How Charlie Clark Built a $25k/Month Business Without Losing His Life to the Grind Copy
How Charlie Clark Built a $25k/Month Business Without Losing His Life to the Grind Copy
Nov 18, 2024
Charlie Clark
Charlie Clark
⏳ 6.2 min
⏳ 6.2 min
Revenue/month
Revenue/month
$25,000
$25,000
$25,000
No. of founders
No. of founders
1
1
1
Startup costs
Startup costs
N/A
N/A
N/A
Company type
Company type
Company type
Saas
Saas
Saas
Contents
The Backstory
The Backstory
The Story of Liinks: The laid-back powerhouse of link-in-bio tools, Liinks, is pulling in $25k a month, yet its founder, Charlie Clark, doesn't fit the Silicon Valley startup mold. Instead of sacrificing sleep and weekends, Charlie took a different approach. While everyone else chased unicorn status, he built a niche, profitable tool on his terms — an approach that’s refreshing in an industry that idolizes overwork.
(A screenshot of Liinks landing page)
The Story of Liinks: The laid-back powerhouse of link-in-bio tools, Liinks, is pulling in $25k a month, yet its founder, Charlie Clark, doesn't fit the Silicon Valley startup mold. Instead of sacrificing sleep and weekends, Charlie took a different approach. While everyone else chased unicorn status, he built a niche, profitable tool on his terms — an approach that’s refreshing in an industry that idolizes overwork.
(A screenshot of Liinks landing page)
Small Bets, Big Wins
Small Bets, Big Wins
Charlie’s philosophy? Take small, calculated bets. He could’ve gone all-in on Liinks, grinding 24/7 and sacrificing his sanity. But he didn’t. He knew there’s a version of him in some parallel universe running a billion-dollar version of Liinks… and hating every minute of it.
Instead, he focused on what mattered: making a product that did the job, supporting his family, and enjoying life. No hustle porn, no billion-dollar dreams — just a sustainable business.
Charlie’s philosophy? Take small, calculated bets. He could’ve gone all-in on Liinks, grinding 24/7 and sacrificing his sanity. But he didn’t. He knew there’s a version of him in some parallel universe running a billion-dollar version of Liinks… and hating every minute of it.
Instead, he focused on what mattered: making a product that did the job, supporting his family, and enjoying life. No hustle porn, no billion-dollar dreams — just a sustainable business.
2,678+ people enjoy it
➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
Why Reinvent the Wheel?
Why Reinvent the Wheel?
Instead of brainstorming the next groundbreaking tech, Charlie focused on improving what already existed. Before Liinks, there were a ton of link-in-bio tools. He didn’t go overboard with features, nor did he try to “disrupt” anything. Instead, he asked, “How can I make this better for people?”
The result? A product that’s simple, effective, and priced to undercut the competition. But more than that, it’s crafted for ease and enjoyment — by a guy who doesn’t believe in complicating things.
Instead of brainstorming the next groundbreaking tech, Charlie focused on improving what already existed. Before Liinks, there were a ton of link-in-bio tools. He didn’t go overboard with features, nor did he try to “disrupt” anything. Instead, he asked, “How can I make this better for people?”
The result? A product that’s simple, effective, and priced to undercut the competition. But more than that, it’s crafted for ease and enjoyment — by a guy who doesn’t believe in complicating things.
A “No-Risk, All-Reward” Strategy
A “No-Risk, All-Reward” Strategy
Charlie’s journey into tech is a classic DIY success story. He learned to code by creating Flash apps in school, dabbled in HTML and JavaScript building marketing sites, and slowly honed his skills. By the time he launched Liinks, he’d built enough experience with side projects that he was ready for the big leagues.
In 2016, his immigration status shifted, allowing him to make money from side projects. He started small, selling movie posters in a project called The Colors of Motion, raking in a tidy sum. Encouraged, he tried his hand at a print-on-demand marketplace called VSUAL, which hit six figures but had razor-thin margins.
This experimental journey laid the groundwork for Liinks. He noticed the growing popularity of link-in-bio tools among artists he worked with at VSUAL. Inspired by a clear market demand, Charlie dived in.
Charlie’s journey into tech is a classic DIY success story. He learned to code by creating Flash apps in school, dabbled in HTML and JavaScript building marketing sites, and slowly honed his skills. By the time he launched Liinks, he’d built enough experience with side projects that he was ready for the big leagues.
In 2016, his immigration status shifted, allowing him to make money from side projects. He started small, selling movie posters in a project called The Colors of Motion, raking in a tidy sum. Encouraged, he tried his hand at a print-on-demand marketplace called VSUAL, which hit six figures but had razor-thin margins.
This experimental journey laid the groundwork for Liinks. He noticed the growing popularity of link-in-bio tools among artists he worked with at VSUAL. Inspired by a clear market demand, Charlie dived in.
The Pandemic Curveball: Going Back to 9-to-5
The Pandemic Curveball: Going Back to 9-to-5
Charlie launched Liinks and achieved “ramen profitability” — just enough to survive. But then COVID-19 hit. Faced with rising anxiety over finances, he returned to a regular job. Working on Liinks part-time became the new game plan.
Despite the pandemic and juggling a day job, Charlie continued to nurture Liinks. By August 2024, his hard work paid off: Liinks was hitting $25k in monthly revenue, enough for him to take the plunge and focus on it full-time.
Charlie launched Liinks and achieved “ramen profitability” — just enough to survive. But then COVID-19 hit. Faced with rising anxiety over finances, he returned to a regular job. Working on Liinks part-time became the new game plan.
Despite the pandemic and juggling a day job, Charlie continued to nurture Liinks. By August 2024, his hard work paid off: Liinks was hitting $25k in monthly revenue, enough for him to take the plunge and focus on it full-time.
Playing with Pricing: A Lean, Mean Profit Machine
Playing with Pricing: A Lean, Mean Profit Machine
The link-in-bio market was already validated, and Charlie knew he could make a simple, cost-effective version that appealed to creators. He started with a low entry price to undercut the competition: $3 a month. Over time, he tested a few pricing models, eventually finding the sweet spot at $4/month for Premium and $10/month for Pro.
What’s Charlie’s pricing takeaway? Experiment, but keep it simple. When he pushed above $4, conversions dropped, so he stuck with what worked. Low prices, lean operations, and steady growth.
(Liinks current pricing)
The link-in-bio market was already validated, and Charlie knew he could make a simple, cost-effective version that appealed to creators. He started with a low entry price to undercut the competition: $3 a month. Over time, he tested a few pricing models, eventually finding the sweet spot at $4/month for Premium and $10/month for Pro.
What’s Charlie’s pricing takeaway? Experiment, but keep it simple. When he pushed above $4, conversions dropped, so he stuck with what worked. Low prices, lean operations, and steady growth.
(Liinks current pricing)
Cutting Out Free Users (For the Better)
Cutting Out Free Users (For the Better)
Liinks started as a freemium tool — anyone could use it. But as the platform grew, bad actors appeared, from SEO spammers to phishers. Charlie tried everything to keep them out, but it got overwhelming. So what did he do? He charged for access.
Dropping the free tier cleaned up his user base, reduced spam, and simplified the UI. Real customers could access everything Liinks offered, and he only had to worry about paying users. It also boosted new paid sign-ups, even if total sign-ups fell.
Liinks started as a freemium tool — anyone could use it. But as the platform grew, bad actors appeared, from SEO spammers to phishers. Charlie tried everything to keep them out, but it got overwhelming. So what did he do? He charged for access.
Dropping the free tier cleaned up his user base, reduced spam, and simplified the UI. Real customers could access everything Liinks offered, and he only had to worry about paying users. It also boosted new paid sign-ups, even if total sign-ups fell.
A Not-So-High-Tech Startup
A Not-So-High-Tech Startup
Unlike flashy AI or blockchain startups, Liinks is a pretty simple setup. Digital Ocean VPS, Managed MongoDB, AWS S3 with Cloudfront, Node.js, and React. Charlie intentionally chose familiar tech rather than the latest and greatest — a choice that saved him from the endless “perfect stack” debate.
This choice gave him a solid foundation, allowing him to focus on what mattered most: the user experience. Instead of rethinking his stack, he made sure every feature served the end user. The “basic” tech didn’t stop Liinks from standing out; it helped him focus.
Unlike flashy AI or blockchain startups, Liinks is a pretty simple setup. Digital Ocean VPS, Managed MongoDB, AWS S3 with Cloudfront, Node.js, and React. Charlie intentionally chose familiar tech rather than the latest and greatest — a choice that saved him from the endless “perfect stack” debate.
This choice gave him a solid foundation, allowing him to focus on what mattered most: the user experience. Instead of rethinking his stack, he made sure every feature served the end user. The “basic” tech didn’t stop Liinks from standing out; it helped him focus.
Growth Hacking: A Masterclass in Indie Marketing
Growth Hacking: A Masterclass in Indie Marketing
1. Cold Outreach in the Early Days
Charlie took a direct approach to marketing. He’d find people on Instagram who didn’t have a link-in-bio page, create one for them, and message them with a link to try Liinks. It was personal, targeted, and gave him early traction without a massive ad spend.
2. Product-Led Growth
When people saw “Made with Liinks” at the bottom of Liinks pages, it drove organic growth. The more people using it, the more awareness spread naturally.
3. Data-Driven Decisions
Charlie built a custom admin dashboard to track user behavior. Seeing how people used Liinks allowed him to ship features based on real insights, not guesses. Tools like Amplitude and FullStory helped him understand what users loved (and what they didn’t).
4. Listening to User Feedback
A lot of Liinks’ best features came from direct requests. For instance, users asked for the ability to manage multiple profiles, which Charlie implemented. This focus on real feedback helped him shape a product people genuinely loved.
5. UX Over Everything
Charlie spent countless hours refining the UI, aiming for simplicity. Today, he receives fewer than five support requests a week — a testament to his design’s clarity and intuitiveness. Fewer questions mean happier users and less time in the inbox.
6. Advertising — But Only When It Makes Sense
Charlie found Instagram ads useful early on but moved to Google Ads after iOS 14 made social ads less effective. His current setup? Around $1 per click and $30 per conversion. With a lifetime value of $100 per customer, these numbers worked, but he’s still exploring ways to optimize further.
1. Cold Outreach in the Early Days
Charlie took a direct approach to marketing. He’d find people on Instagram who didn’t have a link-in-bio page, create one for them, and message them with a link to try Liinks. It was personal, targeted, and gave him early traction without a massive ad spend.
2. Product-Led Growth
When people saw “Made with Liinks” at the bottom of Liinks pages, it drove organic growth. The more people using it, the more awareness spread naturally.
3. Data-Driven Decisions
Charlie built a custom admin dashboard to track user behavior. Seeing how people used Liinks allowed him to ship features based on real insights, not guesses. Tools like Amplitude and FullStory helped him understand what users loved (and what they didn’t).
4. Listening to User Feedback
A lot of Liinks’ best features came from direct requests. For instance, users asked for the ability to manage multiple profiles, which Charlie implemented. This focus on real feedback helped him shape a product people genuinely loved.
5. UX Over Everything
Charlie spent countless hours refining the UI, aiming for simplicity. Today, he receives fewer than five support requests a week — a testament to his design’s clarity and intuitiveness. Fewer questions mean happier users and less time in the inbox.
6. Advertising — But Only When It Makes Sense
Charlie found Instagram ads useful early on but moved to Google Ads after iOS 14 made social ads less effective. His current setup? Around $1 per click and $30 per conversion. With a lifetime value of $100 per customer, these numbers worked, but he’s still exploring ways to optimize further.
The “Then What?” Philosophy
The “Then What?” Philosophy
Charlie’s life philosophy is inspired by a story known as “The Tourist and the Fisherman.” Every decision, every new revenue goal, every feature — he asks himself, “Then what?”
The story goes like this: A fisherman catches just enough to support his family. A tourist tells him he could buy more boats, catch more fish, and build a huge business. The fisherman asks, “Then what?” Eventually, he’d be able to retire and enjoy a simple life… like the one he’s already living.
For Charlie, “Then what?” is a reminder not to get caught up in the endless chase for more. Instead of raising VC funding and pushing for exponential growth, he’s happy keeping Liinks lean, profitable, and manageable.
Charlie’s life philosophy is inspired by a story known as “The Tourist and the Fisherman.” Every decision, every new revenue goal, every feature — he asks himself, “Then what?”
The story goes like this: A fisherman catches just enough to support his family. A tourist tells him he could buy more boats, catch more fish, and build a huge business. The fisherman asks, “Then what?” Eventually, he’d be able to retire and enjoy a simple life… like the one he’s already living.
For Charlie, “Then what?” is a reminder not to get caught up in the endless chase for more. Instead of raising VC funding and pushing for exponential growth, he’s happy keeping Liinks lean, profitable, and manageable.
Charlie’s Top Advice for Indie Hackers
Charlie’s Top Advice for Indie Hackers
Ship Early: Charlie’s biggest regret was spending months on his first big project before anyone saw it. With Liinks, he launched within two weeks. It wasn’t perfect, but the early feedback shaped it into the tool it is today.
Stay Adaptable — But Know When to Focus: In the early days, Charlie experimented with features, pricing, and growth strategies. Now that Liinks is established, he’s more selective about making changes.
Acknowledge the Role of Luck: Success isn’t all hustle and skill. Luck plays a massive role, even if successful founders don’t admit it.
Ship Early: Charlie’s biggest regret was spending months on his first big project before anyone saw it. With Liinks, he launched within two weeks. It wasn’t perfect, but the early feedback shaped it into the tool it is today.
Stay Adaptable — But Know When to Focus: In the early days, Charlie experimented with features, pricing, and growth strategies. Now that Liinks is established, he’s more selective about making changes.
Acknowledge the Role of Luck: Success isn’t all hustle and skill. Luck plays a massive role, even if successful founders don’t admit it.
Final Takeways
Final Takeways
Charlie Clark built Liinks by keeping things simple, staying adaptable, and listening to users. He didn’t “grind” his way to success. He didn’t give up his weekends or his hobbies. He didn’t build a billion-dollar behemoth — he built something better: a profitable business that doesn’t run his life.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share stories about founders who have started successful online businesses, growth strategies, business ideas, and tips to start/grow your own business. I would love for you to join here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t Indie Hackers, Charlies personal blog ⇢ Great resources
Charlie Clark built Liinks by keeping things simple, staying adaptable, and listening to users. He didn’t “grind” his way to success. He didn’t give up his weekends or his hobbies. He didn’t build a billion-dollar behemoth — he built something better: a profitable business that doesn’t run his life.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share stories about founders who have started successful online businesses, growth strategies, business ideas, and tips to start/grow your own business. I would love for you to join here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t Indie Hackers, Charlies personal blog ⇢ Great resources
