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Brian Dean
Backlinko
Failed with first 5 businesses, created Skyscraper Technique, acquired by Semrush
3 years
$100K ARR
SEO / Content
Growth channel
Solo founder
Founder
Founder
Brian Dean
Solo founderβ’Non-technicalβ’USA
Commitment
Full-timeExperience
ExperiencedProduct
SEO training and link building strategies blog.
Type
Info productIndustry
EducationModel
One-time paymentMarketing strategy
How Brian acquired customers
Growth channel
SEO / Content
Also used
CommunitiesTwitter / X
Tech Stack
Tools used to build Backlinko
WordPressConvertKitAhrefsYouTube
The full story
I failed with my first 5 online businesses before Backlinko worked. Created the "Skyscraper Technique" which became an industry standard. Eventually acquired by Semrush.
5 Failures First
Don't expect your first idea to work. My first 5 businesses failed before I found what worked.
The Skyscraper Technique
Find content that's ranking, make something 10x better, then reach out to everyone linking to the original.
Building Authority
170K+ newsletter subscribers. Became one of the top 100 business blogs. Then Semrush acquired us.
- Failed businesses before success: 5
- Newsletter subscribers: 170K+
- Exit: Acquired by Semrush
Key Takeaways
1
Find content gaps and fill them 10x better
2
Skyscraper Technique works for link building
3
YouTube complements written content
4
Persistence through failures is key
Originally published onBacklinko Blog
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Milestone Journey
Brian achieved 4 milestones on the path to $100K ARR
First customer
2 months
February 2013
Avg: 1 month
+4 months to next milestone
$1K MRR
$1,000
6 months
June 2013
Avg: 6 months
+6 months to next milestone
$10K MRR
$10,000
1 year
December 2013
Avg: 1 year
+2 years to next milestone
$100K ARR
$1,000,000
3 years
December 2015
Avg: 2 years
3 years
Total journey time
4
Milestones achieved
Against every documented journey
Brian Dean reached $10K MRR in 12 months, faster than 48% of the 295 documented $10K journeys (median 12 months). The amber bar is this journey.
Brian's Path to $100K ARRPremium
The journey, decisions, and context behind this milestone
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Frequently asked questions
Who acquired Backlinko?
Backlinko was acquired by Semrush for an undisclosed price on January 2022. Brian Dean and team joined Semrush. Price not disclosed.
What is Backlinko?
SEO training and link building strategies blog. It operates in Education.
How long did it take Backlinko to reach $100k arr?
Brian Dean took 3 years to reach $100k arr with Backlinko.
Was Brian Dean a solo founder?
Yes. Brian Dean built Backlinko as a solo founder.
What marketing channel did Backlinko use to grow?
Backlinko grew primarily through SEO / Content.
What industry is Backlinko in?
Backlinko operates in Education.
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