Building Backlinks Through Open Source

In the world of SEO and backlink building, developers and SaaS companies have a unique advantage: the ability to leverage open source contributions.

Among the many opportunities in the open source ecosystem, getting listed in GitHub Awesome Lists represents one of the most valuable yet underutilized strategies for building high-quality backlinks.

Understanding GitHub Awesome Lists

GitHub Awesome Lists have become the de facto curated directories of valuable resources in the developer community.

Started by Sindre Sorhus with the original "awesome" list, these collections now span thousands of specialized categories, from machine learning frameworks to productivity tools.

What makes these lists particularly valuable for SEO is their high domain authority, genuine editorial oversight, and strong community engagement.

The Value Proposition of Awesome List Backlinks

Backlinks from GitHub Awesome Lists carry significant weight for several reasons.

First, they come from github.com, a domain with exceptionally high authority.

Second, these lists are frequently forked, shared, and referenced in technical blogs and documentation, creating a network effect of secondary backlinks.

Third, they drive highly targeted traffic from developers actively seeking solutions in your space.

Strategic Approach to Getting Listed

Creating Link-Worthy Open Source Projects

The foundation of success in this strategy lies in creating genuinely valuable open source projects.

Rather than building something solely for the purpose of getting listed, focus on solving real problems in your domain. For example, if you're running a SaaS email marketing platform, you might create an open source email template validator or a library for processing bounce notifications.

Consider the success of Strapi, an open source headless CMS. Their project is listed in multiple Awesome Lists, including "awesome-nodejs," "awesome-cms," and "awesome-selfhosted."

This widespread inclusion stems from their creation of a truly valuable tool that solves real problems for developers.

Identifying Relevant Awesome Lists

Finding the right Awesome Lists for your project requires systematic research.

Start with the main awesome list and branch out into your specific domain. For instance, a machine learning tool might fit into lists like "awesome-machine-learning," "awesome-artificial-intelligence," and "awesome-python."

Many successful companies maintain their own Awesome Lists. For example, Google maintains "awesome-flutter" for Flutter resources, while Microsoft curates "awesome-dotnet" for .NET development.

Getting listed in these company-maintained collections can be particularly valuable for building authority in specific technology ecosystems.

Preparing Your Project for Submission

Documentation Excellence

Outstanding documentation significantly increases your chances of being accepted into Awesome Lists.

Your README.md should be comprehensive yet scannable, with clear sections covering installation, usage, and contribution guidelines.

Look at projects like Vue.js or FastAPI for examples of excellent documentation that consistently earns them spots in curated lists.

Community Engagement

Active community management plays a crucial role in getting and maintaining list positions.

Respond promptly to issues and pull requests, maintain clear contribution guidelines, and regularly update your project.

Projects like Chakra UI exemplify this approach, maintaining active community engagement that has helped them secure positions in multiple frontend development Awesome Lists.

Technical Quality

Maintain high code quality standards through automated testing, continuous integration, and regular dependency updates.

Tools like GitHub Actions for CI/CD, CodeCov for test coverage, and Dependabot for dependency management demonstrate your commitment to project maintenance.

Submission Strategies

Direct Submission Process

When submitting your project to an Awesome List, follow these essential practices:

First, thoroughly read the list's contribution guidelines. Each list typically has specific formatting requirements and quality criteria.

Make your submission clean and consistent with the list's existing format. Include a concise yet informative description that clearly communicates your project's value proposition.

Building Relationships

Success in getting listed often depends on building relationships within the open source community.

Contribute to existing projects in your space, engage in relevant discussions, and help maintain the very lists you're targeting. This involvement builds credibility and increases the likelihood of your submissions being accepted.

Maximizing Impact Post-Listing

Leveraging List Inclusion

Once listed, maximize the impact by incorporating your listing into your broader marketing strategy.

Reference your inclusion in company blog posts, documentation, and social media. Create content that expands on your listed project, driving additional traffic and encouraging secondary backlinks.

Maintaining and Updating

Regular updates and maintenance are crucial for remaining on Awesome Lists.

Many lists periodically review their contents and remove outdated or abandoned projects. Establish a regular update schedule, and clearly communicate your maintenance status through badges and changelogs.

Advanced Strategies

Creating Complementary Resources

Develop additional resources that complement your main project.

For example, if you've created a development framework, create separate repositories for starter templates, example applications, or utility packages. Each of these can potentially earn its own spot on relevant Awesome Lists.

Contributing to List Maintenance

Become an active contributor to the Awesome Lists in your domain.

Help maintain list quality by suggesting updates, removing dead links, and adding other valuable projects. This involvement builds goodwill and keeps you informed about list standards and expectations.

Measuring Success

Tracking Metrics

Monitor the impact of your Awesome List inclusions through several key metrics. Track GitHub stars and forks, which often increase significantly after listing.

Use repository traffic insights to measure visitor sources and patterns. Monitor backlink profiles through tools like Ahrefs or Moz to identify secondary backlinks generated from your listings.

Quality Assessment

Beyond quantitative metrics, assess the quality of engagement generated by your listings.

Look for indicators like the number of substantive issues opened, pull requests received, and meaningful forum discussions. These metrics often provide better insight into your project's impact than raw traffic numbers.

Things to Avoid

Over-Promotion

Avoid aggressive self-promotion or submitting to irrelevant lists.

The open source community values genuine contribution over marketing tactics. Focus on creating real value and let your project's quality speak for itself.

Neglecting Maintenance

Don't let your project stagnate after getting listed. Regular updates and active maintenance are essential for long-term success and continued list inclusion.

Looking Forward

Emerging Opportunities

Stay alert for new Awesome Lists emerging in your domain.

As technology evolves, new specialized lists frequently appear, offering fresh opportunities for relevant projects. Consider creating your own Awesome List if you identify an underserved niche in your industry.

Conclusion

Building backlinks through GitHub Awesome Lists represents a sophisticated approach to SEO that aligns perfectly with the values of the open source community.

Success in this strategy requires a long-term commitment to creating genuine value through high-quality open source projects.

Remember that the most successful projects on Awesome Lists earned their spots by solving real problems and maintaining high standards of quality and community engagement.

Focus on these fundamentals, and the backlinks will follow naturally as your project gains recognition and adoption within the developer community.