Module 4 of 12 · SEO tools · Lesson 12 of 16

Import your backlinks and read the report

Bring in the site's real links from Google Search Console for free, then read totals, anchor texts, referring domains and most-linked pages.

6 minBeginnerFor: Agency owner or manager, Team memberLast checked 14 Nov 2026

Video tutorial coming soon

The written steps below are complete. The Video script tab shows exactly what the video will cover.

A backlink is a link from another website to yours. They remain one of the strongest ranking signals. You can fill the Backlinks screen with the site's real link data from Google Search Console at no cost.

By the end you can

Export links from Search Console and import them
Read the four headline numbers
Read anchors, referring domains and most-linked pages

Screens used

Project, Backlinks

Before you start

Access to the website's Google Search Console property.

Steps

1
Open Backlinks
On: Project, Backlinks
Open the project, then open the SEO hub and choose Backlinks.
You should see: With no data yet, "No backlinks data yet" and an Import GSC CSV button at the top.
2
Export from Search Console
On: Google Search Console
In Google Search Console open Links in the sidebar. At the top right choose Export External Links and save the ZIP file.
You should see: A ZIP file in your downloads folder.
3
Import the ZIP
On: Project, Backlinks
Back in ItzSEO press Import GSC CSV. A short guide opens; press its button and choose the ZIP file you just saved. The button reads "Importing…".
You should see: The report fills in, with the note "Imported from Google Search Console."
4
Read the headline numbers
On: Project, Backlinks
Total backlinks counts every link. Referring domains counts the different websites linking, which matters more than the total. Dofollow ratio is the share of links that pass ranking value. Net change (30d) is links gained minus links lost in the last 30 days.
You should see: You can state the number of referring domains.
5
Read the three tables
On: Project, Backlinks
Top anchor texts shows the words other sites use when they link to you. Top referring domains shows the sites sending the most links. Most-linked pages on your site shows where the links land: these are your strongest pages and good places to add internal links from.
You should see: You can name the page with the most referring domains.

Tips

A healthy anchor list is mostly the brand name and plain addresses. Many identical keyword anchors can look unnatural.
"Demo data shown" means no real data has been imported or pulled yet.
Pull backlinks fetches links from a paid data source when one is connected to the workspace. The Search Console import needs no subscription.
Import a fresh export every month or two to see the change.

Troubleshooting

"Import failed".: Choose the ZIP exactly as Search Console saved it. Do not unzip or rename the files inside.

One row per shot, in the same order as the guide. Estimated length 2:22, recorded signed in as Owner. Use made-up data only. How to record

0:00Title card

Say: Import your backlinks and read the report. Bring in the site's real links from Google Search Console for free, then read totals, anchor texts, referring domains and most-linked pages.

Hold until you see: Lesson title on screen for three seconds.

0:21Step 1: Open Backlinks (Project, Backlinks)

Say: Open the project, then open the SEO hub and choose Backlinks.

Hold until you see: With no data yet, "No backlinks data yet" and an Import GSC CSV button at the top.

0:34Step 2: Export from Search Console (Google Search Console)

Say: In Google Search Console open Links in the sidebar. At the top right choose Export External Links and save the ZIP file.

Hold until you see: A ZIP file in your downloads folder.

0:52Step 3: Import the ZIP (Project, Backlinks)

Say: Back in ItzSEO press Import GSC CSV. A short guide opens; press its button and choose the ZIP file you just saved. The button reads "Importing…".

Hold until you see: The report fills in, with the note "Imported from Google Search Console."

1:11Step 4: Read the headline numbers (Project, Backlinks)

Say: Total backlinks counts every link. Referring domains counts the different websites linking, which matters more than the total. Dofollow ratio is the share of links that pass ranking value. Net change (30d) is links gained minus links lost in the last 30 days.

Hold until you see: You can state the number of referring domains.

1:37Step 5: Read the three tables (Project, Backlinks)

Say: Top anchor texts shows the words other sites use when they link to you. Top referring domains shows the sites sending the most links. Most-linked pages on your site shows where the links land: these are your strongest pages and good places to add internal links from.

Hold until you see: You can name the page with the most referring domains.

2:05End card

Say: That is import your backlinks and read the report. The written steps are on this lesson's page in the ItzSEO course.

Hold until you see: End card with the lesson link.