For the longest time, link-building reporting was tied to DA/DR scores, organic traffic lift, and search rankings.

It still is now, but a new layer of link-building metrics has emerged due to things like:

• Google’s AI Overviews
• AI search platforms like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini
• Zero-click searches

Since these factors have permanently altered the search landscape, a new set of KPIs is necessary to reflect your brand’s presence on AI search platforms.

As a result, if you stick with traditional metrics, you’ll only see a tiny piece of a larger picture. In fact, you may feel that your marketing strategy is failing due to large dips in organic traffic.

However, what these metrics won’t tell you is that your audience is likely getting exposed to your brand in different ways, like:

1. Discovering your brand through an AI Overview citation
2. Deciding to directly visit your brand’s website after being exposed to your brand
3. Choosing to convert into a customer based on a direct recommendation from ChatGPT

All of these actions can fuel leads and conversions, and the quality of your backlink profile can have a direct impact on them.

In this guide, we’ll teach you which new metrics you need to track to properly monitor your link-building strategy in 2025.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

1. Why traditional SEO metrics aren’t enough
2. The new layer of AI visibility metrics
3. Tools that will help you see the full picture
4. How we help clients report and learn from backlinks