As a startup, you need backlinks to thrive in the competitive digital landscape. No matter how innovative your startup is, it needs visibility to attract customers. However, many startups face significant challenges, such as:
- Limited budget: Allocating funds for marketing and SEO can be tough.
- Lack of credibility: New startups often struggle to gain trust and recognition.
- High competition: Standing out in a crowded market is difficult.
Backlinks can help you overcome these challenges by improving your search engine ranking and driving organic traffic. In fact, websites with a strong backlink profile tend to rank higher on Google, leading to a 53% increase in traffic.
In this guide, I’ll share 17 expert-tested, cost-effective link-building strategies tailored for startups that are proven to work. Let’s dive in!
1. Guest Posting
Guest posting involves writing articles for other websites as a guest author. The idea is to share your knowledge and insights with a new audience while getting a backlink to your website in return. This not only helps improve your site’s SEO but also positions you as an industry expert.
It's like being invited to speak at a conference – you gain exposure and credibility simultaneously. If you want to find high-authority blogs to contribute to, I’d recommend using tools like Ahrefs to identify popular sites in your niche.
Real-World Example
A prime example of this is my contribution to Mangools, where I wrote an article titled "SEO for E-commerce Category Pages." In this piece, I shared actionable strategies for optimizing e-commerce category pages. The article not only helped Mangools readers with practical tips but also earned me a valuable backlink to my website.
2. Backlinks from Startup Sites
Backlinks from startup websites are incredibly valuable for boosting your startup's domain authority. Over the past years, I’ve successfully applied this strategy, leading to a significant increase in the Domain Rating (DR) of the sites I work with. The key is to secure backlinks from related niches rather than direct competitors. This can be ethically done by writing guest posts for one startup website, which then links to a third-party site. In turn, that third-party site links back to your startup’s site. This approach ensures a natural and effective link-building process without coming across as a direct exchange.
Real-World Example
A prime example of this strategy in action can be found in the article "Zendesk vs Intercom" published by Groove, a customer service software startup. In this article, Groove compares its competitors, Zendesk and Intercom, both of which were once startups themselves. The article includes mentions and backlinks to Zendesk, demonstrating how one startup can effectively build relationships and earn backlinks from other startups within the same industry. This approach not only provides valuable insights for readers but also strengthens the SEO and authority of the linked startups through these references.
This example highlights the mutual benefits of startups linking to one another—by sharing relevant content, both Groove and Zendesk enhance their online presence and support each other’s growth.
3. Linkable Assets
Linkable assets are high-quality, valuable content that you create on your website with the specific purpose of attracting backlinks. These can be anything from comprehensive guides, infographics, tools, or even original research. The key is to provide something so useful and engaging that other websites naturally want to link to it as a resource for their own audience.
In my experience, I’ve noticed how quickly and naturally backlinks come when you offer genuinely useful content. The reason is simple: when what you provide is valuable, there's no need to convince people to link to you—they willingly share it with their audience.
Real-World Example
A prime example of this strategy is Moz's "Beginners Guide to SEO." This comprehensive guide has attracted thousands of backlinks from over 11K unique domains. It's highly valued in the digital marketing community because it breaks down complex SEO concepts into easy-to-understand language, making it a go-to resource for both beginners and seasoned professionals. The guide's depth and clarity make it a valuable resource that other websites frequently link to as an authoritative source on SEO.
4. Niche Edits/Link Insertions
Niche edit, also known as link insertion, is a strategy where you reach out to existing content on relevant websites and request to add a link to your site within the content. Instead of creating new content or exchanging links, you're enhancing a piece that's already published by including your link where it naturally fits. This approach is like finding a well-written article and suggesting an extra resource that would make it even more informative for readers.
Easy Tip: When suggesting a niche edit, personalize your outreach by explaining exactly how your link will benefit their readers. This increases the likelihood of your link being accepted and added to the content.
Real-World Example
A great example of this strategy is the backlink from Metro News to Happy Beds, as shown in the image. The article "Remembering vivid dreams? It might say something about your wellbeing" on Metro News references Dr. Katherine Hall, a sleep psychologist at Happy Beds. The article is relevant to both the content and audience of Happy Beds, making the insertion of this link highly natural and effective.
5. Digital PR for Link Building
Digital PR for link building involves creating and distributing press releases, news stories, or content that grabs the attention of journalists and influencers. The goal is to earn high-quality backlinks from reputable news sites and blogs by getting your brand featured in their content. Think of it like pitching a newsworthy story to a newspaper—if the story is compelling enough, it gets published, and you gain visibility and credibility.
Real-World Example
A prime example of this strategy is when a brand capitalized on the Barbie Botox trend on TikTok. They created a campaign around the trend, which quickly gained traction and caught the attention of journalists. As a result, the brand received extensive media coverage and was mentioned in various reputable publications. This widespread exposure not only boosted the brand's visibility but also generated numerous high-quality backlinks to its website, significantly enhancing its online presence.
The screenshot below highlights a domain where PR news was used, and the brand successfully gained a backlink from this source. This demonstrates how leveraging trending topics can capture media attention and secure valuable backlinks.
6. Unlinked Brand Mentions
Unlinked brand mentions refer to instances where your brand is mentioned on other websites without a backlink to your site. Throughout my SEO career, I’ve seen unlinked brand mentions as a low-hanging fruit for acquiring quality backlinks. Many site owners are willing to add a link if you simply ask, especially if the mention is already there. Tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs can help you track these unlinked mentions, making it easier to reach out and secure those links.
Easy Tip: When reaching out to site owners, be polite and highlight how adding a link will improve the reader’s experience by giving them direct access to the brand being discussed. This approach increases the chances of a successful link conversion.
Real-World Example
A prime example of how to find and leverage unlinked brand mentions can be done through Ahrefs’ Content Explorer. By navigating to the Content Explorer tool within Ahrefs and entering your brand name, you can generate a list of all the web pages that mention your brand. To identify mentions that don’t include a backlink, apply the "Highlight unlinked domains" filter. This will show you every instance where your brand is mentioned without a link to your site. Once identified, you can reach out to these site owners or authors and request that they add a link to your site. This approach is a simple and effective way to turn mentions into valuable backlinks.
7. Product Reviews
Product reviews involve reaching out to bloggers, influencers, or websites that review products and offering them your product in exchange for an honest review. The goal is to get them to write about your product and include a backlink to your site. Think of it as having someone try out a new dish at your restaurant and then tell all their friends about it—except, in this case, their review also helps boost your SEO.
Real-World Example
A prime example of this strategy is the review of Krisp, a noise-canceling app, on The Process Hacker blog. In this article, the blogger provides an in-depth review of Krisp’s features and functionality, including a backlink to Krisp’s website. This review not only helped Krisp gain exposure among the blog’s audience but also earned them a valuable backlink, enhancing their SEO and online visibility.
8. Podcast Link Building
Podcast link building involves appearing as a guest on relevant podcasts within your industry, where you can share your expertise and insights. During the episode, the host usually provides a link to your website or resources in the show notes, which helps you gain valuable backlinks. It’s like being invited to speak at an event, where you can reach a new audience and drive traffic back to your site.
Real-World Example
A prime example of this strategy is the interview with Chris McCann, co-founder of StartupDigest, on the Mixergy podcast. In this episode, Chris shared his journey of building StartupDigest, offering valuable insights into the startup’s growth and challenges. The podcast episode included a link to StartupDigest’s homepage in the show notes, providing a valuable backlink to the site. This not only helped increase the visibility of StartupDigest but also improved its SEO through the high-quality link from a reputable source.
9. Broken Link Building
Broken link building is a strategy where you find broken links on other websites, reach out to the site owner, and suggest replacing the broken link with a link to your relevant content. It’s like noticing a broken signpost on a trail and offering to put up a new, more helpful one that points directly to your business.
Easy Tip: To find broken links, you can use tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog. Once you’ve identified a broken link, reach out to the website owner with a polite message explaining the issue and offering your content as a replacement.
Real-World Example
This strategy is particularly effective because it's a win-win situation. For instance, imagine Fundera, a well-known financial resource site, has a 404 error page. If you're a competitor, you could identify a website that currently links to Fundera's 404 page. You can then contact the link owner and suggest that they replace the broken link with a link to your relevant page. This benefits the website owner because no one wants to have an outgoing link that leads to a 404 page, and it benefits you by securing a backlink without needing to do much convincing. It’s a straightforward way to improve SEO for both sites involved.
10. Resource Page Link Building
Resource page link building involves creating a dedicated page on your website that serves as a comprehensive collection of helpful resources related to your industry. This page becomes a valuable asset that others in your niche will want to link to, as it provides a one-stop destination for useful information. Unlike linkable assets, which focus on single pieces of high-quality content, a resource page is a curated collection that continually attracts backlinks over time.
Real-World Example
For example, Asana’s resource page offers a wide range of tools, templates, and guides, making it a go-to hub for anyone looking to improve their project management skills. This type of page naturally earns numerous backlinks as other websites and blogs reference it as a valuable resource for their audiences.
11. Infographics
Infographics are visual representations of information, data, or knowledge intended to present complex information quickly and clearly. The strategy involves creating high-quality infographics and sharing them with other websites, offering them as a resource in exchange for a backlink. It’s like creating a visually engaging billboard that others want to display, helping spread your message while driving traffic back to your site.
Easy Tip: To maximize the reach of your infographic, submit it to infographic directories and reach out to bloggers or websites in your niche that frequently share visual content. Tools like Canva can help you create professional-looking infographics without the need for advanced design skills.
Real-World Example
A great example of this strategy is the infographic on "The Jobs AI Will Take Over First" created by RS Components. This infographic effectively breaks down complex data about automation and job displacement, making it easy for people to understand which jobs are most at risk. As a result, it was widely shared and linked to by various tech and industry blogs, helping RS Components gain numerous high-quality backlinks and significantly boosting their online visibility. In my experience, this is a perfect example of how an engaging and informative infographic can naturally attract links and enhance your site’s SEO.
12. Press Release for Link Building
Press release link building involves creating and distributing press releases to announce significant news or updates about your business, to earn backlinks from media outlets and news websites. Think of it as sending out a public announcement where journalists and bloggers pick up your story, providing coverage and linking back to your website.
Real-World Example
A real example of this strategy in action can be seen in an article by USA Today discussing the release of "Squid Game" Season 2 on Netflix. The article includes a link to Netflix, which serves as a direct backlink from a reputable media outlet. This is a classic case of PR link building, where Netflix’s announcement about the new season was picked up by the media, generating buzz and driving traffic to their site. The link from USA Today not only enhances Netflix’s visibility but also improves its SEO by gaining a high-quality backlink from a trusted source. This example illustrates how effectively distributing press releases or newsworthy content can result in valuable backlinks, helping to bolster a brand's online presence.
13. Blogger Outreach
Blogger outreach link building involves reaching out to bloggers and influencers in your niche to collaborate on content, to earn a backlink to your website. This strategy is like networking with industry peers where both parties benefit—you gain exposure and a valuable backlink, while the blogger gets quality content to share with their audience.
Real-World Example
A prime example of this strategy can be seen in the article "What a Start-up Founder Learned from Burning Out" published on Fast Company. In this article, Joel Gascoigne, Buffer's founder, shares his journey through burnout and the lessons he learned from the experience. As a guest writer, Joel provided valuable content that resonated with Fast Company's audience. Additionally, the article includes a link back to Buffer's website, enhancing Buffer’s online visibility and securing a high-quality backlink from a reputable source.
14. Founder Interviews
Founder interviews involve having the founder or key leadership of your company featured in interviews on relevant websites, blogs, or podcasts. These interviews typically include a backlink to your site, either in the content itself or in the author bio, helping to build both your brand’s authority and your SEO. It’s like sharing your company’s story at a networking event, where the audience gains insights while you benefit from increased exposure and credibility.
Real-World Example
A fitting example of a founder interview that includes a backlink to the startup's website is the interview with Arian Behzadi, the founder of ARize, published on the uGlobally website. In this interview, Arian discusses the challenges he has faced as a foreign entrepreneur and shares insights into his journey in building ARize, a platform focused on augmented reality. The interview includes a link to ARize's website, which helps to enhance the company's online visibility and SEO by providing a valuable backlink from a relevant and authoritative source.
15. Case Studies
Case studies link building involves creating detailed case studies that showcase the success of your product or service, and then sharing these case studies with relevant websites, blogs, or publications. The goal is to have these sites link back to your case study as a credible source of information. It’s like presenting a success story at a conference—by showing how your solution works, you gain trust and authority, while earning valuable backlinks.
Real-World Example
A great example of this strategy is the case study published on Crazy Egg about Miller & Smith, a real estate company. The case study highlights how Crazy Egg's tools helped Miller & Smith increase their website's conversion rate. By sharing this success story, Crazy Egg not only showcases the effectiveness of its product but also earns backlinks when other websites reference this detailed case study as a credible source of information. This example illustrates how a well-crafted case study can serve as a powerful tool for building backlinks and enhancing your website's authority.
16. Link Roundups
Link roundup link building involves finding websites that publish regular "link roundups," which are curated lists of useful or interesting content within a specific niche. The strategy is to get your content featured in these roundups, earning a backlink in the process. It’s similar to getting your article included in a “best of the week” list, where it gains visibility and credibility through association with other high-quality content.
Real-World Example
A perfect example of this strategy can be found in the article "Best False Eyelashes for Every Occasion" published by The Independent. This link roundup features a curated list of the best false eyelashes, each product linking back to its respective brand or retailer. By getting featured in such a roundup, brands gain valuable backlinks from a high-authority site, which not only drives traffic but also boosts their SEO. This demonstrates how being included in a link roundup can significantly enhance a brand's online presence through strategic link building.
17. Whitepapers and Research Reports
Whitepapers and research reports link building involves creating in-depth, data-driven content that provides valuable insights or solutions to industry-specific challenges. The goal is to have other websites, blogs, or publications reference your whitepaper or report, earning you high-quality backlinks. It’s like publishing a groundbreaking study that others in your field will want to cite and share, thereby boosting your credibility and online visibility.
Real-World Example
A relevant example of this strategy is the whitepaper titled "The Complete Guide to B2B eCommerce" published by Handshake. This comprehensive guide provides valuable insights into B2B eCommerce strategies, making it a useful resource for businesses in the industry. As a result, it has been referenced by various blogs and industry publications, earning high-quality backlinks that enhance Handshake’s credibility and online visibility.
What Websites Are More Likely to Give Backlinks to Your Startup?
Websites relevant to your industry and niche are more likely to provide backlinks. Here are some categories and examples:
- Tech Industry Sites: These sites focus on technology news, reviews, and innovations.
- Business Blogs: Business-oriented blogs and websites often cover startup stories, trends, and advice.
- Startup-Focused Publications: These publications specifically target startup news, advice, and success stories.
- Industry-Specific Blogs: Blogs that cater to your startup’s specific industry can provide highly relevant backlinks.
- Educational Websites: Sites that offer tutorials, courses, and resources related to your startup’s field.
- Community Forums and Q&A Sites: These platforms can offer backlinks through discussions and expert answers.
How to Find Prospect Websites for Your Startup
Building a strong backlink profile is essential for improving your startup's search rankings and driving targeted traffic. From my experience, strategies like guest posts, unlinked brand mentions, and infographics are particularly effective at attracting high-quality links. Finding the right link prospects might seem overwhelming, but with a clear approach, it becomes much more manageable.
To streamline the entire process of link building, you can use prospecting tools like Linkee. It automates the identification of high-quality link opportunities tailored to your niche, saving you time and ensuring effective link building. Over the years, I’ve seen how a well-rounded backlink strategy can be a powerful driver of growth, helping startups stand out and establish a solid online presence.
Maria Harutyunyan is the co-founder at Loopex Digital, one of the fast-growing SEO agencies in the world. She grew the agency to a 7-figure from the ground up in 3 years. Outside of Loopex Digital, Harutyunyan is a keynote speaker and SEO coach. She is the founder of the first SEO academy, an off-line training program in Yerevan, Armenia.
