The views expressed by the business participants are their own.
Five years from now, 94% of marketers think links will continue to be a ranking factor in Google’s algorithms.
However, many companies that provide link building services engage in questionable practices, such as selling links from second-hand or low-quality websites. These links can not only fail to provide value but may harm the website that receives them. Therefore, it is important to be careful when hiring an external link building partner.
So, here are a few important tips to help SaaS businesses get the most out of their link building efforts.
Related: 10 Powerful Link Building Strategies to Improve Your Website’s SEO
1. Take metrics with a grain of salt
It is important to approach metrics with skepticism. Website owners often inflate numbers like Domain Rating (DR). You may see a DR of 70, but in reality, the website has little authority in Google’s eyes. Of course, this is not always the case. In fact, the Domain Rating is consistent with high standards
While metrics can be useful, especially when sifting through a large list of websites, don’t rely on them alone. Always look deeper into the actual quality of the site.
2. Organic traffic for real keywords is important
Pay attention to the keywords the website is ranking for. Ideally, the site you are getting backlinks from should have organic traffic, which shows that Google values it. More importantly, the traffic must come from relevant, industry-specific keywords. Some sites may rank for irrelevant terms like “celebrity news” despite being in a completely different niche – or worse, they may be using fake traffic. Always make sure the keywords are relevant to your business.
3. Get links to real businesses
The best way to determine if a website is worth getting a backlink is to see if it is a real business. Many sites exist to sell links only and often link farms. Focus on getting links from legitimate businesses, as these are the ones that offer the most value.
4. Use internal links
Let’s face it – quality link building is hard. And if you find it difficult to get backlinks for your service or landing pages, start by linking to your blog posts instead. Then, use internal linking on your site to ensure consistent link flow throughout your pages. Without proper internal linking, you won’t get the most out of the backlinks you build.
Related: Top 8 Backlink Strategies to Boost Your Traffic
5. Prioritize links to target pages
When building backlinks, your main focus should be on your money making pages. Links to these pages are important. If you work with an agency, make sure they target specific marketing pages. Even if you only get a few links per page per month, if they are targeted, they are very effective.
6. Prepare the anchors
Optimizing anchor text is important. In my experience, advanced anchor scripts work best. If you hire an agency, send them a list of your preferred backup directory and your landing pages, so they can focus on both aspects.
7. Focus on to-follow links
There is an ongoing debate about the impact of no-follow links on standards. Although unfollow links have some influence, they are difficult to measure. Based on my observations, it seems to be about 30-50% as effective as follow links. In a LinkedIn survey I conducted, 43% of participants believed that no-follow links were 25% or less effective than follows. However, remember that many respondents may not have enough experience, so their opinions are just that – opinions.
8. List at the top of the list post
There are dozens of “comparison” and “alternative” pages for popular tools, which generate significant search volumes. For example, searches like “Canva alternatives” are common. If your product is in a competitive niche, you want to be listed as the first choice on these pages created by bloggers and websites. Not only will you get valuable backlinks, but you will also get more clicks and recommendations as a top alternative, which greatly improves your link building efforts.
This also creates a snowball effect. Future writers and bloggers working on alternatives to that particular tool will often refer to the existing list. If they see your product featured prominently, they are more likely to add it to their list, greatly increasing your exposure and link building efforts.
9. Send the right company
According to one study, 56% of SaaS marketing departments use a combination of internal and external staff to achieve their marketing goals.
When choosing a company, make sure that they focus on building SaaS links and deliver high quality work, as word of mouth and testimonials can be very effective indicators of their reliability.
Related: How To Rock A Strong Link Building Strategy
In summary, while links are always important for SEO, it is important to prioritize quality over quantity. Focus on getting high-quality backlinks to your key pages, using advanced anchor texts to make a real impact. Your link building strategy should complement your branding strategy to maximize effectiveness. By being selective and strategic in your approach, you can build a strong link profile that truly enhances the online presence of your SaaS business.
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