As an early-stage SaaS startup, you’re probably eager to get your content ranking high on Google. After all, organic search traffic can be a game-changer for acquiring new customers and growing your business. But here’s the harsh reality: no SEO writer can guarantee top rankings. While SEO writers play a critical role in creating keyword-optimized content, achieving high rankings requires much more than just good writing.
Ranking on Google involves over 200 different factors, many of which go far beyond content creation. For SaaS startups, this can be especially challenging, as you need to balance building domain authority, managing technical SEO, and optimizing for user experience—all while still producing quality content.
In this post, we’ll break down why SEO writing is only one piece of the SEO puzzle and explore what SaaS startups need to know to build a successful strategy for ranking on Google.
SEO Writing vs. SEO: What SaaS Startups Need to Know
It’s easy to confuse SEO writing with SEO itself, especially for SaaS founders who are new to digital marketing. SEO writing refers specifically to creating content that is optimized for search engines. It involves using targeted keywords, structuring content in a readable way, and making sure it meets both search engine and user intent. For SaaS startups, this means producing valuable blog posts, landing pages, or product descriptions that explain complex software concepts in a clear and engaging way.
However, SEO as a whole is much broader and includes many other factors that impact your site’s ranking:
- Domain authority: For a new SaaS startup, domain authority is likely low, which can make it harder to rank right away, regardless of how good the content is.
- Backlink profile: High-quality backlinks from authoritative websites are one of the most significant ranking factors. But building a strong backlink profile takes time and is not something SEO writers typically manage.
- User experience (UX): In SaaS, user experience is critical—not just in your product, but also on your website. Google values sites that are fast, easy to navigate, and responsive across devices.
- Technical SEO: This includes optimizing your site’s speed, fixing broken links, using schema markup, and ensuring the site is mobile-friendly—all of which are beyond an SEO writer’s control but essential to ranking.
Understanding the difference between SEO writing and a full SEO strategy is crucial for SaaS startups. Quality content is important, but it’s just one of the many moving parts in a broader SEO plan that will help you climb the ranks in search results.
Why Some SEO Writers Claim They Can Rank Content (and Why It’s Misleading)
So, why do some SEO writers claim they can help your SaaS startup rank on Google? There are a few reasons why these claims might seem valid in certain situations, but they’re usually oversimplifications of what’s really happening behind the scenes.
- Strong Domain Authority: If a writer works with an established SaaS company that already has a high domain authority, their content may rank quickly because the website has already earned Google’s trust.
- SEO Manager Involvement: Sometimes, SEO writers work with an SEO manager or strategist who is optimizing the technical aspects of the website and building backlinks in the background, giving the content a better chance to rank.
- Low Competition Niche: If the SaaS startup is in a very niche market, there may be less competition for specific keywords, making it easier for well-written content to rank.
For example, in a previous project for a SaaS client, the articles I wrote ranked well, but it wasn’t just because of the content. The client had a strong backlink profile, was in a relatively low-competition space, and had a dedicated SEO manager who worked on optimizing the technical aspects of the website. This combination of factors—not just the content—led to the high rankings.
What Really Impacts SaaS Startup Rankings?
If you’re a SaaS founder hoping to boost your Google rankings, you need to look beyond just hiring an SEO writer. Let’s explore some of the key ranking factors you need to focus on:
- Backlink Profile: The number and quality of backlinks to your SaaS website is one of the most significant factors in Google’s ranking algorithm. You need to build relationships with other websites, get featured in industry publications, and earn links that point to your content.
- Technical SEO: Site speed, mobile optimization, and security are critical to how Google views your website. Tools like Google’s Core Web Vitals can help you measure and improve these technical aspects.
- On-Page Optimization: This includes ensuring your title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and internal links are optimized. It also means structuring your content so that it’s easily digestible for both search engines and users.
- Content Quality and Relevance: While content alone won’t guarantee rankings, it’s still essential to create high-quality, valuable content that speaks directly to your target audience’s pain points and needs. In the SaaS space, this often means creating educational content that solves specific problems your potential customers face.
- User Behavior Metrics: Google looks at how users interact with your content. If they quickly leave your site (a high bounce rate) or don’t engage deeply (low time on page), Google may see your content as less valuable. Ensuring your site is easy to navigate and your content is engaging is critical.
For example, a SaaS startup I worked with had great content but wasn’t seeing the rankings they hoped for. After diving deeper, we realized their website’s load time was far too slow, especially on mobile devices. We optimized their site for speed and responsiveness, which, combined with the existing content, led to much better rankings within just a few months.
Misconceptions About SEO Writers in the SaaS Space
It’s not uncommon for SaaS founders, especially in the early stages, to have misconceptions about what an SEO writer can and cannot do. Let’s clear up a few common myths:
- “An SEO Writer Can Do It All”: SEO writing is a specialized skill, but it’s only one part of a comprehensive SEO strategy. Expecting an SEO writer to manage backlinks, technical SEO, and user experience is unrealistic—they simply don’t control those elements.
- “Good Content Equals Instant Rankings”: While creating high-quality content is critical, it doesn’t guarantee instant rankings, especially if your SaaS startup is new and doesn’t yet have strong domain authority or backlinks.
- “Keyword Stuffing Still Works”: In the past, cramming keywords into an article might have worked. Today, Google values user experience and relevance far more than keyword frequency. An SEO writer should naturally incorporate keywords, but focus primarily on delivering value.
How SaaS Startups Can Build a Complete SEO Strategy
For SaaS startups, ranking on Google isn’t just about hiring an SEO writer—it’s about building a complete SEO strategy that includes content, technical SEO, and ongoing optimization. Here’s how you can approach it:
- Start with Technical SEO: Before you even think about creating content, make sure your website is technically sound. This includes optimizing page speed, ensuring mobile responsiveness, and setting up proper indexing through tools like Google Search Console.
- Create a Keyword-Targeted Content Plan: Work with your SEO writer to create a content plan that targets specific, relevant keywords for your SaaS product. Focus on long-tail keywords that reflect the problems your target customers are searching for.
- Build Backlinks: Invest time in outreach and relationship building to earn backlinks from reputable websites. Guest posting, partnerships, and PR efforts can help boost your domain authority over time.
- Track and Optimize: SEO is not a set-it-and-forget-it strategy. Regularly review your rankings, traffic, and site performance. Update old content, tweak technical issues, and continuously optimize based on new data.
Your Turn… SaaS Startups Need More Than SEO Writers to Rank
building a sustainable SEO strategy requires more than just hiring an SEO writer to churn out content. While SEO writers play a crucial role in creating optimized, engaging material, they are only one part of the equation. To succeed in ranking your SaaS startup’s website on Google, you need a comprehensive approach that includes technical SEO, backlink building, and continuous optimization.
If you’re ready to take your SaaS startup’s SEO to the next level, let’s connect. At SaaSlaunchr, we specialize in developing tailored SEO strategies for SaaS companies, combining quality content with technical optimization and long-term growth tactics. Schedule a call today to start building a stronger SEO foundation for your business.
Curious about the impact we can make? Check out our success story on how we helped a SaaS business significantly increase website traffic by implementing a strategic growth marketing plan. Read the case study here.
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