Growth Folks is an active community and information hub that brings together a group of passionate marketing and SEO pros from around the world who love sharing what they know.
It’s the perfect spot for solopreneurs, SEO geeks, content creators, and digital marketers to learn, grow, and connect.
Whether you’re running your own business, working at an agency, or just curious about marketing, Growth Folks is here to help you explore new ideas and level up your skills.
TL;DR – Our Achievements in 365 Days
In a year, we’ve achieved the following results:
- DA – from 0 to 29
- DR – from 0 to 52
- Keywords – from 0 to 2.2K in Ahrefs
- Backlinks – from 0 to 382
- Blog posts – from 0 to 60
- Traffic – from 0 to 3k in March 2025
- Impressions – from 0 to 550K in March
How Growth Folks Was Founded (Back in 2024)
Growth Folks was started in April 2024 by two experienced marketers, each with over 5 years of expertise working at reputable companies.
What began as a simple idea quickly turned into a passion project – to share our knowledge with fellow marketers, SEO professionals, and entrepreneurs.
We wanted to create a space where people could learn, grow, and exchange ideas, while also challenging ourselves to go beyond the typical day-to-day marketing roles.
This project became our personal test: a way to put our skills into action by building something of our own.
It’s not just a side hustle or something we do in our spare time: it’s proof that we can build and grow a business from the ground up.
Along the way, we’ve developed not only as marketers but as founders, collaborators, and community builders. It’s been an exciting journey full of learning, growth, and helping others succeed in the world of digital marketing.
Challenges & Problems We Faced Along the Way
Like any growing brand, we ran into a few bumps along the way.
From trying to stand out in a (very crowded) marketing industry to facing Google updates and doing a lot with a small team of freelancers – it wasn’t always smooth sailing.
But every challenge taught us something and helped us improve how we approached SEO.
Establishing Authority
Growth Folks had to work hard to stand out among well-established digital marketing platforms and blogs.
Gaining trust from both search engines and real users took time and consistency. Building domain authority meant delivering value consistently and earning recognition from reputable sources.
Content Differentiation
With so much content already out there, simply publishing SEO tips or marketing advice wasn’t enough. Growth Folks needed to find its voice, unique angles, and formats to stand apart from the noise.
This meant creating well-researched, original, and insightful content that actually solved problems or offered fresh perspectives.
SEO Performance
Ranking on search engines for competitive keywords was a challenge. Growth Folks had to focus on technical optimization, high-quality content, and link-building to improve visibility.
Climbing the search results took time, patience, and constant refinement of our SEO strategy.
Google Algorithm Update Hit
Like many websites, Growth Folks was affected by unexpected changes in Google’s algorithm in September 2024.
This led to fluctuations in rankings and organic traffic, even for well-optimized content:
Adapting quickly to new SEO guidelines and recovering from these hits became an important part of our ongoing strategy.
Lack of Resources (People)
As a growing startup community, Growth Folks didn’t always have a full team of writers, SEO specialists, or outreach experts.
Limited manpower meant wearing multiple hats and prioritizing efforts to focus on what would drive the most impact.
Scaling content and link-building while maintaining quality was a major early hurdle.
Our SEO Strategy & Implementation
To grow our organic visibility, we built a well-rounded SEO strategy focused on both short-term wins and long-term sustainability.
From keyword research and content creation to technical fixes and link-building, every step was designed to drive targeted traffic and strengthen our authority in the digital marketing space.
1. Keyword Research
Example 1
We identified high-impact keywords that resonated with our target audience, including a healthy mix of long-tail, branded, and generic keywords.
Over time, with the right analytics in place, we saw which terms were driving the most traffic and engagement.
Example 2
That’s how we optimized our marketing engine to boost SEO performance and drive real results for our brand.
2. On-Page Optimization
We optimized our title tags, meta descriptions, and headers with targeted keywords to improve visibility in search results.
We also focused on creating a user-friendly site structure with clear navigation to ensure a smooth and intuitive experience for our visitors.
3. Content Strategy
We developed in-depth, high-quality articles that tackled specific topics in digital marketing and SEO, always aiming to provide real value to our readers.
To make our content more engaging, we incorporated visuals like images, infographics, and custom graphics where relevant.
We also made it a priority to regularly update existing posts: refreshing the content, expanding key sections, and updating the month and year in titles and meta descriptions to keep everything fresh and SEO-friendly.
After making these updates, we submitted the pages for re-indexing in Search Console to ensure the changes were picked up quickly and reflected in search results.
4. Technical SEO Fixes
We made sure our website was fully optimized for mobile devices and prioritized fast loading speeds to deliver a smooth user experience and meet search engine standards:
We also implemented structured data (schema markup) to help search engines better understand our content and display rich results in the SERPs, enhancing our visibility and click-through rates.
5. Link Building Strategy
Building high-quality backlinks has been a core part of our SEO growth at Growth Folks.
In just 365 days, we’ve built 382 relevant, value-driven links that have not only boosted our rankings but also strengthened our website’s E-E-A-T score.
To streamline and scale our efforts, we rely on a curated set of link-building tools that help with everything from prospecting and outreach to tracking and analysis.
Top Tools for SEO and Link Building – Approved and Used by Our Team
We knew that having the right tools would make our link-building process smoother, faster, and way more effective.
Instead of doing everything manually, we decided to work smarter by using tools that help with everything from finding the right websites to reaching out to potential partners.
After some research, we narrowed it down to eight essential tools that cover backlink analysis, outreach, tracking, and security.
These tools allow us to find high-quality link opportunities, personalize our outreach, and keep everything organized.
The right setup not only saves time but also increases our success rate, making sure every link we build adds real value.
Here’s our list of 9 must-have tools:
1. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is our go-to tool for digging up backlink opportunities and keeping an eye on our competitors.
It’s like having a backstage pass to see who’s linking to what and where we should be building connections.
Whether we’re analyzing link quality, tracking rankings, or just being SEO nerds, Ahrefs is a must-have in our toolbox.
2. GetProspect
Ever spent hours trying to find the right email, only to end up with a generic “info@” address? Yeah, we’ve been there.
GetProspect helps us find real, verified email addresses from LinkedIn and other sources, so we can connect with the right people for link-building.
No more guesswork – just straight-up solid outreach.
3. Moz
Moz is like that reliable friend who always knows what’s up in the SEO world.
It helps us check domain authority, analyze backlinks, and avoid sketchy sites that could hurt our rankings.
Plus, the Spam Score feature is a lifesaver – it tells us which links to keep and which ones to stay far, far away from.
4. LinkDetective
Not all links are created equal, and LinkDetective makes sure we’re only going after the good ones.
It scans backlink profiles and helps us spot anything shady before Google does.
Think of it as quality control for our link-building efforts – because the last thing we want is a penalty for hanging out with the wrong crowd.
5. VPN
A VPN isn’t just for streaming shows from other countries – it’s a must-have for SEO.
It lets us check rankings from different locations, avoid IP bans when doing outreach, and keep our research private.
Plus, it keeps us from getting flagged for sending too many emails in a short time (because nobody likes ending up in the spam folder).
6. Hunter
If GetProspect is great, Hunter is its partner-in-crime.
It finds and verifies email addresses so we don’t waste time sending messages to the wrong inbox.
It also helps us track our emails, so we know if someone is ghosting us or just hasn’t gotten around to replying yet.
7. ChatGPT
Yes, we use ChatGPT, but let’s be clear: AI is a tool, not a replacement for real human expertise.
It helps us brainstorm, speed up outreach, and tweak our messaging, but at the end of the day, real connections and strategic thinking come from us, not a robot.
SEO and link-building require creativity, relationship-building, and experience – things no AI can truly replicate.
ChatGPT is here to assist, not take over.
8. Google Sheets
Link-building without proper organization is a disaster waiting to happen.
Google Sheets helps us keep track of everything – outreach contacts, responses, link placements, and follow-ups – so we never lose track of a conversation or a promising backlink opportunity.
It’s simple, shareable, and makes teamwork way easier.
9. Mail Tracker for Gmail
Mailtrack is a super handy tool that lets us know if and when someone has opened our outreach emails.
This helps us follow up at the right time, avoid double-sending, and understand what’s working (or not) in our outreach.
No more guessing if your email got buried in the inbox or just ignored – we get the insights right away.
These 9 tools help us work smarter, not harder, making our link-building game strong, efficient, and way less frustrating! 🚀
4 Best Channels/Ways to Communicate with Partners
We understand that building strong relationships starts with how we reach out.
We use a mix of personalized email outreach (always followed by thoughtful follow-ups), genuine engagement on LinkedIn, and conversations within Slack communities.
These channels help us connect with people in a more human, authentic way, and that makes all the difference in creating lasting, meaningful partnerships.
Email Outreach and Follow Ups
We focused on sending personalized, manually crafted outreach emails. That made all the difference.
In an inbox full of copy-paste templates and mass blasts, a thoughtful message stands out.
Taking the time to research the recipient, reference their work, and make a real connection increased our response rates and helped us build long-term relationships, not just backlinks.
Personalized outreach shows you’re serious, professional, and genuinely interested in collaboration – which leads to better-quality links and more meaningful partnerships.
Here’s an example of the kind of email we like to send:
We’ve learned that sending a follow-up email is just as important as the first message.
Not everyone replies right away (people get busy or simply miss emails) so we always make it a point to check in a few days later.
This simple step has helped us revive conversations, close more link opportunities, and build better relationships.
More often than not, it’s the follow-up that gets us the “yes.”
LinkedIn Networking
We’ve found LinkedIn to be a powerful tool for building genuine connections before jumping into outreach.
Instead of cold messaging right away, we take the time to connect with industry professionals, engage with their posts, and understand what they care about.
This warm approach helps us start conversations more naturally and increases the chances of a positive response when we do reach out for link-building opportunities.
It’s not just about links, it’s about relationships.
Testimonial from one of our partners
Slack Communities
We’ve found Slack communities to be a great place for building real connections in the SEO and marketing world.
By joining niche-focused groups, we’re able to engage in conversations, share knowledge, and offer value before ever asking for anything.
Being active and helpful in these spaces has naturally led to link-building opportunities and meaningful collaborations with others in the industry.
Feedback from one of our partners; we’ve built 30+ links together
What’s Behind Every Great Link
We always ask our link-building partners for feedback – it helps us improve and shows we’re in it for the long run.
With honest input, we understand each other better, identify pain points on both sides, and find ways to improve the collaboration
Feedback collection from our partners
A quick check-in not only strengthens relationships but also leads to smoother workflows and more meaningful link opportunities.
Warm words from partners
The more we learn, the better we get at building links that truly add value.
Personalized approach is key 🙂
Top 10 Fails in Link Building (We’ve Been There)
Even with the best intentions, link-building can go wrong if you’re not careful.
We’ve seen (and learned from) some common mistakes that can hurt your SEO instead of helping it.
Here are the top 10 link-building fails to avoid if you want to build a strong, clean backlink profile.
Building Low-Quality Links
Example 1
Building low-quality links is like trying to boost your reputation by hanging out with the wrong crowd – it just doesn’t end well.
Spammy backlinks might seem like a quick way to climb the rankings, but Google’s smarter than that.
Instead of helping, they can actually hurt your site and even get you penalized.
Example 2
If you have a higher ratio of backlinks to referring domains, it may indicate that you need to focus on building backlinks from more high-quality referring domains.
In link-building, it’s always better to focus on quality over quantity.
Ignoring Relevance
Example 1
Let’s say you’re trying to promote a cryptocurrency trading platform like the one from the screenshot above.
If you suddenly get a backlink from an article about hiring millennials in the workplace, that’s a red flag.
There’s no clear connection between crypto trading and recruitment strategies, so the link feels forced and unnatural.
Search engines can pick up on that mismatch and may devalue the link – or worse, penalize the site for manipulative link-building.
Example 2
The blog above is primarily focused on AI-powered content creation tools and tips for bloggers, marketers, and businesses.
Its main niche is AI, content marketing, and automation – not food or kitchen appliances.
If you’re promoting a product like a juicer, your backlinks will carry more weight (and look far more natural) when placed on sites related to: food blogging, kitchen appliances, health & wellness, nutrition or lifestyle, recipe or cooking websites.
Ignoring relevance in link-building is one of the fastest ways to weaken your SEO efforts.
When you get backlinks from websites that have nothing to do with your niche, it sends confusing signals to search engines.
Instead of boosting your authority, these unrelated links can actually make your site look spammy or manipulative.
In short, if the link doesn’t make sense to your audience or Google’s algorithm, it’s probably not worth having.
Over-Optimized Anchor Text
Over-optimizing anchor text means using the exact same keyword or phrase repeatedly when linking to your site.
While it might seem like a good SEO tactic, it can actually backfire – Google sees this as a manipulation attempt and may penalize your site.
Example: If every backlink to your coffee machine product uses the anchor “best coffee machine 2025”, it starts to look suspicious and unnatural to search engines.
Lack of Diversification
Relying too heavily on just one type of backlink (like only using guest posts) can make your link profile look unnatural.
A healthy SEO strategy includes a mix of guest posts, editorial mentions, niche directory links, and organic placements to show variety and authenticity.
Example: If 90% of your backlinks come from guest posts on similar-looking blogs, search engines might view it as a manipulated strategy rather than genuine authority-building.
Neglecting Outreach Personalization
Nah, this is not how the outreach should be done in 2025
Sending generic outreach emails without personalization is a fast track to getting ignored (or worse, marked as spam).
People can spot a mass email from a mile away, and if you’re not taking the time to connect or show genuine interest, they’re unlikely to respond.
Personalization builds trust and increases your chances of earning high-quality backlinks.
Underestimating No-Follow Links
Many people overlook no-follow links because they don’t directly boost SEO, but they can still drive valuable traffic, leads, and increase brand visibility.
These links often appear on high-traffic sites or in user-generated content, helping you reach new audiences and build trust.
Example: A no-follow link from a popular food blog mentioning your product can still bring in visitors who end up becoming customers – even if it doesn’t pass “link juice,” it can pass real leads.
Poor Content Quality
Submitting low-quality guest posts is a quick way to damage your credibility and get your links ignored or removed.
If the content doesn’t offer genuine value – whether it’s poorly written, shallow, or irrelevant – site owners and readers won’t take it seriously.
Great content should always aim to solve a prospect’s problem or answer a real question, making it worth reading and worth linking to.
We receive over 100 guest post pitches on our website every month, and we only accept 2-3 that truly stand out with quality, relevance, and real value.
Failure to Monitor Backlinks
Example
Not keeping an eye on your backlinks can lead to missed opportunities and unnoticed damage.
You might lose valuable links without realizing it, or worse, accumulate toxic backlinks that hurt your rankings.
✅ Here’s what you should do instead:
- Run a disavow check on the worst offenders via Google Search Console (especially if you didn’t build these links).
- Audit the anchor text and content placement on those pages to assess how natural they appear.
- Avoid acquiring more links from similar sources; instead, focus on real, niche-relevant, high-quality content sites.
- Monitor your backlink profile regularly with Ahrefs or similar tools.
Excessive Link Exchanges
Excessive link exchanges – where you and another site agree to constantly link to each other – can look manipulative to search engines.
While occasional, natural linking is fine, doing it at scale or in an obvious “you link me, I’ll link you” pattern can raise red flags.
Example: Imagine two websites, Site A and Site B, that agree to the following arrangement:
- Site A publishes an article titled “Top 10 Marketing Tools,” including a link to Site B‘s homepage with the anchor text “best SEO services.”
- Site B reciprocates by posting “Essential Resources for SEO,” linking back to Site A‘s homepage using the anchor text “leading marketing strategies.”
Google may see this as a link scheme and penalize both sites involved.
Not Aligning with Google’s Guidelines
Using black-hat SEO tactics (like buying links, cloaking, or using hidden text) goes directly against Google’s guidelines.
For example, let’s say a website wants to boost its rankings quickly, so it buys hundreds of backlinks from low-quality sites or PBNs (Private Blog Networks).
At first, it might see a small jump in rankings – but soon after, Google detects the unnatural link pattern.
As a result, the site gets hit with a manual penalty, loses its rankings overnight, and stops appearing in search results.
This is a classic case of not aligning with Google’s guidelines, and the recovery process can be long and painful.
Google is constantly updating its algorithms to catch and punish these tactics, so staying within the rules is always the smarter move.
Our Results & Performance Metrics in a Year Since Launch
The implementation of this SEO strategy led to significant improvements:
1. Increased Organic Traffic
This graph shows fantastic growth in our organic presence over the past year!
Impressions have steadily climbed to nearly 3 million, and clicks are rising right alongside them – a clear sign our content is getting noticed.
The upward trend starting around July 2024 highlights the impact of our SEO efforts.
2. Enhanced Keyword Rankings
This screenshot highlights just a small portion of our overall keyword rankings, but it already shows impressive performance.
High-impression terms like “meta ad library” and “meta ads library” indicate strong visibility in competitive spaces.
Meanwhile, intent-driven keywords like “how to become a fashion influencer” are generating consistent clicks, showing our content is resonating with the right audience.
Besides, we’re already ranking for some keywords with a keyword difficulty of 30+ (not bad for a website that’s just one year old!).
These results suggest our SEO efforts are paying off, with clear growth in both reach and relevance.
3. Improved Engagement Metrics
This report highlights strong engagement across several key content pieces.
The “Blog” page shows the highest average views per user (4.74) with a solid engagement time of 52 seconds, reflecting broad interest.
The article “How to Become a Fashion Influencer” stands out with the longest average engagement time at 1 minute 15 seconds, indicating readers are deeply engaged.
Posts like “Healthcare Digital Marketing” and “Top Financial Marketing Agencies” also attract steady traffic and show encouraging interaction.
Overall, this points to improved user engagement, especially on informative and niche-focused content.
4. Increased EEAT
Google’s trust in our site has visibly grown over the year.
A clear example of this is the traction we saw after launching our “Write for Us” page in March 2025.
In response to the rising demand for guest contributions, we created a dedicated space to invite pitches – and within a month, it ranked #5 for the keyword “digital marketing write for us guest post”:
Rankings in April vs March
This quick ranking on a competitive, intent-rich keyword signals that Google recognizes Growth Folks as a credible authority in the digital marketing space.
It also opens up new opportunities for thought leadership, backlinks, and community-driven content.
Key Takeaways & Lessons Learned
Throughout our journey, a few key lessons stood out.
High-quality content is the foundation of everything we do – it’s what attracts, engages, and retains our audience.
We also learned that SEO isn’t a one-time fix; it’s a continuous process that needs regular attention.
Consistency matters too – regularly publishing content and steadily building links over time has had a big impact on our growth.
And most importantly, success comes from a well-rounded approach that combines technical SEO, strong content, and smart link-building.
To Sum Up
At Growth Folks, we’ve used smart SEO strategies to grow our online presence and establish ourselves as a trusted name in digital marketing.
By focusing on high-quality content, technical SEO improvements, and strong backlinks, we’ve seen real, measurable results – not just for our clients, but for ourselves.
What started as a passion project between 2 founders has now grown into a team of 7 talented freelancers from around the world, and we’re still expanding! Our growth is proof that with the right strategy and relentless execution, success is inevitable.
We know what works because we’ve done it ourselves. If you’re looking to improve your rankings, drive more organic traffic, and build a solid SEO strategy, we’re here to help.
Reach out to us at info@growthfolks.io, and let’s make your growth story the next success we share.
