12Prospecting Methods
Data-Driven Link Building
Niche-Specific Listicles
High Context
Query: "best SEO tools", "top SEO platforms for agencies"
1. Run query to find ranked listicles. 2. Verify link status of competitors. 3. Identify unique features they missed. 4. Pitch the author with an 'Expert Update' providing a fresh comparison table and a link to your SEO tool.
Query
Growth Focused Implementation
Competitor Backlink Gaps
Data Driven
Common backlinks of 3+ SEO tool competitors
1. Export backlink profiles of top 3 competitors (e.g., SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz). 2. Use 'Link Intersect' to find shared referring domains. 3. Filter for 'Dofollow' and high DR. 4. Reach out to the site owner explaining how your SEO SaaS provides a superior alternative or integration.
Efficiency
Growth Focused Implementation
Unlinked Brand Mentions
Low Effort
Query: "[Your Tool Name]" -site:yourdomain.com
1. Set up Google Alerts for your brand name and key feature mentions. 2. Filter for new mentions on high-authority SEO blogs and publications. 3. Reach out to the author thanking them for the shoutout. 4. Ask politely to convert the mention into a functional hyperlink for better reader UX.
Success %
Growth Focused Implementation
Resource Page Inclusion
Evergreen
SEO + "useful links", "digital marketing resources"
1. Find curated resource hubs from reputable SEO blogs. 2. Identify a gap in their current list (e.g., lack of 'Programmatic SEO' tools). 3. Offer a free trial or a specific pillar guide to the curator. 4. Provide a 2-sentence description they can copy-paste with the link.
Authority
Growth Focused Implementation
Integration Partner Directories
High DR
Google Analytics "app ecosystem", "integration directory"
1. List all 3rd party tools you integrate with (e.g., CRMs, Analytics platforms). 2. Check their 'Partners' or 'Apps' page for your tool. 3. If missing, submit your listing via their developer portal. 4. Ensure the listing includes a deep-link to your specific integration documentation.
Trust
Growth Focused Implementation
Broken Link Building
Helpful
Dead SEO tool pages with 10+ backlinks
1. Identify discontinued SEO SaaS competitors. 2. Use Ahrefs to find their most-linked 404 pages. 3. Create a similar but updated resource (e.g., a guide to current SEO automation). 4. Reach out to the linking domains notifying them of the 'Dead Link' and offering your upgrade.
Value Add
Growth Focused Implementation
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The 'Skyscraper' Upgrade
Scale
Analysis of #1-3 ranking content assets for 'SEO Audit Checklist'
1. Find the top-ranking guide for a core keyword. 2. Identify what it's missing (updated data, better UI, interactive checklist). 3. Create the 'Definitive' version. 4. Message everyone who linked to the original with your 10x better version.
Impact
Growth Focused Implementation
Guest Posting (Tier 1)
Quality
SEO + "write for us", "digital marketing contributor"
1. Search for guest post opportunities on authoritative SEO blogs. 2. Study their top-performing articles. 3. Pitch 3 unique, data-backed headlines they haven't covered. 4. Write a value-first draft that naturally links to your deep-funnel content (e.g., a guide on technical SEO implementation).
Editorial
Growth Focused Implementation
Podcast Citation Outreach
Branded
SEO podcasts, "agency founder interview"
1. Pitch your founder for interviews on niche SEO podcasts. 2. After the episode, provide a 'Show Notes' summary. 3. Include a link to a 'Bonus Resource' on your site (e.g., a free SEO audit template). 4. Ask the host to include the link in the description for SEO and UX.
Context
Growth Focused Implementation
Community Documentation
Developer
"docs.searchenginejournal.com" community sections
1. Monitor SEO forums and developer communities (e.g., Stack Overflow for technical SEO queries). 2. Provide detailed technical answers to user problems. 3. Reference your SaaS if it solves the issue (e.g., automating schema markup). 4. Ensure the link points to a helpful 'How-to' doc, not just a homepage.
Utility
Growth Focused Implementation
Glossary Reference Links
Authority
"keyword difficulty" definition + "source"
1. Build a comprehensive technical SEO glossary. 2. Find articles using complex niche terms (e.g., 'entity SEO', 'crawl budget') without clear explanations. 3. Suggest they link to your 'Plain English' definition. 4. Offer to review their future technical content for accuracy.
Topical
Growth Focused Implementation
Digital PR / Data Stories
Viral
Proprietary SEO stats + "journalist pitch"
1. Aggregate anonymized usage data from your platform (e.g., average time spent on page for different keyword types). 2. Identify a surprising trend (e.g., 'Users engaging 30% more with long-tail keywords in Q4'). 3. Create a 3-slide visual story. 4. Pitch to industry journalists as an exclusive data-driven insight.
Scale
Growth Focused Implementation
Pro Tips & Insights
01
Relevance > DR. A link from a DR20 niche SEO blog is often more valuable for rank than a DR80 general news site.
02
Personalization is mandatory. If your outreach template looks like it was sent to 1,000 people, it will be deleted by 1,000 people.
03
Focus on 'Link Magnet' assets. Create SEO tools, calculators, and research that people *want* to link to naturally.
04
Monitor your 'Link Velocity'. A sudden spike in low-quality links can trigger a manual review. Aim for steady, high-quality growth.
