Worked example
Link intersect analysis for dropshipping stores: a worked example
If three rivals all get links from the same sites, those sites are worth a look. Here is the method with an imaginary pet-supplies store, using made-up numbers to show each step.
LinkSell editorial team ·
PawBox is an invented dropshipping store for dog accessories. The competitors and the figures below are examples chosen to teach the method, not real data.
The method in five steps
List three rivals
Pick stores that rank for your main product terms and sell something close to yours.
Export their linking sites
Use Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz or Majestic to pull referring domains for each rival.
Find the overlap
Keep domains that link to at least two of the three rivals but not to you.
Sort by relevance
Remove the generic ones, such as huge directories, and keep pet, home and lifestyle sites.
PawBox example numbers
| Step | Count |
|---|---|
| Rival A referring domains | 240 |
| Rival B referring domains | 180 |
| Rival C referring domains | 310 |
| Domains linking to two or more rivals | 42 |
| After removing generic sites | 19 |
| Kept as a shortlist | 8 |
What the overlap does and does not say
Shared linking sites show where your niche gets coverage. They do not show why a rival ranks above you.
A rival may have better pages, an older domain or a bigger ad budget. Link intersect analysis finds topics and publishers, and the actual page quality is a separate question.
In the shop you browse the vetted inventory by DR, traffic, niche and language, then pick rows that resemble the sites on your list. Simple.
A tidy way to store the result
Keep one sheet per analysis. Columns for rival, shared domain, niche, your decision and the date are enough.
When a later order goes live, add a column for the order date, so the sheet slowly turns into the diary of what you tried.
Our position
Use it for ideas, not for copying
Copying a rival's profile one for one buys you their past. Use the overlap to pick the right kinds of sites, then buy a few that fit your products.
- Aim for ten to twenty overlaps, not hundreds
- Buy where the niche matches, not only where a rival appears
- Review the shortlist against the price ranges
Common slips in the first analysis
Choosing rivals that are far too big is the usual error. A giant marketplace has thousands of links you will never match, and the overlap tells you nothing useful.
Another slip is counting by volume. Eight relevant domains beat forty random ones, so cut the list hard before you open the basket.
Last, keep the date of the export. Link data ages quickly, and a list from last spring may no longer match what rivals have now; rerun it once a quarter and compare.
Before you act on the list
- Open each shortlisted domain and read a few pages
- Drop anything that looks spammy or thin
- Check price against your monthly budget
- Decide which product page gets the links
- Log the plan and compare in a month using an inbound link check
Why dropshippers should be pickier
Many dropshipping stores sell the same supplier catalog. When products are identical, links and content are among the few things that set one store apart.
That makes a shared product description a weak spot. A page that says the same as five other stores gives search engines little reason to prefer it, whatever links it has.
So fix the page first, then buy links. A low price per link lets you do both without a big cheque.