Links from cloud-based software

[themegroup]

Hello fellow Mozzers!

We've recently rewritten the content for a cloud-based project management tool, they then asked about what they could do to rank higher.

As well as suggesting the usual content creation methods to help build links (which it looks like they'll need a LOT of - the field is either made up of terms that have no searches, or are extremely competitive), I wondered if there was any way of harnessing the fact they provide a cloud-based SaaS - a 'Powered by...' notice or somesuch? The only thing is they provide a project budget management tool, so I'm guessing the site itself wouldn't actually be coming into contact with the tool?

Does anyone have any experience / advice working on a similar scenario where you've managed to leverage the tool for links where it's cloud-based?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Nick.

[JaneCopland]

Hi Nick,

I would be wary with the "powered by" links - they aren't Google's most loved method of link building and they're astonishingly easy to detect, for obvious reasons. You will see a lot of historical links using this sort of method, including links to established brands ("email marketing by X", for example, under every newsletter sign-up box - links go to the business responsible for providing the email marketing software). Established brands often get away with having older links in their profiles like this, but given Google's very strong crack-down on link building methods in 2013 / 14, I would not engage in this as a new tactic.

It falls into widget-based link building, which Google first publicly cracked down on in 2008. Although you wouldn't be doing anything like what was done in this example, Google's hasn't really liked this tactic for quite some time. This is assuming that the tool or a badge about the tool sat somewhere search engine-indexable, of course.

[themegroup]

Hi Jane,

Thanks for responding!

Well that was my thoughts - that the 'powered by' route in and of itself is a no-go for that very reason, but I was sounding out any possible alternatives.

Reading my initial question, I'm not sure it's the clearest way I could have worded it - and in fact I'm still not sure what a clearer way would be. Basically, they have a reasonable client base using their software, but the software sits, as far I understand, external to the client's site.

So I think in hindsight I was seeing whether there was any way of harnessing the client base, but I suppose without knowing where the tool actually sits this is impossible to answer?

[JaneCopland]

Hi Nick,

There still could be ways to harness the client base - you have to be careful how you go about doing things like asking for links, and while tactics like this one are now a bit outdated, looking at innovative ways to get links from the client base is still worthwhile. What the client actually does will depend on the resources of the client base and how they can inspire some sort of action from them, but it could still be doable. As with most aspects of SEO however, it's a bit more difficult than it was back in 2008 / 9!

[themegroup]

Hi Jane,

Yeah, a number of our clients are in the leisure and hospitality industries which means many travel bloggers naturally link to them in reviews, lists of places to stay in certain areas etc. Occasionally we need to think up clever ways of encouraging that, but it's a field where those who are pleased with the offering tend to give you, at the least, a mention.

This particular client, however, doesn't really fit that bill, but they are in an industry where there's plenty of scope for expert advice, FAQs, guides and so on, so I'm sure we can find good content-led solutions.

The content side I'm fine with, but it was more the tech aspect of harnessing cloud-based software. Thanks for your help with this - happy just knowing I'm not missing anything on that front!

Kind regards,

Nick