GTM Sauce

Starter Story · 2026-03-04

Zero to $40K/Month With One Marketing Channel (No Social Media)

Miquel Palet built Late, a social media API for developers priced per connected account, and grew it to just over $40K MRR in about 7 months using only Google. Content targets bottom-of-funnel keywords (300-800 searches/month, low competition); pages that rank bring ~$8K MRR organically, and the same keywords run as Google search ads with a landing page per ad group, a $120 target CPA and continuous A/B tests: ~$8K/month spend, 2.5x ROAS, ~$15K MRR. He lays out a five-step Google playbook and CAC benchmarks.

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5 tactics

Late · B2B · API for posting to social media

Over $8K MRR from organic Google search

Uses Ahrefs to find very high-intent, low-competition keywords with ~300-800 monthly searches, close to the product (e.g. 'social media API', 'scheduling API for Twitter'). Writes in-depth guides that answer the searcher's intent (e.g. 'how to schedule Instagram posts automatically'). Keeps clean site structure, fast load, mobile optimization and proper metadata. Builds backlinks with tools and by manually reaching out to site owners and paying them. Tracks rankings in Ahrefs and Google Search Console and keeps optimizing click-through rate. Playbook version: list core keywords in a spreadsheet with volume and difficulty, aim to rank within 3-6 months; publish 10-15 high-quality pieces (blog posts, landing pages or free tools) in the first week, each with a big CTA to the signup page and internal links; don't publish too much low-quality content.

Workedseocontent
Starter Story · 2026-03-04

Late · B2B · API for posting to social media

~$15K MRR from ~$8K/month ad spend; 2.5x return on spend

Content that doesn't rank organically gets ads instead, so one piece of content serves both. Bids on the same high-intent commercial keywords targeted for SEO; each ad group has its own landing page tailored to the keyword and intent (e.g. an Instagram page for 'Instagram API'). Uses Google Ads automated bidding with a $120 target CPA (their average CAC threshold). Ad copy sells value, not features, e.g. 'scale 30 days of social media in 1 hour' or 'reach 100K followers fast with our API'. Continuously A/B tests headlines, descriptions and landing pages, tracked in PostHog. Playbook version: 3-5 copy variations per ad group; pause poor keywords and double down on high-ROI ones; raise budget month over month while ROAS holds; track CAC, ROAS, revenue and traffic per channel in a dashboard (Google Sheets, Data Studio).

Workedpaid-searchlanding-page
Starter Story · 2026-03-04

Late · B2B · API for posting to social media

700+ paying users; churn under 10%

Charges per connected social media account. Three plans: Build (to start building integrations), Accelerate (more accounts) and Unlimited (connect as many accounts as you want). Prices not stated.

Unknownpricing
Starter Story · 2026-03-04

Late · B2B · API for posting to social media

Founder credits the gap for the idea; $40K MRR in 7 months

Saw that social media automation tools were too expensive, too complicated or poorly documented. Built Late as a developer-friendly, API-first product: wraps the official Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn APIs, pays for the highest platform tiers, and exposes everything in one API without limits. Spends most product time on the API docs so integration is straightforward; also offers a simple UI with scheduler, inbox for DMs/comments, webhooks and logs.

Workedpositioning-niche
Starter Story · 2026-03-04

Late · B2B · API for posting to social media

Founder says it guides spend; no separate numbers

Uses DataFast to see what brings revenue and what doesn't, and PostHog for test tracking. Uses data from SEO and ads to optimize landing pages and messaging, and reinvests all revenue into scaling what works. Recommends a dashboard (Google Sheets, Data Studio) for CAC, ROAS, revenue and traffic per channel, keeping CAC at 20-40% of LTV and under 30% of first-year revenue, and A/B testing new keywords, copy and landing pages monthly.

Unknownanalytics-attribution
Starter Story · 2026-03-04

Numbers mentioned

WhoMetricValueContextWhen
LatemrrUSD 40K/month
approximate
Just crossed2:04
LatemrrUSD 30K/month
approximate
Figure given in his intro; superseded by 40K moments later1:12
Latetime to milestone7 months
approximate
Start to $40K MRR2:04
Lateusers50K signups
approximate
Total sign-ups since launch2:31
Latepaying users700 customers
approximate
More than 700 paying users2:31
Latechurnless than 10%
approximate
Period not stated2:31
LatemrrUSD 8,000/month
approximate
MRR attributed to organic Google (SEO)7:39
LatemrrUSD 15K/month
approximate
MRR attributed to Google search ads9:03
Latead spendUSD 8,000/month
approximate
Google search ads9:03
Lateroas2.5 x
approximate
Revenue per dollar of Google search ad spend9:03
LatecpaUSD 120per customerTarget CPA set in Google Ads automated bidding; their average CAC threshold8:39
benchmarkHealthy CAC as a share of customer lifetime value (B2B SaaS, per Miquel)cac20–40 % of LTV
approximate
12:50
benchmarkCAC ceiling as a share of a customer's first-year revenue (per Miquel)cacunder 30% of first-year revenue
approximate
12:50
Ucpmteam size100 employees
approximate
More than 100 employees today2:56