You may be wondering if link building is worth the effort. It can seem so tedious but it’s absolutely worth the time and planning that you put into it.
Google confirmed that backlinks are one of their three important search engine ranking factors, so they deserve your attention.
Whether your goal is to improve your website’s rankings or drive qualified leads, well-planned link building is the way to get there.
Need some guidance along the way? You’re in the right place.
In this post, we’ll discuss the best strategies for crafting link building campaigns that won’t leave you frustrated and disappointed.
1. Creating High-Quality, Linkable Content
One of the most important elements of SaaS link building that actually gets results is the quality of your content. You always have to provide value to other websites so they want to link back to your site.
As such, the foundation of your link building campaign will be creating linkable assets, which are pieces of content that will generate traffic and backlinks. This content will only generate traffic and backlinks if it stands out in quality.
You can’t just dive in and create any old content, though. To achieve your goal of building links that will impress search engines, you’ll need to carefully plan all your content. GrowthOG has experience with identifying and creating content assets that are optimized for high-quality backlinks. If you’re unsure of how to get started, partner with us!
You can start by creating a dedicated blog tailored to your audience. Every SaaS business should have an up-to-date blog that regularly shares valuable content.
Through your blog, you can educate your audience and get them to engage with your brand. You’ll also assert yourself as a credible voice in your industry, which helps greatly with customer acquisition.
Ensure your blog’s UI is stellar—it’s one of the main reasons people will just leave a website. While it can be tempting to write about everything related to your industry, it’s best to start with a specific topic or two. Create as much content around those topics and branch out later if you still want to.
Update your old articles regularly and make sure everything on your blog is relevant. Nothing like inaccurate, outdated content to ruin your reputation.
Need some inspiration?
Here are a few great SaaS blogs that hit the nail right on the head with their content:
In addition to your blog, you can also create accurate and informative trend reports, share or make useful tools, and do content roundups. As long as the content you make offers value (a very important word in SaaS link building), your campaign will see pleasing results.
2. Identifying Authoritative Domains
Targeting authoritative domains can completely change the success rate of your link-building efforts. Why? Because these high-quality websites provide valuable backlinks that boost your credibility and search engine rankings.
To get mentioned by authoritative domains, start by conducting a backlink audit of your competitors. Look at domains linking to websites targeting the same or similar keywords as yours. This will give you a list of potential targets to kick things off and examine closely for compatibility.
Of course, not every domain on your list will be a perfect fit. Filter out:
- Partners of your competitors (they’re probably off-limits)
- Domains with a high threshold for domain rating that you can’t meet yet
You’ll likely be able to uncover a veritable goldmine of publications or blogging sites where getting mentioned is relatively easy. This serves as a fantastic starting point for building your link building outreach list.
Most important here is domain authority (DA)—an SEO metric that predicts how well a website is likely to rank on search engine results pages (SERPs). The higher the DA, the stronger the website’s potential to pass on ranking power to yours.
Just because a website’s DA is so awesome doesn’t mean you should stop your scrutiny there, though. Look at the website’s traffic, too. Aim for sites with at least 3,000 unique visitors per month to ensure your backlinks have real reach and impact.
This process can take a while and shouldn’t be rushed through. GrowthOG knows exactly how to identify the right authoritative domains that will be perfectly suited to your SaaS niche. Partnering with us will save you time and help ensure optimal research.
By narrowing your focus to authoritative domains with solid traffic, you’ll maximize the value of your link-building campaigns. Quality always beats quantity in the long game!
When you’ve narrowed down your list to the best possible options, it’s time for action. Most websites have a “Contact Us” page—a great first stop to fill out a form and introduce yourself.
If that doesn’t cut it, turn to social media. Editors and admins often hang out on platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn, making them approachable for outreach. For those hard-to-reach prospects, consider using tools like Wiza to scrape work emails of content managers or editors.
3. Dofollow vs Nofollow links
Not all backlinks are created equal, and the difference lies in the source code—something your readers will never notice. Let’s break down the two main types.
Dofollow Backlinks
Dofollow links are the bread and butter for link builders. They signal to search engines that traffic is coming from another domain, and they play a significant role in shaping your backlink profile. The links tell search engines to give authority to the pages they link to, while the same doesn’t happen for nofollow links.
These links directly impact your PageRank. The more high-quality ones you build, the better. In fact, unless otherwise specified, most link-building efforts focus on creating dofollow links.
Nofollow Backlinks
Nofollow links, on the other hand, include a rel= “nofollow” tag in the source code. This tells search engines to ignore the link when evaluating your backlink profile.
But don’t write them off just yet—nofollow links still hold value. Some websites restrict dofollow links, making nofollow links your next best option. Plus, Google actively encourages businesses to use nofollow tags in specific cases like link exchanges.
Google even introduced two additional tags for more context around nofollow links:
- Sponsored links: Used for paid placements, like listicles or promoted content
- User-generated links (UGC): Links created by users, such as social media mentions or forum posts
Nofollow tags can also save you from penalties if you inadvertently link to spammy sites. While they don’t directly influence rankings, they’re an essential part of a healthy backlink strategy.
You can still drive traffic to your website and diversify your backlink profile, which is a contributing factor to Google’s SERP ranking algorithm. Some of GrowthOG’s expertise lie in securing strategic dofollow links for SaaS companies while diversifying backlink profiles effectively. If you’re unsure on how to make these links work for you, we can help!
4. Guest Posting
Guest posting remains one of the most effective ways for SaaS companies to earn awesome backlinks while building credibility. The process is pretty straightforward but requires a strategic approach.
Here’s how it works: you collaborate with bloggers or web publishers to contribute valuable content to their platforms. Not only does this help you secure backlinks, but it also boosts referral traffic and strengthens your website’s domain authority.
Search for high-authority websites in your niche. Focus on those with engaged audiences and strong domain metrics.
Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to identify sites that accept guest posts. A quick search like “your industry + write for us” can also work wonders.
Reach out to website owners with a compelling pitch. Share a guest post idea tailored to their audience, showing you’ve done your homework.
Of course, all your trouble will be for nothing if you don’t actually write awesome posts. Let’s briefly look at a few useful tips for writing the best guest posts.
- Value: Create high-quality, engaging content that offers real value. The more useful and unique your content, the better your chances of getting published.
- Add Your Link Strategically: Include a link to your website, either in your author bio or naturally within the content (where relevant).
- Promote: Once published, promote your guest post on social media to maximize visibility and traffic. This not only benefits you but also strengthens your relationship with the host website. A good relationship means an improved chance of working with the same site again in the future.
Guest posting isn’t just about strategic and relevant backlinks—it’s a chance to establish thought leadership and expand your reach. When done right, it’s a win-win for you and the sites you collaborate with!
5. Leveraging Unlinked Brand Mentions
Unlinked brand mentions are a hidden gem mine for SaaS companies. These are instances where websites mention your product or business but don’t include a link to your site. Turning these mentions into backlinks is a simple yet effective strategy to boost your SEO and authority.
Here’s how to make it happen:
- Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to track down unlinked brand mentions across the web
- Set up Google News alerts to stay updated on new mentions of your brand
- Reach out to the website owners with a polite request to add a link to your website
Here you can see that Page One Power set up alerts in BuzzSumo that helped the brand monitor brand mentions and backlinks.
When reaching out, focus on providing value (that word pops up often because it truly matters!). For example, offer them a helpful resource, unique data, or a service that complements their content. Building goodwill makes it more likely they’ll agree to your request.
Don’t forget to follow up if you don’t hear back. Persistence often pays off, but always remain professional and avoid pushy behavior.
Turning unlinked brand mentions into working backlinks not only helps you acquire high-quality links but also strengthens your relationships within your niche. Plus, it provides social proof, enhances your credibility, and increases your website’s authority.
When you tap into the potential of unlinked mentions, you’re capitalizing on opportunities that are already halfway there—no cold outreach required!
6. Broken Link Building and Reclamation
Broken links are a bane for websites—they frustrate users and harm the overall experience. On the flip side, though, they can be great for SaaS link building. These broken links create a perfect opportunity for SaaS companies to step in and turn those dead links into valuable backlinks.
Here’s how it works: many blogs and websites unknowingly have links that point to 404 pages. If you’ve got a blog post or resource that covers the same topic, you can pitch it to the site owner.
Not only are they likely to appreciate you flagging the issue, but they’ll often replace the broken link with yours—giving you a valuable backlink.
Use tools like Ahrefs, Moz, or Dead Link Checker to find 404 errors on high-authority websites in your niche. Create a list of broken links and identify content on your site that fits as a replacement.
Reach out to the website owners with a polite, helpful email. Let them know about the broken link and suggest your resource as the perfect fix.
This strategy is simple to execute, provides value to the website owner, and builds goodwill while earning you great backlinks.
By replacing broken links, you’re not only improving your own SEO but also helping others clean up their site. GrowthOG can efficiently execute broken link-building campaigns, ensuring your content fills the gap seamlessly.
7. Product Embeds and Reviews
Product reviews are a powerhouse strategy for SaaS companies. Not only can they help you earn high-quality backlinks, but they also provide social proof and the potential to attract new customers. Plus, product reviews often include your target keywords, giving your SEO efforts an extra boost.
You’ll also be able to foster relationships with other websites in your niche.
The process is simple:
- Reach out to niche bloggers or influencers in your industry.
- Offer them a free three-month trial of your product in exchange for an honest review.
- Request the review be published within two weeks of them gaining access to your SaaS tool.
People love free stuff, and once they experience the value of your product, they might just turn into long-term paying customers.
This tactic is a big win on multiple fronts—saving you the effort of traditional guest blogging while delivering backlinks, visibility, and credibility.
Product embeds are a fantastic way to gain high-quality backlinks while strengthening your online presence. They not only build relationships with other websites in your niche but also provide valuable social proof that enhances your brand’s authority.
Here’s how to make product embeds work for you if you don’t already have something to create a strategy around:
Develop a product or tool that can be embedded on other websites. Think widgets, plugins, or features that solve a specific problem for your audience.
Include a subtle “Powered By” link in the embed, directing users back to your website. This ensures every use of your tool works as a backlink.
This strategy creates a win-win scenario. Websites get a useful feature, while you earn backlinks and increased authority—all without the need for constant outreach.
8. Podcasting and Interviews
Wait, how can a podcast help search engines find your website? It’s probably not what you expected, but podcasts aren’t just for building brand awareness—they’re also a sneaky-good link-building tactic for SaaS companies.
Just like with guest posting, most podcasts have websites. So when you’re featured on one, they’ll typically post the episode along with links back to the websites you mention—yep, yours could easily be one of them.
The real beauty of podcast link building? You don’t need to spend hours crafting high-quality written content. Instead, you prepare a bit and talk for 30-45 minutes about something you already know. Simple, right?
Blackblaze partnered with Cortex and earned a mention and link from the episode:
Naturally, you need to work with podcasts in your niche, or you’ll just confuse the podcast owners and likely get rejected. Tools like Moz and Ahrefs can help you find podcasts that will accept guests.
Once you’ve come up with a list of podcast options, reach out to them and propose a guest idea. Make sure to clarify how beneficial it will be for them to have you as a guest.
When you’re accepted, start doing thorough research about the podcast’s audience so you can have the right attitude when you appear on an episode. Share everything you know but remain humble—people don’t easily like a smug or arrogant podcast guest.
Use your social media platforms to promote your podcast appearance and get more people to tune in.
Another really good idea for backlink building is even more unexpected than podcasts: interviews.
CEO interviews, in particular, are a fantastic way to land backlinks, and they’re a lot like podcast interviews. The process is simple: compile a list of websites that feature interviews with SaaS founders or experts, then pitch your CEO for an interview.
The great thing about CEO interviews is that many websites in your niche will be eager for an expert opinion, especially if you pitch them with valuable ideas or even set up long-term partnerships. They get great content, and SaaS companies get backlinks—it’s a win-win for everyone involved.
9. Thought Leadership and Expert Quotes
If you want to build high-quality backlinks and boost your authority, getting featured in thought leadership articles is an underrated gem. This tactic involves sharing your insights as an expert on a specific topic in your industry.
Robert Rose, one of the co-founders of Content Marketing Institute, uses his position and experience to share insights and help companies market through content.
The previously mentioned podcasts and interview opportunities can be used for this purpose as well. If you can feature on a YouTube channel in your industry, it could be just as good a chance to get quality backlinks.
Audio-based opportunities aren’t the only ones out there, though. You can pitch a killer article idea to a website, or find an article where your expertise could add value. GrowthOG can help you craft interesting, effective thought leadership pieces and secure media placements for your SaaS brand.
Also, offer a quote or insight that highlights your knowledge—bonus points for adding something fresh and unique.
Once published, the website promotes the article across their platforms, driving traffic (and backlinks) your way.
This strategy helps foster a sense of community while positioning your brand as a thought leader in your space. Share your articles and other thought leadership-building adventures on social media to drive traffic.
10. PR Campaigns and Press Releases
Public relations (PR) campaigns are an effective way to put your business front and center, boosting brand awareness and earning you valuable backlinks from media outlets and online publications.
PR link building works best when you build long-term relationships with journalists and writers. If you just reach out cold and ask for a mention, you’re probably not going to get far.
How to Make PR SaaS Link Building Work:
- Build Relationships: Start by nurturing genuine connections with journalists and media outlets. Offer value without asking for anything in return. Help them with research, provide relevant sources for their stories, and offer your expertise when they need it.
- Be Ready for the Long Game: PR is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time to build trust and get noticed by the right publications. Be patient and consistent.
If you’re a small team, have limited resources, or need faster results, partnering with a digital PR agency could be your best bet. These agencies already have strong relationships with key publications, allowing you to bypass the waitlist and jump to the front.
Here are a few tips to take your PR campaigns to the next level:
- Stay Updated in Your Industry: Set up Google Alerts to track breaking stories in your niche. This will help you find timely angles for your PR pitches and take advantage of trending topics.
- Craft Unique Stories: What makes your business stand out? Whether it’s a fresh statistic, an exclusive insight, or a bold opinion, make sure your PR stories reflect what sets you apart from the competition.
- Write Credible Content: Journalists are pros at spotting flimsy stories. Make sure your PR pitch is solid by including stats from credible third-party sources, your own research, and logical, data-backed insights.
- Keep It Simple, Silly (KISS): Journalists are busy—don’t waste their time. Get straight to the point in your pitch and make it easy for them to understand why your story matters.
- Optimize Your Emails: Personalize your subject line, lead with value, and follow up at the right time. Keep your approach professional and always be open to incorporating feedback.
- Offer Value: Create a well-planned press release that gives your audience something to look forward to and something they can look back on later.
- Niche-Relevant Keywords: To ensure your content gets seen by the right people, you need to spend time researching the best and most relevant keywords. Use them wisely!
- Connect With The Right People: Find all the high-authority websites in your industry and make sure you’re approaching them when distributing your press release.
- Invest In a Distribution Service: Link-building campaigns are hard work, so if you can use extra tools or a reputable distribution service, don’t hesitate.
It’s a good idea to reach out to website owners in your niche (or related to it) and ask them to publish your press release. When they agree, follow up with them to make sure they published your content.
With the right strategy, PR campaigns can be a powerhouse for backlinks and exposure, helping your brand get noticed and grow over time.
11. Affiliate Marketing and Partnerships
Okay, this one isn’t for every SaaS product, but if it fits your model, it can be a game-changer. Backlinks from .edu or .gov domains are like a gold stamp of approval from the internet. Getting a mention as a partner on their website, with your own dedicated page, can skyrocket your domain authority.
To make the most of this kind of opportunity, create a program that will be valuable to your affiliates. It will be easier to convince them to work with you if what you’re offering is something they actually want.
Affiliate marketing is a powerful way to generate referrals. By creating an attractive affiliate program, you can get influencers, bloggers, and marketers to spread the word—and with it, valuable backlinks.
For example, Skyscanner earns money from hotel partners and car rental companies, who link back to their website.
To keep an eye on affiliate performance, invest in a tracking system that can monitor progress as it happens.
Once again, use social media to promote your affiliate program and boost visibility.
12. Connecting With Reporters
HARO (Help A Reporter Out), now Connectively, is a free service that connects journalists and bloggers with expert sources for their stories. In exchange for offering your expert advice, you’ll likely get a sweet backlink in the article’s author section. Whether that link is nofollow or dofollow, either way, it’s an awesome way to get your brand linked from high-authority sites and drive some serious organic traffic your way.
For website owners and marketers, this is a massive opportunity to snag backlinks from some of the most reputable media outlets out there. And these backlinks don’t just boost your SEO—they also drive targeted referral traffic straight to your site.
Unfortunately, HARO won’t be around for much longer, so make the most of it while you can!
With HARO shutting down on December 9, 2024, you’ll have to explore alternative platforms for connecting with journalists and securing media opportunities. Here are a few strong contenders that can fill the gap for SaaS link building strategies:
- Help a B2B Writer (Free)
Topping the list of recommended alternatives, Help a B2B Writer is a platform tailored for business-to-business (B2B) journalists seeking expert sources.
- JournoRequest (Free)
Operating through X (formerly Twitter), JournoRequest shares journalist requests for sources, often from UK-based media. While primarily focused on the UK, it occasionally extends its reach internationally. - Qwoted (Free and Paid Plans, starting at $99/month)
Qwoted is a platform designed to match journalists with expert sources, streamlining collaboration for high-quality content creation. With both free and paid options, Qwoted offers flexibility for businesses and professionals looking to connect with media opportunities. - SourceBottle (Free and Paid Plans, starting at $5.95/month)
SourceBottle connects journalists, bloggers, and media professionals with expert sources. It allows users to pitch ideas and insights to journalists in need of content. It’s another effective option for those seeking media exposure and opportunities for effective SaaS link building.
13. Sharing Free/Freemium Tools
Free tools are an absolute game-changer when it comes to attracting your ideal customer profile (ICP) and leveraging product-led growth to drive signups. By creating resource pages and offering tools that genuinely provide value to your users, you’re setting yourself up for some serious link-building success.
But here’s the kicker: just creating the tool isn’t enough. You’ve got to put in the work to promote it to the right communities and encourage people to link back to it.
Free tools don’t just bring value—they bring links. And when done right, they can seriously level up your SEO game.
Ahrefs, for example, has many free tools to choose from, including their website authority checker:
14. Building a Resource Page
Resource pages, or listicles, are goldmines for link-building. These pages gather the best of the best—whether it’s eBooks, guides, or SaaS tools—and link to content that’s valuable and relevant. The more high-quality content these pages feature, the more powerful those links become for your site.
So, if you’ve got a killer blog post, an informative eBook, or an in-depth report, it’s time to get proactive. Reach out to these resource pages and pitch how adding your content will make their list even better. Show them why your resource is the one their audience needs to see.
To make this work, your content needs to be top-tier. The difference is, instead of waiting for links to come to you, you’re actively hunting them down and making your pitch.
Start by hunting for resource pages that could benefit from what you’ve already created, then go for it—make your pitch and watch the links roll in.
Here’s a quick example of such a search:
15. Integration Partnerships
Integration partnerships may be something you’ve not heard of before, but if you’re not taking advantage of this, you’re missing out big time. They are formal business agreements between two or more companies to connect their products, services, or technologies.
When you’re working with an integration partner, make sure to:
Get them to add a link to your integration directory—that’s backlink 101 right there.
Write a guest post for their blog with a juicy, contextual link back to a key page you want to push. Bonus points if they use your target keyword as anchor text. (We all know the power of a well-placed keyword!)
How many of your integration partners are out there not linking back to you? Or how many haven’t even had the pleasure of a guest post from your team?
Reconnect with your partners, and watch your backlink strategy hit a whole new level.
In this example, TripAdvisor partnered with OpenTable, earning their partner an easy, high-quality link.
16. Sponsorships and Event Partnerships
Sponsoring events or partnering with organizations is a smart way to earn high-quality backlinks while strengthening your brand presence.
Many events include sponsor backlinks on their websites as a way to acknowledge contributors, offering a natural and authoritative link to your site.
These partnerships work because they connect your brand with established organizations, lending credibility while boosting your SEO. Links from event websites often carry significant authority, and the added exposure enhances your visibility in the industry.
Also, participating in niche-related events is an excellent way to secure high-quality SaaS backlinks while building your brand’s reputation within the industry. Conferences and webinars are fantastic for this purpose.
Backlinks from respected industry events signal authority to search engines, helping to boost your site’s domain strength and improve page rankings.
Beyond link-building, events offer opportunities to drive organic, qualified traffic directly to your website. Speaking at or sponsoring virtual summits and web conferences can connect you with engaged audiences, increasing both visibility and credibility as attendees click through to explore your content.
The 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Star event is a good example of a brand successfully sponsoring an event:
Your first step here will be to identify events, conferences, or nonprofit initiatives relevant to your niche.
When negotiating sponsorship terms, make sure a backlink from the event’s website is part of the agreement. Taking it a step further, collaborate with event organizers to produce co-branded content that amplifies exposure and creates additional linking opportunities.
For the best results, focus on events with strong domain authority and ensure that any links point naturally to relevant content on your site.
Promoting your efforts is essential. Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your event participation and earning valuable backlinks. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook allow you to create excitement by sharing updates, behind-the-scenes insights, and highlights from the event.
By using event-specific hashtags, you can boost your content’s visibility, reach a wider audience, and encourage others to share your posts. This engagement not only amplifies your presence but also opens the door for natural backlink opportunities that search engines tend to reward.
Don’t forget to track your results—monitor the traffic, brand visibility, and overall ROI generated from your sponsorships to fine-tune your approach for future opportunities.
17. Creating Niche Data Reports or Case Studies
Creating industry-specific data reports or case studies is a highly effective way to attract organic backlinks from related blogs, niche publications, and thought leaders.
Data-driven insights resonate with professionals looking for reliable resources, making your content a go-to reference in the field.
The reason this works is simple: original data or detailed case studies offer unique value. When you provide insights others can’t easily replicate, you position yourself as a trusted source. This often leads to organic mentions and backlinks from articles, blog posts, and reports that rely on your findings.
Sharing success stories through case studies helps establish your reputation with both potential customers and industry peers.
Here’s an example of a coffee report compiled by the International Coffee Organization:
Case studies aren’t just link-building tools—they’re highly versatile content assets. You can repurpose them into social media posts, blog articles, or even presentation materials, amplifying their reach and boosting your brand’s visibility across multiple platforms.
Before creating a case study, it’s essential to define your goals and understand your target audience.
Are you aiming to generate leads, highlight a particular service, or position yourself as an authority in a specific niche? Clarifying what you want to achieve will shape the focus and impact of your content.
Equally important is knowing who you’re trying to reach. A clear understanding of your audience will guide everything from the tone and language to the specific challenges your case study addresses, ensuring it resonates with the people you want to engage.
To start creating a case study, focus on a trending or underexplored topic in your niche. Gather internal data or conduct original research to uncover fresh insights, then package the findings in an engaging, downloadable format.
Once your study is live, reach out to blogs, journalists, and influencers in your industry who are likely to benefit from or reference the data.
For maximum impact, make your data visually compelling—use charts, infographics, and clear formatting to enhance readability. Keep the study focused on actionable insights that address current industry challenges.
Finally, promote the report widely through press releases, email outreach, and social media to ensure it reaches the right audience.
With the right approach, data reports and case studies can be a cornerstone of your link-building strategy, driving both authority and visibility.
Over to You
Ready to take your SaaS link-building strategy to a whole new level? Whether you’re investing time in guest posting, tapping into broken links, or making the most of integration partnerships, there’s no time like the present to get started.
Implementing just one or two of these techniques can make a huge difference in driving organic traffic, building authority, and boosting your rankings.
But why stop there? If you’re looking for a tailored, scalable, and ROI-focused link-building strategy that aligns with your unique business goals, GrowthOG is here to help.
Let’s unlock the power of expertly crafted, tailored, scalable link-building campaigns that deliver results together.
Contact us today!
