Digital

The Role of Digital PR in SaaS Link Building (and When It’s Overkill)

Norton Erik

There are two key things every SaaS founder is always chasing: visibility and authority. And what’s the best way to get both? You’re right, it’s Digital PR. All those flickering headline features in TechCrunch, interviews in Forbes, and Business Insider that gather a million views — that’s the goal.

But while digital PR can be a game-changer, it’s not always the most cost-effective way to build backlinks, especially if you’re just starting out and don’t have a huge budget for high-end links. Besides, relying too much on PR can be a bad strategy in the long run. At some point, you may exhaust your budget and not see any SEO value. 

In this article, we’ll look at where digital PR shines, where it falls short, and when it makes more sense to go with good old-fashioned SaaS link building instead. Let’s get right into it!

What Digital PR Actually Brings to the Table

Digital PR is no longer just about press releases. When done right, it helps achieve a few goals: increase brand awareness, drive referral traffic, and help your brand get noticed. Let’s take a closer look at what digital PR can actually deliver.

Brand Visibility and High-Tier Media Mentions

This is where PR shines. One article in a well-known publication can help your brand become recognized overnight. Even if you don’t get thousands of clicks right away, just having your company’s name mentioned in places like TechCrunch, Mashable, or Wired means a lot.

Those kinds of backlinks carry a lot of SEO value and earn Google’s trust. A single do-follow link from a DR90+ website can boost your domain authority and help all your other content rank faster. 

Useful for Launches, Funding, or Thought Leadership

If you’re about to launch a new feature or share an important update, PR is the best way to get it out into the world. Besides, these are the moments when journalists actually want to hear from you, and they’re more likely to mention you in their sources. 

Digital PR is also invaluable when you’re looking to build a personal brand. A few guest column posts can quickly make your name go viral and place you among the industry leaders. That, in turn, can help with partnerships, hiring, and attracting investors in the future.

That said, it’s not all sunshine and media mentions. Just like any other SEO strategy, digital PR has its own limitations.

The Limitations Most SaaS Teams Face

Digital PR may sound exciting, but there are significant hurdles along the way, especially for early-stage SaaS companies. The payoff can be really great, but it’s not guaranteed, and the process often takes far more time and money than most teams anticipate or can afford.

Long Lead Times, High Costs, Unpredictable Results

Getting featured in top-tier media isn’t an easy feat. Even if you hire a PR agency, there’s no guarantee your pitch will land. And the process is slow. From crafting the angle to contacting journalists to waiting for the article to go live, oftentimes, it takes weeks or even months. 

On top of that, PR services are anything but cheap. You might spend thousands of dollars and only get one link (if any). And let’s face it — startups can’t afford to throw money at things that may happen or may not.

Not Built for Consistent Link Acquisition

Here’s where digital PR falls short: it’s not built for ongoing, predictable link building. Journalists aren’t going to link to your pricing page, your comparison post, or your new feature launch — no matter how useful they are.

If your goal is to grow organic traffic to specific URLs, you’ll need a different tool. Digital PR  can do wonders when you need quick results, but it’s not something you can count on every day. To increase your organic growth, you’ll want to turn to SaaS link building services.

When It’s Smarter to Use Targeted Link Building

While PR is great for peak moments, most SaaS companies need backlinks every month – not just during big announcements. That’s where targeted, SEO-focused link building outperforms flashy PR efforts by a mile.

Early-Stage or Bootstrapped SaaS

If you’re still in the early days — running lean, testing product-market fit, or funding everything out of pocket — digital PR just isn’t the best bang for your buck.

You need links that move the SEO needle fast:

  • Guest posts, 
  • Niche directory listings, 
  • Link insertions, 
  • Thought-leadership pieces on blogs your potential clients already trust. 

A SaaS link-building agency that focuses on SEO-driven strategies will give you more impact for less spend.

Product or Feature Pages That Need Traffic, Not Press

Let’s say you just rolled out a new integration or added a new feature to your dashboard, and you want that page to rank. A feature in Wired or BusinessInsider won’t help with that.

In cases like this, it’s best to rely on targeted link building, which focuses on securing links to specific pages that need a boost. As a result, your positions will improve, your traffic will grow, and you’ll see more conversions coming in — without any wasted spend. 

Combining Digital PR With Scalable Link Building

Now, we’re not saying you have to pick just one. In fact, some of the most successful SaaS brands use both — but they’re smart about when and how they use each.

PR for Peaks, Outreach for Consistency

The sweet spot? Use digital PR when you have something newsworthy: 

  • Launch, 
  • Rebrand, 
  • Funding, 
  • Major hire,
  • Industry awards.

For everything else, opt for link building. A steady stream of backlinks through outreach, content partnerships, and niche placements can quietly but effectively boost your rankings over time.

It’s about knowing when to make noise — and when to just get to work.

Using SaaS Link Building Agencies That Blend Both Strategies

Some of the best SaaS link building services offer the best of both worlds. They’ll help you land guest posts, link insertions, and partner content regularly — and when you’ve got big news, they can crank up the PR engine.

The key is working with a team that understands SaaS, knows what kind of links you actually need, and can adjust the strategy as you grow. That way, you’re not just getting links for the sake of it; you’re building link equity with purpose.

Conclusion

Digital PR can absolutely boost your SaaS brand — but it’s not a magic pill. It’s best saved for big news and long-term visibility, not everyday link building.

For most companies, a focused, consistent approach to SaaS link building will deliver better and faster results. You’ll get backlinks to the right pages, see ranking improvements sooner, and get more value out of your marketing budget.

If you’re serious about growing your organic traffic, work with a SaaS link-building agency that can help you scale the right way. Use PR when it matters, and fill in the gaps with smart, targeted outreach.

Because in the fast-moving world of SaaS, the brands that win aren’t just the loudest — they’re the most strategic.