How to Get Backlinks for SaaS

The fastest and most effective way to build backlinks for your SaaS is through strategic directory submissions.

SaaS directories are platforms where founders, early adopters, and potential customers actively browse to discover new products. Think Product Hunt, BetaList, SaaS directories like Capterra, G2, GetApp, and hundreds of startup listing platforms.

Why directory submissions are essential for SaaS backlinks:

Immediate domain authority boost: When you're listed on 100+ directories, your domain rating jumps from zero to 30+ within weeks. Higher domain authority means better rankings for competitive keywords like 'best [category] tool' and '[your solution] software.'

AI Assistant visibility: Directory backlinks make your SaaS visible to AI assistants. When users ask ChatGPT or Claude for SaaS recommendations, these AI systems crawl authoritative directories to provide answers.

Permanent backlink value: These directory backlinks stay live forever. Unlike paid ads, they keep improving your SEO and driving organic traffic for years without ongoing costs.

This is the single best way to start building backlinks for your SaaS. LaunchDirectories maintains a comprehensive database of 100+ best platforms for getting backlinks. We also offer a done-for-you submission service where we handle all the manual submissions, save you 70+ hours, and get your SaaS listed across the most impactful directories in just 3-5 days.

Build comparison pages targeting '[competitor] alternative' and '[competitor] vs [your SaaS]' keywords. These pages naturally attract backlinks from sites comparing tools, review sites, and users researching alternatives. Comparison content is highly linkable because it helps users make decisions, making it valuable for other sites to reference.

Why comparison pages build backlinks for SaaS:

Comparison pages are highly linkable because they help users make purchasing decisions. When you create comprehensive comparisons (e.g., '[Your SaaS] vs [Competitor]' or '[Competitor] Alternative'), review sites, industry blogs, and users researching tools will naturally link to your content as a reference. This creates valuable, contextual backlinks from relevant sites.

Types of comparison content that attract backlinks:

• Direct competitor comparisons (e.g., '[Your SaaS] vs [Competitor]: Complete Comparison')
• Alternative pages (e.g., '[Competitor] Alternative: [Your SaaS] Review')
• Category comparisons (e.g., 'Best [Category] Tools: [Your SaaS] vs Top Alternatives')
• Feature comparison pages (e.g., 'Pricing Comparison: [Your SaaS] vs Competitors')

Best practices for comparison pages:

• Be honest and objective - authentic comparisons build trust and attract more links
• Create comprehensive comparisons (1,500+ words) that cover features, pricing, use cases, and pros/cons
• Include original screenshots, data, or research that others can't find elsewhere
• Update your comparisons regularly to maintain their accuracy and relevance
• Promote your comparison pages on social media and in relevant communities
• Target long-tail keywords like '[competitor] alternative' or '[competitor] vs [your SaaS]'

Comparison pages often rank well for competitive keywords and attract backlinks from review sites, industry blogs, and users researching alternatives. Over time, these pages become valuable backlink-generating assets.

Create comprehensive resource pages like 'Complete Guide to [Category] Tools' or '[Industry] Software Stack.' These resource pages provide value to your target audience and naturally attract backlinks from industry sites, blogs, and educational resources. Include your SaaS as a recommended tool, creating contextual backlinks.

Why resource pages work for SaaS backlinks:

Resource pages become authoritative content that other sites want to link to. When you create the most comprehensive guide on a topic (like 'Complete Guide to [Category] Tools' or '[Industry] Software Stack'), industry sites, educational institutions, and blogs will naturally link to your content as a reference. This creates high-quality, contextual backlinks that improve your domain authority.

Types of resource pages that attract backlinks:

• Complete tool guides (e.g., 'Complete Guide to Marketing Tools' or 'Best SaaS Tools for [Industry]')
• Software stack recommendations (e.g., '[Industry] Software Stack 2025' or 'Essential Tools for [Use Case]')
• Category overviews (e.g., 'All [Category] Tools: Complete Directory' or '[Industry] Tool Landscape')
• Best practices guides that include tool recommendations

Best practices for resource pages:

• Create comprehensive, in-depth content (2,000+ words) that covers topics thoroughly
• Include original research, insights, or data that others can't find elsewhere
• Update your resource pages regularly to maintain their relevance and link value
• Include your SaaS naturally within the content as a recommended tool
• Promote your resource pages on social media and in relevant communities
• Make your resource pages visually appealing with screenshots, comparisons, and visual content

Resource pages like 'Complete Guide to [Category] Tools' or '[Industry] Software Stack' often rank well for competitive keywords and attract backlinks from industry sites, educational resources, and blogs. Over time, these pages become valuable backlink-generating assets.

Submit your SaaS to software review platforms like Capterra, G2, GetApp, Software Advice, and TrustRadius. These platforms provide high-authority backlinks and also drive qualified traffic. Many of these sites have high domain ratings (DR 80+) and provide dofollow links that significantly boost your SEO.

Why software review sites are essential for SaaS backlinks:

Software review platforms have extremely high domain authority (DR 80-90+) and provide dofollow backlinks that significantly boost your SEO. These platforms are trusted by Google and carry substantial link equity. Getting listed on major review sites like Capterra (DR 91), G2 (DR 90), or GetApp (DR 88) provides immediate domain authority boost and helps you rank for competitive keywords.

Major software review platforms to target:

• Capterra (DR 91) - Largest software directory with millions of monthly visitors
• G2 (DR 90) - Trusted by businesses for software reviews and comparisons
• GetApp (DR 88) - Part of Gartner, highly authoritative for B2B software
• Software Advice (DR 87) - Gartner-owned platform with high domain authority
• TrustRadius (DR 85) - B2B software reviews with strong SEO value
• Trustpilot (DR 90) - Reviews platform that provides backlinks for businesses

How to maximize backlink value from review sites:

• Complete your profile with comprehensive information, screenshots, and detailed descriptions
• Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews - more reviews improve your ranking and visibility
• Respond to reviews professionally to build trust and engagement
• Update your profile regularly with new features, pricing, and information
• Use your review site profiles as social proof on your website

These review sites provide high-authority dofollow backlinks that significantly boost your domain authority. Many SaaS companies see their domain rating jump 5-10 points after getting listed on major review platforms.

Publish detailed case studies, use case guides, and industry reports that demonstrate your SaaS's value. Case studies often get cited by industry publications, blogs, and research sites - all creating valuable backlinks. Focus on creating comprehensive, data-driven content that becomes a go-to resource in your industry.

Why case studies build backlinks for SaaS:

Case studies are highly linkable because they provide real-world examples and data that other sites want to reference. When you publish detailed case studies showing how customers achieved results with your SaaS, industry publications, blogs, and research sites will naturally link to your content as a source. This creates valuable, contextual backlinks from relevant, authoritative sites.

Types of case study content that attract backlinks:

• Customer success stories with detailed metrics and results (e.g., 'How [Company] Increased [Metric] by [%] with [Your SaaS]')
• Use case guides showing how your SaaS solves specific problems
• Industry reports with original data and insights
• ROI studies showing the business impact of your SaaS
• Implementation guides with step-by-step processes and results

Best practices for linkable case studies:

• Include specific metrics and data (e.g., 'Increased revenue by 40%' or 'Reduced costs by $50K')
• Create comprehensive case studies (1,500+ words) that tell a complete story
• Use visual content (charts, graphs, screenshots) that others want to reference
• Make your case studies searchable and discoverable (optimize for relevant keywords)
• Promote your case studies on social media and pitch them to industry publications
• Update your case studies regularly with new data and insights

Case studies like 'How [Company] Achieved [Result] with [Your SaaS]' often get cited by industry publications, creating multiple high-authority backlinks. Over time, your case study library becomes a valuable backlink-generating asset.

Create free, useful tools that solve problems for your target audience. Free tools naturally attract backlinks because they provide genuine value that other sites want to reference and recommend. When you build tools that people actually use, they'll naturally link to them from their blogs, resource pages, and social media.

Why free tools build backlinks for SaaS:

Free tools are highly linkable because they provide immediate value that other sites want to share with their audiences. When you create a useful calculator, generator, or utility tool, bloggers, industry sites, and resource pages will naturally link to your tool as a helpful resource. These backlinks are contextual (from relevant content) and carry significant SEO value, especially when they come from high-authority sites in your industry.

Types of free tools that attract backlinks:

Tool Type	Examples
Calculators	Stripe fees calculator, ROI calculator, pricing calculator
Generators	Email subject line generator, social media post generator, meta description generator
Converters	CSV to JSON converter, image format converter, time zone converter
Validators	Email validator, JSON validator, API response validator
Analyzers	Website speed analyzer, SEO analyzer, readability analyzer

How free tools attract backlinks: Real-world examples

Here's how different types of free tools naturally attract backlinks from relevant sites:

• Stripe fees calculator: When you build a calculator that helps e-commerce businesses calculate Stripe processing fees, payment processing guides, e-commerce blogs, and SaaS resource pages will naturally link to your tool. Bloggers writing about payment processing will reference your calculator as a helpful resource, creating valuable backlinks from high-authority sites.
• Email subject line generator: Marketing blogs, email marketing guides, and content marketing resources will link to your email subject line generator when they write about email marketing best practices. These backlinks come from relevant, authoritative sites in your industry.
• JSON formatter/validator: Developer blogs, API documentation, and coding resources will link to your JSON tool when they write about API development or data formatting. These backlinks are highly relevant and carry significant SEO value from technical sites.
• Meta description generator: SEO blogs, content marketing guides, and SEO resource pages will link to your meta description generator when they write about SEO optimization. These backlinks come from SEO-focused sites with high domain authority.
• Color palette generator: Design blogs, UI/UX resources, and creative industry sites will link to your color palette generator when they write about design tools or color theory. These backlinks come from design-focused sites with engaged audiences.

Best practices for free tools that build backlinks:

• Solve a real problem that your target audience faces regularly
• Make your tool genuinely useful and easy to use - tools that provide real value get shared more
• Optimize your tool pages for SEO with relevant keywords and comprehensive descriptions
• Include your SaaS naturally within the tool (e.g., 'Powered by [Your SaaS]' or 'Try [Your SaaS] for more features')
• Promote your tools on social media and in relevant communities to increase visibility
• Create blog posts and guides about how to use your tools, which naturally attract backlinks
• Update your tools regularly to maintain their relevance and usefulness

How to maximize backlinks from free tools:

• Create comprehensive landing pages for your tools with detailed descriptions and use cases
• Write blog posts about your tools and how they solve specific problems
• Share your tools on Product Hunt, Hacker News, and relevant communities
• Reach out to bloggers and industry sites that might find your tools useful
• Create embeddable versions of your tools that other sites can embed with backlinks

Free tools like a Stripe fees calculator or email subject line generator often attract dozens of backlinks over time as bloggers, industry sites, and resource pages link to them as helpful resources. These backlinks significantly boost your domain authority while driving qualified traffic to your SaaS.

Write guest posts for industry blogs, SaaS publications, and tech sites. Include contextual links back to your SaaS in your author bio or within relevant content. Guest posting builds relationships, establishes authority, and creates valuable backlinks from relevant, authoritative sites.

Why guest posting builds backlinks for SaaS:

Guest posting on authoritative industry blogs provides high-quality backlinks from relevant, trusted sites. When you write valuable content for industry publications, you typically get backlinks in your author bio and within the content. These backlinks are contextual (from relevant content) and carry significant SEO value, especially when they come from high-authority sites in your industry.

Types of sites to target for guest posting:

• Industry-specific blogs and publications (e.g., marketing blogs for marketing SaaS, tech blogs for tech SaaS)
• SaaS-focused publications (e.g., SaaS Mag, SaaStr, or industry-specific SaaS blogs)
• Tech and startup publications (e.g., TechCrunch, VentureBeat, or industry tech blogs)
• Business and entrepreneurship blogs that cover SaaS topics

Best practices for guest posting:

• Pitch valuable, original content that provides genuine value to the publication's audience
• Write comprehensive, in-depth articles (1,500+ words) that establish your authority
• Include contextual links to your SaaS naturally within the content (not just in the author bio)
• Build relationships with editors and maintain ongoing guest posting relationships
• Promote your guest posts on social media to increase visibility and potential backlinks

How to find guest posting opportunities:

• Research industry blogs and publications that accept guest posts
• Reach out to editors with specific, valuable content ideas
• Offer to write about topics that align with your SaaS's expertise
• Build relationships with bloggers and editors in your industry

Guest posting on high-authority industry blogs creates valuable backlinks while establishing your authority in your industry. Over time, these relationships can lead to multiple backlink opportunities.