How to get the most out of your link building efforts

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five years from now, 94% of marketers think that 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 manipulated or low-quality websites. These links may not only provide no value, but may also harm the website receiving them. Therefore, it is essential to exercise caution when hiring an external partner building connections.

So here are some top tips to help SaaS businesses get the most out of their link building efforts.

1. Take metrics with a grain of salt

It is essential to approach the metric 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 or no authority in Google's eyes. Of course, this is not always the case. in reality, Domain rating is related with higher rankings

While metrics can be useful, especially when ranking through large lists of websites, don't rely on them alone. Always look deeper into the actual quality of the page.

2. Organic traffic for real keywords is key

Pay attention to the keywords a website is ranking for. Ideally, the site you are getting backlinks from which it should have organic traffic, which shows that Google values it. Most importantly, 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 from 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 only to sell links and are often just 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 – building quality links it is difficult. And if you're having a hard time getting backlinks to your service or landing pages, start by linking to your blog posts. Then, use internal linking throughout your site to ensure that link equity flows through your pages. Without proper internal linking, you won't take full advantage of the backlinks you're building.

5. Prioritize links on target pages

When building backlinks, your main focus should be on your monetization pages. Links to these pages are critical. If you're working with an agency, make sure they target specific merchant sites. Even if you are only getting a few links per page per month, if they are targeted, it is very effective.

6. Optimize anchors

Optimizing anchor text is essential. From my experience, optimized anchor texts work very well. If you're hiring an agency, send them a list of preferred anchor texts along with your target pages so they can focus on both elements.

7. Focus on do-follow links

There is an ongoing debate about the impact of no-follow links on rankings. While no-follow links do have some impact, it's hard to quantify. Based on my observations, they seem to be about 30-50% as effective as follow links. In a LinkedIn survey I conducted, 43% of participants believed that no-follow relationships were 25% or less effective than do-follow. However, keep in mind that many respondents may not have had enough experience, so their opinions are just that – opinions.

8. Rank at the top of list posts

There are countless “comparison” and “alternative” sites for popular tools, generating significant volumes of research. For example, searches like “Canva alternatives” are common. If your product is in a competitive niche, you want to appear as the number one option on these pages created by bloggers and websites. Not only will you gain valuable links, but you'll also get more clicks and referrals as top leads, greatly increasing your link building efforts.

This also creates a snowball effect. Future writers and bloggers working on alternatives for that specific tool will often reference existing lists. When they see your product featured prominently, they're more likely to include it in their listings, further amplifying your exposure and link building efforts.

9. Transfer the right company

According to some researches, 56% of SaaS Marketing departments use a combination of internal and external staff to achieve their marketing objectives.

When choosing a company, make sure they specialize in link building for SaaS and provide high quality work, as word of mouth and testimonials can be very effective indicators of their credibility.

In summary, while links remain vital to SEO, it is essential to prioritize quality over quantity. Focus on providing high-quality backlinks aimed directly at your home pages, using optimized anchor texts to make a significant impact. Your link building strategy should align with your overall branding strategy to maximize effectiveness. By being selective and strategic in your approach, you can build a strong stance connection profile that really boosts the online presence of your SaaS business.

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