SaaS Link Building: Transforming Content Into Conversions With Alan Silvestri [The Opportunity Ep.105]

10/18/22 • 40 min

When creating content for SaaS sites, “build it and they will come” is no longer an effective strategy.

In today’s competitive landscape where Google Algorithms rule the roost, SaaS owners need to employ clever SEO techniques to make sure they drive the right traffic to their content.

According to Alan Silvestri, link-building or “digital PR” is one of the most effective ways to get eyes on your content and boost your brand recognition. Alan is the Founder and CEO of Growth Gorilla, an agency that provides high-quality, no-nonsense content distribution and link-building outreach for SaaS companies.

In this episode, Alan walks us through the tried and tested framework he uses to build high-converting links and how to modify this framework to suit the needs of different businesses.

Link-building doesn’t exist in a black hole, and if you want the best results, you’ll need to employ additional marketing and social media strategies to support your link-building efforts. According to Alan,

“Effective link building starts with the preparation you do before you even start building links. The first thing, which is often overlooked, is to make sure that your content is top-notch. Then, focus on optimizing your internal linking structure because that can really help to make the most out of the links that you build.”

Alan also warns that not all backlinks are good, explaining the desirable qualities and red flags SaaS owners should keep an eye out for, and why quality trumps quantity every time.

If your blog content isn’t getting the recognition it deserves, then take note of Alan’s expert advice on how to open the traffic floodgates and build brand authority through strategic link building.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Alan shares insights into his background and how he ended up working in the SaaS industry (02:51)
The unique challenges SaaS companies face when it comes to link building (08:33)
The framework Alan uses to build links for SaaS businesses (11:11)
How Alan adjusts his framework to suit individual business needs (16:14)
The red flags SaaS owners should be aware of when it comes to link building (17:45)
The effectiveness of quality vs quantity (22:28)
The common link-building mistakes SaaS owners make (24:03)
Alan’s take on the power of social media vs SEO for building brand authority (27:12)
The interesting trends Alan has seen in the SEO industry (31:09)

Mentions:

Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to use link-building to drive more customers to your blog content!

When creating content for SaaS sites, “build it and they will come” is no longer an effective strategy.

In today’s competitive landscape where Google Algorithms rule the roost, SaaS owners need to employ clever SEO techniques to make sure they drive the right traffic to their content.

In this episode, Alan walks us through the tried and tested framework he uses to build high-converting links and how to modify this framework to suit the needs of different businesses.

Alan also warns that not all backlinks are good, explaining the desirable qualities and red flags SaaS owners should keep an eye out for, and why quality trumps quantity every time.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Alan shares insights into his background and how he ended up working in the SaaS industry (02:51)
The unique challenges SaaS companies face when it comes to link building (08:33)
The framework Alan uses to build links for SaaS businesses (11:11)
How Alan adjusts his framework to suit individual business needs (16:14)
The red flags SaaS owners should be aware of when it comes to link building (17:45)
The effectiveness of quality vs quantity (22:28)
The common link-building mistakes SaaS owners make (24:03)
Alan’s take on the power of social media vs SEO for building brand authority (27:12)
The interesting trends Alan has seen in the SEO industry (31:09)

Mentions:

Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to use link-building to drive more customers to your blog content!

Previous Episode

What No One Tells You About Buying a 7-Figure Online Business With Nate Ginsburg [The Opportunity Ep.104]

When it comes to navigating the twists and turns of acquiring a business, particularly one in the 7-figure range, even the most seasoned entrepreneurs often find themselves in unfamiliar territory.

In this episode, Nate Ginsburg, a 10+ year online entrepreneur and investor gives us a behind-the-scenes look into his 7-figure acquisition of Centurica, a due diligence service that guides buyers through the complexities of assessing and purchasing web-based businesses.

Nate walks us through the biggest pressure points of the acquisition, including how he approached the previous owner with an offer to purchase Centurica, how he financed the deal, and the support structure made available to him as a buyer.

He shares the biggest lessons he learned from the purchase and reveals the advice he would give himself if he had to do it all over again. According to Nate,

“My advice to buyers is, during your due diligence, spend some time looking into the nitty gritty parts of the operation to understand the deliverables you’ll have to build out when you take over the business. You should also try to engage the seller in as long of a transition and support period as possible.”

We also dive into the different categories and components of buyer due diligence, how to overcome key-person risk, and we break down the hidden risks and opportunities that buyers can uncover with the right research.

If you’re considering buying an online business you can’t afford to miss out on Nate’s first-hand knowledge of the ins and outs of the acquisition process.

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Nate walks us through his entrepreneurial background (02:14)
A brief overview of Centurica and why Nate was inspired to acquire the business (06:30)
Nate walks us through how he went about acquiring Centurica (09:22)
The SBA loan process and how Nate determined the value of Centurica (12:41)
Key-person risk and importance of hiring the right team (15:33)
The different categories and components of due diligence (29:54)
Hidden risks and opportunities that can be uncovered during buyer due diligence (34:40)
Why online businesses are a great investment (36:31)
The biggest changes Nate has seen in the online business industry over the past few years (37:33)
The advice Nate would give himself if he started his online journey all over again (40:13)

Mentions:

Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn the importance of buyer due diligence when acquiring an online business.

Next Episode

Going Public: From Broke Bootstrapper to Nasdaq Listed Business Owner With Dom Wells [The Opportunity Ep.106]

For many entrepreneurs, the road to success is a long and winding one, with each milestone helping you prepare for the next leg of your journey.

Dom Wells's journey is no exception. Unsatisfied with his job as a teacher, he began building websites. This led to the creation of Human Proof Designs, a business that creates done-for-you starter websites for people looking to get into the content site game.

The success and eventual exit of that business allowed Dom to begin acquiring higher-value websites. As he built a portfolio of his own, Dom was inspired to create Onfolio, a holding company that buys, grows and operates online businesses, particularly in the content niche.

In this episode, Dom joins us to reflect on his 10-year entrepreneurial journey, walking us through the process of selling Human Proof Designs and explaining how he knew it was the right time to exit the business. According to Dom,

“Many entrepreneurs build successful 6 or 7-figure businesses because they’re really good at one thing, or they’re driven by sheer passion and force of will. The tough part is when you reach a plateau. Then you have to decide if you’re willing to push through and learn a new skill and think more strategically in order to level up, or if you’re going to use your existing skills to start over again.”

We then shift our focus to Onfolio as Dom describes the evolution of his business’s service offering. Dom also explains the dangers of spreading yourself too thin and shares advice on how to structure your team to make sure nothing falls through the cracks as your business expands.

Finally, Dom reveals what motivated him to take Onfolio public and the process involved in listing a business on Nasdaq.

With a decade of experience under his belt, Dom has a wealth of knowledge to share, so make sure you don’t miss a minute of this fascinating episode!

Topics Discussed in This Episode:

Dom reflects on his 10-year entrepreneurial journey and how he founded Onfolio (02:22)
The reasons why Dom decided to leave Human Proof Designs (08:56)
A breakdown of what Onfolio offers, and how it has evolved over the years (14:20)
The criteria Dom looks at when buying a business for his portfolio (19:05)
How Dom grew a $1.1 million business’s net profit by 50% in three months (24:31)
The pros and cons of cross-business synergies and operating leverage (26:53)
How Dom has structured his Onfolio team to make the best use of their skills (29:41)
How Dom balances marketing the businesses in his portfolio vs marketing Onfolio (33:27)
Why Dom decided to list Onfolio publicly and what the process involved (35:22)
Dom’s goals for Onfolio moving forward (40:41)

Mentions: