📊 Report Backlinks by Source for Clients

🎯 Overview

When clients ask what link-building work was completed, a generic backlinks-added count is not enough. Search Atlas gives you the tools to break down authority-building activity by source — Cloud Stacks, press releases, guest posts, and more — so your reports reflect the actual work delivered. This article walks you through the two primary workflows: the OTTO Authority Building tab and Press Release CSV exports.

🗂️ Where to Find Campaign-Specific Backlink Data

All authority-building activity is managed inside the Authority section. To get there, click Authority in the left sidebar. From here you can access:

• Cloud Stacks — Left sidebar → Authority → Cloud Stacks
• Campaigns (guest posts, niche edits, and other outreach) — Left sidebar → Authority → Campaigns
• Press Releases — Left sidebar → Authority (the main Authority page at /outreach/press-release)

Each of these sections records the specific links built, the target URLs, and the dates — giving you the source-level detail clients expect.

🔗 Reporting Cloud Stacks

Cloud Stacks create a network of branded properties pointing to your client's site. To pull this data for a report:

1. Go to Left sidebar → Authority → Cloud Stacks.
2. Select the relevant client project from the project selector at the top of the page.
3. Review the list of deployed Cloud Stack properties. Each row shows the property type, target URL, and creation date.
4. Use your browser's built-in print or screenshot function, or copy the table data, to include this in your client-facing deliverable.
5. In your report, label this section Cloud Stack Properties Built and reference the number of properties alongside the target URLs so clients can verify the work.

📰 Exporting Press Release Data

Press releases are one of the most client-visible authority-building activities. Search Atlas lets you export a full record of published press releases for any project.

1. Go to Left sidebar → Authority (the main Authority page).
2. Make sure the correct client project is selected at the top.
3. Locate the press release campaign you want to report on. Each press release entry shows the headline, publication date, distribution outlets, and target URL.
4. Click the export or download icon associated with the campaign to download the data as a CSV file.
5. Open the CSV to review columns including publication outlet, live URL, anchor text, and date published.
6. Paste or attach this CSV in your client report, or summarise the outlet count and live link count in your report narrative.

Tip: The CSV export is the most reliable way to show clients exactly which outlets published their press release and confirm that live backlinks exist.

📋 Reporting Campaigns (Guest Posts and Outreach Links)

The Campaigns section tracks outreach-based link placements such as guest posts and niche edits.

1. Go to Left sidebar → Authority → Campaigns.
2. Select the client project from the project selector.
3. Open the relevant campaign. Each campaign lists individual placements with the target domain, live link URL, anchor text, target page, and status.
4. Filter by status Live to show only completed placements to your client.
5. Export or screenshot the live placements list. Include the domain authority or domain rating of each placement site where available, as this adds credibility to your report.

📑 Building a Client Report in Report Builder

Once you have source-level data from Authority, you can tie it into a polished client report using the Report Builder.

1. Go to Left sidebar → Reports.
2. Open or create the report for the relevant client project.
3. Add a dedicated Authority Building Summary section to the report.
4. Manually annotate or insert the exported data from Cloud Stacks, press releases, and Campaigns as supporting evidence within the report.
5. Add commentary that maps each link source to the campaign goal — for example, "3 Cloud Stack properties built targeting the homepage to improve topical authority" or "1 press release distributed to 200+ outlets with 45 live backlinks confirmed."

This approach transforms raw data into a clear narrative that shows clients the work completed and the strategic intent behind each link type.

✅ Best Practices for Source-Level Backlink Reporting

• Separate each link type — Cloud Stacks, press releases, and guest posts serve different purposes. Keep them in separate sections of your report so clients understand the strategy.
• Always include live URLs — Clients want to click and verify. Export live link URLs wherever possible.
• Report by campaign period — Filter data to the reporting month or quarter to avoid double-counting links from previous periods.
• Add placement metrics — Where available, include domain authority, traffic estimates, or outlet reach to demonstrate the quality of placements, not just the quantity.
• Archive your CSV exports — Save a copy of each export at the time of reporting so you have a historical record if a client questions past work.

💬 Need Help?

If you need further assistance, open the chat widget in the bottom-right corner of the platform and type human teammate to be connected with a member of our team.