Backlinks for a New SaaS: How to Get Your First 50 Quality Links

A brand-new SaaS has a chicken-and-egg problem. Google needs signals to trust your site, and the biggest signal is links from other sites, which you do not have yet. The way out is not one clever trick. It is a few layers of links, each easier to earn once the previous layer exists.

This guide gives you a concrete plan for the first 50 quality backlinks, with templates and the assets that make link building easier.

What counts as a "quality" backlink

A quality backlink for a SaaS is:

• From a real, indexed website with its own visitors.
• Relevant to your product, audience or industry.
• Followed (no nofollow, ugc or sponsored attribute), or at least sending real visitors.
• From a unique domain you do not already have a link from.
• Earned or given editorially, not bought in a package.

Ten such links do more than a hundred from random directories. If the attributes are new to you, read dofollow vs nofollow backlinks.

Layer 1: Foundation listings (links 1 to 25)

Where: reputable launch boards, startup directories, review and comparison sites, niche directories.

Why first: they are quick, they help Google discover your site, and they give you a baseline profile.

How: prepare a listing kit once and submit 20 to 30 well-matched sites over a few weeks. Our guides: best startup directories, free SaaS directories for backlinks, and how to submit to startup directories.

On IndieDaddy, a reviewed listing is free; keep our badge on your site and the listing links to you with a followed link.

Layer 2: Ecosystem links (links 25 to 35)

Where:

• Integration marketplaces and partner directories of tools you connect with.
• "Built with" and customer showcase pages of tools you use (many frameworks, hosting providers and no-code platforms showcase customers).
• Your founders' profiles: personal sites, X, LinkedIn, GitHub, conference speaker pages.
• Startup programmes, accelerators or communities you are part of.

Why: highly relevant, usually followed, and often on strong domains.

Layer 3: Asset-driven links (links 35 to 50 and beyond)

People link to useful things, not to product homepages. Create one or two assets worth citing:

Then promote each asset: share it where your audience gathers, and tell the authors of related articles that it exists.

Outreach templates

Roundup inclusion:

Hi [name], I enjoyed your article on [topic], especially [specific point].
I run [product], which [one-line outcome] for [audience]. If you update the
list, it might be a good fit for the [section] section. Either way, thanks
for the useful write-up.

Unlinked mention:

Hi [name], thanks for mentioning [product] in [article]. Would you mind adding
a link to [URL] so readers can find it easily? Happy to return the favour by
sharing the article with our users.

Guest post pitch:

Hi [name], I'm [name], founder of [product]. I'd like to write a practical
piece for your readers on [specific topic], covering [two or three points].
No fluff, examples included. Would that fit your blog?

Keep outreach personal, short and genuinely useful. Send fewer, better emails.

A 60-day backlink plan

How to pick which links to chase first

When everything looks like an opportunity, score each one quickly. Give 0 to 2 points for each column and start with the highest totals.

Anything scoring 3 or less is usually not worth your time in the first 60 days.

Signs a link opportunity is a trap

• The site has thousands of pages of thin, unrelated content.
• Every listing is paid, and none is labelled as sponsored.
• The seller promises a specific Domain Rating increase.
• You are asked to link back from every page of your site.
• The "editorial" article is clearly written for links rather than readers.

Verify and maintain

• Open each live listing and inspect the link: followed, nofollow or redirect.
• Keep a sheet with domain, URL, link type, date and whether a badge is required.
• Re-check badge-based links after any site redesign.
• Watch referring domains monthly in a backlink tool, and Google Search Console for rankings and impressions.

Shortcuts to avoid

• Link packages promising hundreds of links for a small fee.
• Private blog networks and sites that exist only to sell links.
• Paid links without the sponsored attribute, which breaks Google's spam policies.
• Mass reciprocal links with unrelated sites.
• Automated comment and forum spam.

These may inflate third-party metrics briefly while damaging trust with Google.

How backlinks connect to AI search

AI assistants and AI search features draw on sources that are well-linked and frequently cited. A consistent presence across reputable directories, reviews and articles makes it more likely that assistants recognise and describe your product correctly. Read how to get your SaaS recommended by ChatGPT.

Frequently asked questions

How many backlinks does a new SaaS need?

There is no fixed number. Twenty to fifty quality links from unique, relevant domains is a strong foundation for a new site competing on long-tail keywords.

Which backlinks should a new SaaS get first?

Reputable directory and launch listings first, then integration, partner and showcase pages, then links earned through useful assets, guest posts and roundups.

Are directory backlinks enough?

No. They are a good foundation, but rankings for competitive terms need relevant editorial links and pages worth linking to.

How long until backlinks improve rankings?

Often weeks to a few months for new links to be discovered and reflected. Long-tail pages may move sooner than competitive ones.

Should I use a link-building agency?

Only a reputable one that explains exactly where links come from and avoids paid networks. Many small founders get better results doing the first 50 links themselves.