When high-DR websites link back to you, it’s a credibility stamp. But if your site starts with a low DR, getting high-authority sites to notice you is almost impossible.
That was the challenge we faced with a bootstrapped SaaS in the email marketing domain. When we started working with them, their site had a DR of just 6. They were invisible in a crowded niche, and the odds were stacked against us.
Yet, in just five months, we took them from DR 6 to DR 50 using a step-by-step backlinking strategy.
Here’s how we did it.
The Challenge: Competing in Email Marketing as a Bootstrapped SaaS
Email marketing is a saturated field, and competing with the established giants like Mailchimp, HubSpot, and ConvertKit, who dominate every search result, sounds nearly impossible, especially when Google gives new websites very little visibility.
That was the reality for this bootstrapped SaaS when they first approached us. They had a great product, an ambitious team, and the determination to make a mark in the marketplace, but in the eyes of search engines, they were invisible.
The challenges they face were:
- Having almost no backlinks leaves the domain without credibility signals.
- They had limited marketing budgets for paid campaigns or PR-heavy tactics.
- It was difficult to get links from high DR sites.
- Their website content struggled to rank for keywords.
- Lacking brand recognition in a competitive SaaS market.
- They had to build authority fast to attract both search visibility and users.
The Strategy: Growing DR Step by Step
When you’re starting small, the worst move you can make is aiming too high too fast. Big publications with DR 70+ aren’t going to hand out backlinks to a site that hasn’t proven itself. Chasing them too early only leads to wasted time, ignored pitches, and growing frustration.
Instead of pursuing unrealistic goals, we designed a plan that was strategic and experience-driven.
The principle was simple but powerful: match the client’s DR stage with the DR of the backlinks we targeted.
That meant:
- Foundation Stage (DR 6 → 15): Here, our focus was to get backlinks from DR 30 to 40 websites.
- Growth Stage (DR 15 → 30): Target backlinks from DR 40 to 50 sites.
- Authority Stage (DR 30 → 50): Secure DR 60+ backlinks from top publications.
But there was another rule we never compromised on: all backlinks had to come from relevant, niche-specific domains in marketing, SaaS, or email marketing.
Why? Because 10 niche-relevant backlinks are more valuable than 100 random ones. Niche relevance told Google, “This website is a trusted voice in email marketing.”
The Execution: Month-by-Month Breakdown
Once the strategy was clear, the next step was execution. Instead of taking shortcuts, we created a process that yields results.
Here’s the process:
Month 1 to 2: Building the Foundation (DR 6 to 15):
We started small but strategically.
- Secured backlinks from DR 30 to 40 websites in the marketing/SaaS niche.
- We used guest posting and link insertion methods to build backlinks.
- We focused on creating blogs, SaaS review sites, and smaller marketing publications.
This gave the site its first credibility boost. Google started recognizing the domain as trustworthy enough to deserve more visibility.
Month 3 to 4: Gaining Momentum (DR 15 → 30)
Now we had a base, so we could aim higher.
- Reached out to DR 40 to 50 websites for guest posts.
- Expanded our backlink sources to include niche communities and marketing blogs.
- Maintained consistent link volume (so growth looked natural to Google).
At this stage, results were visible. Ranking improved, and link-building conversations became easier because we established authority for this site.
Month 5: Authority Leap (DR 30 → 50)
This was the tipping point.
- We targeted DR 60+ websites, well-established SaaS, and marketing publications.
- By now, the domain was credible enough that these sites didn’t hesitate to link back.
- Link inserts on top-tier articles + guest posts on high-authority blogs gave the final push.
And just like that, in 5 months, the site moved from being invisible at DR 6 to highly credible at DR 50.
The Results
- Domain Rating: Jumped from 6 → 50 in 5 months.
- Credibility: The brand gained recognition in the email marketing niche.
- SEO Flywheel Effect: After DR 30+, backlinks became easier to secure.
- Visibility: Improved rankings and organic traffic growth.
The biggest win was that their site no longer had to “beg” for links. Authority growth made them a candidate for mentions in the industry.
Key Lessons for Bootstrapped SaaS Founders
- Don’t aim too high, too soon. A DR 6 site shouldn’t chase DR 90 links. Climb the ladder step by step.
- Relevance beats numbers. Ten links from niche email marketing sites are worth more than fifty random ones.
- Link velocity matters. Steady growth looks natural to Google and builds trust.
- Authority compounds. The higher your DR, the easier it gets to earn stronger links.
Your Turn: Ready to Climb the DR Ladder?
Going from DR 6 to DR 50 in just 5 months comes with strategic planning, discipline, consistency, and a method that grows your domain rating.
If you’re a bootstrapped SaaS founder wondering how to build visibility in a crowded niche, this blueprint proves it’s possible.
Contact 2xSaS today if you want to achieve this type of success for your business.
