How Dev Basu Built Powered by Search to $30M in Revenue

Founded By

Dev Basu

Founders

Profitable

Yes

Year Started

2009

Customer

B2B

Founded By
Dev Basu: Founders
1

Profitable
Yes: Year Started
2009

Customer
B2B

Who is Dev Basu?

Dev Basu, founder and CEO of Powered by Search, graduated from the University of Toronto and launched the company in 2009, after gaining experience in consulting.

What problem does Powered by Search solve?

Powered by Search solves the frustration businesses face when their marketing investments fail to deliver consistent growth by providing clear strategies that ensure predictable and sustainable results in digital marketing.

Powered by Search

How did Dev come up with the idea for Powered by Search?

Dev Basu founded Powered by Search after being struck by how many marketing agencies focused on talking about themselves rather than their clients. During his time in the consulting industry, he observed a common struggle among businesses: they were equipped with talented teams and technology but lacked a reliable system to consistently achieve results. This observation inspired him to create an agency that flips the traditional narrative by focusing on the client's needs and developing a predictable growth system. After leaving his previous agency job in 2009, Basu focused on understanding client expectations and aligning solutions with their specific challenges, employing feedback and insights to fine-tune his ideas. His approach involves transforming complex agency models into straightforward strategies that prioritize effective outcomes over flashy metrics.

How did Dev build the initial version of Powered by Search?

Dev Basu built Powered by Search by focusing on creating a system that consistently delivered the right results for clients by integrating talented people with robust technology. The initial development involved a deep understanding of client needs and an emphasis on predictability and reliability in marketing outcomes. This approach required implementing a well-structured process for SEO and other digital marketing strategies, using tools that aligned with clients' business goals. The process wasn't easy; challenges included overcoming industry skepticism towards traditional agencies and creating unique methodologies that differentiated Powered by Search from competitors. Starting from a nerdy understanding of web platforms, Basu's vision involved examining keywords as solutions to user problems, which shaped the company's direction and contributed significantly to its growth.

What was the growth strategy for Powered by Search and how did they scale?

SEO

Powered by Search has heavily invested in SEO as a primary growth strategy. The agency's name, "Powered by Search," reflects its core focus on search engine optimization. By understanding user intent through targeted keywords, they effectively align client content with what users are searching for. It creates a seamless experience where solutions to users' problems are easily found, leading to predictable and sustainable results. This strategic approach has been integral to their rapid growth and differentiation in a competitive market.

Why it worked: The focus on intent allowed them to connect user searches with relevant client content, improving visibility and driving reliable traffic to client sites. Their reputation for solving clients' digital visibility challenges has attracted worldwide clientele, contributing significantly to their growth.

Content Marketing

Content marketing is another significant channel for Powered by Search. They engage potential clients through insightful content that addresses specific challenges in digital marketing. By publishing this content, they attract clients who are more mature in their digital marketing journey and looking for expertise to tackle unique problems.

Why it worked: By providing valuable, educational content, they establish themselves as industry experts. This builds trust, positioning them as the go-to agency when businesses need in-depth digital marketing solutions, ultimately driving client acquisition and retention.

Powered by Search utilizes social media to amplify their message, although their approach is more linear and strategic. They focus on placing the right message in front of the right audience. By understanding influencers and platforms, they tailor content to fit consumer behavior patterns on social media, ensuring that their message reaches and resonates with their intended audience.

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Why it worked: Social media acts as a tool to expand their reach and engage with their audience authentically. By leveraging platforms where their target audience is active, they amplify their quality content, increasing brand awareness and fostering community engagement.

What's the pricing strategy for Powered by Search?

Powered by Search employs a value-based pricing strategy for its digital marketing services, offering tailored solutions without publicly listing fixed rates, while providing free resources such as a SaaS Scalability Score tool to attract potential clients.

What were the biggest lessons learned from building Powered by Search?

Understand Client Needs Deeply: Powered by Search focused on truly understanding client needs and aligning their offerings to solve those key issues. This insight taught them that knowing your clients well is crucial to providing valuable and targeted services.
Focus on Long-Term Solutions: The agency emphasizes long-term growth and solutions over quick wins and trendy tactics. This approach highlights the importance of enduring value in business strategies for sustained success.
Adapt to Changing Platforms: By acknowledging and utilizing different social media platforms based on user intent, they learned the significance of tailoring content to the right audience at the right time, enhancing relevance and engagement.
Build a High-Performance Team: Building a strong, distributed team capable of executing strategies effectively was a key learning point. This demonstrates the importance of flexible, dynamic team structures in achieving business goals.
Prioritize Predictable Results: Creating systems that deliver consistent and predictable outcomes illustrates the power of process-driven approaches over reliance on sporadic innovative bursts.

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