SEO reporting becomes more reliable when backlink, keyword, and competitor data can flow into the same workspace as analytics, advertising, and ranking data. By connecting Ahrefs with Supermetrics, an SEO team can automate recurring reports, reduce manual exports, and create clearer dashboards for stakeholders. The integration is especially useful for agencies, in-house SEO teams, and consultants who need consistent visibility into link growth, referring domains, organic keyword trends, and competitive performance.
TLDR: Ahrefs can be connected to Supermetrics so SEO data can be pulled into destinations such as Google Sheets, Looker Studio, Excel, or data warehouses. The setup usually involves selecting Ahrefs as a data source in Supermetrics, authenticating the account, choosing the reporting destination, and configuring metrics, dimensions, and refresh schedules. Once connected, teams can automate backlink and SEO performance reporting instead of downloading CSV files manually.
Why connect Ahrefs with Supermetrics?
Ahrefs is widely used for SEO research, backlink analysis, keyword tracking, competitor audits, and content performance reviews. Supermetrics acts as a data pipeline that moves marketing data from platforms like Ahrefs into reporting tools. When the two are connected, teams can turn Ahrefs data into automated reports without repeatedly logging into Ahrefs, exporting files, cleaning spreadsheets, and updating charts by hand.
The main benefit is reporting efficiency. Instead of spending time preparing data, SEO specialists can focus on interpreting trends. For example, a monthly SEO report may show how referring domains changed, which pages gained links, which competitors improved visibility, or whether content investments are attracting organic opportunities.
Image not found in postmetaCommon SEO reporting use cases
A Supermetrics and Ahrefs connection can support several reporting workflows. The most common include:
- Backlink monitoring: tracking new and lost backlinks, referring domains, domain rating, and anchor text trends.
- Competitor analysis: comparing backlink growth, top pages, and organic visibility across competing domains.
- Content reporting: identifying which pages attract the most links or rank for valuable keywords.
- Client reporting: creating repeatable agency dashboards that update automatically each week or month.
- SEO health checks: combining Ahrefs data with Google Analytics, Google Search Console, or paid media data for a broader performance view.
Before getting started
Before the integration is configured, the reporting owner should confirm that the required accounts and permissions are available. The Ahrefs account must have access to the data being reported, and the Supermetrics account must support the chosen destination, such as Google Sheets or Looker Studio. Some Ahrefs data access may depend on the plan, API availability, or account limits, so usage and quota restrictions should be reviewed in advance.
It is also helpful to define the reporting scope before connecting anything. A strong SEO report usually has a clear purpose, such as executive performance tracking, technical SEO monitoring, competitor benchmarking, or campaign reporting. Without a defined goal, the report can quickly become cluttered with too many metrics.
How to connect Ahrefs with Supermetrics in Google Sheets
Google Sheets is one of the simplest destinations for building an Ahrefs report with Supermetrics. The process generally follows these steps:
- Open Google Sheets: The user starts with a blank spreadsheet or an existing SEO reporting template.
- Launch Supermetrics: From the Supermetrics add-on or sidebar, the user selects the option to create a new query.
- Select Ahrefs as the data source: In the list of available connectors, Ahrefs is chosen as the source platform.
- Authenticate the account: Supermetrics prompts the user to sign in or authorize access to Ahrefs data.
- Choose the report type: The report may focus on backlinks, referring domains, pages, keywords, anchors, or competitor data, depending on available fields.
- Enter the target domain or URL: The user specifies the website, subdomain, exact URL, or competitor domain to analyze.
- Select metrics and dimensions: Common selections include referring domains, backlinks, URL rating, domain rating, anchor text, first seen date, lost links, and traffic-related estimates.
- Set date range and filters: The query can be limited by date, domain, link type, language, country, or other available criteria.
- Run the query: Supermetrics pulls the selected Ahrefs data into the spreadsheet.
- Schedule refreshes: The report can be set to update automatically on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.
How to connect Ahrefs with Supermetrics in Looker Studio
For visual dashboards, Looker Studio is often a better destination than a spreadsheet. To connect Ahrefs data, the report builder opens Looker Studio, creates a new data source, and selects the Supermetrics connector for Ahrefs. After authentication, the builder chooses the relevant Ahrefs account, defines the domain or URL, and adds the data source to a report.
Once connected, Looker Studio can display Ahrefs metrics in tables, scorecards, line charts, and comparison widgets. For example, an agency report may include a scorecard for total referring domains, a time series chart for new backlinks, a table of top linked pages, and a competitor comparison section. The dashboard can then be shared with clients or internal stakeholders, with access controls managed through Looker Studio.
Choosing the right metrics
A good SEO report should not include every available metric. It should highlight the numbers that explain progress and support decisions. For Ahrefs reporting, useful metrics may include:
- Referring domains: a strong indicator of link profile growth and authority.
- New and lost backlinks: useful for monitoring link acquisition and link decay.
- Domain Rating and URL Rating: helpful for directional authority analysis, though they should not be treated as business outcomes.
- Anchor text: useful for identifying branded, topical, or potentially risky link patterns.
- Top linked pages: helpful for understanding which content assets attract authority.
- Competitor link gap data: useful for finding outreach and content opportunities.
The report should also include context. For instance, a rise in backlinks is more meaningful when paired with notes about a digital PR campaign, content launch, or partnership. Likewise, a drop in links should be reviewed alongside the quality and relevance of the lost domains.
Building a clear SEO reporting structure
The best dashboards are organized around questions stakeholders actually ask. A practical structure may include an executive summary, backlink trends, top pages, competitor comparison, keyword or content opportunities, and action items. This structure helps readers move from performance overview to detailed analysis without getting lost in raw data.
Visual hierarchy is important. Scorecards can show headline metrics, line charts can show trends, and tables can provide detail. Conditional formatting in Google Sheets can help flag major gains or losses. In Looker Studio, filters and date controls can allow viewers to explore domains, pages, or markets without changing the underlying setup.
Image not found in postmetaTips for maintaining accurate reports
After the connection is live, the reporting owner should regularly check that queries refresh correctly and that any API or usage limits are not being exceeded. If data stops updating, the cause may be an expired authorization, a changed field, a plan limitation, or a query that is too broad.
It is also wise to document the report logic. Notes should explain which Ahrefs metrics are used, how often they refresh, what each chart means, and whether the report uses domain, subdomain, or exact URL data. This documentation prevents confusion when another team member inherits the report.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Tracking too many metrics: large reports can become hard to read and slow to refresh.
- Ignoring data limits: API limits or connector limits can affect refresh reliability.
- Mixing scopes: comparing a full domain against an exact URL can create misleading conclusions.
- Overvaluing authority scores: metrics like Domain Rating are useful indicators, not final measures of SEO success.
- Skipping annotations: reports should explain major SEO activities that influenced changes.
FAQ
Can Ahrefs data be automated with Supermetrics?
Yes. Supermetrics can be used to pull Ahrefs data into supported reporting destinations and refresh it on a schedule, depending on the user’s plan and access permissions.
Which destination is best for Ahrefs reporting?
Google Sheets is best for flexible data manipulation, while Looker Studio is better for visual dashboards. Larger teams may prefer a data warehouse for centralized reporting.
Does the integration replace Ahrefs?
No. The integration does not replace Ahrefs. It helps move Ahrefs data into reporting tools so teams can analyze, visualize, and share SEO insights more efficiently.
How often should Ahrefs reports refresh?
Most SEO teams refresh backlink and competitor reports weekly or monthly. Daily refreshes may be useful for active campaigns, but they can consume more data quota.
What should be checked if the report stops updating?
The user should check authentication, Supermetrics query settings, Ahrefs access permissions, API or usage limits, and whether selected fields are still available.
