The free sources you already have
- Launch platform listings (Product Hunt, directories with real audiences) — editorial when the listing includes a do-follow link to your site.
- Integration and partner pages — if you ship on another platform, their docs or marketplace often link to you.
- Communities you genuinely participate in — show notes, comparison posts, founder interviews.
- Your own content — comparison pages, data posts, and tools that others cite naturally.
Why most 'free backlink' lists are junk
Profile links, comment spam, and junk directories are indexed nowhere and weighted at zero — sometimes harmful. They feel productive because you can tick boxes, but they do not move rankings.
Earn-by-giving: free backlinks without buying anything
Claim your domain on LaunchPact (+50 starter credits, 14-day Pro trial auto-starts). Place one-sentence do-follow insertions for matched founders in your niche. Earn tier-based credits (10–350 per insertion depending on your domain tier). Spend credits to request links back.
Giving links and earning credits stays free forever; requesting links after your 14-day trial is part of Backlink Network Pro ($29/mo).
What a loop-earned link is worth
Owner-approved, in-content, do-follow, niche-matched, and crawl-verified at day 7, 30, and 90 with clawback on removal — compared to junk-list alternatives that cost nothing and deliver nothing.
See also: SaaS link building, niche edits.
Frequently asked questions
Only if they are real editorial links from relevant sites — launch listings, integration partners, communities, or earn-by-giving insertions on founder product sites. Profile and directory spam indexed nowhere does not count.
Use the free sources you already have (launch platforms, partner pages, communities), then add earn-by-giving: claim your domain on LaunchPact, place sentence insertions for matched founders, earn credits, and request links back during your 14-day Pro trial.
Not a 1:1 swap. Loops of 3–5 founder sites mean you never trade links directly with the site linking back to you. See our backlink exchange guide for the full mechanic.
Crawls check every placement at day 7, 30, and 90. Credits settle after day 7 confirms the link is live. Removals claw back credits and cost trust.
Effort, not cash — you give before you receive. Giving links and earning credits stays free forever; requesting links after your 14-day trial is part of Backlink Network Pro ($29/mo).
Start earning links — free
Claim your domain, earn credits by giving, and request links during your 14-day Pro trial.
Claim your domain free