How to Start a Link-Building Agency or SaaS

Here's how you can make money in the link-building industry with agencies, services and SaaS tools.

November 28, 2024

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If you’ve been on the build-in-public or solopreneur side of Twitter in the last few months, you’ll likely have seen loads of tweets about directories, domain authority scores and link building.

Link building is important because it’s one of the most effective ways to improve search rankings, boost website authority, and drive long-term organic traffic in an increasingly competitive SEO landscape.

Here’s how you can monetize link building.

Let’s jump in!

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⭐️ Examples & Tools:

📈 Stats:

  • Guest posting is the most popular link-building tactic, with 64.9% of link builders using it (source)

  • 74.3% of link builders pay for links, with the average cost of a paid link being $83 (source)

  • 85% of SEOs and marketers believe that link building has a big impact on brand authority and brand building. (source)

  • 66.31% of pages have zero backlinks. (source)

  • Google’s top three organic search results receive 68.7% of all clicks. (source)

  • 41% of SEOs consider link building to be the most difficult aspect of the job. (source)

  • The global SEO services market is projected to reach $146.96 billion in 2025. (source)

🧐 Opportunities:

There are a few ways you can make money with link building:

  • Link Building Agency

  • White-Label Link Building Agency

  • Content + Link Agency

  • Directory Submission Service

  • Run Directory Sites (more on that here)

  • Link Opportunities Newsletter

  • Link Building SaaS

I’m gonna break down my 3 favourites.

1. Link Building Agency

A link-building agency specializes in securing backlinks for businesses to improve their search engine rankings. These agencies use tactics like guest posting, outreach, and content partnerships to get links from high-authority sites.

How to Build it:

  • Define Your Service Offering: Decide whether you’ll focus on niche-specific link building, general SEO link building, or high-authority links.

  • Set Up Processes: Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify link opportunities and establish outreach workflows.

  • Create a Portfolio: Start with a few free or low-cost campaigns to build case studies and testimonials.

  • Focus on Niche Expertise: Specialize in industries where high-quality content is in demand, like tech, health, or finance.

  • Hire or Train a Team: Bring in outreach specialists, freelancers or train in-house staff to manage campaigns.

  • Pricing: Offer retainer-based pricing, pay-per-link packages, or project-based pricing.

How to Grow it:

  1. Build an audience on LinkedIn/Twitter/YouTube and share SEO tips.

  2. Create blog posts or videos showcasing link-building success stories.

  3. Offer free webinars to teach businesses the basics of link building.

  4. Start a referral program for existing clients.

  5. Publish a downloadable guide on link-building strategies to collect leads.

  6. Partner with SEO consultants/agencies who don’t offer link building.

  7. Run Google Ads targeting businesses searching for link-building services.

  8. Share niche-specific results in online communities or forums.

  9. Get featured in SEO podcasts or guest blogs.

  10. Use email outreach to pitch your services to businesses in specific industries.

  11. Create a newsletter for businesses to teach them how to grow their domain authority and build links

2. Directory Submission Service

This service helps businesses submit their websites to niche directories, improving visibility and securing foundational backlinks. There are quite a few of these popping up as you can outsource quite easily to people on Fiverr to do the submissions for you.

How to Build it:

  • Research Directories: Create a list of high-quality, niche-specific directories.

  • Build a Submission Workflow: Automate the process using tools, templates and freelancers.

  • Target Local or Small Businesses: Many don’t have the time to do this themselves and lots of startups want to get build their domain authority fast.

How to Grow it:

  1. Build an audience on LinkedIn/Twitter/YouTube and share SEO tips.

  2. Create blog posts or videos showcasing link-building success stories.

  3. Run ads on Meta & Google targeting small businesses and relevant keywords.

  4. Build partnerships with local marketing agencies.

  5. Provide a free directory list as a lead magnet.

  6. Create your own directory site for your chosen niche.

  7. Share client success stories & testimonials.

  8. Join business groups on Facebook and offer your services.

  9. Use Zapier or Syften to monitor for keyword mentions on Reddit/Twitter and reply to everyone with value.

  10. Set up an affiliate program for referrals.

3. Link Building SaaS

Build a software tool that helps users streamline link-building tasks like prospecting, outreach, and tracking.

Focus on solving a specific problem within the workflow vs creating an all-in-one tool.

Look at existing tools and see what people are complaining about the most in the reviews on G2, Capterra and TrustPilot.

Create a tool that solves those and provides a better experience, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just look at how many CRM tools exist.

How to Build it:

  • Identify Pain Points: Focus on problems like inefficient outreach or difficulty tracking backlinks.

  • Develop Core Features: Include tools for link prospecting, automated outreach, and reporting.

  • Build an MVP: Build a minimal viable product and get feedback fast and early.

  • Launch a Beta: Test with a small group of users to refine the product.

How to Grow it:

  1. Offer a free trial or freemium model to attract users.

  2. Build an audience on LinkedIn/Twitter/YouTube and share SEO tips.

  3. Run ads on Meta & Google targeting small businesses and relevant keywords.

  4. Create comparison content targeting competitors like BuzzStream.

  5. Offer exclusive features for agencies to drive enterprise sales.

  6. Start an affiliate program with high commissions.

  7. Publish SEO-focused guides and resources to drive organic traffic.

  8. Create blog posts and videos showcasing SaaS in action - create the video first then use AI to write the blog post.

  9. Use Zapier or Syften to monitor for keyword mentions on Reddit/Twitter and reply to everyone with value.

  10. Use email outreach to pitch your SaaS to SEO agencies, offering them a deal and free setup/training and 1-2-1 onboarding.

🔎 Niches:

Here are 50 niches you can focus on for link-building services:

  • Health & Wellness

  • Fitness & Personal Training

  • Nutrition & Diets

  • Mental Health & Therapy

  • Alternative Medicine

  • Yoga & Meditation

  • E-commerce (General)

  • Fashion & Apparel

  • Beauty & Skincare

  • Jewellery

  • Tech & Gadgets

  • SaaS (Software as a Service)

  • Finance & Investing

  • Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

  • Real Estate

  • Home Improvement & DIY

  • Interior Design

  • Gardening & Landscaping

  • Parenting & Family

  • Baby Products

  • Pets & Pet Care

  • Automotive & Car Maintenance

  • Travel & Tourism

  • Sustainable Travel

  • Food & Recipes

  • Vegan & Vegetarian Lifestyles

  • Restaurant & Hospitality

  • Alcohol & Craft Beverages

  • Coffee & Specialty Teas

  • Education & E-Learning

  • Online Courses & Certifications

  • Gaming & Esports

  • Photography

  • Wedding Planning & Services

  • Event Planning

  • Nonprofits & Charities

  • Green Living & Sustainability

  • Outdoor Adventures & Sports

  • Fishing & Hunting

  • Fitness Equipment

  • Digital Marketing & SEO

  • Blogging & Content Creation

  • Entrepreneurship & Startups

  • Small Businesses & Local Services

  • Cybersecurity

  • Legal Services & Law Firms

  • Senior Living & Aging

  • Luxury Goods

  • Personal Finance & Budgeting

  • Career Development & Job Hunting

🛠 Useful Tools:

🔥 Cool Stuff

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