Growth idea action plan
Free-user backlink ask on published output
Ask free users who already publish the output from your product on their own sites or blogs to link back to the tool as part of that workflow.
Why this can grow a startup
If users already distribute your output publicly, they are in the best position to create relevant backlinks with almost no extra friction. The ask is more credible than cold link building because it is attached to something they genuinely used. It also compounds trust because the links come from real workflow pages, not artificial SEO exchanges.
Key metric to watch
Kapwing said all 15 of its first paying customers came through Google within three weeks of launching the paid offering.
Ian's take
From scaling consumer platforms across MENA and Southeast Asia, my default is to distrust growth work that only looks good in a slide. For SEO and AI search, I care less about clever keyword tricks and more about clarity. A buyer, crawler, or answer engine should quickly understand who this is for, why it works, what proof backs it, and what page deserves to be cited. For acquisition, I would keep the first test narrow enough that a clear yes or no is possible. Broad reach is not useful if the signal is muddy. For this tactic, I would watch one clear growth signal before putting more time or budget behind it.
Action plan
- Define one narrow startup segment where free-user backlink ask on published output can create a measurable lift.
- Turn the tactic into one offer, page, campaign, or workflow for the SEO and Product channel.
- Use the evidence from kapwing.com to set the first version of the message, format, and audience.
- Launch a small test for 7 to 14 days with one success metric: one measurable growth signal.
- Review the result, keep the winning message, remove weak variants, and turn the learning into a repeatable growth playbook.
Source-backed example
Kapwing said it emailed non-premium users, many of whom were content creators, and asked them to add links to Kapwing.com on their websites or blogs while they were already publishing work made with the product.
Source: Kapwing Blog (kapwing.com)
GrowthDex source hub: Kapwing Blog
Last checked: May 24, 2026
Adjacent tactics in the same lane
If this page is close to your problem, these tactic pages usually belong in the same working set.
- Newsworthy side-tool backlink bait same source · 1 shared channel · 1 shared stage
- Startup-learning post backlink wedge same source · 1 shared channel · 1 shared stage
- Self-serve template landing-page generator 2 shared channels · 1 shared stage
- Enriched company-page programmatic SEO 2 shared channels · 1 shared stage
Related GrowthDex essays
- The small proof should travel before the pitch does community-led growth, SEO
Read GrowthDex essays
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Why this is worth your time
GrowthDex starts with tactics that founders, marketers, and product teams have actually tried. Each essay turns the evidence into a practical move you can test without pretending one case study is a guarantee.
Ian Goh has helped grow consumer platforms across Southeast Asia, India, and MENA. His work includes scaling Tiki to 100M+ users, doubling BIGO's MENA revenue in 7 months, and increasing OYO's direct booking share across 6 Southeast Asian markets.
- Helped scale Tiki to 100M+ users.
- Doubled BIGO's MENA revenue in 7 months.
- Raised OYO's direct booking share by 50% across 6 Southeast Asian markets.
Want help turning this into a growth system?
If you want someone to pressure-test this against your real market, Ian works with founders on growth, market entry, and operator-led distribution.
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