
A ranked list of your best pages with a new metric showing traffic-to-backlink efficiency.
Find Easy Keyword Opportunities
beginnerIn Keywords Explorer, search for your target '[primary keyword]'. Look at the 'Also Rank For' report for the top 3 ranking pages. Export this list. Filter the export to show keywords where 'Volume' > [200] and the 'SERP Features' column does NOT contain 'Featured Snippet'. These are less competitive opportunities.Expected Output
A targeted list of keywords where top pages rank well but haven't captured the featured snippet, indicating a content gap.
Analyze Competitor Backlink Acquisition Rate
intermediateIn Site Explorer, analyze [competitor-domain.com]. Go to 'Backlinks' > 'New' and set the date range to 'Last 30 days'. Export this list. Then, analyze [your-domain.com] for the same 'New' backlinks in the last 30 days. Compare the total number and the domain types (e.g., .edu, .gov, news sites) to gauge their link velocity and source quality.Expected Output
Two comparable datasets showing fresh backlinks, allowing for a direct comparison of link-building activity and source prestige.
Map Content to Buying Journey Stages
intermediateFirst, in Keywords Explorer, run a search for your product category '[product category name]'. Export the 'All' keywords report. Second, manually tag each keyword in your spreadsheet with a journey stage: 'Awareness' (questions, reviews), 'Consideration' (vs, best, comparison), 'Decision' (buy, discount, coupon). Third, use Site Explorer to check which of your existing pages rank for these keywords and identify stage gaps.Expected Output
A mapped keyword universe for your category tagged by intent, cross-referenced with your current content coverage.
Reverse-Engineer a Successful Content Update
intermediateIn Site Explorer, analyze [your-domain.com]. Go to 'Top Pages' and filter for 'Traffic' change 'Last 30 days vs Previous 30 days' is increasing by > [20%]. Pick the top page. Use the 'Organic Keywords' report for that page and sort by 'Traffic' change (ascending) to see which new keywords it recently started ranking for. Analyze the SERP for those new keywords to understand why.Expected Output
A clear view of which specific new keyword rankings are driving a page's traffic surge, providing a model for updates.
Build a Link Prospect List from Topical Authorities
intermediateIdentify 5 top-performing articles from competitors on the topic '[specific topic]'. For each article URL, use Site Explorer's 'Backlinks' report. Export the list of linking domains. Filter for 'DR' > [50] and 'Traffic' > [10k]. Deduplicate domains across all five articles. You now have a list of authoritative sites interested in this topic.Expected Output
A curated, deduplicated list of high-authority websites that have proven interest in your target topic via backlinks.
Calculate ROI for Target Keyword Groups
intermediateFor a target service page '[your-service-page.com]', use Site Explorer's 'Organic Keywords' report. Export all keywords. Group them into logical clusters (e.g., 'branded', 'core service', 'location-based'). For each cluster, sum the 'Traffic' and estimate a conversion rate ([X]%) and average deal size ([$Y]). This estimates the current and potential revenue per keyword cluster.Expected Output
A spreadsheet attributing estimated monthly traffic and potential revenue to different keyword themes targeting one page.
Orchestrate a Full Topic Authority Audit
advancedAct as an SEO strategist. First, in Keywords Explorer, mine all keywords for '[primary topic]' with Volume > [100]. Second, use Site Explorer on [your-domain.com] to audit which of these keywords you rank for on page 1 (Pos. 1-10). Third, run a 'Content Gap' analysis against [competitor1.com] and [competitor2.com]. Fourth, synthesize: create a priority list targeting high-volume keywords where you rank on page 2 (Pos. 11-20) or that are identified as gaps.Expected Output
A comprehensive, prioritized action plan detailing which specific keywords to target to increase authority on the core topic.
Model the Impact of Featured Snippet Capture
advancedAssume the role of a data analyst. For [your-domain.com], export the 'Organic Keywords' report. Filter for keywords where your 'Position' is between 2 and 5. Assume capturing the Featured Snippet (Position 0) would double the click-through rate for these keywords. Create a new column calculating 'Potential Traffic' = (Current Traffic / Current CTR Estimate) * (2 * Current CTR Estimate). Sum this column to model total traffic uplift.Expected Output
A data model showing the quantified potential traffic increase if you secured featured snippets for your current page 1 rankings.
Deconstruct a Competitor's Editorial Strategy
advancedYou are a competitive intelligence analyst. Pick [competitor-domain.com]. In Site Explorer, export their 'Top Pages'. Filter for 'Content' type 'Blog' and date within the last [6] months. Analyze the URL slugs, word counts, and primary keyword from the 'Top keyword' column. Cluster these articles by subtopic. Cross-reference with Keywords Explorer data on search volume and KD for their target keywords to infer their editorial focus: high-volume brand building or low-competition niche capture.Expected Output
A report categorizing a competitor's recent blog strategy, showing their target keyword themes and tactical approach (volume vs. difficulty).
Tips for Better Prompts
Always export to CSV for deeper analysis. Ahrefs' interface is great for exploration, but real insight comes from manipulating the data in a spreadsheet. For example, merging a 'Top Pages' export with a 'Backlinks' export lets you calculate unique metrics like links-per-page.
Use the 'Intersection' function in the 'Content Gap' tool strategically. Don't just compare yourself to one competitor. Input yourself and 3-4 top competitors. The keywords that ALL of them rank for, but you don't, are your critical market gaps.
When analyzing backlinks, the 'First seen' date is crucial. A surge of new links from low-quality domains is a red flag. A steady trickle of links from diverse, relevant domains with good DR indicates a healthy, natural profile. Always prioritize quality and relevance over sheer quantity.