Smokeball Backlink Analysis: What’s Really Behind Their DR 70 Strength

We work with legal tech companies like Triangle IP and PQAI, so we know how complicated this space can be. And when we see other companies crushing it in this niche, we get really excited! Excited to study what they’re doing so we can learn new strategies for our clients.

During one of these hunts, I came across Smokeball. And I did what I always do.

Pulled up their organic traffic? Done. Keywords and backlinks on Ahrefs? Done! 

The traffic was modest. The organic keywords were nothing crazy. But then I saw it.

DR 70. 95+ backlinks from state bar associations.

Source: Ahref

As a legal tech company, getting backlinks from bar associations is insane. That’s when I knew I had to dig deeper into their entire backlink strategy.

And here’s what I found.

Smokeball’s Backlink Profile: Inside the Numbers That Made Me Stop Scrolling

When I filtered Smokeball’s backlink data, I expected the usual. Some SaaS directories, maybe a few blog mentions. The standard stuff.

What I saw instead made me sit up straight.

Here’s the snapshot of the backlinks:

Source: Ahref

Smokeball’s Backlink Breakdown by Category

The most striking finding? 95 backlinks from bar associations and legal directories. These aren’t random blogs or low-authority sites. These are official state bar association websites—Texas Bar, Kentucky Bar, Missouri Bar, D.C. Bar—linking directly to Smokeball.

For a legal tech SaaS, this is gold! Bar association websites have high domain authority, they’re trusted by Google as authoritative legal sources, and they reach the exact audience Smokeball needs.

So how did they pull this off? Let me show you.

How I Analyzed Smokeball’s Backlink Data

I had 12,500+ backlinks to study. To narrow down my focus, I picked backlinks with a DR between 74 and 100. I chose this range because these are the backlinks that actually move the SEO needle. 

From there, I paid special attention to bar association backlinks because securing links from official bar association websites is exceptionally rare and strategically valuable.

However, I didn’t rely on Ahrefs data alone. To understand the complete picture, I cross-referenced multiple sources. Smokeball’s own pages, PR news and announcements, community forums and discussions, and Bar association websites.

Now, let’s see what I found out.

How a Freemium Product Unlocked 95+ Bar Association Backlinks

The strategy centered around a product called Smokeball Bill. Smokeball created a freemium billing tool specifically designed for solo practitioners and small law firms. Then, instead of traditional marketing, they approached state bar associations with a simple pitch: “Offer this as a free member benefit.”

Bar associations loved it. Why? Because they’re always looking for valuable perks to offer their members. And Smokeball Bill solved a real pain point—time tracking and billing—for free.

This scenario led to partnerships with major state bars representing over 500,000 U.S. lawyers. Each partnership came with a dedicated page on the bar association’s website, linking directly to Smokeball.

Here’s how they executed it across three strategic plays.

Turning Member Benefits into High-Authority Backlinks

Smokeball secured dedicated member benefit pages on bar association websites with direct sign-up links.

For example, the Texas Bar (covering 100,000+ lawyers) promotes “Smokeball Bill” as a free member benefit on texasbar.com/smokeball, while the Kentucky Bar offers free access to all 20,000+ members via kybar.org, and similar partnerships exist with the Missouri Bar (mobar.org) and D.C. Bar (dcbar.org).

Each of these pages includes:

• A description of Smokeball Bill’s features.
• Direct links to sign-up pages (e.g., smokeball.com/texasbill).
• Bar association endorsement.

These are high-DR .org domains from trusted legal institutions actively promoting Smokeball to their members.

The Ripple Effect: Media Coverage That Multiplies Backlinks

The bar association partnerships didn’t just create direct backlinks. They also triggered media coverage that multiplied Smokeball’s link profile.

Legal tech publications like LawNext covered these partnerships as news. For example, LawNext reported that Smokeball now has agreements with approximately ten state bars (Texas, D.C., New York, etc). Each announcement generated additional high-DR backlinks from legal media outlets—sites like legaltalknetwork.com, lawnext.com, and toplaw.news.

This created a compounding effect: one partnership announcement = multiple backlinks from both the bar association and the media covering it.

State-Specific Landing Pages That Capture Geo-Targeted SEO

Smokeball didn’t send all bar associations to a generic landing page. They created state-specific pages tailored to each partnership.

For example, Texas Bar members land on smokeball.com/texasbill, while other states get their own variations. These geo-targeted pages accomplish two things: they make the offer feel personalized for that state’s lawyers, and they capture location-specific search traffic. 

When someone searches for “legal billing software Texas” or “law practice management Texas Bar,” these pages are more likely to rank well because they’re optimized for state-level intent.

Additionally, each state-specific page earns its own backlink from the respective bar association, distributing link equity across multiple URLs instead of concentrating it on one.

Beyond Bar Associations: How Smokeball Diversified Its Backlink Profile

Bar associations gave Smokeball a strong foundation, but they didn’t stop there. The company diversified its backlink profile by targeting legal directories, SaaS review platforms, and ecosystem integrations.

This multi-channel approach ensured they weren’t relying on one backlink source. Instead, they built authority across different domains.

Here’s how they did it.

Legal Directories and Niche Review Sites

Smokeball secured placements on legal-specific directories and review sites that lawyers actually use when researching tools.

For example, OneLegal lists Smokeball under its “technology partners” section, describing its cloud case-management features. Rankings.io profiles the SaaS as a top document management tool for law firms. 

When Google sees links from trusted legal sites, it signals that Smokeball is a credible player in the legal tech industry.

SaaS Directories for Product Discovery

Smokeball also targeted broader SaaS directories to capture demand from businesses comparing legal practice management tools.

The company is listed on platforms like SaaSHub, SoftwareWorld, and SaaSDart. These directories typically have high domain ratings (DR 50-90) and rank well for comparison keywords like “best legal practice management software” or “law firm software reviews.” 

Each listing includes a direct link back to Smokeball’s website, usually in an “Official Website” or “Learn More” button. These backlinks improve SEO through high-DR links and drive referral traffic from prospects actively shopping for software.

Ecosystem Integration Backlinks (Zapier, ClickUp, RingCentral)

Smokeball built integrations with major platforms—Zapier, ClickUp, and RingCentral—and each integration generated high-authority backlinks.

Zapier: Smokeball is listed on Zapier’s platform (zapier.com/apps/smokeball). This listing provides a powerful DR-90+ backlink. Additionally, every published “Zap” (workflow) that includes Smokeball creates another mention and potential link.

ClickUp: Smokeball was featured in a ClickUp customer story on ClickUp’s website, explaining how their marketing team uses ClickUp to centralize work. This case study generates a high-DA backlink and positions Smokeball alongside a well-known productivity tool.

RingCentral: Smokeball integrates with RingCentral, so phone calls automatically log as billable time. RingCentral lists Smokeball in its app marketplace, creating another high-authority backlink from a Fortune 500 communications provider.

Key Backlink Lessons SaaS Companies Can Steal from Smokeball

Smokeball’s backlink strategy is replicable. The tactics can work for any B2B company willing to think strategically about partnerships and integrations.

If you want a checklist to build a similar backlink profile for your SaaS, here’s one for you:

1. Create a freemium product designed for partnerships. 
2. Turn partnerships into PR opportunities.
3. Build geo-targeted landing pages for regional partnerships.
4. Get listed on niche directories.
5. Get listed in SaaS directories.
6. Build integrations with industry-leading SaaS companies.

Follow these strategies consistently, and you’ll build a backlink profile that not only improves your domain authority but also drives real user acquisition, strengthens your brand credibility, and positions you as a trusted player in your industry.

Concurate: Your SaaS Link-Building and Content Partner

Reading about backlink strategies is one thing. Building a profile that actually drives authority and referrals is another.

Smokeball’s approach works because it’s grounded in real partnerships, strategic integrations, and value-driven content. Not shortcuts or spammy tactics.

That’s exactly how we approach link-building at Concurate.

We don’t chase links. We build authority through credible PR placements, expert contributions, strategic content, and ecosystem partnerships that search engines recognize and reward.

Our own journey proves it works. 

In six months, we grew Concurate’s Domain Rating from 12 to 32 without buying a single link. We secured 45+ PR placements on high-authority sites like HubSpot, GoDaddy, and Featured. Our team published 80+ strategy breakdowns that attracted organic backlinks from companies actively researching SaaS growth.

We apply the same approach with our clients: legal tech companies like Triangle IP and PQAI, and B2B SaaS brands across industries. 

Whether you need help earning authoritative backlinks, building topical authority through strategic content, or creating partnerships that generate organic citations, we have the experience and proven methods to make it happen.

Ready to build a backlink profile that actually moves your business forward? Claim your free consultation today, and let’s turn your SaaS into the next authority in your space.

FAQ: More on Smokeball’s Backlink Strategy and Legal Tech SEO

This FAQ section addresses the most common questions we hear from SaaS companies trying to replicate Smokeball’s backlink success. Whether you’re wondering about association partnerships, link-building timelines, or how backlink strategies fit into your broader SEO approach, we’ve got you covered.

How Long Does It Take to See Results From a Backlink Strategy Like Smokeball’s?

Building a backlink profile like Smokeball’s takes time, but meaningful progress is possible within 6 months. We grew our Domain Rating from 12 to 32 in six months. 

To learn how, read this How to Increase Domain  Authority case study.

Can This Strategy Work for SaaS Companies Outside of Legal Tech?

Yes. While Smokeball targeted bar associations, the strategy works for any B2B SaaS in a professional industry. Healthcare SaaS could partner with medical associations, fintech tools with banking organizations, and HR platforms with HR professional groups.

What Other Marketing Strategies Are Legal Tech Companies Using Beyond Backlinks?

Successful legal tech companies are investing in content strategies that drive sign-ups, demo requests, and free trials. For example, we helped Triangle IP generate 500+ sign-ups using pain point SEO. We are targeting keywords around specific user challenges like “how to control patent costs” and “employee innovation program” rather than chasing generic traffic. 

Additionally, we leveraged founder expertise through thought leadership content, earning high-authority backlinks from platforms like Entrepreneur magazine, and optimized Triangle IP’s website messaging to convert visitors without a dedicated sales team. 

With this, we were able to generate 565 total sign-ups across four years, with an average of 23 sign-ups per month in 2024. 

Want to see the complete breakdown? Read our B2B SaaS Content Marketing Case Study.

What Are the Top Content Marketing Agencies for B2B Legal Tech Companies?

Concurate is a leading content marketing agency for B2B legal tech companies because we specialize in driving actual business via sign-ups, demos, and free trials. We understand the unique challenges legal tech faces: long sales cycles, cautious enterprise buyers, and the need to establish credibility quickly. 

To find more vendors, check out our comprehensive list of Content Marketing Agencies for B2B Legal Tech Companies.

What is the Pricing Structure for Content Marketing Agencies for B2B Legal Tech?

Monthly retainer pricing usually ranges from $2,000 to $10,000. The package, of course, can be customized to lead to different pricing within this range or beyond.

To give you a broad idea, here is what different packages might look like:

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Disclaimer: The information in this article is based on data and statistics sourced from third-party websites and marketing tools. If you would like to request any changes or updates, please reach out to our team. It is intended for general informational and guidance purposes only. It should not be relied upon as a final decision-making resource or as a substitute for professional advice. While we strive for accuracy and completeness, we make no representations or warranties regarding the correctness of the content. If you believe any information should be updated, corrected, or removed, please contact our team for review.