You don’t have an aged domain, years of authority, or a massive backlink profile. That means even the best content in the world won’t rank unless you start building links strategically.
But here’s the good news: Most startups suck at link building. They either ignore it completely or rely on outdated tactics like spammy directories and mass outreach templates. That gives you an opportunity to outpace your competitors by using the right link building strategies.
And you only need three things to rank in Google:
- The Right Site
- The Right Content
- The Right Links
With three being the #1 most important factor in Google’s algorithm as of 2025. This guide will show you how to build links that actually move the needle and generate revenue for your startup, without wasting time on tactics that don’t work.
7 Link Building Strategies for Startups That Work
Google has killed a lot of spammy techniques over the years, and it’s claimed to have killed a lot more! Here is a list of safe and effective strategies that any startup can use to build up their entity, get higher rankings and more traffic than they’ve ever seen before:
1. Entity Stacking (Foundational Link Building)
Entity stacking is the technique of building links to your site from trusted sources that help Google understand your brand, company information and generally are the foundation of how the algo validates if a company is real or not. Every website, but especially startups, should be looking to do this as the first part of their site’s OffPage SEO campaign.
The best part of this technique is that almost all of the links you actually need or want to build are totally free! They can just be pretty tedious to tick off on your checklist making sure you’ve collected ‘em all and Google has recognized your entity, which is the ultimate goal.
These sites would include:
- Social profiles: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), YouTube, TikTok, etc…
- Citations: BBB, Yelp, Foursquare, Apple Maps, Google Business Profile etc…
- Reference sites: Wikipedia, IMDb, CrunchBase, AngelList etc…
- Press Releases: Yahoo News, PR Newswire, BusinessWire etc…
- Review sites: TrustPilot, TripAdvisor, G2, Yell, SiteJabber etc…
- Digital PR & media mentions: Company features, personal interviews, and news articles.
By ensuring your startup is listed across these platforms, Google can connect the dots between your brand, website, and other authoritative mentions. The more signals reinforcing your legitimacy, the stronger your entity becomes and the easier it is to rank.
How To Do Entity Stacking
1- Create & Optimize Your Brand Profiles
- Set up your business on every relevant social media platform, directory, and reference site.
- Make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all profiles.
- Add a detailed bio, website link, and keywords where possible.
2 – Get Your Business Listed on Citations & Directories
- Submit your company to high authority business directories (Yelp, BBB, Google Business, Apple Maps).
- Ensure all details match exactly across every listing. Google looks for consistency.
3 – Leverage High Trust Authority Sites
- If applicable, create or claim a Wikipedia page for your business.
- List your company on CrunchBase, AngelList, and industry-specific reference sites.
- Publish a press release on Yahoo Finance, PR Newswire, or other media outlets.
4 – Strengthen Your Entity with Interlinking
- Link between your social profiles, citations, and reference pages where and if possible.
- Embed schema markup on your website to reinforce structured data (e.g., linking your CrunchBase and LinkedIn profile to your brand schema).
5 – Trigger Indexing & Recognition by Google
- Build a Google Stack (Google Site, Google Drive properties) linking all your assets together.
- Submit profiles and citations to Google Search Console for faster indexing.
- Use internal linking from your blog or homepage to reinforce key brand pages.
Why Entity Stacking is Best for Startups
- Google Loves Verified Entities: The algorithm prioritizes businesses with strong entity recognition over random, unverified sites. By stacking trusted sources, you signal legitimacy to the algo.
- Boosts Trust & Authority: When users search for your brand, they’ll find a wall of results: Social pages, reviews, press features; Giving instant credibility.
- Completely Free & Zero Risk: Unlike traditional link building, entity stacking carries zero penalty risk because it’s all about brand validation, not manipulation.
- Stronger Rankings Across the Board: A well established entity strengthens your entire SEO foundation, leading to higher rankings for commercial pages and better signals directed at Google’s E-E-A-T framework.
Bonus Tip: I did a full video on this technique, which also gives you a bunch of sites you can use directly for just about any niche your startup is in:
2. Digital PR
If you want to build high authority, media level links at scale, then Digital PR is your best and likely only bet without a 6 or 7 figure monthly budget. Unlike traditional PR, which focuses on brand awareness, Digital PR is designed for SEO! Earning backlinks from high authority media sites that actually move the needle in Google rankings, give a boost to your brand (as seen above, it can also contribute to your entity stacking) and even generate traffic to your site.
Most startups assume they need a PR agency to get featured in the press, but that’s outdated thinking. With the right strategy, you can generate viral press coverage, build authority links, and drive thousands of visitors to your startup, all without spending six figures on a fancy schmancy PR firm that still thinks we live in the Mad Men era.
How Digital PR Works
- Find a Newsworthy Angle
- Journalists don’t care about your startup unless you give them a compelling reason to.
- Look for unique, viral worthy angles: Data studies, bold claims, industry insights, or quirky PR stunts are all good angles we’ve used before.
- Create Your Digital PR Asset
- This could be a survey, study, interactive tool, or controversial industry take.
- If you don’t have in-house data, you can compile existing research or run a quick Google Forms survey to create your own.
- Craft a Killer Pitch
- Keep it short, direct, and benefit-driven for the journalist.
- Example Pitch Subject Line: “New Study: 62% of Employees Secretly Work on Side Hustles During Office Hours”
- Example Opening: “Hey [Journalist Name], I came across your recent article on the remote work economy. We just analyzed data from 5,000 employees and found that 62% work on their side hustles during office hours. Would you be interested in covering this exclusive data? I can send over the full report.”
- Build a Targeted Journalist List
- Don’t send mass emails, find journalists who have covered similar topics before.
- Use Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and Google News to find recent stories in your niche.
- Pro tip: Use Hunter.io or Muck Rack to get direct journalist contact emails.
- Send Your Pitch & Follow Up
- Email your pitch, but don’t stop there, follow up if you don’t get a response in 3-5 days.
- Be persistent, but not annoying, a second or third follow up can be the difference between getting ignored and getting published.
Why Digital PR Works for Startups
- Startups Can Create Unique Angles That Get Journalists’ Attention: Unlike big corporations, startups have more freedom to experiment with bold, viral friendly ideas.
- Journalists Are Desperate for Good Stories: Most of them are underpaid, overworked, and always looking for pre-packaged, ready to publish content (which you can provide).
- If One Publication Picks It Up, Others Follow: A single feature in a big publication often triggers a snowball effect, leading to dozens of other outlets covering the story – Just make sure you give it a push by sending it to as many as journalists as you can get your hands on once you know you’re on to a winner.
- Brand Awareness + High-Authority Links = Ultimate SEO Win: Not only do you get backlinks from DR 80+ sites, but you also gain massive credibility for your startup.
Bonus Tip: Skip generic angles, they rarely work. Instead, focus on direct outreach to journalists who have covered similar topics before.
Want an edge? HARO (Help A Reporter Out) got packed in at the end of 2024, but you can still use Qwoted and SourceBottle to respond to journalist requests and get free PR mentions.
With the right execution, Digital PR can single handedly skyrocket your startup’s authority, traffic, and rankings in a matter of months.
3. Competitor Backlink Hijacking
Why reinvent the wheel? If your competitors are ranking ahead of you, it’s because they already have the right backlinks.
How To Steal Their Best Links
- Use Ahrefs, Semrush, or Majestic to analyze competitor backlinks.
- Find guest posts, directories, and niche edits they’ve used.
- Replicate their best links (guest post on the same sites, get listed in the same directories, etc.).
Why It Works for Startups
- You get proven link sources instead of guessing ✅
- You can bypass the trial-and-error phase and go straight for what works ✅
- It’s fast! You don’t need to build new relationships, just follow the breadcrumb trail ✅
Bonus Tip: Use the “Link Intersect” tool in Ahrefs to find sites linking to competitors but not you.
4. Strategic Guest Posting (Without Looking Like a Spammer)
Guest posting isn’t dead, you’re just doing it wrong. Most people blast out generic outreach emails, submit low quality content to any blog that will take it, and wonder why their links don’t move the needle.
The truth is, guest posting still works and extremely effectively, but only if you do it strategically. Instead of spamming, focus on high quality placements that actually build authority, drive traffic, and boost rankings.
This means:
- Targeting niche relevant, high DR sites (not just any blog that accepts guest posts).
- Writing useful, valuable content that actually gets read and shared.
- Placing contextual, natural backlinks within the content (not in the ignored author bio).
When done right, guest posting builds your brand, positions you as an industry leader, and gives you links that pass real SEO value, all while putting you in front of your ideal audience.
How To Do Guest Posting
1️⃣ Find High Authority, Niche Relevant Sites
- Forget “write for us” lists. Instead, analyze your competitors’ backlinks and see where they’ve landed guest posts.
- Use Ahrefs’ Link Intersect tool or Semrush to find blogs that accept guest contributions in your industry.
- Search Google for “[Your Niche] guest post” + “contributor guidelines” or “submit article” to uncover hidden opportunities.
- Or even just use the PressWhizz marketplace and let us do all the work for you!
2️⃣ Reach Out With a Custom, Value Driven Pitch
- Personalize your email. No generic, mass outreach!
- Show that you’ve actually read their blog and understand their audience.
- Offer topic ideas that fit their content strategy, not just what you want to write.
Example email:
Subject: Quick question about contributing to [Site Name]
Hey [Editor’s Name],
I came across [their recent article] and really liked the insights on [specific topic]. I run [your startup or blog] and specialize in [your expertise].
Would you be open to a contribution on [your suggested topic]? I can provide real-world examples and unique insights from our startup’s experience. Happy to tailor it to your audience!
Let me know what you think—appreciate your time!
Best,
[Your Name]
3️⃣ Write a Legitimately Great Article
- Forget fluffy, generic posts: Aim for in-depth, data driven, or unique content.
- Format for engagement: Use bullet points, visuals, and subheadings.
- Include a backlink naturally within the content (NOT just in the author bio).
4️⃣ Promote Your Guest Post to Drive Traffic & Engagement
- Share it across your social channels.
- Link to it from your own site.
- Send it to your email list (if applicable).
The more engagement it gets, the more likely the site will invite you back for more posts, and the stronger your link will become over time, especially if you can build some internal links to it.
Why It Works for Startups
- Gets You in Front of the Right Audience: When you guest post on relevant industry sites, you’re reaching potential users, customers, and partners, not just building backlinks.
- Earns High Quality, Niche Relevant Backlinks: Google still values contextual, editorially placed links, as long as they’re from reputable sites in your niche.
- Boosts Brand Authority & Trust: Unlike traditional link building, guest posting also positions you as an expert in your industry.
- Works for Any Budget: Whether you’re bootstrapped or VC-funded, guest posting is one of the most cost effective, scalable link building strategies available.
Bonus Tip:
If you’re struggling to find high-quality guest post targets, reverse-engineer where your top competitors are posting.
Use:
- Ahrefs Link Intersect Tool: Find sites linking to multiple competitors but not you.
- Semrush Backlink Analysis: Identify guest posts & outreach opportunities.
- Google Search Operators: Try “[your niche] guest post” + “inurl:write-for-us” to uncover sites accepting contributions.
When executed properly, strategic guest posting isn’t just an SEO tactic, it’s a business growth strategy.
5. Linkable Assets: The Lazy Way to Earn Passive Links
A linkable asset is a high value resource that people naturally want to link to. Once it ranks, it passively attracts backlinks over time which juice up the page and any pages it links to – Which you can always come back to and edit internal links into later on if/when it starts becoming a real link magnet.
Examples of Linkable Assets
- Industry Statistics Pages: Writers constantly cite stats in their articles—be the source.
- Ultimate Guides: In-depth guides often get linked as references.
- Original Research & Case Studies: Unique data makes your content irreplaceable.
Why It Works for Startups
- Builds links without constant outreach.
- Increases organic rankings + brand authority.
- Long-term ROIa good linkable asset can generate links for years.
Bonus Tip: If your asset isn’t ranking yet, use paid ads to drive initial traction. Ahrefs tested this and landed some decent links for under $250 a piece, but it did take some time and a lot of creativity.
6. Niche Edits (Link Insertions)
If you want high authority backlinks without writing content for guest posts, niche edits (also called link insertions) are the way to go, and come with some bonuses you don’t get from a lot of other link types too!
Instead of creating new content, you get your link placed inside an existing, indexed article on a relevant, authoritative site. This means instant SEO value, faster indexing, and zero content creation work.
Google values aged, authoritative pages that already have links, traffic, and rankings. Adding your link to an existing high performing article is like hijacking its authority and passing it directly to your site.
How To Build High Quality Link Insertions
1️⃣ Find Relevant, Aged Content That Already Ranks
- Use Ahrefs, Semrush, or Google search operators to find existing articles in your niche that already rank well.
- Example search: site:[relevant site].com “your keyword”
- The older and more authoritative the page, then often the better the link juice.
2️⃣ Reach Out to Site Owners with a Simple Offer
- Most websites are happy to update old content, especially if you make it worth their while.
- Offer something in exchange:
✅ A small payment (most webmasters accept $50-$300 per link, depending on site authority).
✅ A link swap (if you have sites in your network).
✅ A content improvement suggestion (e.g., “Your article mentions X, but our research adds new insights—mind adding our link?”).
Example outreach email:
Subject: Quick update for your article on [topic]
Hey [Site Owner’s Name],
I was reading your article on [topic] and noticed it covers [related subject]. We recently put together a [guide/study] that expands on this with fresh insights.
Would you be open to adding it as a reference? Happy to compensate for your time if needed!
Let me know what you think.
Best,
[Your Name]
3️⃣ Negotiate & Secure the Best Link Placement
- Where your link is placed matters.
- Ideal positions:
✅ Within the first 50% of the content (higher visibility).
✅ As a contextual reference in an informative section (not stuffed unnaturally).
✅ Surrounded by relevant keywords and internal links to maximize authority flow.
4️⃣ Monitor & Maintain Link Quality
- Track your new links using Ahrefs, Semrush, or Linkody.
- If a link disappears (which sometimes happens), follow up and ask for a replacement.
Why These Links Work for Startups
- Instant Authority Transfer: No waiting for new content to rank, your link is placed in an already established page.
- Faster Results Than Guest Posting: No need to write entire articles, just secure a quick edit in existing content.
- Stronger Link Equity Than New Posts: Google values aged, indexed pages more than brand-new guest posts, meaning higher ranking power per link.
- Saves Time & Resources: No content creation, just outreach—making it one of the most efficient white-hat link-building tactics.
🔍 Bonus Tip:
If manual outreach is too slow, you can:
- Use a niche edit marketplace like PressWhizz or Authority Builders to buy placements faster.
- Hire a freelancer on Upwork or Fiverr to do outreach for you.
- Leverage competitor analysis: Use Ahrefs’ Link Intersect tool to find where competitors have niche edit links, and reach out to those same sites.
Niche edits are one of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to build high-authority links without creating content from scratch. If you’re not using them, you’re leaving easy rankings on the table.
7. Image Link Building
Most people focus on text based content for link building, but images can be just as powerful, if not more in some cases.
Image link building is the process of creating or finding visuals that other websites use, then getting them to link back to you. This works because bloggers, journalists, and content creators constantly use images in their articles, and many of them don’t properly credit the source.
If you play this right, you can turn stolen images into backlinks, rank higher in Google Image Search, and even get links from major media sites, all without writing a single word!
How To Build Image Links
1️⃣ Create & Distribute Unique Images
- You need original, high-quality visuals that other websites will want to use.
- Best types of images for link building:
✅ Infographics: Summarize data visually (great for sharing).
✅ Graphs & Charts: Turn statistics into easy-to-read visuals.
✅ Original Photography: If you’re in e-commerce or travel, your own product/lifestyle images can work.
✅ Screenshots & Diagrams: How-to guides, tutorials, and UX/UI examples.
2️⃣ Upload & Optimize for SEO
- Host the image on your site first (not just on social media).
- Use keyword-rich filenames → Instead of “image123.jpg”, use “best-email-marketing-strategies-2025.jpg”.
- Add ALT text with your target keywords.
3️⃣ Find Who’s Using Your Images (Without Linking Back)
- Use Google Reverse Image Search or Tineye to track where your images appear online.
- If a site is using your image without credit, reach out and request a backlink.
Example email:
Subject: Quick fix for your article on [topic]
Hey [Site Owner’s Name],
I saw that you used our [image type] in your article on [topic]—glad you found it useful! We created that original visual, and we’d appreciate it if you could add a credit link back to our site.
Here’s the original source: [your URL]
Let me know if you can update it, thanks!
4️⃣ Submit Your Images to Free & Paid Image Directories
- Websites actively look for free-to-use images. You can upload your visuals to image sharing sites and get credit links in return.
- Best places to submit:
✅ Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay: Free image directories that allow source attribution.
✅ Flickr (with Creative Commons license): Can drive backlinks from blogs.
✅ Behance & Dribbble: Great for designers and marketers.
✅ Infographic submission sites: Visual.ly, Infographic Journal, Pinterest etc…
5️⃣ Leverage Image Guest Posting & Syndication
- Instead of writing guest posts, offer exclusive infographics or visuals to blogs in exchange for a link.
- Some websites will feature your infographic with minimal writing required, perfect for low effort, high value link building.
Why It Works for Startups
- Get Backlinks Without Writing Articles: If you hate writing, image link building is one of the easiest ways to earn backlinks.
- Taps Into Existing Demand: Bloggers, journalists, and content creators need images, you’re just helping them while getting a link in return.
- Can Attract High Authority Links: Major news sites (Forbes, Business Insider, TechCrunch) use infographics and images all the time. If you create something valuable, they will link to it.
- Builds Brand Recognition & Search Visibility: The more your visuals appear online, the more brand awareness and search traffic you generate.
🔍 Bonus Tip:
If you have no budget for custom graphics, you can still win at image link building by:
- Taking screenshots of tools, dashboards, or processes and watermarking them with your brand.
- Repackaging old content into visuals (e.g., turn a blog post into an infographic).
- Using AI tools like Canva, Midjourney, or DALL·E to generate unique images in minutes.
Image link building is low effort, high reward, and most SEOs completely ignore it. That’s your competitive advantage.
Competitor Research: Steal What’s Already Working
Forget reinventing the wheel, if you don’t have time to go hunting for oppurtunities then just reverse engineer what’s working for competitors.
Use Ahrefs, Semrush, or Majestic to spy on your competitors’ backlink profiles and uncover:
- Guest post placements → Reach out to the same sites.
- Media mentions → If a competitor is getting quoted, so can you.
- Roundups & expert lists → Find where they’ve been featured and pitch yourself.
- Linkable assets → If they have a page attracting links, create something better and steal their backlinks.
Startups that skip link building because they think “content alone will rank” get buried in the SERPs. The smart ones? They build authority from day one by using the same strategies that already work in their niche.
How to Choose the Best Link Building Strategy for Your Startup
I only gave you a handful of strategies, and it can already feel like a lot to choose from! The best ones for your specific case will always depend on your needs, niche, budget and timeframe.
Some startups have VC money to burn and can go allin on high end PR campaigns, while others are bootstrapped and need to grind their way up with smart, low cost tactics. The key is matching your resources to the right strategy, rather than trying to do everything at once and failing at all of it.
Here’s how to decide what works for your startup:
If You Have Budget but No Time → Buy Authority Fast
- ⚔️ Best Strategies: Digital PR, Authority Guest Posts, Niche Edits etc
- ⏳ Why? You can outsource link building to agencies or freelancers and get high quality links fast! With the fastest being PressWhizz, of course…
- ⚠️ Watch out for: Overpaying for low quality links, not all guest posts and PR placements are equal.
If You Have Time but No Budget → Hustle Your Way Up
- ⚔️ Best Strategies: HARO, Manual Outreach, Competitor Backlink Hijacking etc
- ⏳ Why? These tactics are free but require consistent effort. If you can network, pitch, and execute well, you’ll outlink funded competitors without spending a cent.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: Burnout! Link building is a grind, and startups need to balance it with growth.
If You’re in a Highly Competitive Niche → Go Aggressive
- ⚔️ Best Strategies: PBNs, High Power Niche Edits, Expired Domains etc
- ⏳ Why? Some industries (finance, gambling, crypto) are war zones where white hat won’t cut it. If your competitors are using aggressive tactics, you either play the same game or get left behind.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: Penalties! If you go black hat, do it right (tiered linking, masking, and proper anchor diversity).
If You Need Quick Wins → Get Links Without the Wait
- ⚔️ Best Strategies: Unlinked Mentions, Directories, Local Citations etc
- ⏳ Why? These methods can land links instantly, helping boost your authority and trust signals without long wait times.
- ⚠️ Watch out for: Relying only on these quick links is fine for new sites and short bursts, but won’t build long term authority or rankings alone.
The only wrong choice? Doing nothing…
How Long Does Link Building Take?
Here’s the harsh truth: link building isn’t instant, and pretty much none of SEO is these days either… But if done right, you’ll see traction in 1-6 weeks, and massive compounding effects within a year.
Example link building campaign timeframe:
- Month 1-3: 20-30 solid links → Your first rankings start to climb.
- Month 3-6: More pages start ranking as authority increases.
- Month 6-12: SERP domination as Google fully trusts your site.
The sooner you start, the faster your startup gets authority, the quicker you get an ROI on your site and SEO investment.
Final Thoughts: Start Now or Get Left Behind
If you want to scale your startup with organic traffic, link building isn’t optional—it’s the only way to compete.
What to do now:
- Pick 2-3 link-building strategies from this list.
- Start building links ASAP (Google won’t wait for you).
- Track rankings & iterate, double down on what works.
And if you are really still struggling, then you can always book a call with our team who will be more than happy to help build a hyper targeted campaign for you live on the call!
Regards,
