What does the Search Console Links report tell me?
The Links report shows a sample of the sites linking to yours, which pages they link to, the words they use, and how your own pages link to each other. Use it to find pages that need more internal links. Google says it typically ignores links from known spam sites, so most sites never need to disavow.
The short version
- Open Links in Search Console’s left menu.
- External links shows who links to you. Internal links shows how your pages link to each other.
- It’s a sample, not a full list, and it can include links that have since gone.
- The most useful thing in it for most small sites is the internal links table.
- Don’t panic about odd linking sites. Google says it typically ignores links from known spam sites.
How do I open and read the report?
These steps follow Google’s Links report page.
- In Search Console, select Links in the left menu.
- You’ll see four tables. Select More under any table to see the full list.
- Select a row to drill in. For example, select a linking site to see which of your pages it links to.
- Use the export button at the top to download a sample as a CSV file or Google Sheet.
| Table | What it shows | What to do with it |
|---|---|---|
| External links: Top linked pages | Your pages with the most links from other sites | Keep these pages live. If one moves, redirect it |
| External links: Top linking sites | Sites with the most links to you, by domain | Spot real partners, local groups and directories |
| External links: Top linking text | The words other sites use in links to you | Shows how others describe you |
| Internal links: Top linked pages | Your pages linked most from inside your own site | Check your key service pages are near the top |
A backlink is simply a link from another site to yours.
How do I use it to improve the site?
Strengthen internal links
Internal links help Google and visitors find your important pages. Look at the Internal links table:
- Your home page and contact page will be near the top, because they’re in the menu.
- Your main service pages should be close behind.
- If a page that earns money has very few internal links, add links to it from related pages, in plain sentences like “see our water heater repair page.”
This costs nothing, and it’s fully under your control.
Keep valuable links working
Check Top linked pages. If a page there was deleted or moved in a redesign, the links pointing to it now land on an error. Redirect each old address to the closest new page. Our answer on redesigning without losing rankings covers redirects in full.
Notice real local links
Links from local chambers of commerce, suppliers, newspapers and community groups are the kind Google counts as signs a business is well known. Google’s local ranking page lists links among the things that shape prominence. Our guide on how your profile, website and ranking connect explains how this fits with your Google Business Profile.
Why does it matter?
Links are one way Google judges how well known a site is. You can’t control who links to you, but the report shows whether real organizations do, and it helps you avoid losing links you already have. The internal links table is the bigger practical win for most small sites.
What are the common mistakes?
- Treating it as a complete list. Google says it’s a sample, capped at 1,000 rows per table, and may include links that no longer exist.
- Panicking about strange sites. Scraper and directory sites link to almost everyone. Google says it typically ignores links from known spam sites.
- Disavowing links “just in case.” Google’s disavow page says to disavow only when you have a considerable number of spammy, artificial or low-quality links and they have caused, or likely will cause, a manual action. Try to get them removed first.
- Buying links. Google’s spam policies treat paid links meant to boost rankings as link spam, which can lead to a manual action.
- Expecting nofollow details. The report doesn’t say whether a link is marked nofollow.
What if I’m worried about bad links?
- Check Security & manual actions, then Manual actions. A green check means Google has reported no manual action against the site. It doesn’t rule out Google’s automated systems simply ignoring or discounting some links.
- If there’s an Unnatural links to your site action, follow our guide to fixing a manual action.
- If there’s no action, usually do nothing. If you know a past company bought links for you, ask those sites to remove them, and get professional advice before using Google’s disavow tool.
If your traffic fell and you suspect links, look for other causes first. Our answer on why traffic suddenly drops lists the usual ones.
How much does it cost, and how long does it take?
The report is free and a look takes 10 minutes. Adding internal links to a few key pages takes an hour or so. Earning real links from local organizations is slow, steady work.
How does E-3 handle this?
When we work on a site’s search visibility through our SEO and AI search service, the Links report helps spot redirects that need fixing and key pages that need more internal links. Link counts aren’t a goal on their own. E-3 sets up Search Console for the sites it manages and adds itself as a user, and site changes are tested on a staging copy first.
Related questions
Next step
- Next: How does Search Console show AI Overviews and AI Mode?The next guide in Google Search Console.
- Free website checkPublic checks on your own site, then an action plan of what to fix first.
Still stuck? Ask E-3 for an answer from our help guides.
Rather we handled google search console for you?
It’s part of what we do every week for small businesses, as part of seo and ai search. Start with a free check of your site and profile, or call and ask.