Introduction
Links (AKA, backlinks) are essential in SEO. The more quality backlinks you have, the higher your site will likely rank in search results.
In this guide, I’ve outlined the best SaaS link-building strategies and why taking them seriously is so important.
Who am I?
I’m Steven Schneider, co-founder and CEO of TrioSEO, an SEO agency that creates high-intent content for B2B and SaaS brands. Before TrioSEO, I co-owned a portfolio of 40 websites and published approximately 400 articles monthly.
Partnering with Serpzilla, I’ve created a comprehensive guide to share my insights and expertise in SaaS backlinks.
Want to improve your SaaS SEO? Serpzilla is perfect for streamlining link acquisition.
What is Link Building?
Want to appear on the first page of Google? Trust is everything.
The #1 way to gain this trust is through link building: the process of acquiring backlinks – links from other websites that point back to your website.
Search engines examine the number (and quality) of your backlink profile to determine how trustworthy your site is compared to others.
Let’s get a bit deeper into why it’s essential.
Why is Link Building Important for SaaS?
Spoiler alert: Link building is essential for SaaS companies.
Why?
- Links Help Your Rankings: Throughout all Google algorithm updates, backlinks remain a key ranking signal. Websites with the most relevant and authoritative links (typically) come out on top.
- Links Increase Domain Authority: When you get high-quality backlinks from authoritative websites, it sends a message to search engines that your site is trustworthy (this leads to a higher domain authority (DA) and better rankings).
- Links Build Brand Authority: A quality backlink profile is gold for a SaaS website. Think of it like this: when reputable and niche-related sites link to you, that’s a great sign of trust to Google. It’s like an endorsement of your expertise and reliability.
- Links Drive Organic Traffic and Revenue: The more backlinks you gain, the better your rankings. If you have service pages optimized for SEO, this inherently produces leads and revenue.
Next, let’s look at some tried and true strategies.
8 of the Best Link Building Strategies for SaaS
Targeted link-building tactics are necessary to increase visibility, traffic, quality leads, and ROI.
Let’s dive into the top 8 strategies:
1. Digital Assets (e.g., Calculators, Quizzes, etc.)
Who doesn’t love freebies?
SaaS companies (like yours) should build free tools and products to acquire links. Create tools that offer real value to your users and, of course, help solve problems.
Let’s take Shopify, for example. They have created a business name generator that has gained over 2.8K backlinks as a helpful resource.
2. Guest Posting
Another classic strategy for link-building is guest blogging. Here’s how it works:
You can contact a guest posting service (or build a relationship with a high-authority site) and ask them if they would like free content on their blog.
After they accept your proposal, create a blog and include a link to the page you want to support on your website.
3. Podcasting
What do podcasts have to do with building backlinks?
It may be surprising to hear that podcasts create awareness for your brand and are also a great SaaS link-building tactic.
This method works similarly to guest posting. When you speak on a podcast, the host will publish your episode on their website and link back to you in the show notes.
Here’s an example of how I built links back to TrioSEO after being interviewed on The Guidebook podcast.
A considerable advantage here is the small amount of effort required. Instead of writing content, you just need to speak for 45 minutes to 1 hour on a topic you already know.
4. Broken Links
Did you know you can get links by offering help to others?
Specifically, look for a list of broken external links on a website in your target niche, then ask them to add your link to their page instead. They fixed the link and updated it with yours. Win-win.
Pro Tip: Use a link checker tool (I recommend Ahrefs) to find broken links.
Don’t be pushy, though—gently nudge the person by recommending a close link replacement.
5. Unlinked Brand Mentions
First, find mentions of your company that don’t link to your site. Use tools like Google News Alerts and Mention, or just Google your brand. Take those brand mentions and request a link to your website from the site owners.
Pro Tip: You can also negotiate with websites that have mentioned your company homepage and ask them to link to a more relevant page instead (or a second link).
6. Roundups and Competitor Lists
Why not collaborate with sites that compare and rank SaaS companies in your niche?
Simply contact blogs and ask them to include you in their roundup articles. You might sweet-talk them into securing a top spot if you’re lucky.
7. Features in Thought Leadership Articles
People are always looking for expert quotes and opinions to include in content. Share your industry expertise in leading publications to secure a few extra links.
Here’s how it works:
Sign up for the daily email in HARO (now Connectively) and find requests within your expertise. Then, offer your quote in exchange for your name and a link to your website.
Connectively is not the only site. You can explore similar sites like Source Bottle and Qwoted.
8. Infographics & Linkable Content Assets
Although infographics are outdated, they will work. If you create data-packed visuals that tell a story, others will want to use them (and mention you as a resource).
But don’t stop there. Create blogs, case studies, detailed guides, webinars, and step-by-step instructions that provide real solutions and naturally attract backlinks. TrioSEO, a SaaS SEO agency, can help you with that.
The Role of Serpzilla in SaaS Link Building
If these strategies sound like a lot of work, that’s because it is. Thankfully, Serpzila can help.
Serpzilla is a white hat link-building platform that helps you find relevant and contextual backlinks. Here are some of the biggest advantages of working with Serpzilla:
- Secure Relevant Backlinks: You can use Serpzilla to find a list of sites relevant to your SaaS company, securing a niche edit link or guest post.
- Link Building Automation: You can leverage Serpzilla’s link-building automation to buy, place, and manage thousands of backlinks.
- Sort Prospects Easily: You can instantly decide whether a link from a site is worth it by checking core metrics like page authority (DA and DR), spam score, traffic sources, and more.
- Tailor Your Link Building: Serpzilla allows you to customize your campaigns based on your geographic location, language, niche, and more.
- Performance Tracking: I never start a link-building campaign without a goal, nor should you. Whether you want traffic or rankings, Serpzilla has a dashboard where you can monitor your campaigns.
Sign up now and take your link-building efforts to the next level!
Common Mistakes to Avoid in SaaS Link Building
Next, let’s address the common link-building mistakes marketers usually make:
How to Measure the Success of SaaS Link Building
Now that you’ve implemented a link-building campaign, what’s next?
How do you ensure you’re earning quality links?
Here’s what to do:
1. Check Your Current Performance
First, go to Ahrefs and check your domain rating (DR). Then, analyze the backlinks you already have.
Here’s an example from Ahrefs:
2. Define Your Goals
Considering the above metrics, set clear goals and choose the right link-building strategies.
Ask yourself these simple questions:
- What pages do you want to build links to?
- What anchor text or phrases do you plan to link?
- How are you going to reach out to sites and find quality links?
These goals act as measurable targets to determine whether your strategy works.
3. Use the Right Tools
Pick a link-building tool like Ahrefs to check your backlinks, keyword rankings, and domain authority. Alternatively, you can opt for SEMrush to audit your links.
Take it one step further and use Google Analytics to show your traffic sources and the number of visitors. You can also use Google Search Console.
4. Compare Pre and Post-Campaign Results
Finally, compare your site performance before and after your link-building campaign.
Check how many backlinks you’ve gained; focus on their relevance and authority. Most importantly, double-check that the website linked to you is what you intended.
Look at the support you’re getting from relevant links and see if there are positive shifts in rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about link building for SaaS.
What is the Difference Between Do-follow and No-follow Links for SaaS?
Do-follow links act as a ‘vote of confidence,’ signaling that search engines should pass link juice (SEO value) from their website to yours. On the other hand, no-follow links include code that tells search engines not to pass link juice to the linked website.
Should SaaS Companies Focus on Local or Global Link Building?
If your SaaS company targets customers from a specific country and has a physical presence, you should focus on building local links.
Alternatively, opt for global link building if your SaaS product serves an international market and you want to establish your brand as a worldwide authority.
How Long Does It Take to See Results from SaaS Link Building?
The short answer is, “It depends.”
Your website might take longer to see link-building results if your niche is competitive.
However, you will see results faster if your site is established, has a high DR, has valuable content, and gets high-quality, authoritative links from relevant websites.
What Are the Best Tools for Tracking Backlinks?
Some of the best tools for tracking backlinks include Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz Pro, Google Search Console, and Serpzilla.
Conclusion
As they say, knowledge is power!
I hope this guide was helpful as you implement link-building strategies for your SaaS. Just remember to play it safe and to focus on quality over quantity.
Looking to level up your backlink profile?
Create your Serpzilla account and start building quality backlinks.
