Finding a Competitor’s PBN: Detailed Instructions and Recommendations

Contents:
Domain Registrar
Domain Registration Timeframes
NS Servers
WHOIS Data
IP Address and Hosting
CMS Characteristics and Features
Code
Conclusions

Previously, optimizers read a lot about so-called footprints. Various analytical articles reported that they could help identify a competitor’s PBN. There are several reasons to search for a PBN – either simple curiosity of the user or optimizer, or analyzing the promotion strategy while developing one’s own tactics.

The preliminary stage of the entire endeavor is the search for site backlinks. For such purposes, tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, and Serpstat become optimal. Some experienced specialists promoting sites in a competitive niche hide backlinks from well-known services and programs. However, less popular developments will still help calculate the backlinks. After collecting the backlinks, you need to start identifying the site networks.

Domain Registrar

This information can be concealed, but it is often overlooked. It is necessary to determine the number of registrars used and the number of domains registered with them. Tools where data is collected via Whois can be: Whic, Netpeak Checker, and others.

Registrars can be a variety of companies. The analysis is extensive, but more often these are popular companies with numerous reviews. It is necessary to constantly work with sources.

Domain Registration Timeframes

Referring domains need to be checked for registration time. If there are the same frames, then this is the first signal of the presence of a PBN. Some covert optimizers try to use different times to register domains.

NS Servers

Many do not bother, so they use the same hosting, NS of the domain registrar, or a single Cloudflare account. Based on this information, it becomes easy to identify a competitor’s network in a matter of tens of minutes.

The collection of data array is carried out via WHOIS, applying automated services. Later, a list of sites is selected that also use the chosen NS. They are compared with the backlinks to the competitor’s site and when there are many matches, appropriate conclusions are made. An optimal assistant in this matter will be the ViewDNS.info service. A complete list of sites on the same NS server is formed.

WHOIS Data

The lack of privacy or confidence in one’s own rightness can ruin the entire network of an optimizer. Some do not even bother to use varied WHOIS information, as a result domains of backlinks to the promoted site will have the same owner. WHOIS services provide the opportunity for analysis, but with a large array of data, it is necessary to use captcha bypasses.

Investigators should not forget that domain name data can be hidden. Some registrars offer this service on a paid and free basis. But in some zones, for example, .us, the data hiding happens automatically.

IP Address and Hosting

These data sources are analyzed in the same manner as domains. It is necessary to analyze addresses and the names of companies providing hosting, then proceed gradually to the following parameters.

CMS Characteristics and Features

A dubious variant for searching for a site network but quite effective if you know where to look. Some use the same version of platforms, and there are optimizers who even use the same template.

A visual inspection also notices an identical set of modules or plugins. It is recommended to consider custom-built CMS since optimizers use them solely due to the absence of extra load on hosting.

Code

The counter number is easily determined and consequently can reveal an entire network of sites. Almost every service includes account information in the code, and specialists rarely use multiple accounts because they activate paid services. To search for sites by code similarity, you can use the service Publicwww.com or search engine operators like inurl:, intext:, and others.

Conclusions

Applying all the mentioned methods allows detecting a competitor’s PBN. The methods can be interchanged, selecting the most effective ones, or using all in succession. The final result in any case will be effective. Also, to maximize the diversification of the link profile, we recommend guest posting from PrFlare.