In the competitive world of SaaS, building a strong backlink profile is crucial for improving your search engine rankings and driving organic traffic to your website. But with so many different types of backlinks out there, it can be challenging to know which ones are most effective for your SEO strategy.
At VH-info, we specialize in helping SaaS companies create high-quality backlinks that deliver real results. Check out our guide on Natural Link Building Service to learn more.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the 20 most valuable types of backlinks for SaaS SEO in 2024, and share our expert tips for building a diverse, authoritative link profile that will help your brand stand out in the crowded online marketplace.
What Are Backlinks?
Before we dive into the different types of backlinks, let’s start with the basics.
A backlink is simply a link from one website to another. When another site links to your content, it’s essentially giving your site a “vote of confidence,” signaling to search engines that your content is valuable and relevant.
Why Are Backlinks Important?
Backlinks are one of the most important ranking factors for search engines like Google. The more high-quality, relevant backlinks you have pointing to your site, the more likely you are to rank well for your target keywords. Backlinks also help drive referral traffic to your site and can increase your brand awareness and credibility in your industry.
What Types of Backlinks Are Valuable?
Not all backlinks are created equal. To get the most SEO value from your link building efforts, you should focus on acquiring Relevant Backlinks from high-authority, relevant websites in your niche. Look for opportunities to earn editorial links within quality content, rather than relying on spammy tactics like link schemes or private blog networks.
What Kinds of Backlinks Should You Avoid?
On the flip side, there are certain types of backlinks that can actually harm your SEO if you’re not careful. Avoid link farming, paid links, and links from low-quality or irrelevant sites. These types of links can trigger Google penalties and tank your search rankings.
20 Types of SEO Backlinks
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s take a closer look at the 20 most effective types of backlinks for SaaS SEO:
1. Editorial Backlinks
Editorial backlinks are earned naturally when other websites choose to link to your content because they find it valuable and relevant to their audience. These are some of the most powerful backlinks you can earn, as they signal to search engines that your content is high-quality and trustworthy.
To earn more editorial backlinks, focus on creating linkable assets like in-depth blog posts, original research, and helpful resources that other sites will want to reference and link to. You can also reach out to other site owners and editors in your niche to let them know about your content and suggest ways they could link to it.
2. Guest Post Backlinks
Guest posting involves writing content for other relevant websites in your industry, with a link back to your own site in the author bio or body of the post. This is a great way to build relationships with other thought leaders in your space while also earning high-quality backlinks.
When guest posting, be sure to choose reputable sites that are relevant to your niche and have a engaged audience. Focus on creating valuable, informative content that will resonate with their readers and encourage them to click through to your site.
3. Mend Broken Backlinks
Broken link building is a tactic where you find broken links on other websites in your niche, then reach out to the site owner to let them know about the issue and suggest your own content as a replacement. This can be an effective way to earn high-quality backlinks while also providing value to other sites in your industry.
To find broken links, you can use SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to run a backlink analysis on your competitors’ sites. Look for any links that are returning 404 errors, then check to see if you have any content that could serve as a suitable replacement.
4. Dofollow Backlinks
Dofollow backlinks are links that pass “link juice” or authority from one site to another. These are the most valuable type of backlinks for SEO, as they directly impact your search rankings.
To earn more dofollow backlinks, focus on creating high-quality, linkable content and building relationships with other authoritative sites in your niche. You can also use tools like Ahrefs to analyze your competitors’ backlink profiles and identify opportunities to earn similar links.
5. Nofollow Backlinks
Nofollow backlinks are links that have a “nofollow” tag, which tells search engines not to pass any link equity or authority to the linked site. While these links don’t directly impact your search rankings, they can still be valuable for driving referral traffic and increasing your brand visibility.
Some common sources of nofollow backlinks include social media sites, blog comments, and press release links. While you shouldn’t focus all your efforts on earning nofollow links, they can still be a useful part of a well-rounded link building strategy.
6. Comment and Forum Backlinks
Leaving comments on relevant blog posts and participating in online forums can be a way to earn backlinks to your site, but it’s important to approach this tactic carefully. Avoid leaving spammy or irrelevant comments just for the sake of getting a link – instead, focus on providing genuine value and contributing to the conversation.
When leaving comments or forum posts, be sure to use your real name and link to a relevant page on your site, rather than just dropping a generic homepage link. And always follow the community guidelines and best practices for each platform you participate on.
7. Niche Edits Backlinks
Niche edits involve finding existing articles on other websites in your niche and suggesting edits or additions that include a link back to your own content. This can be an effective way to earn contextual links from relevant, high-authority sites.
To find niche edit opportunities, use search operators like “keyword” + “write for us” or “keyword” + “become a contributor” to find sites that accept guest posts or article submissions. Then, pitch ideas for how you could improve or expand on their existing content while naturally incorporating a link to your own site.
8. Press Release Backlinks
Distributing press releases can be a way to earn backlinks from news sites and other high-authority domains. However, it’s important to approach press release link building carefully, as overusing this tactic or including too many self-serving links can come across as spammy.
To maximize the SEO value of your press release links, focus on crafting newsworthy, informative releases that provide genuine value to readers. Use anchor text sparingly and naturally, and only include links to your most relevant and valuable content.
9. Social Media Backlinks
While social media links are typically nofollow, they can still be valuable for driving traffic and increasing your brand visibility. Regularly sharing your content on social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook can help you reach new audiences and encourage more people to link to your site.
To get the most value from your social media efforts, be sure to optimize your profiles with relevant keywords and information about your brand. Engage with other users in your industry, share their content as well as your own, and participate in relevant conversations and discussions.
10. Directory Backlinks
Online directories can be a source of backlinks, but it’s important to be selective about which directories you submit your site to. Focus on reputable, well-established directories that are relevant to your niche, rather than submitting to every directory you can find.
When creating your directory listings, be sure to fill out your profile completely and accurately, using relevant keywords in your title and description. And avoid using exact-match anchor text in your links, as this can come across as spammy to search engines.
11. Image Backlinks
Whenever you use images in your content, you have an opportunity to earn backlinks by making those images available for others to use and share. By creating high-quality, informative images like infographics, charts, and diagrams, you can encourage other sites to use your images in their own content and link back to your site as the source.
To maximize the link building potential of your images, be sure to optimize them with relevant file names and alt text. You can also create an “Image Credits” or “Image Licensing” page on your site that outlines how others can use and credit your images.
12. Video Backlinks
Similar to images, videos can also be a valuable source of backlinks for your site. By creating informative, engaging videos and hosting them on platforms like YouTube and Vimeo, you can encourage other sites to embed your videos in their content and link back to your site.
To get the most SEO value from your video backlinks, be sure to optimize your video titles, descriptions, and tags with relevant keywords. You can also include a link to your site in the video description or comments, and use annotations or cards to drive traffic back to your site.
13. Paid Backlinks
While buying backlinks is generally considered a black hat SEO tactic, there are some legitimate ways to use paid link building to boost your search rankings. For example, you could sponsor a relevant industry event or conference in exchange for a link on their website, or pay to have your content featured in a reputable industry publication.
The key to using paid backlinks effectively is to focus on quality over quantity, and to make sure any paid links you acquire are from reputable, relevant sources. Avoid link schemes or low-quality link farms, as these can actually harm your SEO in the long run.
14. Edu and Gov Backlinks
Backlinks from educational (.edu) and government (.gov) websites are considered some of the most authoritative and valuable links you can earn. These sites are typically seen as highly trustworthy and credible, so a link from one of these domains can give your site a significant SEO boost.
To earn .edu and .gov backlinks, look for opportunities to partner with educational institutions or government organizations on research projects, events, or other initiatives. You can also create valuable resources like case studies or whitepapers that these organizations may want to link to and reference.
15. Unlinked Brand Mentions
Sometimes, other websites may mention your brand or products without actually linking to your site. These unlinked brand mentions represent an opportunity to reach out and request a link.
To find unlinked brand mentions, you can use tools like Google Alerts or Mention.com to track online mentions of your brand name or key products. Then, reach out to the site owner or author and politely request that they add a link to your site.
16. Podcast Backlinks
Appearing as a guest on relevant industry podcasts can be a great way to earn high-quality backlinks to your site. Most podcasts have a website where they post show notes and links to resources mentioned in each episode, so by being featured on a podcast, you can often earn a backlink from their site.
To find podcast guest opportunities, research popular podcasts in your niche and reach out to the hosts with a pitch for why you would be a valuable guest. Be sure to have a compelling topic or story to share that will be of interest to their audience.
17. Testimonial Backlinks
If you’re a satisfied customer of a particular product or service, consider leaving a testimonial on their website in exchange for a link back to your own site. Many companies are happy to feature customer testimonials on their site, and will often include a link to the customer’s website as a way of saying thanks.
To maximize the SEO value of your testimonial backlinks, be sure to write a genuine, detailed review that highlights the specific benefits and features of the product or service. And if possible, try to include a relevant keyword or two in your anchor text.
18. Footer links
Footer links are links that appear in the footer section of a website, often alongside copyright information or other legal disclaimers. While footer links are not as valuable as contextual links within the body of a page, they can still be a useful part of a well-rounded link building strategy.
To earn footer links, look for opportunities to partner with other businesses or organizations in your industry on co-branded content, events, or other initiatives. You can also consider sponsoring a relevant charity or non-profit organization in exchange for a footer link on their site.
19. Badge Backlinks
Badge backlinks are links that come from displaying a badge or icon on your site that links back to another website.
For example, you might display a badge indicating that your site is “Google Analytics Certified” or “BBB Accredited“, with a link back to the respective organization’s site.
To earn badge backlinks, look for reputable organizations or programs in your industry that offer badges or certifications. Then, follow their guidelines for displaying the badge on your site and linking back to their site.
20. Influencer-Generated Backlinks
Partnering with influencers in your industry can be a powerful way to earn high-quality backlinks and drive traffic to your site. By collaborating with influencers on content, product reviews, or other initiatives, you can tap into their engaged audience and earn valuable links back to your site.
To find influencer partnership opportunities, research popular influencers in your niche and reach out with a proposal for how you could work together. Be sure to offer something of value to the influencer, such as free products, exclusive content, or compensation for their time and effort.
FAQ’s:
What is an Example of a Backlink?
A backlink is any link from another website that points back to your own site. For example, if a popular industry blog writes a post about your latest product launch and includes a link to your website, that would be considered a backlink.
What Type of SEO Are Backlinks?
Backlinks are a key component of off-page SEO, which refers to optimization techniques that take place outside of your own website. By earning high-quality backlinks from other reputable sites, you can improve your search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site.
What Type of Backlinks Can Be Built to Your Website?
There are many different types of backlinks you can build to your website, including editorial links, guest post links, broken link replacements, directory links, social media links, and more. The key is to focus on earning high-quality, relevant links from authoritative sites in your industry.
How Many Backlinks Per Month are Good for SEO?
There’s no magic number of backlinks you need to earn each month for SEO success. The quality and relevance of your backlinks are much more important than the quantity. That said, a good goal to aim for is earning a few high-quality backlinks each month from reputable sites in your niche.
Which is the Most Powerful Type of Backlink?
The most powerful type of backlink is an editorial link from a high-authority, relevant website in your industry. These links are earned naturally when other sites choose to link to your content because they find it valuable and informative, and they can give your search rankings a significant boost.
Which Backlink is the Least Important in SEO?
The least important type of backlink for SEO is a low-quality, irrelevant link from a spammy or untrustworthy site. These types of links can actually harm your search rankings and should be avoided at all costs.
What Makes a Backlink High-Quality?
A high-quality backlink is one that comes from a reputable, authoritative website that is relevant to your industry or niche. The link should be contextual, meaning it appears within the body of a relevant piece of content, rather than in a footer or sidebar. And the anchor text should be natural and descriptive, rather than stuffed with keywords.
How Often Should I Audit My Backlink Profile?
It’s a good idea to audit your backlink profile at least once a quarter to ensure that you’re not being penalized for any low-quality or spammy links. Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze your backlink profile and identify any links that may be harming your SEO. Then, take steps to have those links removed or disavowed.
Can Backlinks from New Websites Benefit My SEO?
Backlinks from new websites can benefit your SEO by diversifying your link profile, increasing domain authority, and driving traffic. They add credibility and authority to your site, signaling its relevance to search engines.
Are Backlinks from Social Media Effective?
Backlinks from social media can be effective for driving traffic and enhancing brand visibility. While they may not directly impact SEO rankings, they contribute to a diverse backlink profile. Maintaining an active social presence can foster engagement and potentially attract natural backlinks.
How to Recover from a Penalty Due to Toxic Backlinks?
To recover from a penalty due to toxic backlinks, start by identifying and removing the harmful links. Submit a disavow file to Google, requesting the removal of these links. Focus on building high-quality, relevant backlinks to restore your site’s credibility.
Conclusion
Building a high-quality backlink profile is crucial for SaaS companies to improve search rankings and drive organic traffic.
By focusing on the 20 types of backlinks outlined in this guide, you can create a well-rounded link building strategy that earns valuable links from authoritative sites. Prioritize quality over quantity, and regularly audit your backlink profile to avoid penalties.
At VH-info, our team of experts specializes in helping SaaS companies build high-quality, authoritative backlink profiles that deliver results. Contact us today to create a customized plan that drives traffic, boosts rankings, and helps you stand out in the competitive online marketplace.