Link building for startups that want predictable growth
We target the right publications and partners, build repeatable outreach, and turn every backlink into authority for your highest-value pages.
“They helped us scale dramatically while maintaining positive ROI”
“They were very organized in terms of planning documentation, and project management”
“Their team was always extremely friendly and responsive”
Zawad’s work drove measurable revenue growth, proving SEO’s impact on startups. Professional and reliable, he consistently delivers top-tier results. When you are ready to accelerate growth and build organic search as a customer acquisition channel, he’s the expert you want in your corner.
Kamil Rextin
Founder, 42 Agency
Trusted by more than 100 leading marketing teams of all sizes
We know what early-stage growth looks like
Most agencies use enterprise SEO playbooks on startup budgets. We don’t. We build links for teams with limited resources who need proof of traction.
Our framework prioritizes placements that earn trust and support revenue, with clear visibility into how each link affects rankings, pipeline, and conversions.
This means you get:
- ICP-first link targets that put you in front of buyers actively searching for your solution.
- Measurable momentum with a velocity plan tied to ranking lifts on priority pages.
- Competitor displacement strategies that capture demand from the brands outranking you.
- Executive-friendly attribution connecting links to rankings, traffic, and pipeline impact.
- White-hat execution that protects your domain and avoids risky placements.
We’ve built link programs for startups to grow with speed and credibility
Most agencies sell link building. We own the outcomes, helping early-stage teams earn authority while reporting to stakeholders.
Our approach fits limited runway and high expectations: every placement strengthens trust, improves rankings on priority pages, and supports measurable growth.
In-house execution experience
We’ve run linking sprints inside high-growth startups. We understand your tight timelines, shifting priorities, and what leadership expects in monthly reporting.
GTM-aligned link strategy
We target comparisons, alternatives, integration pages, and other high-intent motions that match how your product is sold.
SME-led placements
You’re not getting a generic team. Our subject-matter experts earn mentions where your buyers already research.
Lower execution risk
We protect your domain by avoiding PBNs, link farms, and spammy tactics that trigger penalties during critical funding periods.
A revenue-first link-building framework: backlinks → authority → pipeline
Our link-building approach isn’t just getting more backlinks. We create campaigns that send the right signals to search engines, buyers, and investors.
Our framework prioritizes placements that drive ranking velocity, capture high-intent searches, and provide social proof your fundraising decks need.
Every placement is measured against what it changes, rankings, qualified traffic, and pipeline influence.
Here’s how we do that:
Kira Athena
Head of Global SEO and Organic Growth
Zawad is amazing to work with. He’s highly strategic and very detailed as an IC. He communicates well with clients and is an expert in keyword research, content briefs, reporting, and documentation. I really appreciate working with him and hope to continue to do so for a long time.
We identify which domains give your competitors authority, then work backwards to acquire superior placements targeting the same buyer keywords. This captures search demand already flowing to established players.
We create linkable assets that attract editorial mentions. This approach generates organic backlinks that signal genuine expertise rather than paid placements, building credibility that withstands investor due diligence.
We monitor every potential placement, avoiding low-quality domains, spammy sites, or anything that could trigger algorithmic penalties. This ensures your link-building investment strengthens authority and supports pipeline growth.
We track how placements affect rankings, traffic, and conversions. You see exactly what moved, why, and its value.
We run focused sprints aligned to board and reporting cycles. You get visible progress, measurable ranking gains, and wins you can use in fundraising and GTM updates.
The strategic link-building partner startups rely on
Backlinks alone don’t grow an early-stage startup. What matters is earning trust faster than the market expects. We help you rank for high-intent searches so you can show real traction to customers and investors.
Here’s why startups like yours can trust our link-building sprints:
How we increased page-one rankings for Okara.io
A link-building program for startups built on strategy, credibility, and pipeline impact
Most link-building programs fail because they rely on volume, generic outreach, and low-quality placements that don’t move rankings or survive scrutiny.
We built a system for startups that integrates competitive intelligence, subject-matter expertise, and careful execution to earn links that build authority and accelerate growth.
Sly Marketing prioritizes impact over volume. Here’s our three-part framework for scalable startup link programs:
Strategy: We map your highest-intent pages and your competitors’ authority drivers then build a targeted plan to win placements that support your GTM motion (comparisons, alternatives, integrations, category terms). Every link ties to a specific ranking and demand outcome.
Credibility: We earn editorial links through expert-led narratives, data angles, and partnership targets your market already trusts. The goal isn’t more backlinks; it’s trust signals that help buyers and investors take you seriously.
Performance: We prioritize placements that move the metrics that matter: ranking velocity on priority pages, qualified referral traffic, and conversion lift. You see what’s working, what’s not, and what we’re changing next.
What this means for you:
- A predictable authority engine that compounds month over month.
- Reporting tied to rankings, qualified traffic, and pipeline influence so every placement is justified.
- Defensible, white-hat links that reduce risk and build long-term equity.
With Sly Marketing, link building becomes a scalable growth system.
Feedback that speaks volumes
Kira Athena
Head of Global SEO and Organic Growth
Zawad is amazing to work with. He’s highly strategic and very detailed as an IC. He communicates well with clients and is an expert in keyword research, content briefs, reporting, and documentation. I really appreciate working with him and hope to continue to do so for a long time.
Colton Miller
CMO, Dypto Crypto
Working with Zawad has changed our approach to SEO. His ability to blend technical SEO with strategic content planning sets him apart. He has a knack for aligning recommendations with brand positioning, business goals, and the nuances of buyer journeys.
Michael Krikheli
Founder, ZipJob
Zawad is a strategic partner. He took the time to understand our product, market, and how our buyers think and search. That insight shaped a content and SEO strategy that felt less like guesswork and more like targeted outreach to our ICP.
FAQs
We start with a short discovery call focused on your GTM motion, ICP, sales cycle, and competitive landscape. You’ll see we understand how buyers research in your category, which pages actually drive pipeline (comparisons, alternatives, integrations), and what it takes to compete against incumbents with stronger authority.
Most agencies sell volume. We build strategic authority, choosing link targets based on buyer intent and competitor gaps, mapping every placement to the pages that matter most, and earning editorial, relevance-first links without risky shortcuts. Then we prove impact with reporting that ties link work directly to ranking lift, qualified traffic, and pipeline influence.
You’ll usually see early movement in rankings and visibility within 6–10 weeks, depending on your site’s baseline authority, technical health, and the competitiveness of your keywords. Pipeline impact tends to follow as priority pages climb and conversion paths strengthen. We’ll set expectations upfront using your current footprint and the SERP difficulty.
There isn’t a universal “right” number. Startups win by earning the right links; relevant, trusted, and aligned to the pages you need to rank. We’ll recommend a sprint velocity based on your goals, competition, and budget, then scale responsibly as we see what’s moving rankings fastest.
Yes, strictly white-hat. We avoid PBNs, link farms, spammy guest post networks, and anything you wouldn’t want to explain during diligence. Our goal is compounding authority that survives algorithm updates, not short-term spikes that create long-term cleanup.
We keep asks lean. Typically, we need a quick stakeholder interview to align on ICP, positioning, and priorities, plus access to your analytics and Google Search Console. From there, we’ll confirm the target pages and messaging angles you want to win on, and we may request light SME input for a few high-leverage assets when it will materially improve placement quality. We handle the heavy lifting on strategy, outreach, and execution.
We measure outcomes, not vanity metrics. Success means ranking lift on your highest-value (“money”) pages, growth in high-intent organic sessions, and qualified referral traffic from credible placements. Where tracking allows, we also report conversion impact –> leads, trials, demos, and we always share transparently what we built, what changed, and what that impact is worth.
Expert SEO consultants that guide your team to organic growth Strategic consulting
Expert SEO consultants that guide your team to organic growth Strategic consulting
Expert SEO consultants that guide your team to organic growth Strategic consulting