For SaaS companies, link building has moved beyond chasing backlinks to building credibility and genuine industry authority. Today’s SaaS brands are using link building as a way to strengthen trust, improve visibility, and create lasting impact across their digital presence.
To find out what 643,805 SaaS companies that have tried link building in the US opinions were, we utilized AI-driven audience profiling to synthesize insights from online discussions for a full year, ending 13th October 2025, to a high statistical confidence level. The results show where priorities lie, what’s trending, and the biggest challenges SaaS companies face when executing their link building strategies.
Index
- Strengthening brand recognition is a top priority for 42% of SaaS companies that have tried link building
- 78% of SaaS companies that have tried link building have sometimes used shareable content to acquire links in the past
- Transparency in reporting is a strong influence for 83% of SaaS companies when deciding on a link building service to use
- 87% of SaaS companies that have tried link building usually identify websites for link building opportunities by analyzing competitors' links
- 47% of SaaS companies that have tried link building found managing outreach campaigns somewhat challenging
- 63% of SaaS companies that have tried link building said that analyzing referral traffic was an essential method of monitoring impact
- Digital marketing newsletters are the main source of discovering new strategies for 78% of SaaS companies that have tried link building
- 59% of SaaS companies that have tried link building say that videos or multimedia content have been extremely successful for generating links
- The main reason 54% of SaaS companies that have tried link building continue to do so is to support product launches
- 45% of SaaS companies that have tried link building agree that the number of high-quality links acquired is a significant metric when evaluating a link building service
- 58% of SaaS companies that have tried link building operate in the finance, fintech, or technology services industries
- 55% of SaaS companies that have tried link building say that sites publishing high-quality content are a top priority for their backlink strategy
- 48% of SaaS companies that have tried link building say that their link building budget is an important part of their content marketing strategy
- 69% of SaaS companies that have tried link building are most motivated to continue due to an interest in exploring new marketing strategies
- 21% of SaaS companies that have tried link building are most likely based in San Francisco
- Shaping The Future of SaaS Link Building
- Methodology
What Is Your Primary Goal When Investing In Link Building?
Strengthening brand recognition is a top priority for 42% of SaaS companies that have tried link building
Two main link building goals are prevalent:
Brand recognition plays a major role in purchasing decisions and building trust. So much so that the Marketing Rule of Seven states that a customer who sees a brand's messaging at least 7 times is more likely to engage with them and make a purchase. For our audience of SaaS companies that have tried link building, strengthening brand recognition is a top priority, with 42% saying that they invest in link building for this purpose.
However, the remaining 58% say that their primary goal when investing in link building is to support their marketing strategy, with half saying this is a top priority and the other an important goal. This highlights the dual purpose of link building as a means to boost visibility and authority and as a strategic tool that reinforces overall marketing efforts.
Which Methods Have You Used To Acquire Links In The Past?
78% of SaaS companies that have tried link building have sometimes used shareable content to acquire links in the past
Shareable content stands out as the most-used link acquisition method:
78% of our audience reports that they have sometimes created shareable content to acquire links in the past. While the power of shareable content is immense, outreach to industry influencers evidently has more appeal, with 22% saying this was a primary method of link acquisition.
Considering that reports show that 49% of consumers make a purchase at least once a month due to influencer posts and 86% do so at least once a year, this method clearly has proven ROI.
What Factor Most Influences Your Decision When Choosing A Link Building Service?
Transparency in reporting is a strong influence for 83% of SaaS companies when deciding on a link building service to use
Transparency trumps pricing with link building services:
A whopping 99% of SaaS companies that have tried link building say that transparency in reporting is the factor that most influences their decision when choosing a service provider. 83% say that it has a strong influence and 16% a minor influence, while only 1% cite service pricing as a determining factor.
This is understandable, as transparency in reporting is crucial for building trust and accountability between SaaS companies and their link building providers. Clear insights into strategies, results, and performance metrics allow companies to accurately assess ROI, make informed decisions, and ensure their campaigns align with ethical SEO practices and long-term goals. It’s no surprise that 78% of SEO professionals report achieving a satisfying ROI from their link building campaigns, reinforcing the value of transparent, results-driven partnerships.
How Do You Usually Identify Websites For Link Building Opportunities?
87% of SaaS companies that have tried link building usually identify websites for link building opportunities by analyzing competitors' links
Competitors hold the key to link building opportunities:
Analyzing the competition is an age-old marketing strategy that still stands strong. For SaaS companies that have tried link building, 87% usually identify websites for link building opportunities based on analyzing competitors' links. This is their main method, and it makes sense when you consider that a high-ranking page on Google typically has 3.8x more backlinks than pages ranked 2 to 10.
The remaining 13% of our audience say that they sometimes search relevant forums or communities, putting competitor analysis far ahead.
Which Challenge Has Impacted Your Link Building Efforts The Most?
47% of SaaS companies that have tried link building found managing outreach campaigns somewhat challenging
Some link building challenges are more widespread than others:
There’s no denying that link building can pose challenges, and for SaaS companies, there are some clear stumbling blocks. 47% of our audience say that managing outreach campaigns is somewhat challenging, while 17% feel the same about finding high-quality websites, and 16% about ensuring the relevancy of links. With Google consistently updating its algorithm to remove spammy links, the latter two challenges are wholly expected.
However, 20% say that measuring return on investment is a major challenge, showing that many SaaS companies struggle to connect their link building efforts directly to tangible business outcomes. This once again highlights the need for transparency and clear performance tracking.
How Do You Typically Monitor The Impact Of Links Acquired?
63% of SaaS companies that have tried link building said that analyzing referral traffic was an essential method of monitoring impact
Measuring the impact of acquired links is done in two ways:
With ROI being such a core focus of link building, being able to measure the impact of links is crucial. For SaaS companies, there are two essential methods of doing so. 63% analyze referral traffic and 37% review conversions from linked pages.
This indicates that SaaS companies are adopting a data-driven approach to link building, prioritizing measurable outcomes over vanity metrics. By focusing on referral traffic and conversions from linked pages, they’re assessing the volume of links as well as their quality and impact on customer acquisition and overall marketing performance.
How Do You Usually Discover New Link Building Strategies Or Services?
Digital marketing newsletters are the main source of discovering new strategies for 78% of SaaS companies that have tried link building
One main source of information stands out:
Digital marketing newsletters are a hugely popular source of information for numerous industries, and SaaS companies are no different. Over three-quarters (78%) of our audience say these are their main source for discovering new link building strategies or services, and 13% use it sometimes. With so many marketing newsletters readily available, it’s easy to see why so many rely on them.
Conversely, online research and SEO blogs are the main source for only 4% and are used sometimes by 2%, while SEO community forums are the main source for 2% and industry conferences or webinars are the main source for 1%. This suggests that SaaS companies prefer easily accessible, curated insights delivered directly to their inboxes over time-consuming research or event-based learning.
What Content Types Have Been Most Successful For Generating Links?
59% of SaaS companies that have tried link building say that videos or multimedia content have been extremely successful for generating links
One type of content is a trending favorite:
Videos and multimedia have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years. Currently, studies show that 89% of businesses use video as a marketing tool, and 93% of marketers say that they’ve achieved a good ROI from this type of media.
SaaS companies also see the value in this type of content, with 59% saying they’ve been extremely successful when using videos or multimedia for generating links, and 41% saying they were somewhat successful. This trend doesn’t look set to disappear anytime soon, with Statista reporting that 94.6% of internet users watched online videos on a monthly basis during the second quarter of 2025.
What Is The Main Reason Your Company Continues Link Building Efforts?
The main reason 54% of SaaS companies that have tried link building continue to do so is to support product launches
Three main reasons emerge for continuing link building:
When it comes to why SaaS companies continue with link building, the main reason for 45% of our audience is to support product launches. Brand recognition gets another mention here after we saw earlier that the primary goal for investing in link building was to strengthen brand recognition for 42%. In this case, 28% of SaaS companies are continuing with link building to increase brand awareness.
Following just behind are the 27% who say the main reason for continuing is to improve their search engine rankings. With Google citing quality links as one of the determining factors for indicating trustworthiness, it’s an excellent reason to keep going with this strategy.
Which Metric Matters Most When Evaluating A Link Building Service?
45% of SaaS companies that have tried link building agree that the number of high-quality links acquired is a significant metric when evaluating a link building service
Relevance, context, and quality are what count for link building:
There are two clear metrics that SaaS companies rely on when evaluating link building services. The number of high-quality links acquired is a significant metric for 45% and the relevance of content and context is somewhat important for just 10% more (55%). Link context ties in with link quality as a ranking factor, so it’s understandably a yardstick by which link building services can be measured.
Overall, this shows that SaaS companies value quantity and contextual relevance, recognizing that meaningful, authoritative links drive stronger SEO performance and brand credibility.
What Industry Does Your Company Operate In?
58% of SaaS companies that have tried link building operate in the finance, fintech, or technology services industries
Two industries stand out amongst our audience:
By 2025, the SaaS market in the US was expected to reach approximately $299 billion, making it the largest regional market globally. For our audience of SaaS companies in the US, there are five core industries of operation, with finance or fintech and technology services both being definite for 29%. 8% and 7% respectively said that this was possibly their industry, while 1% of the former said it was unlikely, and another 1% for the latter said it was not their industry.
14% are definitely in the information technology industry, and another 2% possibly so, while 7% are definitely in marketing and advertising, and 1% possibly. Lastly, 1% are in education and e-learning, showing just how diverse SaaS applications are.
How Do You Decide Which Type Of Websites Are The Best Fit For Your Backlink Strategy?
55% of SaaS companies that have tried link building say that sites publishing high-quality content are a top priority for their backlink strategy
Two clear trends emerge for the type of websites that suit backlinking strategies:
We’ve seen how important high-quality content and context are, and they show up again when SaaS companies decide which types of content are the best fit for their backlinking strategies. For 55%, sites that publish high-quality content are a top priority, and for 45%, industry-specific blogs or communities are a strong consideration.
This preference for authenticity highlights a clear move away from risky practices like private blog networks (PBNs), which are built to manipulate rankings. Although PBNs can offer short-term gains, they often lead to long-term penalties and loss of trust, reinforcing why genuine, contextually relevant links remain the smarter and more sustainable choice.
How Do You Usually Allocate Budget For Link Building Within Your Overall Marketing Strategy?
48% of SaaS companies that have tried link building say that their link building budget is an important part of their content marketing strategy
SaaS companies follow similar budgeting practices:
According to Gartner's CMO Spend Survey, the average US marketing budget in 2025 is 7.7% of company revenue. But this encompassess all marketing. For our audience, we looked at how SaaS companies generally allocate a budget for link building within their overall marketing strategy and found that 48% said that it was an important part of their budget that was included under content marketing, while 35% said it played a minor role in the budget segment.
The remaining 17% said that allocating funds for link building was a top priority for their budget, showing that a select group of SaaS companies view link building as a core growth driver rather than a supporting tactic.
What Motivates You To Continue Improving Your Link Building Efforts?
69% of SaaS companies that have tried link building are most motivated to continue due to an interest in exploring new marketing strategies
Opinions differ regarding motivations to continually refine link building efforts:
Stagnating is never a smart move in a fast-evolving sector like digital marketing, and US SaaS companies know this. 69% of our audience says that an interest in exploring new marketing strategies is a major motivator for continuing to improve their link building efforts, while 27% feel the same about the desire to outperform competitors, and 2% needing to strengthen brand authority.
Just 2% say that a desire to outperform competitors is not a motivator at all, putting the focus firmly on staying ahead by trying new strategies.
In Which City Is Your Company Primarily Based?
21% of SaaS companies that have tried link building are most likely based in San Francisco
Our audience is spread across the US:
San Francisco has become one of the major tech hubs in the US, with SaaS being one of the industries in which it has strong leadership. This aligns with our audience, of whom 6% are definitely based there and 21% most likely, compared to the 7% who are unlikely to be based there and 5% who are not. Seattle comes in second, but only 15% of SaaS companies are most likely based there, while 13% are unlikely to be.
Auston, another growing tech hub, is third, with 1% definitely based there, 8% most likely, 12% unlikely to be, and 2% not based there. This is followed by New York, with 5% most likely based there, and 1% unlikely to be, and Chicago, with 1% also unlikely to be based there. This distribution reveals a clear preference for West Coast tech hubs that boast strong startup ecosystems, access to venture capital, and proximity to established technology networks that foster innovation and growth.
Shaping The Future of SaaS Link Building
These statistics reveal that SaaS companies in the US are taking a mature, data-driven, and quality-focused approach to SEO. Link building is no longer viewed as a purely technical tactic but as a strategic driver of brand recognition, credibility, and marketing success.
SaaS brands are prioritizing transparency, measurable ROI, and authentic partnerships with content-rich, contextually relevant websites while steering clear of risky shortcuts. What also emerges is a strong commitment to innovation. SaaS marketers are embracing video content, experimenting with new outreach methods, and aligning their link building budgets more closely with broader content marketing efforts.
As competition intensifies, SaaS companies that continue to invest strategically in link building are set to strengthen their authority, enhance discoverability, and secure lasting visibility in an increasingly crowded digital space.
Methodology
Sourced using Artios from an independent sample of 643,805 United States SaaS companies that have tried link building opinions across X, Reddit, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, and BlueSky. Responses are collected within a 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error. Results are derived from opinions expressed online, not actual questions answered by people in the sample.
