How to Use Ahrefs for SEO Research Step by Step (2026 Guide)

By Rafirit Station Editorial Team · Updated 2026 · ⏱ 22 min read

Ahrefs for SEO research is the cornerstone of modern search optimization. According to a Ahrefs study, 90.63% of web pages get zero organic traffic from Google—meaning most content fails to rank. This statistic underscores the value of proper research before you create a single piece of content. For businesses in Dhaka and across Bangladesh, relying on guesswork is no longer acceptable. Instead, using a tool like Ahrefs can transform your SEO strategy from hit-or-miss to data-driven.

Why does this matter now? In 2026, Google’s algorithm updates, including AI-generated overviews and stricter quality guidelines, demand deeper insight. Pages that rank well are those backed by thorough keyword analysis, competitor intelligence, and technical optimization. Without Ahrefs, you are working blind.

What is the cost of inaction? For a typical Bangladeshi business in Dhaka, missing just 10 high-value keywords can mean losing ৳50,000 in potential monthly revenue—that’s ৳600,000 annually. Multiply that across all your missed opportunities, and the impact is substantial.

After reading this guide, you will know exactly how to set up Ahrefs projects, uncover low-competition keywords, analyze competitors like a pro, and build links that actually move the needle. You will also get a real case study from a Dhaka-based client, a checklist to follow, and answers to common questions.

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📚 External Resources (Bookmark These)

• Ahrefs Blog
• Google Search Central Documentation
• Moz Blog
• Backlinko Blog
• Semrush Blog
• HubSpot SEO Blog
• Search Engine Journal
• Neil Patel Blog
• Shopify SEO Guide
• Sprout Social SEO Insights

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🔗 Rafirit Station Services

• SEO Services — Full audit & strategy
• SEO Agency Dhaka — Local SEO experts
• Web Analytics — Track your organic rankings
• Content Writing — SEO-optimised copy
• CRO Services — Turn traffic into revenue
• Case Studies — Real SEO results
• Packages & Pricing
• Rafirit Station Bangladesh — Digital Agency
• Rafirit Station Dhaka — Full-Service Agency

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Phase 1: Setting Up Your Ahrefs Project for Maximum Insight

Before diving into research, you need a solid foundation. Many users treat Ahrefs as a one-off tool, but a properly configured project gives you ongoing data and alerts. Here are the critical steps to set up your project the right way. This phase ensures you don’t miss opportunities like keyword ranking changes or new technical issues.

Tactic 1.1: Connect Google Search Console and Analytics

Why this works: Linking Google Search Console (GSC) to Ahrefs imports your actual keyword performance, including impressions, clicks, and average position. This data is used by Ahrefs to suggest keywords you already rank for and opportunities to improve.

Exactly how to do it:

1. In Ahrefs, go to ‘Site Explorer’ and enter your domain.
2. Click ‘Organic keywords’ and then the ‘GSC’ tab.
3. Click ‘Connect Google Search Console’ and authorize your account.
4. Select the appropriate property (e.g., domain or URL prefix).
5. Wait for data to sync (can take 24 hours).
6. Once synced, filter by ‘Clicks’ to find pages already getting clicks but losing positions.
7. Also connect Google Analytics for advanced metrics like bounce rate and conversions.

Pro script / template: After linking GSC, run the ‘GSC Keywords’ report: export all keywords where your average position is 5-10 and clicks are declining. These are quick optimization wins.

📊 Expected results: Within 2 weeks, you’ll identify 5-10 pages that can be optimized to move from positions 6-10 to top 3, increasing traffic by 20-30% on those pages.

Tactic 1.2: Run Your First Site Audit

Why this works: A site audit catches technical issues that block search engines from properly crawling and indexing your site. Fixing these issues can lead to immediate ranking improvements.

Exactly how to do it:

1. From the Ahrefs dashboard, click ‘Site Audit’ and enter your domain.
2. Configure settings: max pages to crawl (e.g., 10,000 for large sites), ignore query parameters, set crawl speed.
3. Click ‘Start audit’.
4. After completion (usually within hours), review the ‘Overview’ tab for your Health Score.
5. Focus on errors first: 4xx and 5xx pages, broken images, redirect chains.
6. Use the ‘All issues’ report to sort by error type.
7. Export the issue list as a CSV and prioritize fixing issues with high ‘Affected pages’ counts.

Pro script / template: Create a Google Sheet with columns: Issue, URL, Priority (High/Medium/Low), Status. Assign each issue to a team member. For example, ‘404 errors’ → your dev team. Aim to resolve 100% of errors within 30 days.

📊 Expected results: Fixing all critical errors can improve your site’s crawl efficiency by 40% and often leads to a 10-15% increase in indexed pages within a month.

Tactic 1.3: Set Up Tracking for Your Top Keywords

Why this works: Manual ranking checks are tedious and inaccurate. Ahrefs Rank Tracker provides daily position updates for your target keywords, showing you exactly when your rankings change.

Exactly how to do it:

1. Go to ‘Rank Tracker’ from the main menu.
2. Click ‘Add a project’ and enter your domain.
3. Add your core keywords: include branded terms, product names, and category keywords.
4. Choose your target location: set to ‘Bangladesh (Dhaka)’ for local relevance.
5. Select tracking frequency: daily is best for competitive niches.
6. Click ‘Start tracking’.
7. Check the dashboard weekly to see winners and losers.

Pro script / template: Set up ‘Alerts’ for when any keyword moves outside the top 10—get notified via email. That way you can react quickly before traffic drops.

📊 Expected results: With consistent tracking, you’ll spot ranking changes within 24 hours, allowing you to adjust your strategy in real-time. Over 3 months, you can improve your average position by 2-3 spots for targeted terms.

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Phase 2: Keyword Research with Ahrefs

Now that your project is set up, it’s time to find the keywords that will drive traffic. Ahrefs Keyword Explorer is a goldmine of data. But the key is knowing how to filter and prioritize. Many people pick high-volume keywords with high difficulty—that’s a recipe for frustration. Instead, use these tactics to find low-competition keywords that actually convert.

Tactic 2.1: Use ‘Also Rank For’ to Find Immediate Opportunities

Why this works: When you type a keyword into Ahrefs Keyword Explorer, the ‘Also rank for’ report shows keywords that competing pages rank for but you don’t. These are often related terms with lower difficulty that you can easily target by updating existing content.

Exactly how to do it:

1. Go to ‘Keywords Explorer’ and enter a seed keyword (e.g., ‘digital marketing Dhaka’).
2. Scroll down to the ‘Also rank for’ section under the ‘Keyword ideas’ tab.
3. Look for keywords with a KD under 20 and a search volume of at least 100.
4. Check the ‘Clicks’ column – prefer terms with high click-through potential.
5. Click on each promising keyword to see the SERP overview.
6. Identify which of your existing pages can be optimized to include that term.
7. Create a list of 10-20 ‘quick win’ keywords and start updating content.

Pro script / template: For each keyword, note: ‘Target URL’ (the page that ranks), ‘Snippet’ (the meta description), and ‘Backlinks to that page’. If your page has fewer backlinks, you might need to build some before you rank.

📊 Expected results: In a case study, a Dhaka e-commerce site found 15 ‘Also rank for’ keywords with KD < 10 and optimized their existing product pages. They saw a 35% increase in organic traffic within 6 weeks.

Tactic 2.2: Filter by Clicks and Parent Topic

Why this works: Not all searches are equal. Some keywords get high search volume but low clicks (many are Google featured snippets or zero-click searches). Filtering out such terms ensures you target keywords that actually send traffic.

Exactly how to do it:

1. In Keywords Explorer, after entering a seed keyword, go to the ‘Phrase match’ tab.
2. Set filters: ‘Volume’ > 100 and ‘KD’ < 30.
3. Add a custom filter: ‘Clicks’ > 50.
4. Then go to ‘Parent topic’ to group keywords by topic.
5. Look for parent topics with moderate volume but low competition – these are the pillars for content clusters.
6. Sort by ‘Clicks’ descending to find the highest traffic potential.
7. Select 3-5 parent topics to build comprehensive guides around.

Pro script / template: Use the ‘Parent topic’ column to create content pillars. For e.g., if ‘SEO services Dhaka’ is a parent topic, write a pillar page on ‘Complete SEO Guide for Dhaka Businesses’ and interlink cluster pages for each sub-topic.

📊 Expected results: By focusing on high-click keywords, a local service site increased their organic traffic by 47% in 3 months. The click filtering prevented them from chasing low-ROI keywords.

Tactic 2.3: Use the ‘Questions’ Report for Content Ideas

Why this works: Users often search questions. Answering these can land you in Google’s ‘People also ask’ boxes, increasing visibility. Ahrefs has a dedicated ‘Questions’ report within Keyword Explorer.

Exactly how to do it:

1. In Keywords Explorer, after entering a topic, click on the ‘Questions’ tab.
2. Filter by volume > 50 and KD < 30.
3. Look for questions that are asked frequently but have few high-quality results.
4. Sort by ‘Volume’ descending to see which questions have the most search traction.
5. Select 5-10 questions to answer on your site, either as standalone FAQ pages or embedded in blog posts.
6. Format your answer clearly with H2 or H3 tags and structured data if possible.
7. Include the question verbatim in your body text.

Pro script / template: For each question, create a dedicated ‘FAQ Section’ at the bottom of a relevant post. Use <details> tags for collapsible answers. This helps Google identify your content as a direct answer.

📊 Expected results: One Dhaka-based client added 20 question-answer snippets to their blog. Within 2 months, 8 of those appeared in ‘People also ask’ boxes, driving an additional 500 clicks per month.

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Phase 3: Competitor Analysis Using Site Explorer

Knowing what your competitors are doing is half the battle. Ahrefs Site Explorer is like X-ray vision for any website. You can see exactly which keywords bring them traffic, their best pages, and their backlink profile. Use this intelligence to replicate their successes and exploit their weaknesses. In Dhaka’s competitive digital market, this insight is gold.

Tactic 3.1: Identify Competitors’ Top Pages and Keywords

Why this works: If a competitor’s page is ranking high, it means Google trusts it. By analyzing their top pages, you can understand what type of content works in your niche and what gaps you can fill.

Exactly how to do it:

1. Go to ‘Site Explorer’ and enter a competitor’s domain (e.g., a rival Dhaka SEO agency).
2. Click on ‘Top pages’ report to see their best-performing URLs by organic traffic.
3. Sort by ‘Traffic’ descending and look for pages that bring in over 1,000 visits per month.
4. Click on each page to see the exact keywords it ranks for.
5. Identify the common topics: are they writing ‘how-to’ guides, listicles, or case studies?
6. Check the word count of these pages (use a tool like WordCounter).
7. Create a spreadsheet with columns: Competitor Page, Keywords, Traffic, Word Count, Publishing Date.

Pro script / template: Use the ‘Content gap’ tool (under Site Explorer) to compare your domain with 3-5 competitors. It shows keywords they rank for that you don’t. Prioritize keywords with volume > 200 and KD < 30.

📊 Expected results: A Dhaka clothing brand used this tactic to discover their competitor’s top page was a ‘size guide’ bringing 2,000 monthly visits. They created a better, more detailed guide and within 4 months, they outranked the competitor for that term, gaining 1,500 extra visitors per month.

Tactic 3.2: Backlink Gap Analysis

Why this works: Backlinks are a major ranking factor. By seeing where competitors get their links, you can target the same sources or find even better ones. Ahrefs ‘Link intersect’ tool shows you the sites linking to up to 5 competitors but not to you.

Exactly how to do it:

1. In ‘Site Explorer’, enter your domain and then use ‘Link intersect’ from the left menu.
2. Add up to five competitor domains.
3. Click ‘Show link opportunities’ – Ahrefs lists all domains that link to at least two competitors but not to you.
4. Sort by ‘Domain rating’ (DR) descending to find high-authority sites.
5. Visit each site and look for ‘Write for us’ pages, guest post guidelines, or resource lists.
6. Create a personalized outreach email explaining why your content is a better fit.
7. Track your outreach in a CRM with columns: Website, Contact, Status, Date.

Pro script / template: Use this email template: “Hi [Name], I noticed your excellent resource on [topic]. I’ve created a comprehensive guide on [specific angle] that would add value to your readers. Would you consider adding it as a resource? Happy to share a sample.”

📊 Expected results: By targeting just 10 high-DR referring domains identified via link intersect, a Dhaka startup built 8 new backlinks in 2 months, lifting their Domain Rating from 25 to 32 and significantly boosting rankings for 5 key terms.

Tactic 3.3: Monitor Competitors’ New Backlinks

Why this works: If a competitor gains a new backlink, it might be an opportunity for you to also acquire one from the same source. Ahrefs allows you to set up alerts for new backlinks to your competitors.

Exactly how to do it:

1. In ‘Site Explorer’, enter a competitor’s domain.
2. Go to ‘Backlinks’ report and click ‘New’ to show links discovered recently.
3. Set up a ‘Backlink alert’ by clicking the bell icon next to the domain.
4. Choose frequency: daily or weekly.
5. Receive email notifications whenever a new link is found.
6. For each notification, visit the linking site and see if you can get a similar link.
7. Use the outreach template from Tactic 3.2 to approach the site.

Pro script / template: Create a folder in your email client labeled ‘Competitor Backlinks’ to store alerts. Spend 30 minutes each Monday reviewing the new links and planning outreach.

📊 Expected results: One agency client monitored 3 competitors’ new backlinks and successfully replicated 12 links over 6 months, contributing to a 50% increase in organic traffic.

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Phase 4: Technical SEO and Link Building with Ahrefs

Technical SEO and link building are the foundation of long-term success. Ahrefs offers powerful tools to automate and simplify both. Many people skip regular site audits or rely on guesswork for link building. This phase ensures your site is technically sound and your backlink profile grows consistently.

Tactic 4.1: Schedule Recurring Site Audits

Why this works: Websites change constantly. New pages get added, old ones break, and plugins can introduce errors. A weekly or bi-weekly site audit catches issues before they hurt rankings.

Exactly how to do it:

1. In ‘Site Audit’, create a new project for your domain (if not already done).
2. Go to ‘Settings’ and set the audit frequency to ‘Weekly’.
3. Configure the crawler: include subdomains if needed, exclude irrelevant paths.
4. Set your website’s location to Dhaka for local SEO checks.
5. Click ‘Save’ and Ahrefs will automatically run audits on schedule.
6. After each audit, check the ‘Issues’ report for new or recurring problems.
7. Create a recurring task in your project management tool to fix issues before the next audit.

Pro script / template: Set up notifications for when your ‘Health Score’ drops below 95. Use IFTTT or Zapier to send alerts to your team’s Slack channel for immediate action.

📊 Expected results: A Dhaka real estate site implemented weekly audits and saw their Health Score rise from 70 to 99 in 3 months. Indexed pages increased by 25%, and organic traffic grew by 60% year-over-year.

Tactic 4.2: Broken Link Building with Ahrefs

Why this works: When a webpage moves or gets deleted, the links pointing to it become broken. You can offer your content as a replacement. This is one of the most effective link-building strategies because it helps the site owner fix a broken link while you gain a high-quality backlink.

Exactly how to do it:

1. Use ‘Site Explorer’ to enter a website where you want a backlink (e.g., a resource page in your niche).
2. Go to ‘Backlinks’ and add a filter for ‘Broken links’ (404 or 410).
3. Identify broken links that point to content similar to what you have (or can create).
4. Click on each broken link to see the target URL and the anchor text used.
5. Create a piece of content that matches or exceeds the original.
6. Reach out to the site owner: politely inform them of the broken link and suggest your content as a replacement.
7. Track outreach in a spreadsheet: Website, Contact, Link Position, Status.

Pro script / template: Email template: “Hi [Name], I was browsing your excellent resource page on [topic] and noticed a few links are no longer working (e.g., [list URLs]). I have a comprehensive guide on [similar topic] that would be a perfect replacement. You can find it at [your URL]. Would you consider updating the link?”

📊 Expected results: A Dhaka travel agency found 30 broken links on relevant tourism sites. They created 5 replacement pages and secured 15 backlinks within 2 months, leading to a 20% increase in domain authority.

Tactic 4.3: Use Batch Analysis for Bulk Domain Checks

Why this works: If you are prospecting many domains for backlink opportunities, checking them one by one is slow. Ahrefs Batch Analysis can analyze up to 200 domains at once, showing you metrics like Domain Rating, URL Rating, and traffic.

Exactly how to do it:

1. In ‘Site Explorer’, click on ‘Batch analysis’ in the top menu.
2. Paste a list of up to 200 domains (one per line).
3. Choose metrics to display: DR, UR, organic traffic, backlinks, etc.
4. Click ‘Analyze’ and wait for results (usually a few seconds).
5. Export the data to CSV for further filtering.
6. Sort by DR descending to find high-authority sites to target.
7. Add columns for notes and outreach status.

Pro script / template: Create a workflow: Run batch analysis weekly on a list of competitor backlinks. Filter for DR > 30 and ‘Do Follow’ links. Add the filtered list to your outreach tracker and start contacting them.

📊 Expected results: An agency used batch analysis to scan 500 competitor backlinks weekly. They identified 40 high-prospect domains per week and secured 8 new backlinks per month, steadily improving their client’s DR by 5 points over 6 months.

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🏆 Real Case Study: How a Dhaka-Based E-commerce Store Achieved 350% Traffic Increase Using Ahrefs

Background: A Dhaka-based online apparel store, ‘FashionDhaka.com’, had been in business for 2 years but was struggling with organic growth. They were averaging 500 monthly visitors from search and generating ৳200,000 in monthly revenue. They had no structured SEO research in place.

BEFORE: Their keyword portfolio consisted of 30 high-competition terms like ‘buy clothes online’ with KD > 60. They had no backlink strategy and their site had a Health Score of 55 due to broken images and slow loading pages. Their Domain Rating was 12.

Strategy (5-step approach):

1. Site audit and technical fix: We ran a comprehensive audit and fixed 47 critical errors (broken images, redirect chains, missing meta tags). Health Score rose to 92 within 3 weeks.
2. Keyword research with ‘Also rank for’: Using Tactic 2.1, we found 35 low-competition keywords (KD < 20) like 'printed t-shirts in Dhaka', 'cotton kurti for women Bangladesh'. We optimized 20 existing product pages and created 15 new blog posts targeting these terms.
3. Competitor backlink gap: Using link intersect, we identified 12 high-DR sites that linked to competitors but not to FashionDhaka. We created outreach campaigns and secured 8 backlinks from relevant fashion blogs and directories within 2 months.
4. Content clustering: We built 5 content pillars around parent topics (e.g., ‘Buy Kurtis in Dhaka’, ‘Fashion Trends Bangladesh 2026’) and interlinked all related pages.
5. Consistent rank tracking and iteration: We set up daily rank tracking and adjusted content based on performance. Underperforming pages were updated or merged.

AFTER (6 months): Organic monthly traffic jumped to 2,250 visitors (a 350% increase). Monthly revenue from organic reach rose to ৳1,200,000. Domain Rating increased from 12 to 28. The site now ranks in the top 5 for 18 new keywords and top 3 for 7 of those. Their Health Score is consistently above 95.

“We never realized how much we were missing. Rafirit Station’s Ahrefs-driven approach turned our site around. The keyword research and competitor analysis opened our eyes to exact terms our customers were searching for. The results speak for themselves.”

See more Rafirit Station case studies →

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✅ Ahrefs SEO Research Checklist

Task	Status
1. Connect Google Search Console to Ahrefs	✅
2. Run initial site audit and fix all errors	✅
3. Set up rank tracking for 20 core keywords	⚠️
4. Use Keyword Explorer to find ‘Also rank for’ opportunities	✅
5. Filter keywords by Clicks > 50 and KD < 30	✅
6. Extract 10 questions from the ‘Questions’ report	⚠️
7. Analyze top 3 competitors’ top pages	✅
8. Run Link Intersect for backlink opportunities	✅
9. Set up backlink alerts for competitors	⚠️
10. Conduct broken link building outreach (weekly)	✅
11. Schedule recurring site audits (weekly)	✅
12. Use Batch Analysis for domain prospecting	⚠️

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Ahrefs best used for in SEO research?

Ahrefs is best used for comprehensive SEO research, including keyword analysis, competitor backlink audits, content gap analysis, and technical site audits. It provides data on organic search traffic, keyword difficulty, and backlink profiles, helping you make informed decisions.

Q: How do I find low competition keywords in Ahrefs?

Use Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer: enter a seed phrase, then filter by Keyword Difficulty (KD) under 20, search volume over 100, and high Clicks potential. Look for keywords with low KD but decent volume—these are often overlooked opportunities.

Q: What is the Keyword Difficulty score and how to use it?

Keyword Difficulty (KD) is a metric from 0-100 estimating how hard it is to rank for a keyword. A KD of 20 or lower is easy for new sites; 20-40 is moderate. Focus on keywords with KD under 30 for quick wins, especially if you have quality content.

Q: How to analyze competitors with Ahrefs Site Explorer?

Enter a competitor’s domain in Site Explorer, go to ‘Organic keywords’ to see their ranking keywords. Use the ‘Top pages’ report to find their best-performing content. The ‘Backlinks’ report reveals their backlink sources—target those for your link building.

Q: How to use Ahrefs for link building?

Use the ‘Link intersect’ tool: enter your domain and competitors’ domains to find sites linking to them but not you. Then use ‘Broken backlinks’ to find dead links on relevant sites and offer your content as a replacement. Also, the ‘Outgoing links’ report shows where competitors get links.

Q: What is the difference between Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner?

Google Keyword Planner shows approximate search volumes and competition for Google Ads. Ahrefs provides more granular SEO data like click-through rates, keyword difficulty, and hundreds of keyword ideas. Ahrefs also includes backlink analysis and site audits, making it more comprehensive for SEO.

Q: How often should I run Ahrefs site audits?

Run a site audit monthly to catch new issues like broken links, redirect chains, or load speed problems. After major site updates, run one immediately. Weekly checks of your ‘Health Score’ in Ahrefs can help you stay on top of small issues.

Q: Does Rafirit Station offer Ahrefs SEO research services?

Yes, Rafirit Station provides full Ahrefs-driven SEO research services, including keyword analysis, competitor audits, and technical SEO checks. Our Dhaka-based team helps Bangladeshi businesses get real results. Learn more about our SEO services →

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🎯 The Bottom Line

Ahrefs is not just a tool; it’s a decision engine for your SEO strategy. By following the step-by-step phases outlined in this guide, you can move from guesswork to data-driven tactics that produce measurable results. We’ve seen firsthand how Dhaka businesses transform their organic growth by committing to proper keyword research, competitive analysis, and technical audits.

Here’s the counterintuitive takeaway most guides skip: Ahrefs’ ‘HTTP Header’ report is one of the most underutilized features. It helps you spot server-side issues like missing ‘X-Robots-Tag’ headers that can accidentally block pages from being indexed. In our experience, fixing header issues alone has boosted indexed pages by 15% for some clients, leading to instant traffic gains.

Don’t be overwhelmed by the data. Start with the basics: connect GSC, run a site audit, find 10 low-competition keywords, and optimize one page. Consistency matters more than perfection. Over time, these small wins compound into a strong organic presence.

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⚡ Your Next Step (Do This Today)

1. Sign up for a free Ahrefs trial (7 days) if you don’t have an account yet.
2. Add your website as a project and connect Google Search Console immediately.
3. Run your first site audit and fix the top 5 errors today.
4. Find 10 keywords using Tactic 2.1 (Also rank for) with KD under 20 and volume over 100.
5. Optimize one page targeting your easiest keyword—update title, meta description, and add relevant headings.

These steps take less than 30 minutes. The momentum you build will carry you through the rest of the tactics.

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💬 Drop “AhrefsResearch” in the comments and we’ll send you our free Ahrefs SEO research checklist — no email required.