B2B SaaS Link Building: Your Essential Guide

Link building forms the core of effective SEO (search engine optimization) for B2B SaaS companies. It involves acquiring hyperlinks from external websites to your own, signaling your content’s value and authority to search engines. For SaaS businesses, robust link building translates directly into increased visibility, qualified traffic, and revenue growth.

Let’s break down the essential link types you’ll encounter:

• Internal Links: These connect pages within your website, distributing page authority and guiding users through your content. Effective internal linking enhances user experience and helps search engines understand your site structure.
• External Links: Links from other websites to yours carry significant weight in SEO. They act as endorsements, telling search engines that other reputable sites value your content.
• Dofollow Links: These links pass SEO value, directly impacting your search rankings. Acquiring high-quality dofollow links from authoritative sites in your niche should be a primary goal of your SaaS link building strategy.
• Nofollow Links: While they don’t directly boost your search rankings, nofollow links drive traffic and increase brand awareness. They play a crucial role in a diverse, natural-looking link profile.

Effective link building doesn’t happen by chance. It requires a well-crafted strategy tailored to your SaaS company’s unique goals and market position. Let’s dive into the key components of a winning SaaS link building plan.

Start by dissecting your current link profile. Use tools like Ahrefs or Moz to uncover your backlink landscape. Which pages attract the most links? Where do your competitors outperform you? Do your referring domains have authority or are they spammy? This analysis forms the foundation of your strategy.

Takeshi Young, an International SEO Manager at Quizlet says, “We look at links in the context of competitor analysis, particularly domain authority and number of linking root domains as a benchmark for how well our site is doing relative to the competition.”

With a clear picture of your link profile, set ambitious yet achievable goals. Aim for metrics that align with your business objectives. For a SaaS startup, this might mean increasing referring domains by 30% in the next quarter. For an established player, the focus could be on acquiring links from specific high-authority industry publications.

Content fuels successful link building. Develop a content strategy that addresses your audience’s pain points while showcasing your SaaS solution’s unique value. Plan a mix of evergreen resources, data-driven reports, and timely industry insights. Remember, link-worthy content solves problems, offers novel perspectives, or provides unmatched value.

Now that you’ve laid the groundwork, it’s time to build those links. Let’s explore the most impactful techniques for SaaS companies.

Internal Linking: Your Secret SEO Weapon

Don’t overlook the power of your own B2B website. Optimizing your internal link structure can significantly boost your SEO efforts. Here’s how:

• Create a clear site hierarchy that guides both users and search engines.
• Use descriptive, keyword-rich anchor text to connect related pages.
• Link from your high-authority pages to important content you want to rank.
• Implement a hub and spoke model, clustering related content pieces around central themes.
• Regularly audit your internal links to ensure they remain relevant and valuable. As your SaaS product evolves, so should your internal linking strategy.

High-Quality Backlinking: Quality Over Quantity

In SaaS link building, one high-quality backlink can outweigh dozens of mediocre ones. Focus on acquiring links from authoritative domains in your niche. These links boost your SEO and drive qualified traffic to your site.

Identify potential link sources using tools like Ahrefs or Semrush. Look for sites with high domain authority that cater to your target audience. Create content specifically designed to appeal to these high-value targets. This might include original research, in-depth guides, or innovative perspectives on industry trends.

Engage in personalized outreach to build relationships with website owners and editors. Offer them unique value – whether it’s exclusive data, expert insights, or a fresh take on a common challenge in your industry.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls: Stay on Google’s Good Side

While the allure of quick wins can be tempting, certain link building practices can do more harm than good. Buying links might seem like a shortcut, but it violates Google’s guidelines and can result in severe penalties.

Similarly, avoid link exchanges, low-quality directories, and over-optimized anchor text.

Instead, focus on creating genuinely valuable content that naturally attracts high-quality backlinks.

Remember, effective link building is a long-term investment in your SaaS company’s digital presence. Stay patient, remain consistent, and always prioritize quality over quantity. Your organic growth will thank you.

Content is the cornerstone of effective link building. By creating valuable, shareable content, you can attract high-quality backlinks naturally, boosting your SaaS company’s SEO and authority. Let’s explore how to make your content a link magnet.

At Stratabeat, we’ve developed a “passive backlink building” strategy that focuses on creating content so compelling that it naturally attracts backlinks without aggressive outreach. This approach helped one Fortune 1000 company increase organic traffic by 7,235.7%. Here’s how you can replicate this success.

The Foundation: Shareable, High-Impact Content

1. Provide Unique Insights: Conduct original research or offer expert opinions that can’t be found elsewhere. This positions your content as a primary source, giving other sites a compelling reason to link to you.
2. Create Visually Appealing Content: Leverage infographics, videos, and interactive elements to make your content more engaging and shareable. Visual content is often more likely to be linked and shared across platforms.
3. Address Trending Topics: Stay on top of industry trends and provide timely, relevant content. Being first to market with insightful commentary on emerging trends can establish your site as a go-to resource.
4. Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with industry thought leaders to create content that leverages their expertise and audience. This not only enhances the quality of your content but also expands its reach.
5. Solve Real Problems: Offer practical solutions to common challenges in your niche. This positions your content as a valuable resource worthy of links and establishes your brand as a problem-solver in your industry.

Remember, B2B blogging is a powerful tool for creating link-worthy pages. Companies that blog receive 97% more backlinks than those that don’t. As your content attracts more backlinks, it climbs in search rankings, creating a virtuous cycle of visibility and authority.

In B2B SaaS, your network is your net worth. Cultivating relationships with industry influencers and complementary businesses can supercharge your link building efforts. Here’s how to make it happen:

Influencer Partnerships: The Amplification Effect

Identify influencers who align with your SaaS niche. Tools like BuzzSumo can help you find the right voices. But don’t rush into pitching collaborations.

Engage authentically first:

• Share their content
• Provide thoughtful comments
• Offer genuine value

Once you’ve built rapport, propose mutually beneficial projects:

• Co-authored whitepapers
• Video interviews
• Expert roundup posts

Remember: Transparency is key. Always disclose commercial relationships to maintain trust.

Co-marketing: Double the Impact

Partner with companies that complement your SaaS solution. This synergy can lead to powerful link-sharing opportunities:

• Joint webinars
• Co-branded research reports
• Integration showcases

Pro tip: Cross-promote on each other’s platforms, naturally incorporating backlinks where relevant.

Promoting Your Content: From Creation to Amplification

Creating great content is just the first step. Next comes content promotion. You need a robust promotion strategy to maximize its impact and attract backlinks. Here’s how to get your content in front of the right eyes:

Social Media Promotion

• LinkedIn: Share in-depth articles and insights. Use hashtags relevant to your SaaS niche. Engage with comments to boost visibility.
• Facebook: Share in relevant groups. Use posts and comment threads to discuss your content and engage directly with your audience.
• Instagram: Create visually appealing infographics or quote cards from your content. Use Stories to drive traffic to your full articles.

Email Marketing

• Segment your list based on user behavior and preferences.
• Craft compelling subject lines that highlight the value of your content.
• Personalize email content to increase open and click-through rates.
• Include social sharing buttons to encourage recipients to spread your content.

Content Syndication

• Republish your content on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn Articles.
• Always include a canonical link back to the original post on your site.
• Customize the content slightly for each platform to avoid duplicate content issues.

Paid Promotion

• Use LinkedIn Sponsored Content to target decision-makers in your SaaS niche.
• Experiment with LinkedIn Ads to boost visibility of your most link-worthy content.
• Consider content discovery platforms like Outbrain to reach new audiences.

Measuring Promotion Effectiveness

• Use Google Analytics to track referral traffic from different promotion channels.
• Monitor social shares and engagement rates across platforms.
• Track email open rates, click-through rates, and conversions.
• Set up alerts for brand mentions and new backlinks using tools like Ahrefs or Mention.
• Use UTM parameters to attribute backlinks to specific promotion efforts.

To optimize your link building strategy, you need to track the right metrics. Here are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will help you measure the effectiveness of your efforts:

• Total Number of Backlinks: This is the overall count of links pointing to your website from external sources. It provides a broad view of your link building progress over time, helping you understand the scale of your efforts.
• Number of Referring Domains: This metric shows the count of unique websites linking to your site. It’s crucial because it indicates the diversity of your backlink profile. Generally, links from many different domains are more valuable than many links from few domains, as it suggests broader recognition across the web.
• Domain Authority (DA) or Domain Rating (DR) of Linking Sites: DA or DR is a metric predicting how well a website will rank on search engine result pages. Tracking the DA of sites linking to you is important because higher DA links typically pass more SEO value, potentially boosting your own site’s authority and search rankings.
• Anchor Text Distribution: This refers to the variety of text used in the clickable part of backlinks. Monitoring this is vital because a natural, diverse anchor text profile helps avoid over-optimization penalties from search engines, ensuring your link building appears organic.
• Link Relevancy: This measures how closely related the linking site’s content is to your own. It’s a critical factor because relevant links from sites in your industry carry more weight with search engines and are more likely to drive targeted traffic to your site.
• Organic Traffic Growth: This KPI tracks the increase in visitors coming to your site through unpaid search results. It’s perhaps the most important metric as it directly reflects the ultimate goal of link building: improving search rankings and driving more organic traffic to your site.
• Keyword Rankings: This shows your site’s position in search results for target keywords. Tracking this is essential because improved rankings for relevant keywords indicate successful link building efforts and increased visibility for your SaaS offering.
• Referral Traffic from Backlinks: This metric measures the number of visitors coming to your site by clicking on backlinks. It’s valuable because it shows the direct traffic benefit of your backlinks, beyond just SEO value, helping you identify which links are driving actual visitors.
• Conversion Rate from Referral Traffic: This is the percentage of referral visitors who complete desired actions on your site. It’s crucial to monitor because it indicates the quality and relevance of your backlinks in terms of driving valuable traffic that contributes to your business goals.
• Link Velocity: This measures the rate at which your site is acquiring new backlinks over time. It’s important to track because a steady, natural growth in backlinks is healthier in the eyes of search engines than sudden spikes or drops, which could trigger spam filters.

Takeshi Young, International SEO Manager at Quizlet says, “If you’re an international company, look for links from international sites and ccTLDs. Obtaining links in your target markets can send a strong signal to Google that your site is relevant to those markets.”

Your link building strategy should evolve as your SaaS company grows. Here’s a roadmap:

Startup Phase

• Focus on niche directories and product listing sites
• Leverage founder stories and startup journey narratives
• Engage in strategic guest posting on industry blogs

Growth Phase

• Target high-authority industry publications
• Develop data-driven content and original research
• Explore co-marketing opportunities with complementary SaaS tools

Enterprise Phase

• Aim for mainstream media coverage and thought leadership pieces
• Create comprehensive resources that become go-to industry references
• Invest in large-scale studies or tools that generate significant buzz and backlinks

Remember how external dofollow links pass “SEO juice” to your site? Acquiring high-quality dofollow links from authoritative sites in your niche is incredibly valuable to your website. But acquiring low-quality links is very risky business.

While the allure of rapid B2B SaaS SEO gains can be tempting, aggressive link building is a high-risk game that smart SaaS marketers avoid. Here’s why:

• Google Penalties: Artificial link schemes can trigger manual actions, tanking your rankings overnight.
• Reputation Damage: Low-quality links from spam sites can tarnish your brand’s credibility.
• Wasted Resources: Time and money spent on shady tactics yield short-lived gains at best.

If a link building agency approaches you about purchasing backlinks, run. Spammy website owners prey on marketers in the SaaS industry and make a living on selling low-quality backlinks that will do nothing but hurt your reputation and SERP rankings.

Instead, focus on link building campaigns that earn links through value creation. At Stratabeat, we’ve seen clients achieve staggering organic growth—think 7,000%+ increases—by prioritizing quality content that naturally attracts authoritative backlinks.

As you’re documenting your SaaS link building strategy, note how you’ll integrate link building it into your comprehensive SaaS SEO strategy:

1. Content is King, Links are Queen: Invest heavily in creating remarkable content. Great links naturally follow great content.
2. Technical SEO Foundation: Ensure your site structure, speed, and mobile optimization are top-notch. The best links won’t help if Google can’t crawl your site effectively.
3. On-Page Optimization: Align your content with search intent and optimize for target keywords. This amplifies the impact of your backlinks.
4. UI and UX Focus: A site that delights users sends positive signals to Google, complementing your link building efforts.

Remember, it’s about creating a symphony of SEO elements, not a solo performance.

Remember, effective link building is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, consistency, and a commitment to quality. As you implement these strategies, keep your focus on providing genuine value to your audience and industry partners. This approach attracts high-quality backlinks and establishes your SaaS brand as a trusted industry leader.

Integrate these link building tactics into your broader SaaS content marketing and SEO strategy. By aligning your link building with your overall business objectives, you’ll create a powerful synergy that propels your SaaS company forward in the digital landscape.

Stay agile and data-driven in your approach. Regularly monitor your KPIs, adjust your tactics based on results, and always be on the lookout for new opportunities to expand your link profile. With persistence and strategic thinking, you’ll build a robust backlink foundation that supports long-term organic growth and success in the competitive SaaS market.

What is SaaS link building?

SaaS link building is the process of acquiring high-quality backlinks to your software-as-a-service website. It involves creating valuable content, building relationships with industry influencers, and implementing strategies to earn links from relevant, authoritative websites. The goal is to improve your site’s search engine rankings, increase organic traffic, and establish your SaaS brand as a leader in your niche.

Does link building still work?

Yes, link building remains a crucial aspect of SEO. While search algorithms have evolved, high-quality backlinks continue to be a significant ranking factor. However, the focus has shifted from quantity to quality, relevance, and naturalness of links. Effective link building can significantly improve your site’s authority and visibility in search results.

How long does it typically take to see results from link building efforts?

Link building is a long-term strategy. While you may notice some improvements in rankings and traffic within 3-6 months, significant results often take 6-12 months to materialize. Consistency is key—keep building quality links and creating valuable content, and you’ll see compounding benefits over time.

Why is link building important for B2B SaaS companies?

Link building is particularly important for B2B SaaS companies because:

• It improves search engine rankings, helping potential customers find your software solution.
• It builds credibility and trust in a highly competitive market.
• It drives targeted traffic from relevant industry B2B SaaS websites.
• It supports thought leadership efforts, positioning your brand as an industry expert.
• It can lead to valuable partnerships and collaborations within your niche.

Is link building good for SEO?

Yes, when done correctly, link building is highly beneficial for SEO. Quality backlinks signal to search engines that your content is valuable and authoritative. This can lead to higher rankings, increased organic traffic, and improved visibility for your SaaS product. However, it’s crucial to focus on ethical, white-hat link building techniques to avoid penalties from search engines.

How many backlinks does my B2B SaaS website need to rank well?

There’s no magic number—quality trumps quantity. A handful of high-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative sites in your niche can be more valuable than hundreds of low-quality links. Focus on acquiring links that drive targeted traffic and boost your site’s authority in your specific SaaS category.

Should I focus more on dofollow or nofollow links?

While dofollow links pass more direct SEO value, a natural link profile includes both dofollow and nofollow links. Nofollow links can still drive valuable referral traffic and contribute to a diverse, natural-looking backlink profile. Aim for a mix, with a slight emphasis on dofollow links from relevant, authoritative sources.

How often should I audit my backlink profile?

Conduct a comprehensive backlink audit every 3-6 months. However, set up alerts to monitor new backlinks in real-time, allowing you to quickly address any potentially harmful links. Regular monitoring helps maintain a healthy link profile and allows you to capitalize on new link-building opportunities as they arise.