Backlinks aren’t just for websites—they matter for YouTube videos too. If you want to grow your channel, boost video rankings, and improve your authority on YouTube and Google, tracking who’s linking to your videos is crucial. But how do you get started? In this guide, we’ll explore how to check YouTube video backlinks using easy tools and techniques that even beginners can follow. From free Google searches to advanced tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush, we’ve got you covered.
Why YouTube Video Backlinks Matter
Understanding how to check YouTube video backlinks is key for any content creator or SEO beginner. YouTube backlinks refer to external links from websites, blogs, or social platforms pointing to your video URL. These links act as signals of trust for search engines, impacting how your video ranks both in YouTube search and Google.
Benefits of monitoring YouTube backlinks:
✅ Improve video SEO rankings on Google and YouTube
✅ Increase referral traffic from authoritative sources
✅ Build credibility and trust in your niche
✅ Track which content strategies are earning natural links
✅ Discover communities or influencers sharing your video
When you actively track YouTube backlinks, you gain insight into what’s working—and where there’s room to grow. Plus, consistent backlink checks help you take timely SEO actions, such as link building or content repurposing.
Whether you’re a vlogger, brand channel, or marketer, learning to check backlinks for YouTube videos is a simple but powerful step toward long-term success.
1. Use Google Search Operators
If you’re looking to uncover who is organically linking to your YouTube videos, Google’s advanced search operators are one of the most effective and completely free tools available. This technique helps you track and leverage YouTube backlinks across the web without relying on expensive software.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we recommend using search operators as a quick way to discover linking opportunities, monitor brand mentions, and find potential outreach targets.
Tool: Google Search
Cost: Free
Steps to follow:
Open Google and enter your video URL in quotation marks:
"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz123"Use search operators to filter results. Some effective combinations include:
"Your Video Title" + inurl:blogsite:reddit.com "Your Video Title""youtube.com/watch?v=xyz123" + intitle:reviewintext:"WorkSEO" + youtube.com
Combine keywords or brand mentions with video URLs to find embedded mentions or textual links.
Why it’s useful:
Identifies websites, blogs, and forums that link to or embed your video
Helps you uncover earned YouTube backlinks that contribute to SEO and visibility
Allows you to build outreach lists for backlink reinforcement, guest post opportunities, or digital PR
Enables content performance tracking outside YouTube Analytics
WorkSEO helps brands audit and enhance their YouTube backlink profile, using both free and advanced tools to maximize visibility and off-page SEO potential.
2. Ahrefs Site Explorer
Ahrefs Site Explorer is one of the most powerful tools for analyzing backlinks—and it works exceptionally well for tracking YouTube backlinks. Whether you’re monitoring your own videos or reverse-engineering competitors’ content, Ahrefs provides detailed insights into who is linking to your video, how, and from where.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we use Ahrefs to map out backlink profiles, measure link quality, and uncover opportunities to strengthen a client’s video SEO performance.
Tool: Ahrefs
Cost: Paid (Free trial or 7-day trial available)
Steps to use Ahrefs Site Explorer:
Log in to Ahrefs and navigate to Site Explorer
Enter your full YouTube video URL (e.g.,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyz123)Click on the “Backlinks” tab to view a list of all known referring domains
Filter by dofollow/nofollow, platform type (blogs, forums, news, etc.), or link type
Review anchor texts and contextual relevance to assess link quality and intent
Why it’s useful:
Provides a complete backlink overview for your YouTube video
Identifies authoritative domains that reference your content
Helps detect link patterns, brand mentions, and new outreach prospects
Allows you to evaluate the SEO strength of your YouTube content beyond view counts
WorkSEO uses tools like Ahrefs to help businesses turn YouTube videos into powerful backlink assets, integrating video analytics with a broader SEO strategy for long-term authority and visibility.
3. SEMrush Backlink Analytics
SEMrush Backlink Analytics is a robust platform that helps you track and evaluate the YouTube backlinks pointing to your video content. Whether you’re analyzing link-building progress, identifying new referring domains, or uncovering competitor strategies, SEMrush provides a comprehensive view of backlink activity over time.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we use SEMrush not just to audit backlinks, but also to develop data-driven strategies for improving YouTube SEO and off-page authority.
Tool: SEMrush
Cost: Paid (Free trial available)
Steps to use SEMrush Backlink Analytics:
Log in to your SEMrush account
Navigate to the Backlink Analytics section
Enter your YouTube video URL in the search bar
Explore the results under the Overview, Backlinks, and Referring Domains tabs
Use filters to sort backlinks by type (text/image), platform, country, or authority score
Why it’s useful:
Offers a detailed breakdown of backlinks by domain, anchor text, and page authority
Allows you to track trends—such as new, lost, and broken backlinks over time
Helps spot potential outreach targets by identifying domains already referencing your content
Integrates with other SEMrush tools for full-funnel analysis, including traffic sources and keyword performance
4. Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest, developed by Neil Patel, is a beginner-friendly SEO tool that allows users to analyze backlinks, track keyword rankings, and audit websites—including individual YouTube video URLs. It’s an excellent choice for marketers or content creators who are just beginning to explore the impact of YouTube backlinks on SEO performance.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we recommend Ubersuggest as a cost-effective tool to monitor backlink activity for YouTube videos, especially for small businesses or solo creators.
Tool: Ubersuggest
Cost: Free version with daily limits; full access available in the paid plan
Steps to use Ubersuggest:
Visit ubersuggest.com
Enter your YouTube video URL in the main search bar
Let the tool scan your video’s link profile
Click on the “Backlinks” tab to view referring domains, page authority scores, and anchor text details
Why it’s useful:
Offers a simplified interface ideal for beginners
Shows referring domains, link types, and domain authority of backlink sources
Helps identify which websites are linking to your video and how they’re describing it
Allows you to track the growth or decline of your YouTube backlinks over time
Provides valuable insights even in the free version, making it accessible to content creators on a budget
5. Google Search Console (for embedded videos)
If you’ve embedded YouTube videos on your website or blog, Google Search Console (GSC) is a valuable and free tool to track how those videos are being linked to and referenced. While GSC doesn’t directly analyze YouTube backlinks, it helps identify who is linking to your site’s pages that host embedded videos—giving you insights into indirect video backlinking and engagement.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we use this method to assess the off-page visibility of embedded video content and monitor the performance of video-based blog pages.
Tool: Google Search Console
Cost: Free
Steps to use Google Search Console:
Log into your verified Google Search Console account
Select the property (your website) where the YouTube video is embedded
In the left-hand menu, click on “Links”
Under “Top linking sites”, review the domains that link back to your pages containing embedded videos
You can also check the “Top linked pages” report to pinpoint which pages are receiving external backlinks, especially if the video is the main content
Why it’s useful:
Tracks how embedded YouTube videos are indirectly generating backlinks to your site
Helps identify top-performing video blog posts in terms of inbound links
Provides data to guide future video-embedding and content promotion strategies
Free and integrated with Google’s ecosystem for reliable reporting
WorkSEO helps clients maximize the SEO value of embedded YouTube content, using tools like GSC to monitor indirect YouTube backlinks and optimize cross-channel performance.
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6. YouTube Analytics – Traffic Sources
YouTube Studio’s built-in analytics offers valuable insights into how viewers are discovering your videos. One particularly useful feature is the Traffic Source report, which shows how much of your audience is coming from external websites—including those that have linked to your videos. This makes it an effective, real-time tool for monitoring YouTube backlinks and referral traffic.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we use YouTube Analytics to track which external sources are actively engaging with client videos and to guide future backlink outreach and content promotion efforts.
Tool: YouTube Studio
Cost: Free
Steps to use YouTube Analytics – Traffic Sources:
Log in to your YouTube Studio account
Select the video you want to analyze or go to the channel-wide analytics
Click on the “Analytics” tab
Navigate to the “Reach” section, then scroll down to “Traffic Source: External”
View a breakdown of referral sources, including websites, social media platforms, blogs, and forums that link to your video
Why it’s useful:
Provides a live view of where your YouTube backlinks are generating traffic from
Helps measure the effectiveness of video promotion across other platforms
Identifies top-performing referral domains for future collaborations or link-building
Allows you to track trends over time and adjust distribution strategy accordingly
7. BuzzSumo Content Analyzer
BuzzSumo is a powerful content discovery and analysis tool that helps you track how and where your content—including YouTube videos—is being referenced across the web. Its Content Analyzer feature can uncover blog posts, articles, and even viral social media mentions that link to or embed your videos, making it an excellent tool for discovering high-value YouTube backlinks.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we recommend BuzzSumo for brands looking to understand how their video content performs in the broader content ecosystem, especially across trending or high-engagement platforms.
Tool: BuzzSumo
Cost: Free trial available; paid version unlocks full features
Steps to use BuzzSumo Content Analyzer:
Visit buzzsumo.com and go to the Content Analyzer tool
Enter your YouTube video URL or the exact video title
Review the list of web pages, blogs, and social media posts that reference or embed your video
Analyze metrics such as engagement, domain authority, and content type
Why it’s useful:
Helps identify where your YouTube video is being mentioned or shared
Reveals earned backlinks from authority blogs, influencers, or publications
Tracks content virality and engagement, giving you deeper insights into what’s working
Supports outreach and link-building by showing who’s already engaging with your content
At WorkSEO, we use tools like BuzzSumo to uncover hidden opportunities for link building, influencer partnerships, and maximizing the off-page SEO value of your YouTube backlinks.
8. Social Search Tools (e.g., Brand24, Mention)
Monitoring how your YouTube videos are shared and linked across social media is essential for understanding their reach and backlink potential. Tools like Brand24 and Mention allow you to track mentions of your video titles or URLs in real time—helping you uncover YouTube backlinks and referral sources that may not appear in traditional SEO tools.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we use these platforms to monitor social visibility, track video engagement across networks, and identify new backlink opportunities from social and content creators.
Tool: Brand24, Mention
Cost: Free trial available; paid plans for full access
Steps to use social search tools:
Sign up for Brand24, Mention, or a similar platform
Create a new project using your YouTube video URL, video title, or relevant keywords
Set up real-time alerts for mentions of your video across platforms like Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, and blogs
Monitor the dashboard to identify who’s sharing or linking to your content
Review each mention to assess backlink quality and potential outreach value
Why it’s useful:
Tracks YouTube backlinks from social shares that often go undetected in SEO-only tools
Provides insight into viral reach and user sentiment
Helps identify potential brand ambassadors or influencers already engaging with your content
Enables quick response and engagement to increase visibility and trust
9. OpenLinkProfiler
OpenLinkProfiler is a free and user-friendly backlink analysis tool that allows you to discover external links pointing to your content—including YouTube videos. It’s especially valuable for content creators or small businesses looking to track YouTube backlinks without investing in premium SEO software.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we recommend OpenLinkProfiler as an accessible entry point for clients to begin understanding how their video content is being referenced online.
Tool: OpenLinkProfiler
Cost: Free
Steps to use OpenLinkProfiler:
Visit OpenLinkProfiler.org
Paste your YouTube video URL into the search field
Click “Analyze Backlinks”
Browse the list of referring pages and domains, anchor texts, and link types
Use filters to explore different link categories or export data for analysis
Why it’s useful:
Completely free tool—ideal for startups, solo creators, and marketers on a budget
Offers insight into the types of websites linking to your video content
Helps identify new backlinks, link frequency, and domain authority of linking sites
Enables basic off-page SEO tracking for YouTube videos without login or subscriptions
While it may not be as comprehensive as paid tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, OpenLinkProfiler still provides meaningful data to help you evaluate your YouTube backlinks and plan future outreach or content strategies.
At WorkSEO, we guide clients in using both free and premium tools to build a scalable YouTube SEO strategy that maximizes exposure, authority, and long-term backlink growth.
10. Manual Comment/Forum Monitoring
While automated tools are powerful, sometimes the most valuable YouTube backlinks are hidden in places they can’t reach—like niche forums, comment sections, and community threads. That’s where manual monitoring becomes an essential part of your SEO toolkit. Although time-consuming, this method can uncover backlinks from highly engaged audiences that contribute meaningfully to your video’s visibility and referral traffic.
At WorkSEO SEO Agency, we often combine automated tools with manual monitoring to uncover unique, high-conversion backlink sources that others overlook.
Tool: Manual Method
Cost: Free (Requires time and effort)
Steps to manually monitor YouTube backlinks:
Search platforms like Quora, Reddit, and industry-specific forums using keywords related to your video
Use site-specific search queries on Google, such as:
site:reddit.com your video titlesite:quora.com youtube.com/watch?v=yourvideoID
Visit relevant threads and use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F on Mac) to search for “youtube.com” or your specific video URL
Check blog comment sections, social media replies, or YouTube video descriptions where your content may be shared or embedded
Document any new backlinks for outreach, engagement, or content partnership opportunities
Why it’s useful:
Helps discover hidden, high-value backlinks from real user communities
Offers insight into how and where your video is being discussed or shared
Can lead to new audience segments and targeted referral traffic
Completely free, relying only on research effort
At WorkSEO, we know that powerful backlinks aren’t always obvious. That’s why we dig deeper—manually and strategically—to maximize the reach and impact of your YouTube SEO efforts.
Bonus Tip: Set Up Backlink Alerts
Use tools like Monitor Backlinks, Ahrefs Alerts, or Google Alerts to get notified when someone links to your YouTube video. It saves time and keeps your SEO strategy proactive and data-driven.
Bonus Tip: Automate Your YouTube Backlink Monitoring
Manually checking backlinks can become time-consuming, especially if your video content is getting shared across the web. Instead, set up automated backlink alerts using tools like:
Monitor Backlinks – Set up alerts for any new links to your YouTube URL.
Ahrefs Alerts – Get email updates whenever your video earns a new backlink.
Google Alerts – Free tool to track brand or video mentions (use your video title or URL).
Mention – Track where and when your video is shared on blogs and social media.
Why it helps your YouTube SEO:
⏰ Saves hours of manual tracking each week
🔎 Identifies real-time linking opportunities
🚨 Instantly alerts you to brand mentions or embeds
📈 Helps prioritize link outreach or PR actions
With automated alerts, you can stay ahead of your backlink profile without constantly checking tools. It also gives you the advantage of reacting fast—whether to thank someone, fix a broken link, or turn a mention into a stronger link.
By automating this part of your workflow, you keep your YouTube SEO backlinks strategy efficient, scalable, and always proactive.
Conclusion
If you’re serious about video SEO, knowing how to check YouTube video backlinks can give you a big advantage. Whether you’re using free tools like Google and OpenLinkProfiler or advanced platforms like Ahrefs and SEMrush, keeping tabs on who links to your video helps boost authority, reach, and search performance.
Even one high-quality backlink can push your video higher in search and suggested results. Want help with YouTube SEO or a backlink audit? Visit WorkSEO.in and let our team optimize your video content for maximum impact.