Project Overview
PayStubHero is an online service that specializes in creating instant pay stubs, W-2 forms, and 1099s for freelancers, independent contractors, and small business owners. The platform is designed to help users generate accurate and professional payroll documents quickly and easily.
Goal
The goal of the SEO project for PayStubHero was to enhance their online presence and authority by improving key website metrics. Prior to the partnership, PayStubHero had a domain rating of 16. Our objective was to increase their website authority by diversifying their backlink profile with high-quality backlinks to support long-term organic growth and visibility.
Solutions
After analyzing their business objectives and conducting in-depth market research, we developed a customized SEO strategy designed to acquire high-quality backlinks from reputable SaaS websites. To improve rankings for competitive keywords like "paystub generator," we acquired niche-relevant backlinks from authoritative SaaS blogs and industry-specific websites, ensuring improved domain rating and organic visibility.
Competitor Backlink Analysis
As part of our SEO strategy, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of the SERPs for the targeted keywords to identify the main competitors. After that, we studied the top competitors of Paystub Hero to identify the key niches driving their high-quality brand mentions and do-follow backlinks. By categorizing these niches, we gained valuable insights into the industry's primary sources of authoritative backlinks. This analysis guided our outreach strategy, allowing us to target high-authority domains in industry-related categories such as AI tools for entrepreneurs and freelancers, finance management platforms, and automated software solutions—all closely aligned with Paystub Hero services.
SaaS Backlink Acquisition
The SaaS backlink acquisition strategy focused on securing high-quality backlinks from industry-relevant SaaS websites with a minimum domain rating of 25. Our approach primarily revolved around identifying authoritative platforms within the SaaS industry and engaging in targeted outreach to secure backlinks through two primary channels: listicle placements and content contributions.
Paystub Hero was strategically listed as a featured top SaaS tool and resource to ensure prominent visibility among highly engaged audiences.
Additionally, we contributed valuable content to reputable SaaS websites, including guest posts and articles that naturally incorporated Paystub Hero's solutions.
Both ways prove to be effective and secure valuable backlinks that improve the website's domain authority.
Results
As a result of our SEO strategy, we were able to achieve significant results that are as follows:
The organic traffic has increased from 326 to 538 per month. This 65% improvement in organic traffic can be attributed to the strategic backlink acquisition efforts.
In April 2024, PayStub Hero website ranked for 70 keywords in the 1-3 positions. By March 2025, the number had increased to 172 keywords, representing a growth of approximately 146%. Similarly, in April 2024, the website ranked for 312 keywords in the 4-10 positions. As of March 2025, this number surged to 772 keywords, reflecting an impressive increase of approximately 147%.
The website's domain rating (DR) had a remarkable increase, from 16 to 50, reflecting a 212% improvement. This substantial growth in domain rating can be directly attributed to the targeted SaaS link-building strategies.
