Ahrefs Research Prompts
Last updated: April 2026
After testing Ahrefs daily for three years, I've learned that precise prompts transform raw data into actionable insights. Good prompts help you bypass generic reports and get exactly what you need for competitive analysis, content gaps, and link-building strategies. These prompts were crafted through hundreds of hours of actual use, and they'll help you achieve professional-grade research results, whether you're auditing a new niche or planning a content calendar. Expect to uncover hidden opportunities that most users miss with default searches.
Find low-competition keywords in your niche
beginnerIn Keywords Explorer, search for the seed keyword [your primary topic]. Filter for Keyword Difficulty (KD) less than 10, search volume greater than 100, and include only questions (add '?' in the Include filter). Sort by Volume to KD ratio descending.Expected Output
A list of high-volume, low-competition question keywords, perfect for blog posts or FAQ pages. Example: 'how to fix a leaky faucet' with 1.2k searches and KD 8.
Analyze a competitor's top pages
beginnerGo to Site Explorer and enter [competitorwebsite.com]. Navigate to 'Top Pages'. Filter for traffic from organic search only. Sort by 'Traffic' descending. Look at the first 20 pages.Expected Output
A table showing the competitor's most visited organic pages, their estimated monthly traffic, and top driving keywords. Reveals their content pillars.
Discover content gaps vs. competitors
beginnerIn Content Gap tool, enter your domain [yourwebsite.com] and up to four competitors: [competitor1.com], [competitor2.com]. Set the mode to 'All' and filter for keyword volume > 500.Expected Output
A list of keywords that all your competitors rank for, but you don't. These are your immediate content opportunities.
Generate blog post title ideas
beginnerIn Keywords Explorer for your target keyword [main keyword], scroll to the 'SERP Overview' and click 'Top Pages'. Analyze the top 10 titles: note common words, structures (how-to, listicles), and emotional triggers.Expected Output
Insight into proven title formulas for your keyword. You'll see patterns like 'X Ways to...' or 'The Ultimate Guide to...' that you can adapt.
Map a competitor's backlink profile for outreach
intermediateIn Site Explorer for [competitor.com], go to 'Backlink profile' -> 'Referring domains'. Filter for 'Dofollow' links only and 'Domain Rating (DR) > 70'. Export this list. Then, check each domain in Site Explorer to see if they link to other competitors but not you.Expected Output
A targeted list of high-authority websites that trust your niche. You can pitch them for links, as they've already linked to similar content.
Research SERP features for a keyword cluster
intermediateFor your primary topic [topic], identify 5 core keywords. In Keywords Explorer, analyze each one's 'SERP Features' column. Note which have Featured Snippets, People Also Ask, or Image Packs. Prioritize keywords where you can realistically target a SERP feature.Expected Output
A spreadsheet mapping keywords to dominant SERP features, guiding you to create content optimized for specific feature types (e.g., list for Featured Snippets).
Audit your site's internal linking opportunities
intermediateIn Site Audit for [yourdomain.com], run a crawl. Then, go to 'Internal Links' report. Filter for 'Target URL' pages with high 'Traffic potential' but low 'Incoming internal links'. These are important pages you're under-linking to.Expected Output
A list of your own high-potential pages (like pillar content) that lack sufficient internal links, providing a direct action item to improve site architecture.
Identify trending topics before they peak
intermediateIn Keywords Explorer, search for a broad industry term [e.g., 'sustainable fashion']. Apply the 'Trend' filter and set it to 'Growing' over the last 12 months. Sort by 'Volume' to see large, rising keywords.Expected Output
A list of keywords with increasing search demand, allowing you to create content ahead of the competition and ride the trend upward.
Deconstruct a top-ranking page's on-page SEO
intermediateIn Site Explorer, enter the URL of a page outranking you for [target keyword]. Use the 'SEO Audit' feature (or 'Page Explorer') to analyze its title tag, meta description, header structure (H2s, H3s), word count, and keyword usage in the first 100 words.Expected Output
A detailed breakdown of the on-page elements of a winning page, giving you a blueprint to match or exceed its optimization.
Build a topical authority map for a subject
advancedAct as a senior SEO strategist. First, use Keywords Explorer to find the seed keyword [core topic]. Export the 'Parent Topics' report. For each parent topic, run a new search and export its top 20 'Phrase Match' keywords. Cluster these into subtopics manually or with a spreadsheet.Expected Output
A comprehensive keyword cluster map showing all subtopics related to your core subject, ensuring your content covers the entire topic ecosystem.
Conduct a full competitive landscape analysis
advancedAct as a market analyst. Identify 5 key competitors. For each, in Site Explorer: 1) Note their 'Domain Rating (DR)' and 'Organic Traffic'. 2) Analyze their 'Top Pages' traffic sources. 3) Examine their 'Backlink profile' growth trend. 4) Use 'Content Gap' to find keywords they all target. Synthesize findings into a SWOT analysis.Expected Output
A multi-page report detailing each competitor's SEO strength, traffic composition, link growth, and shared keyword targets, culminating in a strategic SWOT summary.
Forecast ROI for a keyword-targeting campaign
advancedAssume the role of an SEO consultant. For a target keyword list [list 10 keywords], use Keywords Explorer to get their Volume and KD. Estimate a realistic click-through rate (CTR) based on your current ranking position. Using your site's average conversion rate and customer value, model the potential traffic, leads, and revenue if you improved rankings by [X] positions.Expected Output
A data-driven financial model projecting the potential traffic, conversion, and revenue impact of ranking for a specific set of keywords, justifying SEO investment.
Tips for Better Prompts
Always filter by 'Keyword Difficulty' and 'Volume' together. I've wasted hours looking at high-volume keywords with impossible KD scores. Start with KD < 20 and Volume > 200 to find the 'low-hanging fruit'.
Use the 'Parent Topic' feature religiously. It groups keywords by semantic relevance, which is far better for topic clustering than just looking at phrase matches. This single feature improved my content planning by 50%.
Don't just look at backlink counts; analyze link growth trends. A site with a steady upward trend in referring domains is actively building authority, while a flat line might indicate a stagnant competitor you can overtake.