I started iNet Ventures in 2013 with very little funding, no established network and a lot of curiosity about how websites could generate business through search engines. I had been working with SEO for years and saw an opportunity to help businesses improve their online visibility through quality link building. What makes us different is our focus on genuine relationships and long-term results. We specialise in white-label link building and digital PR, allowing agencies to expand their services without building an entire outreach team internally. I have always believed that sustainable growth matters more than chasing quick wins.

My first customers came through cold emails. I didn’t have a big marketing budget or an established reputation, so I had to reach out directly, explain what I could offer and demonstrate why it was worth their attention. It wasn’t glamorous, and there were plenty of unanswered emails, but persistence helped me get those first opportunities. Today, much of our business comes through relationships with digital marketing agencies, repeat customers and referrals. Delivering consistent work has been one of our strongest ways of building trust. In this industry, a satisfied client can become a long-term business relationship.

One of the most important decisions was focusing on white-label link building rather than trying to become a general digital marketing agency. It gave us a clearer identity and helped us understand exactly who we wanted to serve. We could build better processes around a specific service instead of spreading our resources across too many areas. One lesson I’ve learned is that growing too quickly without having the right systems in place can create unnecessary pressure. Winning more customers is exciting, but you need the processes and capacity to deliver the same quality consistently. Growth should never come at the expense of client trust.

SEO has changed enormously since I started. A decade ago, many businesses were primarily focused on acquiring backlinks and improving keyword rankings. Today, clients expect much more. They want genuine editorial coverage, relevant placements, brand authority and measurable business outcomes. The emergence of AI-driven search has also changed how people discover information online. We’ve adapted by expanding beyond traditional blogger outreach into digital PR, expert quote links, content creation and more specialised link-building campaigns. We’ve also invested in systems that make ordering, campaign management and reporting easier. However, one principle hasn’t changed: quality and relevance should always come before volume.

I’d tell them to start by identifying a specific problem they can solve exceptionally well. Don’t try to offer ten different services from day one. Understand your target customers, speak to them, find out what they struggle with and build your offering around a genuine need. I’d also encourage new entrepreneurs to start selling before spending months perfecting a website, branding or complicated systems. One thing I’d ignore is the pressure to follow every industry trend or constantly compare your progress with competitors. Build something useful, develop genuine customer relationships and concentrate on delivering consistently. You don’t need a massive budget to start, but you do need patience, resilience and a willingness to learn.