How to write a link-attracting stats page for SEO

Executive overview

Most content fails to earn links not because it's low quality, but because the topic doesn't attract linkers. Bloggers and journalists link when citing facts — so stats pages are structurally link-worthy in a way that "best of" posts are not.

The smarter move: find a stats topic with proven link demand, then reverse-engineer which specific stats competitors' pages attract links to — and build a better, more up-to-date version.

The core insight: 10% of stats on a page drive 90% of its links — find those stats before you write.

Finding a link-worthy topic

• Search broad seed keywords in a keyword tool and filter by modifiers: stat, stats, statistics, fact, facts
• Low search volume is fine — stats pages are link assets, not traffic pages
• Use linked pages to power other posts or money pages (the "middleman method")
• Confirm demand by checking referring domains on top-ranking pages — thousands of RDs signals strong link potential

Analysing competitor backlink profiles

• Put top-ranking stats pages into Site Explorer and open the Anchors report
• Anchors reveal which specific stats are being cited most — these are your priority inclusions
• Filter backlinks by anchor/surrounding text to count unique domains per stat
• Set view to 1 link per domain to avoid duplicates
• A single stat can account for hundreds or thousands of referring domains

Building the post

• Compile stats by category for scannability — readers want organised, citable information
• Audit every popular stat: check the original source and replace outdated figures with current ones
• Place the most link-attractive stats near the top under a prominent heading (e.g. "Top SEO statistics")
• Watch for redirect issues on competitor pages — stats that no longer appear on the live page are a direct outreach angle