Link Building for Startups: 17 Cost-Effective Strategies for 2025

As a startup, you’ve probably felt the pressure to stand out online. Maybe you’re working with a tight budget, trying to build credibility from scratch, or fighting to get noticed in a crowded market. It’s tough, I know.

But don’t worry. Link building for startups can help. In fact, according to Ahrefs, sites with strong backlinks can boost traffic by 53%.

In this guide, I’ll show you 17 cost-effective link-building strategies that can help your startup get the visibility it deserves. Let’s go!

1. Guest Posting

Yes, everyone already knows what guest posting is—writing for another site as a guest author, getting a backlink, improving SEO. But let’s get real: if you’re not intentional about it, you’re just wasting time.

The real value of guest posting comes from doing it right—choosing sites that are actually relevant and pitching ideas that make editors say “yes” immediately.

So, let’s skip the fluff and focus on how to make guest posting work for you.

1. Target the Right Websites
   And the first step is targeting the right websites. Skip the low-quality sites that accept every submission—they’ll do nothing for your credibility. Instead, aim for blogs in your niche with a high Domain Authority (DA) and engaged audiences.

Tools like Linkee make this easy, using AI to match you with over 5 million pre-vetted sites, saving you time and letting you focus on what really matters—creating impactful content.

Tip: if you’re in the fitness niche, target blogs like Fitness Blog HQ rather than a generic "write for us" site. Similarly, tech enthusiasts can aim for specialized sites like Hackernoon, or Android Authority, while parenting writers might find better opportunities with Scary Mommy or Fatherly.

2. Pitch Smarter, Not Harder
   A generic email won’t get you anywhere. Before you pitch, research the blog’s content thoroughly. Look at their most popular articles, audience comments, and even their tone. Then, craft a personalized email offering 2-3 unique, niche-relevant article ideas.

Keep it concise but show you’ve done your homework.

3. Create Evergreen, High-Value Content
   Write articles that solve real problems or answer questions their audience cares about. Don’t just repeat basic advice; back your points with data, case studies, or actionable tips. Here are some catchy ideas:some text
   • “5 Time-Saving Productivity Hacks for Busy Entrepreneurs” for a business blog.
   • “The Best Post-Workout Nutrition Hacks Backed by Science” for a fitness blog.
   • “10 Easy Home Upgrades to Boost Your Property Value” for a real estate or home improvement blog.
4. Integrate Backlinks Naturally
   Your backlink should feel like a helpful resource, not an ad. Link to a specific blog post, guide, or case study on your site that adds extra depth to the topic. For example, if your guest post is about email marketing strategies, link to your detailed "Email Templates That Convert" guide rather than your homepage.

Real-World Example

You didn’t think I’d just leave you with hypothetical ideas, did you? Let me show you how this strategy actually worked for me. I partnered with Mangools, a well-known SEO tool provider, to write a guest post on optimizing eCommerce category pages. I shared actionable insights on keyword research, internal linking, and metadata—practical tips their audience could immediately apply. Since Mangools works in the same niche as my SEO agency, it was a great match and led to a quality, relevant backlink to my site.

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2. Backlinks from Startup Sites

Backlinks from startups in your niche are links from emerging businesses with related content or topics pointing to your website. I’ve used this strategy effectively to drive significant improvements, but it works best when you focus on startups in related niches—not direct competitors.

Imagine there are 3 websites: you (Website A), Website B (a startup in the same niche as yours), and Website C (a reputable industry blog).  Here’s what you could do:

1. Reach Out to Website B
   Start by contacting a startup or business in your niche ( Website B). Offer to feature them in an article you’re planning to write for a reputable third-party site (Brand C). In return, ask if they’d be open to including a backlink to your site (Brand A) in one of their posts.
2. Get a Bacjlinks from Website C for Website B
   Next, collaborate with Website C to publish a blog post that naturally mentions and links to Website B. In exchange, Website B includes a link back to your site (Website A).
3. The Outcome
   Website B gets a valuable backlink from a trusted site (Website C), Website C gets quality content their audience will enjoy, and you (Website A) secure a relevant backlink from Website B. It’s a win for everyone and keeps the whole process natural and beneficial.

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Real-World Example

Here’s how getting backlinks from startup websites could work in the fitness niche:

Let’s say your startup (Website A) has a fitness app. You reach out to a fitness equipment company (Website B) and propose they feature your app in their blog post about “Top Tools for Home Workouts,” with a backlink to your site.

To make the offer hard to turn down, you promise them a backlink from a highly reputable health and wellness blog (Website C). You then collaborate with Website C to publish an article on “The Future of Home Fitness,” which includes a backlink to Website B’s site.

In the end, Website B gets a backlink from a trusted, well-known site, Website C gets new content, and you earn a relevant backlink from Website B. It’s a win-win-win!

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3. Linkable Assets

Creating linkable assets is really about offering something people find useful or interesting—so useful, in fact, that they want to share it. This could be a detailed guide, a helpful infographic, a free tool, or some unique research with insights they can’t find elsewhere.

Here are some examples of linkable assets for startups in different niches that would be interesting enough to naturally attract backlinks:

1. Tech Startup: Offer a free API directory for developers, showcasing tools and integrations they can use to build better software. Tech blogs and developer forums would naturally link to it as a valuable resource.
2. Sustainable Fashion Startup: Create a “Clothing Repair Cost Estimator” where users can input garment details and get an estimate for repair costs, promoting sustainable clothing practices. This could attract links from sustainability blogs and fashion-focused websites.
3. Food Delivery Startup: Launch a “Leftovers Reimagined Recipe Finder” where users can input leftover ingredients to get simple, creative meal ideas. This would appeal to food bloggers and lifestyle sites focused on reducing food waste.

What I’ve seen time and time again is that when you create genuinely helpful content, backlinks come naturally. The key is thinking about what people in your niche are already searching for or struggling with, and then delivering something that makes their lives easier. That’s what gets results.

Real-World Example

Let me give you a real-world example of a linkable asset—Moz’s “Beginner’s Guide to SEO.” If you’ve ever searched for SEO advice, chances are you’ve come across it. This guide has attracted backlinks from over 11,000 domains, and for good reason. It takes complicated SEO topics and breaks them down into clear, easy-to-follow explanations that anyone can understand.

What makes it so linkable? It’s detailed, practical and has become a trusted resource in the marketing world. Other websites link to it because they know their audience will find it valuable.

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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 suggest adding a link to your site within the article. Instead of creating new content or trading links, you’re enhancing something already published by including your link where it naturally fits and adds value.

Easy Tip: When suggesting a niche edit, go beyond simply asking to insert your link. Offer to enhance their article with something specific from your resource. For example:

Let’s say you find an article titled “Top Marketing Trends for 2023.” If they mention “personalized email campaigns” but don’t provide specific examples or data, you could say:

"I noticed your section on personalized email campaigns—it’s a great point! My article includes recent statistics on how personalized email campaigns boost open rates by 45%, along with a case study showing real results. Adding this could make your article even more actionable for your readers."

With this approach, you’re not just asking—they’re gaining something valuable for their content.

Real-World Example

Now, let’s see how this strategy works with a real example. Metro News published an article about how recalling vivid dreams can be connected to your mental health, stress levels, and sleep quality.  The article also referenced Dr. Katherine Hall, a sleep psychologist at Happy Beds, as it was directly relevant to the topic and audience.

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5. Digital PR for Link Building

Digital PR for link building for startups works by creating content—like news stories or data insights—that journalists want to feature. The goal is to get your brand mentioned in respected publications and earn high-quality backlinks.

What makes it so powerful is that it can get you links from major outlets like Business Insider or Forbes—opportunities that are nearly impossible to achieve with traditional link-building methods.

Real-World Example

Let me show you how a startup in the beauty industry turned a viral trend into a link-building goldmine. The startup jumped on the trend by promoting their Botox treatments as a way to achieve the sleek, elongated “Barbie neck” look everyone was talking about. The campaign immediately caught the attention of journalists and famous publications. They shared the news with a backlink to the startup page.

One of these publications, shown in the screenshot, has a DR of 83!!  And the best thing is that a well-executed digital PR campaign can attract hundreds of similar high-quality backlinks.

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6. Unlinked Brand Mentions

Unlinked brand mentions are when your brand gets talked about on other websites, but they don’t include a link back to your site.

In my experience with SEO, unlinked brand mentions are one of the easiest opportunities to turn into quality backlinks. If your brand is already mentioned, many site owners are open to adding a link—you just have to ask. Tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs make it simple to track these mentions, so you can reach out and secure those links with minimal effort.

Real-World Example

Let me show you how you can easily turn unlinked brand mentions into backlinks. I used Ahrefs for this, but you can use any SEO tool you prefer. Here’s how:

Start by entering your brand name into Ahrefs’ Content Explorer to pull up a list of pages that mention your brand. Then, use the “Highlight unlinked domains” filter to find mentions that don’t include a backlink.

Once you have the list, reach out to the site owners or authors with a polite request to add a link to your site. As simple as that!

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7. Product Reviews

Using product reviews to execute link building for startups is very simple: you reach out to bloggers, influencers, or review sites that align with your niche and offer them your product in exchange for an honest review. Here’s the main scheme:

First, you should identify relevant reviewers in your industry who have an engaged audience. Use keywords like “[Your Product Type] product reviews” or “[Your Industry] bloggers” to find relevant content.

Then, send them a personalized pitch explaining why your product would be a great fit for their content. Once they agree, you provide them with your product, and they share their experience in a blog post or review.

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Real-World Example

The Process Hacker blog did a detailed review of Krisp, a noise-canceling app, breaking down its features and how it can help users. They went into detail about how Krisp helps users achieve clear audio, even in noisy environments, which is ideal for meetings, webinars, or virtual classes. The blog also highlighted how Krisp eliminates distractions like barking dogs, kids, or household noise, helping you sound more professional during remote calls. As part of the review, they included a backlink to Krisp’s website.  

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8. Podcast Link Building

Podcast link building for startups involves getting featured as a guest on podcasts relevant to your industry, where you can share your insights and expertise. In most cases, the host will include a link to your website or resources in the show notes, giving you a valuable backlink.

Just to make things easier for you, I’ve gathered some well-known podcasts across different niches that could be great for podcast link building:

1. Entrepreneurship/Business: How I Built This – Hosted by Guy Raz, this podcast features interviews with entrepreneurs and business leaders about how they built their companies.
2. Marketing/SEO: Marketing School – Hosted by Neil Patel and Eric Siu, this podcast offers actionable marketing tips and strategies for digital marketers and business owners.
3. Health & Wellness: The Model Health Show – Hosted by Shawn Stevenson, this podcast covers topics like fitness, nutrition, and personal development.
4. Technology/Innovation: Reply All – Hosted by PJ Vogt and Alex Goldman, this podcast explores the intersection of technology and culture with captivating stories and insights.
5. Personal Finance: The Dave Ramsey Show – Hosted by Dave Ramsey, this podcast focuses on personal finance, budgeting, and money management advice for individuals looking to take control of their finances.

Real-World Example

Now, let’s move to a real-world example. Chris McCann, the co-founder of StartupDigest, was featured on the Mixergy podcast, where he shared his journey of building the startup and valuable insights into its growth. In the show notes, a link to StartupDigest’s homepage was included, providing a valuable backlink.

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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.

Easy Tip: To spot broken links, tools like Ahrefs or Screaming Frog can make your life easier. Once you find one, send a friendly message to the website owner, letting them know about the broken link and offering your content as a helpful replacement.

Real-World Example

As I’ve mentioned above, you can use Ahrefs to find these opportunities. I did a quick search and discovered that 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. But make sure it has a high DR ( above 30). You can then contact the link owner and suggest that they replace the broken link with a link to your relevant page. This strategy is effective because it’s a win-win for both sides.

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10. Resource Page Link Building

Resource page link building for startups is about creating a page on your website that acts as a hub for helpful resources related to your industry. It’s a collection of valuable content that others in your niche will want to link to because it’s easy to share and saves them time.

Unlike linkable assets, which focus on individual pieces of content, a resource page is a list that keeps attracting backlinks over time.

Another effective approach is getting your site listed on other websites’ resource pages. To do this, you reach out to relevant websites in your niche and ask them to add your content to their resource page while gaining a backlink.

Real-World Example

Take Asana’s resource page, for example. It’s full of useful tools, templates, guides, and tutorials, making it a go-to for anyone looking to level up their project management skills. Whether it's their detailed articles on planning, interactive product demos, or a variety of templates to help set up projects, there’s something for everyone. They even have Asana Academy, offering courses and certifications to help users get the most out of the platform. Resources like this naturally attract backlinks.

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11. Infographics

Infographics are a visual way to present information, data, or knowledge, making complex ideas easier to understand quickly. The strategy here is to create high-quality infographics and share them with other websites, offering them as a helpful resource in exchange for a backlink.  You can pitch to bloggers or websites in your niche that regularly feature visual content.

Easy Tip: To get the most out of the infographics, submit them to infographic directories, like Cool Infographics or Directory of Infographics, to improve their discoverability.

Tools like Canva make it easy to create professional-looking infographics without needing advanced design skills.

Real-World Example

RS Components nailed it with their data-driven infographic about “The Jobs AI Will Take Over First".  By turning complex data on job displacement into an easy-to-understand visual, they made the topic accessible to a wide audience. The infographic was picked up and shared by numerous tech and industry blogs, earning RS Components valuable backlinks.

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12. Press Release for Link Building

Press release link building for startups involves creating and distributing press releases to announce significant news or updates about your business. The goal is to get journalists and bloggers to pick up your story, cover it, and link back to your website.

Real-World Example

Let me show you how this strategy works in real life. For example, USA Today covered the release of Squid GameSeason 2 on Netflix, and in their article, they included a link to Netflix’s site. This is a great example of PR link building—Netflix's news was picked up by the media, driving traffic and generating buzz.

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13. Blogger Outreach

Blogger outreach link building for startups is a strategy where you contact bloggers or influencers in your niche and offer to collaborate. You might pitch writing a guest post, providing expert insights, or co-creating content. In exchange, they include a backlink to your site.

Real-World Example

This article published in Fast Company is a great example of this strategy being put into action. In the 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. The article also includes a link back to Buffer's website.

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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. Here’s how you can make this work:

1. Find Relevant Platforms: Start by identifying blogs, websites, and podcasts in your industry that feature founder interviews. You can use tools like Google, BuzzSumo, or even podcast directories to find sites that regularly publish this type of content. Searching for terms like "interview with founders" or "industry leader interviews" can help you find the right opportunities.
2. Craft a Compelling Pitch: Once you’ve identified the right platforms, reach out with a personalized pitch. Highlight what makes your story or insights valuable to their audience.
3. Secure the Interview: If the platform agrees to feature you, the interview will likely include a backlink to your site either within the content or in the author bio.

Now let’s move to the real-world example.

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Real-World Example

Arian Behzadi, the founder of ARize, was interviewed on the uGlobally website, where he discussed the hurdles he faced as a foreign entrepreneur and shared the journey of building ARize, a platform centered around augmented reality. The interview also included a link to ARize’s website.

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15. Case Studies

Using case studies for link building means creating detailed report that highlight your successes and sharing them with relevant blogs, websites, or publications. The goal is for these sites to link back to your case study as a trusted resource. It’s like telling a success story at a conference—when you show how your solution has made an impact, you build credibility and trust.

Real-World Example

Here’s a real-world example of how case studies can be used for link building for startups. Crazy Egg published a case study about Miller & Smith, a real estate company, showing how Crazy Egg’s tools helped them improve their website’s conversion rate. Additionally, Crazy Egg has earned valuable backlinks from other websites that considered the case study a useful resource.

16. Link Roundups

Link roundup link building is about finding websites that put together “link roundups”—curated lists of great content in your niche. The idea is to get your content included in these roundups, which earns you a valuable backlink. It’s like getting your article on a “best of the week” list, boosting your credibility by being associated with other top content.

Real-World Example

Here’s how this strategy can work in practice. Take the article in The Independent, for example. This roundup highlights a selection of the best false eyelashes, with each product linking back to its respective brand or retailer. Being included in such a roundup gives brands valuable backlinks from a reputable site, which is exactly what we are aiming for, right?

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17. Whitepapers and Research Reports

Whitepapers and research report 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.

Real-World Example

Let me give you a great example of this strategy in action. Handshake published a detailed whitepaper offering valuable insights into B2B eCommerce strategies. This guide quickly became a go-to resource for businesses in the industry, and as a result, it’s been referenced by several blogs and industry publications, earning high-quality backlinks.

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What Websites Are More Likely to Give Backlinks to Your Startup?

When you're looking for backlinks, websites that are relevant to your industry and niche are your best bet. I’ve collected a few categories and examples to help you get started:

1. Tech Industry Sites: These sites focus on technology news, reviews, and innovations.
2. Business Blogs: Business-oriented blogs and websites often cover startup stories, trends, and advice.
3. Startup-Focused Publications: These publications specifically target startup news, advice, and success stories.
4. Industry-Specific Blogs: Blogs that cater to your startup’s specific industry can provide highly relevant backlinks.
5. Educational Websites: Sites that offer tutorials, courses, and resources related to your startup’s field.
6. Community Forums and Q&A Sites: These platforms can offer backlinks through discussions and expert answers.

How to Find Prospect Websites for Link Building for Startups

When it comes to building your startup's backlink profile, many people think that the more backlinks you get, the better. But I disagree.

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A few strong, relevant backlinks will do a lot more for your SEO than a bunch of random ones.

To make things even simpler, tools like Linkee can help you find high-quality link opportunities tailored to your niche. It saves time and makes sure you're focusing on the links that will actually move the needle.

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