Brett had started with sharing his design works on social media (even the scrappiest ones). With time, he was able to refine his skills more and more, and fast forward to today he runs this agency with 50 clients as a solo designer and has 10x'd his prices from when he started.

Over a single weekend in 2017, Brett came up with the packages he wanted to offer, wrote some copy, and built his initial website.

Initially, he offered two plans: $449 a month for the most basic package and $849 a month for front-end design — app and website design.

His MVP allowed clients to request only one design task at a time and would turn that request around within two days. Design tasks could range from single email templates to entire landing pages with unlimited revisions.

He further broke down larger projects into chunks and delivered each new piece every two days.

Brett regularly shared his progress on indiehackers.com, a well-known community for indie makers (who happen to also be his target persona). He replied to questions, shared insights from his own journey, and created a narrative that people loved, as well as a service that people needed. He also remains active on Twitter, and has over 40,000 followers on the platform.

Kerim, frustrated by the inefficiencies and unfair practices he encountered as a freelance designer, launched Revolution Design, a design-as-a-subscription service, now generating $20k/month after 10 months in beta. This platform eliminates hourly billing, offering top-tier design services for a flat $4,990/month, revolutionizing access to premium design talent.

The founders created the first version of Revolution Design using a combination of no-code and simple online tools to keep things lean. The core workflow used Trello to manage design requests and Figma to deliver design outputs. Webflow was used to build the company's website, leveraging templates to accelerate development, while Slack was used for internal team communication.

The initial iteration was very scrappy; most processes were manual, and the out-of-pocket expenses were minimal—$1,000 for LLC formation in the Czech Republic and $29/month for Webflow. The first working version was up in about two months after extensive design iterations—hundreds of concepts were tested before settling on a design completed in 48 hours. Notable challenges included perfectionism from both co-founders (both designers), which led to delays; despite always wanting to improve the website, they ultimately decided to focus on shipping a functional MVP rather than obsessing over aesthetics.

Cold Outreach
The team relies heavily on cold outreach campaigns, leveraging lead lists sourced from Cyberleads, LinkedIn Sales Navigator, Apollo, and Upwork. Automation tools like Instantly.ai, Make.com, and Airtable (with OpenAI/ChatGPT integration for personalized intros) streamline the process, and all outreach is highly targeted at fast-growing startups and tech companies.
Why it worked: Reaching out directly to decision-makers at companies needing design allowed for rapid, scalable customer acquisition with a personal touch, which is vital for high-ticket agency services.

Personal Network & Past Clients
Initial beta clients came from messaging previous clients and close contacts on LinkedIn and email, focusing on founders and companies already familiar with their work. This channel yielded early traction without ad spend.
Why it worked: Warm connections already trusted the founders’ skill, reducing friction in trialing the service and helping validate the business model.

Free Value Offers
They offered a 7-day risk-free trial and asynchronous brand audits (via Loom video) for qualified prospects. Anyone could submit their site for expert feedback, easing prospects’ hesitation and demonstrating expertise.
Why it worked: The no-commitment offer lowered the barrier to entry and showed value upfront, increasing conversions from outreach and inbound leads.

Matthew Davison, the founder of Travel Tractions, came up with the idea for his tourism-focused marketing agency after scaling his previous travel startup to over 500,000 page views a month. He saw an opportunity to help other travel businesses achieve similar results and launched Travel Tractions as a productized service agency, focusing on SEO content and audits before expanding into other services like social media, PPC, and web builds. Despite facing challenges during the COVID pandemic, the company has rebuilt and grown to a monthly revenue of $35k, with a focus on client retention and a predicted triple-digit growth in 2024.

The founders developed Travel Tractions' initial service-based product by focusing on creating productized SEO content and audit services specifically for the tourism industry. The first version involved building standardized processes and systems inspired by the E-Myth Revisited, enabling repeatable delivery of SEO and marketing solutions. Tools like Google Sheets streamlined operations, while Ahrefs became central to their SEO offering, and Asana templates facilitated project management. An early challenge was training new hires, addressed by developing internal courses on SEO content writing and website optimization, which allowed for onboarding people with little or no prior experience. The move from ideation to a working service took several months, iterating on procedures and training until they could deliver consistent, scalable results with minimal back-and-forth needed.

Word of Mouth & Referrals Early growth was driven by referrals from industry friends and satisfied clients, quickly compounding as successful projects led to new introductions and recommendations. Why it worked: Personal credibility and results made it easy for partners and clients to trust and endorse Travel Tractions, reducing the need for outbound sales.

Conferences & Partnerships Attending industry conferences helped secure initial anchor clients and created direct opportunities to build long-term partnerships, including working with event speakers who later referred additional clients. Why it worked: Face-to-face networking accelerated trust-building and visibility in a niche market, which in turn opened new doors quickly.

SEO Although initial rankings took time, Travel Tractions invested in long-term SEO by producing content, guides, and acquiring backlinks, eventually making inbound organic leads a reliable acquisition channel. Why it worked: Establishing expertise and ranking for relevant queries meant that travel businesses looking for marketing services could discover and self-select the agency, resulting in ongoing high-quality leads.

Affiliate Program They also implemented an affiliate program that contributed up to 10% of clients over time. Why it worked: Incentivizing existing contacts to refer new business provided a low-friction, scalable referral mechanism.

'Full-service marketing and design agency for growth challenges.'

Godson Michel founded Blue Surge Marketing Agency after running a successful sneaker marketplace business, KickBackz. When the sneaker market shifted, he recognized his marketing skills were in high demand and decided to start his own agency. With a strong brand name, a clean logo, and a well-designed website, Blue Surge has become one of the most sought-after multicultural marketing agencies in the US.

The founders of Blue Surge Marketing Agency began by researching how established agencies packaged and priced their services. A personal assistant created a spreadsheet with nearly 100 agencies, analyzing their offerings and price structures. Using this data, they defined four service tiers and listed deliverables and standardized pricing on a whiteboard, iterating several times until it reflected their services. The initial product—a suite of digital marketing and website design packages—underwent several revisions as the founder worked to productize bespoke skills into repeatable services. The tech stack for service delivery and operations included Google Workspace for communications, Buffer for social media scheduling, and web design inspiration drawn from templates on Envato Marketplace. Building the first version, including the website, logo (outsourced to a freelancer), and client-facing materials, took place over several weeks, with price structuring and packaging as the main challenges due to lack of prior B2B agency experience.

In-Person Networking Before the pandemic, early client acquisition came primarily from networking at local events, leading directly to their first major client deals. Why it worked: Face-to-face credibility and word-of-mouth referrals helped quickly build trust, which is critical for a service business in its early days.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) During and after the summer of 2020, SEO became the top driver for lead generation. The agency capitalized on increased demand by optimizing their site and content, especially as searches for Black-owned and multicultural agencies surged during the Black Lives Matter movement. Why it worked: Timely alignment with broader cultural trends attracted clients specifically seeking diverse agencies, capturing organic traffic when intent was highest.

Email Marketing Automation The agency used email marketing automation to nurture both new and existing contacts. Automations included regular educational newsletters and re-engagement campaigns to prompt repeat business from past clients. Why it worked: Consistent, value-driven communication kept the agency top-of-mind and helped convert repeat and referral business with minimal manual effort.

Unlimited custom design services for distinctive business branding.

Nevilson Christian, the founder of SeekThem, was inspired by the poetry of Rumi and the power of beauty in capturing human attention. He combined his passion for design, technology, and business to create a company that offers unlimited design services, breaking free from the monotony and sameness on the internet. In just 10 months, SeekThem has achieved impressive success, booking $15k per month with 35% month-on-month growth.

SeekThem's initial product was created through a hands-on, iterative process centered around their first client project: redesigning the Travel-o-deal travel bookings website. The team managed all aspects of the web overhaul, including UI/UX, iconography, illustrations, user research, and testing. Design and prototyping were accomplished using Adobe XD, Figma, and InVision, while collaboration and project management relied on tools like Asana, Trello, and Basecamp. The team developed user personas, mapped out user journeys, and identified friction points to redesign the site flow, testing improvements through user feedback and core metrics like session duration and conversions. This initial phase was challenging—handling comprehensive redesign tasks and real-time learning—but ultimately delivered measurable improvements and became their foundational offering.

Cold Email Outreach They conducted targeted cold email campaigns, sending 250 emails which resulted in 13 replies and 2 paid conversions at a customer acquisition cost of $13.5 per customer, with an average order value of $1,250. Why it worked: Highly focused outreach allowed them to reach businesses likely to need design services, converting leads efficiently and cost-effectively.

Inbound Content & SEO SeekThem launched with a modest 5-page site, then expanded into a WordPress platform with numerous educational blog posts. They continuously improved the site based on Google Analytics and customer feedback, implementing organic SEO and content marketing to boost traffic. Why it worked: Regularly publishing targeted educational content attracted businesses searching for design guidance, increasing qualified inbound leads and establishing industry credibility.

Referrals Their initial customers, like Travel-o-deal, came through referrals, especially from contacts familiar with their design expertise. Why it worked: Positive client experiences led to word-of-mouth introductions, resulting in long-term, trust-based client relationships without upfront marketing spend.

Go-to-market agency launching startups to $1M revenue.

Trevor Longino, the founder and CEO of CrowdTamers, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the demand for his marketing expertise as a freelancer. He saw an opportunity to help startups successfully launch and reach $1 million in annual revenue by providing a systematic approach to go-to-market strategies. Through answering founders' questions on Facebook Groups and creating thought leadership content, he was able to attract and retain customers, growing his agency from 2 employees to 5 employees and achieving nearly $600k in annual revenue.

The founders of CrowdTamers transitioned from a solo freelancing model to an agency by necessity rather than following a rigid plan. Initially, most of the client work was done directly by the founder, using commonly available tools such as Notion for task management, Slack for communications, Figma for design, and ad platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn for campaign execution. The first 'product' was less a software or tangible item, and more a systematized go-to-market process for startups, outlined first as a Twitter thread and then iterated into a detailed framework explained via blog posts, client work, and educational materials. The team experimented rapidly—one notable challenge arose when existing clients wanted to work only with the founder, leading to 100% client churn with one key personnel hire; this forced a pivot toward productizing and documenting the consulting process as a repeatable playbook. Within a few months, their concept matured from individual ad hoc services to a structured agency offering, iterated through direct consulting, writing, and broad client feedback.

Founder Q&A in Founder Communities The agency grew substantially by the founder answering 2–5 questions per week in Facebook Groups and similar online communities for SaaS and startup founders. From 2021 to 2023, this approach generated 60 customers and roughly $480k in incremental revenue. Why it worked: Personal, direct expertise built trust quickly and captured founders at the moment of need, providing high-conversion, low-cost leads.

Content Marketing (Blogs & Twitter Threads) CrowdTamers created over 61 blog posts in its first year and repurposed these articles into Twitter threads to answer real founder questions. This effort drove about 1,000 monthly site visitors and established the company as a go-to resource for early-stage go-to-market problems. Why it worked: The focus on actionable, founder-oriented content demonstrated expertise and built authority within a tightly defined target audience.

Paid Advertising for Book Funnel In late 2022, CrowdTamers began running paid ads on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn to sell a low-cost ebook, using constant iteration to drop their cost-per-sale by 90%. Every ~20 book sales turned into a highly qualified sales lead, helping fill the top of their sales funnel despite paid acquisition's initial lack of profitability. Why it worked: The book purchase acted as a self-qualifying filter, attracting serious founders and surfacing high-quality leads for agency services.

On-demand, credit-based copywriting service for quick turnarounds.

Lianna Patch and James Turner came up with the idea for SNAP Copy after being members of Joanna Wiebe's copywriter mastermind group. When Joanna decided to close down the first iteration of SNAP, Lianna and James took over the business and transformed it into an on-demand copywriting service that sells packs of Copy Credits. Their unique credit model and focus on outstanding conversion-optimized copy attracts agencies, small businesses, and e-commerce shops.

Taking over SNAP Copy, Lianna Patch and James Turner didn't need to conceptualize the service offerings from scratch but rather refined the existing model. They embraced the innovative credit system, allowing clients to purchase and utilize credits for various copywriting tasks. Their tech stack revolves around a WordPress site integrated with Divi as a theme and WooCommerce as the storefront. In the backend, tools like ActiveCampaign, Google Docs, Trello, and Zapier are crucial, automating much of their operations. Building the first version wasn't from zero but involved significant adjustments to fit their vision, a process facilitated by existing resources yet likely involving challenges in seamlessly integrating and automating these tools to support their on-demand service structure efficiently.

Speaking Engagements and Podcasts

SNAP Copy effectively uses speaking engagements and podcasts as a significant channel for customer acquisition. Lianna Patch, one of the co-founders, frequently presents on stage and participates in podcast interviews. This positions her as the face of SNAP Copy, enhancing brand visibility and authority. These activities draw interest in SNAP's services, as potential customers are introduced to their offerings through engaging and informative content. This strategy works well because it not only educates the audience but also builds trust and credibility, leading to increased referrals and direct inquiries.

Referral System

SNAP Copy has implemented a robust referral system that incentivizes existing clients to introduce new customers. They offer bonuses such as extra credits or Amazon gift cards for every successful referral. This strategy leverages the power of word-of-mouth, turning satisfied customers into active promoters of the business. Referrals from trusted connections often result in high-quality leads that are more likely to convert, making this an efficient and effective growth channel.

Automated Check-In Emails

To maintain engagement with current customers, SNAP Copy uses automated monthly check-in emails. These emails serve as gentle reminders to clients, informing them of their available credits and prompting them to use SNAP's services. Simple reminders that ensure clients take advantage of their purchases can reignite customer interest and spur action. This tactic helps keep SNAP at the forefront of their clients' minds, encouraging repeat business and enhancing customer retention.

Networking and Personal Connections

Networking and personal connections play a pivotal role in SNAP Copy's growth strategy. Co-founders and team members actively engage with other writers, businesses, and potential clients through various networking opportunities. Their approach focuses on building genuine relationships, which helps expand their referral network and support system. Being well-connected within the copywriting community provides access to collaborative opportunities and referrals that contribute to steady business growth.

Comedy-infused copywriting for eCommerce and software businesses.

Lianna Patch, founder of Punchline Copy, came up with the idea for her business while doing stand-up comedy open mics and attending improv and sketch classes in 2015. She was unhappy with her previous copywriting business and found a passion for writing funny copy after joining The Copywriter Mastermind. Through research and client demand, she discovered the benefits of humor in copywriting and started speaking, teaching, and writing funny copy.

Lianna Patch created Punchline Conversion Copywriting as a solo consultancy, initially pivoting away from copy-editing services towards productized copywriting offers focused on humor. The "first product" was not a traditional digital app or physical good, but structured, time-bound service packages like 'Buy My Day' and 'Uppercuts', which clients could clearly understand and purchase. The build process involved rebranding the business, developing clear service descriptions, and setting up an easy ordering workflow via a WordPress website with WooCommerce for payments and scheduling. The initial prototype was likely the early service packages refined through client feedback and personal testing, with tools including WordPress, WooCommerce, QuickBooks Online, Zapier, and ActiveCampaign supporting the backend. The full transition and build-out of productized services unfolded over several months, coinciding with client work, course participation, and rebranding efforts. Key challenges included overcoming burnout, pivoting the business focus, and refining service offers to align with client demand and operational efficiency.

Speaking Engagements & Conferences Lianna regularly gave talks—starting with a lightning talk, then a keynote—at industry conferences like Business of Software, showcasing her expertise in humor-based conversion copy. Why it worked: Speaking directly to audiences of potential clients positioned her as an authority and attracted engaged customers, especially from software and eCommerce verticals.

Productized Services & Website Copy She clearly defined and branded unique service packages (e.g., 'Buy My Day', 'Uppercuts') on her website, making it frictionless for interested clients to understand and purchase offerings. Why it worked: Productizing services reduced sales friction and enabled easy client onboarding, catering to busy founders who valued clarity and expertise.

Word-of-Mouth & Client Referrals A significant portion of her new clients came from repeat business and recommendations, as she noted many first-time clients returned for additional projects. Why it worked: The high-touch, specialized nature of her service fostered trust and satisfaction, encouraging referrals and long-term relationships.

Joe was an independent contractor, and had some folks willing to work with him around 2021. Swamped with work, he didn't have the bandwidth to interview them, and came up with an idea to note their details down in a spreadsheet. As he shared the sheet with businesses in his network, a couple of people had landed the gig! That was the moment he realized a business is waiting to be built.

Joe Masilotti built the initial RailsDevs product entirely on his own using Ruby on Rails as the backend framework, Tailwind UI for styling, and deploying via Heroku. He started with a manual spreadsheet shared among his network to validate the concept, transitioning to a full web product once initial traction was proven. The first working prototype focused solely on freelance and contract opportunities, and Joe's familiarity with the tech stack allowed him to develop and launch the first version in just 15 days. The build cost about $300, with the majority spent on the domain name rather than technical resources. Key challenges included keeping scope small to launch quickly and utilizing familiar tools to avoid delays or unnecessary complexity.

"Building in public on Twitter, and engaging his developers on Github has helped Joe gather feedback and customers both.

As a marketplace, more developers = more paying customers. Joe focuses on that as well."

Experts in creating comparison pages for SaaS products.

Federico Jorge, founder of Stack Against, came up with the idea for his business when his clients kept asking him to create comparison pages for their SaaS products. Recognizing the demand and his expertise in writing and designing these pages, Federico decided to package this service and create Stack Against, specializing in comparison pages for SaaS companies. Through networking and sharing his idea in SaaS groups on Facebook, Federico gained initial clients and validation for his business.

The founders' initial product was a service: well-crafted SaaS comparison pages. They started by breaking Federico's freelance process into repeatable steps—discovery, onboarding, research, and delivery. Writing and analysis were first done manually, drawing from prior client work; the early prototypes were simply the first marketed client projects, tested on discounted pilot clients. The founders documented best practices for research and copywriting, and built step-by-step internal guides. Essential tools included Google Docs for drafts, Dovetail for aggregating customer reviews, Surfer and Keywords Everywhere for SEO, and Figma or AdobeXD for design (adapting to client preference). Over several months in early 2021, they iterated by responding to client feedback—adding assets like battlecards and supplementing copy with design to close delivery gaps. The most notable challenge was translating Federico's tacit expertise into scalable team processes so the quality wouldn't rely on a single person.

Community Building in Facebook Groups By sharing the product concept and development journey in SaaS-focused Facebook groups, Stack Against generated conversation, brand recognition, and early validation before launch. This resulted in direct client inquiries and their first sales at a discounted rate. Why it worked: Active participation in relevant communities quickly built authority and leveraged word-of-mouth among a highly targeted audience.

Personal Branding on LinkedIn Federico consistently shared insights and the Stack Against offer on LinkedIn, steadily growing his personal audience and network among decision-makers at SaaS firms. Why it worked: LinkedIn's professional environment and direct access to ideal B2B buyers amplified credibility and led to larger, repeat clients.

Strategic Partnerships and Content Collaborations Stack Against partnered with brands like Klue, co-creating content such as the 'Compared to What' show, and engaging with the Competitive Intelligence community through webinars and networks. Why it worked: Lending expertise in partnership with trusted industry brands gave Stack Against access to large, engaged customer lists and positioned them as thought leaders.

Word of Mouth and Referrals Satisfied early clients and industry influencers shared Stack Against organically, facilitating introductions to top-tier prospects like FreshBooks. Why it worked: A niche, high-value service led to strong organic advocacy among well-connected SaaS marketers, multiplying reach without significant ad spend.

Unlimited UI/UX design subscription for startup apps and websites.

Shubham Dhawan and Mitya Smusin, both coming from the agency world, had been working together on various design projects. During a weekly huddle, they discussed the idea of an unlimited design subscription, and with their existing design and dev team, they quickly built Anytime Design. Their subscription service offers UX design to startups and small businesses that can't afford an elaborate design team, and they already have a monthly recurring revenue of $2,500.

The founders leveraged their existing design and development teams from their agencies, Yellow Systems and Coloristy Media, to quickly build Anytime Design's initial product offering—a subscription-based UI/UX design service for startups. The build process began with selecting and finalizing the business name, securing domains and social handles, and creating the logo in just 1–2 days. They assigned specific tasks (logo, landing page content, website design) to team members and completed the key deliverables in under three weeks. The first landing page prototype was built quickly, initially in Notion, and iterated based on real feedback from 22–23 target customers, which led to several content and positioning adjustments. Main tools used included Figma (for design), Notion (for docs), Trello (for workflow), and Slack/Google Meet (for communication). Building in public on Twitter helped validate ideas and quickly address uncertainties, while team experience and close client feedback loops allowed for rapid iteration without need for new hires.

Twitter / Build in Public They shared continuous behind-the-scenes updates, discussions about naming, logos, and product decisions, and engaged with the design/startup community on Twitter. This visibility generated early interest and led to direct inquiries (DMs) and new clients within the first few weeks. Why it worked: Publicly sharing progress built credibility, generated word-of-mouth, and attracted their target audience of startup founders actively seeking design solutions.

Word of Mouth / Personal Networks Their first several clients and most leads were acquired via personal referrals through existing agency clients and professional connections, without paid marketing. Conversations and feedback sessions with previous contacts informed both acquisition and product-market fit within the core customer group. Why it worked: Leveraging established trust and relationships with startup founders led to high-conversion, warm leads at no cost.

Content and Community Engagement They actively engaged in Facebook groups and other online communities focused on productized services, sharing their story and learning from peers. This approach provided initial validation, generated interest, and connected them with early adopters facing the same design challenges. Why it worked: Participation in relevant online communities enabled direct feedback, validation, and access to a concentrated pool of potential customers.

Amazon listing agency boosting sales with optimized product content.

Omar Deryan, founder of OJ Digital Solutions, came up with the idea after receiving requests to write, optimize, and translate product descriptions for Shopify and Amazon sellers. Recognizing the high demand, he dedicated his time to building a quality agency and hiring experts to serve this audience better. Within a month of quitting his corporate job, his new company generated $7,000 in revenue, setting the stage for its success.

OJ Digital Solutions' initial offering was a service-based product delivered entirely online, which meant startup costs were minimal and mainly required an investment of time rather than money. The founder began by directly responding to requests from Amazon and Shopify sellers for listing copy, translations, and optimizations, drawing on personal experience as an e-commerce seller and fluency in multiple languages. The first product "package" emerged iteratively by identifying patterns in common client requests, then bundling these into a standard service. There was no physical manufacturing; instead, the process involved creating templates, refining deliverables through client feedback, and gradually systematizing work. The initial working version was developed during live client engagements, with the development phase lasting a few months as feedback and repeated requests informed ongoing improvements. A notable challenge was managing demand while still standardizing the offering and setting up basic branding and a simple website, all while learning from early mistakes made due to lack of business experience.

Freelancing Platforms OJ Digital Solutions initially relied heavily on platforms like Upwork to attract clients, competing in a crowded marketplace by offering affordable pricing and exceptional customer service. This channel drove early traction due to high demand for Amazon listing services and the founder’s ability to stand out with personalized support and visible profiles. Why it worked: Freelancing platforms gave immediate access to a global pool of clients actively seeking e-commerce listing help, enabling the business to gain reviews and social proof quickly.

Word of Mouth & Partnerships Satisfied clients often referred others, including influencers such as course creators, one of whom brought ongoing sales by recommending the agency to 1,000+ students. Partnerships with these individuals became a sustained source of high-quality, repeat business. Why it worked: High-quality service and fast communication encouraged happy clients to advocate for the agency, leading to a compounding effect that brought in engaged, trust-driven referrals.

Social Media & Community Engagement The founder actively promoted services in relevant Facebook groups, community sites, and through various social media channels. Early-stage discounts were used to secure initial deals and reviews from these communities. Why it worked: Targeting niche online communities captured engaged Amazon sellers ready to purchase specialized services, driving early momentum and visibility.

Remote human translation agency for global businesses.

Robert and Mariona Bolohan, a married couple with a passion for languages, started their own translation business, Lotuly. They began as freelance translators and gradually expanded their team to handle more languages. With a focus on human translation and a commitment to quality, they have grown their business to over 500 translators and offer services in over 90 languages. They are now experiencing monthly revenues of $40k and are looking to expand further with a subscription version of their services.

The founders started by working as freelance translators, then gradually recruited a small remote team as client requests expanded beyond their language skills. Their main initial technical project was building a custom instant quotation tool, which calculates translation costs for more than 324,000 combinations (90 languages, 40 subjects, 8,100 language pairs, 12 file formats). They chose Angular for its flexibility and power since the quoting system was too complex for WordPress alone, and integrated tools like Stripe for payments, Azure for hosting, and an exchange rates API for multi-currency pricing.

It took several months to develop the first working version of their instant quote tool. They encountered a major setback when an external development firm failed to deliver a usable MVP, resulting in lost funds (~£8k) and delays. The founders then hired a different developer to finish the tool. They iterated on branding several times before settling on Lotuly, learning firsthand the cost of imperfect contractors and the importance of scoping technical projects tightly.

SEO & Content Marketing They focused on building backlinks, publishing educational content (such as articles about translation failures), and securing listings on freelancer and B2B directories. After sustained work, they reached the first page of Google for high-intent keywords like 'human translation London.' Why it worked: Ranking for relevant search terms targeted buyers actively seeking translation services, resulting in steady organic lead flow without ongoing ad costs.

LinkedIn Organic Outreach The founders used LinkedIn to develop business relationships by engaging with prospects' content, sharing industry advice, and directly connecting with their target market (e.g., e-commerce, marketing, and software companies). They grew strong inbound demand through consistent relationship-building and expertise sharing. Why it worked: LinkedIn allowed for direct access to decision-makers and established credibility in a high-trust B2B market.

PR & Awards They leveraged PR tactics such as pitching their story to podcasts, newsletters, and participating in competitions (like Theo Paphitis’ SBS Twitter event), which resulted in awards and coverage. Such recognition and social proof (e.g., retweets by high-profile figures) led to spikes in website traffic and followers. Why it worked: Media features and social endorsements built trust quickly and drove word-of-mouth among potential clients.

Subscription design service for fast, affordable graphic solutions.

Delesign was founded by Kenny Schumacher to address the need for affordable and high-quality design services that businesses of all sizes could utilize. Through a rigorous vetting and training process, Delesign provides clients with dedicated senior-level designers who can complete graphic design, animation, web and app, UI/UX, and illustration projects with fast turnaround times. The company has seen rapid growth, reaching nearly $100k MRR in just four years, and relies on referrals, organic traffic, and targeted content marketing to attract and retain customers.

Delesign began by first developing a custom online portal for communication and project management between clients and designers. The development process spanned from April 2018 to its launch in December 2019, with the portal continually iterated based on early client feedback. While the precise tech stack is not specified, their workflow included integrating third-party platforms and building tools centered around design project submissions, tracking, and designer-client messaging. The team focused on functional prototyping to ensure designers could deliver quick turnarounds and clients could track requests efficiently. Key challenges included building a portal flexible enough to evolve with client feedback and ensuring smooth communication and handoff of work between globally distributed designers and clients.

Product Hunt Launch Delesign launched on Product Hunt, where it achieved the #2 product of the day, generating a strong initial user base and valuable client feedback in a short timeframe. Why it worked: Product Hunt's audience matched Delesign's target market of entrepreneurs and marketers, delivering direct exposure and credibility through a high-ranking placement.

Referrals A significant portion of ongoing growth came from client referrals. Satisfied users recommended Delesign to peers, fueling steady new signups with almost no cost of acquisition. Why it worked: Excellent service quality and fast, reliable turnaround encouraged clients to share their positive experiences, driving warm, high-converting leads.

SEO & Content Marketing Delesign invested in blog content and a free design service, targeting strategic long-tail keywords using tools like Ahrefs. This led to consistent inbound traffic and leads from organic search. Why it worked: Educational and value-driven content positioned Delesign as an authority while ranking for queries relevant to entrepreneurs seeking design solutions.

Daniel Tay, co-founder of With Content, initially discovered his passion for content marketing while studying political science. After gaining experience as a journalist and content marketer in the tech industry, he realized the need for high-quality content marketing in Singapore and Southeast Asia. With a strong network and growing demand, Daniel launched With Content, offering specialized content marketing services for B2B tech companies. Through strategic content creation, transparent pricing, and targeted marketing efforts, With Content quickly gained traction and became a go-to agency in the region, generating $1 million in revenue to date.

The founders initially designed With Content as a full-service content marketing agency, aiming to provide startups with end-to-end solutions at a fixed monthly rate. The first offerings included content audits, strategy, production, and analysis. Early development involved direct client feedback: after realizing startups struggled with the price and already had internal marketing, With Content iterated their approach, narrowing services to areas with the most demand (content strategy, editorial, and visual production). The team leveraged a credits-based pricing model to give clients flexibility and transparency, which quickly resonated. Tools like Ahrefs (for SEO and research), Airtable (for project management and tracking), and Twist (for internal communications) supported service delivery from the start. The refinement from initial prototype to a focused service model took a few months, guided by ongoing discussions with early clients and market needs; the primary challenge was aligning service scope and pricing with what startups could actually use and afford.

SEO & Content Marketing
They published comprehensive case studies of local tech companies successful with content marketing, alongside in-depth industry guides and pillar pages. These targeted high-intent keywords and filled local knowledge gaps, resulting in sustained organic traffic and inbound leads.
Why it worked: Few competitors offered such locally relevant, detailed content, helping With Content rank in search and establish authority in a growing niche.

Transparency (Pricing & Service Information)
With Content clearly listed prices and service structures on its website, an uncommon practice among agencies in the region. Prospective clients reported that this straightforward approach made them more likely to reach out and engage.
Why it worked: Transparency built trust quickly, removing a common barrier in agency sales conversations.

LinkedIn
They leveraged LinkedIn over other social platforms, sharing expertise and engaging with the B2B tech community to build their brand and generate direct leads. Other platforms like Facebook and Instagram produced little traction.
Why it worked: Their audience (B2B tech marketers and founders) was active on LinkedIn, making it a focused and effective channel for outreach and networking.

Newsletter (Deeper)
Through a weekly newsletter, they delivered analysis on tech trends in Southeast Asia to build ongoing engagement and demonstrate expertise to both prospects and clients. Positive subscriber feedback contributed to brand loyalty.
Why it worked: Consistent high-value content kept With Content top of mind and showcased their understanding of the space.