# How Many Backlinks Does a New SaaS Need? > There is no universal backlink target for SaaS. Learn to compare search results, estimate a useful link gap, and prioritize relevant mentions. Canonical: https://launchaf.com/blog/how-many-backlinks-new-saas-needs Last updated: 2026-10-27 Section: Blog Author: Nikhil Rajput Published: 2026-10-27 Tags: saas backlinks, startup SEO, backlink strategy, referring domains A new SaaS does not need a fixed number of backlinks to rank, launch, or acquire its first customers. The useful question is narrower: for the page and search query you care about, what do the current results do well, and where does your page need to improve? Links are one part of that comparison, alongside search intent, content, technical access, brand, and competition. For a specific question in a narrow niche, a useful page may earn visibility with few external links. A broad commercial query may be dominated by established products, marketplaces, and publishers with substantial reputations. Neither situation gives you a guaranteed link count. The method below helps you estimate a starting gap without turning an SEO tool's numbers into a promise. We run LaunchAF, a product launch platform that offers listings. We have a commercial interest in founders using launch platforms, so we will be direct: a directory submission is not a required step for every SaaS, and a followed link is not proof of a future ranking improvement. Choose any placement for its relevant audience and actual value, not simply to reach a quota. ## Why there is no magic number Google uses multiple ranking systems. Its [ranking systems guide](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/ranking-systems-guide) describes link analysis as one part of how it understands pages; it does not publish a minimum number of backlinks needed to rank. Search results also depend on what a person is asking, the competing pages, and whether a page is accessible and useful. A backlink counter is a measurement from a particular tool, not a list of votes that Google promises to count. Tools discover different portions of the web. One source can link to you from many URLs, and a link on an indexed resource page can serve a different purpose from a repeated footer link. Even a followed link may be ignored, discounted, or carry no observable effect on your target page. Start by separating a few terms: | Term | What it means | Why founders should care | | --- | --- | --- | | Backlink | A link from another website to a page on your site | It can help readers discover you and may contribute to search discovery and ranking signals. | | Referring domain | A distinct website or domain that links to you | It helps distinguish a broad set of sources from hundreds of repeated links on one site. | | Followed link | A link without a `nofollow`, `sponsored`, or similar qualification that asks search engines not to treat it as an ordinary endorsement | It is not a guarantee of ranking credit. | | Page-level links | Links pointing to a particular URL | They help you compare the page competing for a query, rather than only its whole domain. | | Domain Rating | Ahrefs' estimate of a domain's backlink profile strength | It is a useful research clue, not a Google threshold. | These definitions are simplified for planning. Providers can group domains and links differently, and link attributes are not a complete picture of how a search engine evaluates a page. Our [first backlinks guide](https://launchaf.com/blog/get-first-100-backlinks) discusses why both followed and nofollow mentions can be useful; [our Domain Rating explainer for startups](https://launchaf.com/blog/is-domain-rating-important-for-startups) puts the score in context. ## First, choose the page and the query Pick one important page and one primary search intent. For example, an invoicing SaaS might want its guide to answer “how to invoice international clients.” Another page might target buyers comparing invoicing software. Those are different jobs. One reader wants instructions; the other may be deciding what to buy. Comparing their link counts without considering intent can send you toward the wrong work. Write down the query, the intended audience, the page URL, and the action you want a qualified visitor to take. Then check that your page can be crawled, is indexed when appropriate, uses the intended canonical URL, and actually addresses the question. A backlink campaign cannot reliably fix a page that blocks crawlers, has no useful content, or sends readers to a broken signup flow. Use Search Console's URL inspection and performance reports to establish a baseline. Look at relevant impressions, clicks, and pages, while remembering that early data can be sparse. If the page is not appearing at all, start with our [new SaaS indexing guide](https://launchaf.com/blog/new-saas-website-not-showing-on-google). ## A practical SERP gap method Compare the actual pages showing up for a query, identify differences you can act on, and build a realistic plan. This is directional research, not a formula that predicts a ranking. ### Step 1: Inspect the current search results Search the target query in the location and language that matter to your users. Record the date, approximate location, and device. Search results can vary with context and change over time, so a single search is a snapshot. If possible, compare a few related queries rather than relying on one result page. Look at the first several relevant organic results. Are they guides, product pages, review sites, community discussions, or videos? What question does each result seem to answer? Notice whether search features or ads occupy space that could affect organic click opportunities. Do not mistake every visible item for a direct competitor to your page. For example, if nearly every result is a tutorial and your page is a pricing page, the immediate gap may be intent, not backlinks. You might need a useful tutorial that links naturally to your product where appropriate. If results are product comparisons, an independent buying guide may be more relevant than a short glossary entry. ### Step 2: Record the page, domain, and business type Make a small table with the result URL, publisher, content format, likely reader, and the role of the page in its business. Compare a specialist SaaS with another specialist before assuming a large publication's model is the only way to compete. Note if a result is an established documentation site, a marketplace, a large media company, or a direct product competitor. Read the content. What examples, explanations, screenshots, citations, or tools make it useful? Is anything out of date or missing? An opportunity exists only if you can answer it well for the reader, not because you can publish a longer page. ### Step 3: Compare links to the page and its domain Use a reputable backlink tool to inspect estimated referring domains for each result URL and, separately, for the overall domain. Record the tool and date. Where possible, distinguish live editorial links from repeated sitewide links, user-generated placements, redirects, and pages that appear unrelated. Some tools offer free limited views; paid data is not essential to getting started. Do not merge page and domain counts into one number. A strong domain may have relatively few links to the specific page, while a smaller site may have earned relevant links to an unusually useful resource. A page with no reported links may still have internal links and other signals that your tool does not capture. Inspect a few actual referring pages. Are they relevant to the topic? Does an editor explain why they are citing the page? Would a reader find the link useful even if search engines ignored it? This qualitative review is more valuable than copying a total into a spreadsheet. ### Step 4: Identify the gap you can address Put your own page beside the results and ask four questions: Does it match intent? Is it technically available? Does it offer a credible, useful answer? Does it have relevant paths for readers and sites to discover it? Record the evidence for each answer. If the top pages have detailed examples and yours is a short sales pitch, improve the page before pitching it. If your guide is strong but no relevant sites know it exists, outreach and partnerships may be the next experiment. If the result page is dominated by marketplaces and buyer review sites, consider whether your chosen query is realistic for a new product page today. ### Step 5: Set an experiment, not a quota Choose a small time-bound action, such as improving one guide and contacting ten carefully selected publications or partners over six weeks. Track pitches, replies, placements, referral visits, and what you learned. The number ten is an illustrative workload, not a recommendation for a universal number of links. Review the result after enough time to gather evidence. Did editors find the resource useful? Did the page begin receiving impressions for relevant searches? Did readers take the next step? If the answer is no, revise the asset, audience, or query before scaling outreach. ## An example of a backlink gap analysis Imagine a new SaaS that helps small agencies approve client deliverables. Its founder wants a guide to appear for “client approval workflow.” This is a hypothetical example; the numbers below do not describe an actual search result. The founder reviews five relevant results. Two are practical guides from agencies, one is a software comparison, one is a template, and one is a broad project-management article. A backlink tool reports that the individual pages have between zero and 25 referring domains. The domains themselves have very different histories. Several results include sample approval stages, while only one provides a usable template. The founder's existing page has no reported referring domains and explains product features without showing an approval process. The first decision is to improve the page: map the stages, explain who approves what, provide a sample handoff, and add a downloadable template that works independently of the SaaS. The founder can then share it with a few agency communities and partners whose readers handle client approvals. The gap is not “buy 25 links.” It is a combination of format, practical usefulness, and discovery. If the resource earns relevant mentions, the founder can inspect them and track whether the right visitors use the template. If no one responds, customer interviews may show that the workflow is not the audience's most urgent problem. ## What counts as a useful backlink opportunity? A useful opportunity starts with a real reason for the link. A partner might list an integration you support. A publication might cite a dataset because its readers need the evidence. A community resource page might include your free tool because members use it. A customer might describe a workflow and link to the relevant product page. Evaluate opportunities with questions like these: 1. Does the site serve people who could benefit from the resource or product? 2. Is there a clear editorial or practical reason to link to this exact page? 3. Can readers understand the context and choose whether to visit? 4. Are the page and its publisher credible and maintained? 5. Are any commercial relationships disclosed and link attributes appropriate? 6. Would the activity still make sense if it did not change your SEO metrics? The last question is a useful filter. An industry event listing might bring attendees even if its link is nofollow. A paid sponsorship could be worthwhile for its audience if clearly disclosed and measured as advertising. A random directory that sells followed links in bulk may have neither a relevant audience nor a sustainable reason to exist. Google's [spam policies](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/essentials/spam-policies) identify low-quality directory links and links created primarily to manipulate rankings as examples of link spam. They also explain that paid advertising links should be qualified appropriately. Do not assume a directory link is safe simply because its marketing mentions DR. ## Which pages should a new SaaS try to earn links to? Your homepage is an obvious destination for company mentions, but it is not the only valuable page. Match the destination to what the source is discussing. A technical article may reasonably cite a documentation page; a journalist may link to the original research; an industry roundup may link to the main product page. **Product and integration pages** help people evaluate the product and complete a relevant task. Keep them accurate, accessible, and specific. If a partner has an integration directory, make sure the integration is real and the listing explains what it does. **Practical guides and templates** can answer questions before someone is ready to buy. Give readers value without forcing them through a signup screen for every basic answer. Include a clear next step when the product is genuinely relevant. **Original resources** can earn citations when they add something others can use. This might be a calculator, carefully explained benchmark, open-source component, or a documented dataset. Describe your method and constraints. Do not present a small convenience sample as a representative industry survey. **Customer stories** can be useful when a customer has agreed to participate and the details are accurate. Explain the context, what changed, and what the result does and does not show. Do not invent results or imply that one customer's experience is guaranteed for everyone. Internal links connect these pages. Google recommends using [crawlable links and descriptive anchor text](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/crawling-indexing/links-crawlable), so a relevant guide can lead a reader to a related integration or product page. Internal linking does not manufacture external endorsements, but it helps visitors navigate the site you have built. ## A realistic first 90 days During the first month, pick one or two high-value pages, verify technical access, and review the search results for a small set of relevant queries. Talk to users about the words they use. Improve the page that serves the clearest need before producing a large content calendar. During the second month, create or refine one resource people can use independently: a template, an implementation guide, or a well-documented example. Make a short list of relevant partners and publications. Send individualized messages that explain why the resource fits their readers. Keep a record of responses and follow each community's rules. During the third month, review what happened. Compare impressions for relevant queries, visits to the resource, referral sources, signups, and activation. Inspect any links that were earned. If a community generated useful conversations but no measurable SEO change, it may still be valuable. If placements generated no relevant visitors and no learning, stop repeating the same tactic. Our article on [getting the first 100 backlinks](https://launchaf.com/blog/get-first-100-backlinks) contains ideas for outreach. Use its list as a menu, not an instruction to acquire 100 links. The right workload depends on your product and the evidence you collect. ## What should you track instead of a link quota? Track a few measures with a clear purpose. Referring domains and notable new links can help you understand discovery, while Search Console can show whether pages receive impressions and clicks for relevant queries. Product analytics can show whether those visitors sign up and reach a meaningful first outcome. Keep context beside each number. A link earned from a partner launch may bring a handful of qualified users. A larger traffic spike from a broad publication may produce few relevant signups. Both are worth understanding, but neither should be judged on link count alone. An example monthly scorecard might include the number of useful resources improved, relevant outreach conversations, new referring domains you have actually inspected, non-branded search clicks to the target page, and activated users from organic search. Do not combine incomplete tool data into a false precision score. A short note about what changed can be more useful than a dashboard full of unexplained totals. ## Common mistakes to avoid **Copying the competitor's total as your goal.** A tool may show 200 links to an established competitor, but those links may have accumulated over years and point to multiple pages. Inspect the relevant results, then identify what you can improve. **Buying followed links as a shortcut.** A placement purchased for ranking credit can conflict with search engine policy. Advertising should be assessed as advertising, with appropriate disclosure and link qualification. **Sending visitors to a weak page.** A link cannot explain a product that the landing page leaves unclear. Test the page with a prospective user, correct confusing copy, and check that the signup path works before promoting it. **Treating every directory as equal.** A relevant, maintained directory can help a person discover your product. A low-quality submission made only to manipulate rankings is a different proposition. Our [startup directory SEO guide](https://launchaf.com/blog/do-startup-directories-work-for-seo) covers that distinction. **Ignoring the customer after the click.** Search visibility is useful only if the visitor can do something meaningful. Track the path from landing page to signup to activation, and speak with people who drop off. ## Frequently asked questions ### How many backlinks does a new SaaS need to rank? There is no universal number. Review the pages currently ranking for a specific query, their relevance and link profiles, and the quality and accessibility of your own page. Use the comparison to plan an experiment, not to promise a ranking at a particular count. ### Are referring domains more useful than total backlinks? They answer a different question. Referring domains show how many distinct sites a tool has found linking to you; total backlinks may include many repeated links from one site. Inspect the actual links and their context instead of relying on either count alone. ### Can a new SaaS rank without backlinks? A new page can appear for some queries without reported external backlinks, particularly when it provides a useful answer and is technically accessible. Search results depend on many factors, and a tool reporting zero links does not prove that a search engine sees no relevant signals. ### Do nofollow links have value? They can send relevant visitors, create awareness, and help people discover a resource. Search engines may treat link attributes as hints in some contexts, but founders should not assume that any particular nofollow link will improve rankings. ### Should I buy backlinks or directory submissions? Avoid paying for links intended to manipulate ranking signals. A legitimate sponsorship or directory listing may be useful for its audience or service, but paid links should be appropriately qualified and the placement should have a real purpose beyond passing search credit. ### How long does it take for a backlink to help? There is no reliable deadline or guarantee. Search engines and SEO tools discover and process pages on different schedules, and many other factors affect results. Monitor the page and referral activity over time rather than attributing a ranking change to one link without evidence. ## Make the next decision smaller Your new SaaS needs useful pages, credible ways for people to discover them, and a product that delivers value after the click. Backlinks can support that system, but a count alone cannot tell you what to do next. Pick one query, inspect the current results, improve the page where it falls short, and earn relevant attention through work you are proud to show a customer. ## Related - [How to Get Your First 100 SaaS Users Without Ads](https://launchaf.com/blog/first-100-users-guide) - [Is Domain Rating Important for a New Startup? (Honest Answer)](https://launchaf.com/blog/is-domain-rating-important-for-startups) - [Why Did My Product Hunt Launch Get No Traffic? 8 Reasons](https://launchaf.com/blog/product-hunt-launch-no-traffic) - [Do Startup Directories Still Work for SEO in 2026?](https://launchaf.com/blog/do-startup-directories-work-for-seo) - [Does Domain Rating Affect Google Rankings? The Honest Answer](https://launchaf.com/blog/does-domain-rating-affect-rankings) - [All blog articles](https://launchaf.com/blog)