{
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "updated": "2026-06-05",
  "name": "Backlink Verification Proof Checklist 2026",
  "canonical_url": "https://backlynk.io/backlink-verification-checklist-2026-free-csv-template/",
  "csv_template": "https://backlynk.io/templates/backlink-verification-proof-template-2026.csv",
  "purpose": "A public checklist for verifying known backlink placement URLs after directory submissions, citations, outreach, PR, partner pages, or profile links. It does not expose Backlynk private directory inventory.",
  "proof_fields": [
    {
      "field": "source_url",
      "why_it_matters": "The exact public page must be checked. A root domain or approval email is not placement evidence.",
      "recommended_action": "Paste the final listing, article, profile, citation, or resource page URL."
    },
    {
      "field": "final_url",
      "why_it_matters": "Redirects can move a listing to a new page, remove the link, or hide a broken placement.",
      "recommended_action": "Record the final URL after redirects and keep the redirect chain for audit notes."
    },
    {
      "field": "http_status",
      "why_it_matters": "A backlink on a 404, 410, 5xx, blocked, or login-only page should not be reported as healthy.",
      "recommended_action": "Mark 200 pages as live, review redirects, and assign recovery work for dead or blocked pages."
    },
    {
      "field": "target_href_found",
      "why_it_matters": "A brand mention is different from a clickable href to the target domain.",
      "recommended_action": "Record whether the target href exists and whether it points to the expected page."
    },
    {
      "field": "anchor_text",
      "why_it_matters": "Repeated exact-match commercial anchors can create risk, while branded or URL anchors are usually easier to defend.",
      "recommended_action": "Store the visible anchor text and flag unnatural patterns."
    },
    {
      "field": "rel_attributes",
      "why_it_matters": "Dofollow, nofollow, sponsored, and ugc links should be reported separately.",
      "recommended_action": "Record rel values exactly instead of treating every placement as the same link type."
    },
    {
      "field": "canonical_url",
      "why_it_matters": "A visible listing can canonicalize to another URL, changing how the placement should be reported.",
      "recommended_action": "Store the canonical URL and mark mismatches for manual review."
    },
    {
      "field": "robots_noindex",
      "why_it_matters": "A noindex placement can still provide referral value, but it should not be counted as normal indexable proof.",
      "recommended_action": "Label noindex pages separately and decide whether referral value still justifies the placement."
    },
    {
      "field": "screenshot_url",
      "why_it_matters": "Screenshots make reports auditable when listings change later.",
      "recommended_action": "Capture the visible placement, approval state, anchor, and checked date."
    },
    {
      "field": "recheck_due_date",
      "why_it_matters": "Backlinks rot after redesigns, expired profiles, directory cleanups, and publisher migrations.",
      "recommended_action": "Schedule rechecks for high-value placements monthly or after known site migrations."
    }
  ],
  "status_labels": [
    "live_link",
    "live_mention_only",
    "redirected",
    "nofollow_or_qualified",
    "noindex_or_canonicalized",
    "dead_or_blocked",
    "missing_target",
    "needs_manual_review"
  ],
  "recommended_workflow": [
    "Export known linking-page URLs from Google Search Console, a backlink database, an outreach tracker, a directory approval list, or a PR report.",
    "Paste the highest-value URLs into the Backlynk free backlink checker.",
    "Download or copy the evidence into the CSV template.",
    "Separate live links, mentions, qualified rel attributes, noindex pages, dead pages, and missing-target pages.",
    "Assign next actions: report, recover, replace, qualify, recheck, or ignore.",
    "Keep Backlynk private operating inventory private; publish only proof fields and approved public URLs that belong in the client report."
  ],
  "private_inventory_boundary": "This checklist is public. Backlynk directory targets and managed campaign inventory remain private to protect delivery quality and prevent mass scraping."
}