SaaS backlinks have an impact on more than just your rankings—they build trust, send visitors your way, and make your SaaS brand a go-to in your field.

Still, many SaaS firms don’t see the full value of getting links or put it off to focus on making content. But the truth is, that backlinks and organic content work best together. A well-placed link can bring in potential customers, increase brand visibility, and accelerate your growth in ways that on-site SEO alone cannot.

If you’re wondering when to prioritize link building and how to integrate it into your strategy, you’re in the right place and you may build smarter, rank faster, and scale sustainably. 

What Are SaaS Backlinks?

Links are important to SEO for SaaS companies fighting for space online. In the simplest terms, a SaaS backlink is when another website links to your SaaS site. 

Why SaaS backlinks matter:

  • They are likely to boost rankings. Google sees backlinks as trust signals. A Semrush study found that 92.3% of the top 100 ranking domains had at least one backlink.
  • They establish authority. Not all SaaS backlinks are equal, but those from respected industry websites help solidify your credibility. 
  • They send visitors to your website. A good link on a high-traffic site directs possible customers to your page, making more people aware of your brand and turning them into buyers.

Types of SaaS Backlinks 

Not all backlinks work the same way. Let’s see the most valuable types of backlinks for SaaS businesses:

Editorial Links

These are the most powerful because they are earned naturally—other websites link to your content because they find it valuable. You create high-quality content, and websites in your niche reference it because it’s insightful, unique, or helpful. This shows why putting effort into valuable, data-driven, or solution-oriented content pays off in the long run.

Guest Post Links

Writing guest posts for reputable SaaS or tech blogs is a tried-and-true way to build links and brand authority. Well-placed guest post links can position your brand as a thought leader while strengthening your SEO.

PR & HARO Links

Looking to get links from big-name media sites like Forbes or TechCrunch? Reporters and bloggers always need expert input. If you give them a powerful quote or useful contribution, they might showcase your brand. This can earn you a strong backlink and lots of visibility.

Resource Page Links

Many industry sites have resource pages that list useful SaaS tools and services. If your SaaS product fits the bill, getting listed on these pages can be a fantastic way to gain a steady stream of referral traffic and backlinks. These links may be long-lasting because resource pages rarely change.

SaaS Backlinks vs. Organic Growth: Which Gets You to the Top Faster?

High-quality links from authoritative sites can significantly speed up how quickly Google trusts your website, making it easier to rank for competitive keywords. Yes, I mean “competitive keywords”. 

SEO experts widely agree that ranking on the first page for competitive keywords is nearly impossible without backlinks. A lot of pages can still get organic traffic without backlinks, but most of those topics are low-competition. (source: Ahrefs)

Organic growth. It is a steady process. You might create the best blog post in the world, but without backlinks, it could take months, or even years, to gain traction.

That being said, relying only on backlinks without investing in organic growth is like running on borrowed credibility. If your content isn’t strong, links won’t save you. 

That’s why the best approach is a balanced one:

  • Build a strong foundation with valuable content. This ensures that when people land on your site through a backlink, they stay, engage, and convert.
  • Earn and build high-quality SaaS backlinks strategically. Prioritize links from authoritative, relevant websites rather than chasing any and every link available.
  • Optimize for organic growth alongside link building. Strong internal linking or keyword optimization all contribute to long-term rankings.
  • Summary

Backlinks give you speed, but organic growth gives you stability. The top SaaS companies use both together to rule search results and build lasting authority.

When Should You Prioritize SaaS Link Building Strategy?

There are specific situations where an aggressive link building strategy is non-negotiable for SaaS companies.

You’re a new SaaS startup & need quick authority.

If your SaaS site is new, Google doesn’t trust you yet. Your domain is fresh, you have minimal content, and you’re up against competitors who have been ranking for years. In this case, building backlinks early is crucial to speed up your authority-building process.

You’re in a highly competitive industry & need to rank higher.

Some SaaS industries are brutally competitive— CRM software, marketing automation, and AI tools. If your competitors have been investing in SEO for years, simply writing amazing content won’t cut it. 

If you want your pages to attract search visitors, you have two main choices: Focus on low-competition topics that require minimal or no backlinks to rank. Or compete for high-traffic keywords and invest in building quality backlinks.

  • Important:
The best is to combine high-quality link building and high-value SEO-driven content. 

How to Choose Guest Posting Sites for Strategic SaaS Backlinks

Guest posting remains the most popular link building tactic in 2024, according to Authority Hacker. It builds backlinks and attracts organic readers who are genuinely interested in your product. 

But If you’re just chasing backlinks without a strategy, you’ll end up with spammy placements that do nothing for your long-term growth. 

  • Opposite view:
Only 6% of guest posting sites are quality after the Helpful Content Update. Does this mean guest posting is no longer effective?

What Makes a Good Guest Posting Site?

  • High domain authority and trust: Domain authority is one of the most important link building metrics. Google values links from authoritative websites. 
  • Niche relevance: For a SaaS business, posting on SaaS-specific websites, marketing blogs, or tech publications will drive more relevant traffic than a general business site. Google also prefers contextual backlinks, meaning your link should naturally fit within the topic.
  • Engaged audience and strong organic traffic: A site with active readers, social shares, and comments signals that people actually engage with its content. 

Top Guest Posting Sites for SaaS Businesses:

Expert opinion

I think the first rule-of-thumb would be: are you proud of that link? If not, it’s probably not worth much.

Arnie Kuenn
Arnie Kuenn

Former CEO of Vertical Measures (retired)

Conclusion

It’s time to quit treating SaaS backlinks as an afterthought. Start using them as a strong growth driver—and see your SaaS company grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

A SaaS backlink is a high-quality link from a SaaS-related website that boosts search rankings, drives targeted traffic, and builds credibility. These links come from industry leaders, directories, and tech publications, helping SaaS businesses strengthen their online presence and stay competitive in the digital landscape.

An example of a backlink is when a reputable site like TechCrunch links to your SaaS product page in an article about top software solutions. This link directs readers and search engines to your site, boosting visibility, credibility, and potential traffic while strengthening your search rankings.

Buying backlinks isn’t illegal, but it may violate Google’s guidelines. If Google detects unnatural or spammy paid links, your site could face penalties, including ranking drops or deindexing. While Google may not always identify paid links, getting links from low-quality sites increases the risk of penalties and lost credibility.

Dofollow backlinks hold the top place. They have an influence on link equity to the linked site, which helps boost domain authority and search engine rankings. These connections from trusted relevant websites play a key role in increasing visibility and credibility in the SaaS industry.

Bad backlinks, or toxic backlinks, come from low-quality, spammy, or irrelevant websites. These links can harm your site’s SEO by signaling to search engines that your content is untrustworthy. Google may penalize sites with too many bad backlinks, leading to lower rankings and reduced visibility.