Actions28
- Backlink Actions
- SERP Actions
- Business Data Actions
- On Page Actions
- Keywords Data Actions
- Labs Actions
Overview
The "Get Backlinks" operation of the DataForSEO node retrieves backlink data for a specified target, which can be a domain, subdomain, or specific URL. This operation is useful for SEO professionals and digital marketers who want to analyze the backlink profile of a website or webpage to understand its link-building status, identify referring domains, assess link quality, and monitor lost or live backlinks.
Common scenarios include:
- Auditing backlinks to evaluate SEO health.
- Tracking new or lost backlinks over time.
- Filtering backlinks by status or other criteria.
- Sorting backlinks by rank or spam score to prioritize link analysis.
Practical example:
A user wants to get up to 500 live backlinks pointing to their homepage, sorted by backlink rank descending, including links from subdomains and indirect links, to identify high-value backlinks for outreach or disavowal.
Properties
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Target (Domain, Subdomain, URL) | The domain, subdomain, or exact webpage URL to retrieve backlink data for. Domains/subdomains should be specified without https:// or www.; pages require full absolute URLs including protocol (http:// or https://). |
| Mode | Determines how backlinks are returned: - As Is: Return all backlinks as they are. - One Per Domain: Return only one backlink per referring domain. - One Per Anchor: Return one backlink per anchor text. |
| Limit (up to 1000) | Maximum number of backlink results to return, between 1 and 1000. |
| Offset | Number of backlink results to skip before starting to collect the output, useful for pagination. |
| Sort | Up to three sorting rules can be applied to the results. Options include: - Backlink Rank (asc/desc) - Referring Page Rank (asc/desc) - Referring Domain Rank (asc/desc) - Backlink Spam Score (asc/desc) |
| Backlink Status | Filter backlinks by status: - All - Live (currently active) - Lost (no longer active) |
| Include Subdomains | Whether to include backlinks from subdomains of the target domain. |
| Include Indirect Links | Whether to include indirect backlinks (e.g., links that pass through redirects or intermediate pages). |
| Filters | Additional filtering parameters as a JSON string array, allowing advanced filtering based on DataForSEO's API documentation. |
Output
The node outputs an array of backlink objects in the json field. Each object typically contains detailed backlink information such as:
- Backlink URL
- Referring page and domain metrics (rank, authority)
- Anchor text used
- Backlink status (live/lost)
- Spam score
- Other SEO-related metadata
If binary data were supported (not indicated here), it would represent associated files or media related to backlinks, but this operation focuses on JSON backlink data.
Dependencies
- Requires an active API key credential for the DataForSEO service.
- The node sends POST requests to the DataForSEO API endpoint at
https://api.dataforseo.com/v3. - Proper configuration of the API key credential within n8n is necessary for authentication.
Troubleshooting
Common issues:
- Invalid or missing target format (e.g., including
www.or missing protocol for URLs) may cause API errors. - Exceeding the limit of 1000 results will result in an error; adjust the limit accordingly.
- Incorrect filter JSON syntax can cause request failures.
- Network or authentication errors if API key is invalid or quota exceeded.
- Invalid or missing target format (e.g., including
Error messages:
"Something went wrong": Generic catch-all error indicating failure during execution; check input parameters and API connectivity.- Credential errors: Ensure the API key credential is correctly set up and has sufficient permissions.
- Validation errors: Check that required fields like Target and Mode are properly filled and formatted.
Links and References
- DataForSEO Backlinks API Documentation — Detailed explanation of filters and parameters for backlink queries.