The Word Counter

About the Company
The Word Counter is an online tool launched in November 2019 by Kevin Miller. Its primary functions include word counting, keyword tracking, and providing additional features such as determining reading levels and speaking times for presentations. The platform caters to a diverse audience, including students, copywriters, and English learners. Built on WordPress, the site employs tools like Yoast for SEO, AdThrive for monetization, and OptinMonster for email capture.
With a focus on simplicity and functionality, The Word Counter quickly became a go-to resource for English-related queries. As of today, it ranks for over 300,000 keywords, boasts over 2,400 domain referrals, and has achieved a domain authority score of 52, making it a powerful example of the potential of SEO-driven growth.
Idea Behind Company
Kevin Miller’s inspiration for The Word Counter stemmed from his personal experience using word counter tools during college. Frustrated by the lack of a comprehensive and user-friendly solution, he identified a gap in the market for an authoritative English-language tool. Combining this insight with his expertise in SEO, Kevin envisioned The Word Counter as both a functional resource and a proof of concept for his growth marketing strategies.
At the time, Kevin was honing his skills in SEO, working at startups and companies like Google and Opendoor. He saw this project as an opportunity to test his tactics: building a website from scratch and growing its rankings organically through strategic SEO efforts. The Word Counter was designed to solve practical writing problems while showcasing Kevin’s ability to drive traffic and establish authority in a competitive online space.
Creating the Company
The development process for The Word Counter focused on creating a tool that was easy to use, visually appealing, and comprehensive. Kevin hired Techy Scouts, a trusted developer referral, to build the platform. Over 60-90 days, the site was designed with features that competitors lacked, such as displaying word counts, character counts, sentences, pages, and reading times all in one view. The development cost totaled $25,000, which Kevin bootstrapped himself.
Monetization through ads was a secondary goal. The primary purpose was to demonstrate the effectiveness of Kevin’s SEO strategies for potential clients. By investing in quality development and ensuring a user-friendly experience, Kevin laid the foundation for The Word Counter’s long-term success as both a tool and a marketing case study for GR0.
Launching the Business
Preparation for The Word Counter’s launch centered on SEO. Before the site went live, Kevin’s team wrote 100 articles to populate the platform with valuable content. This approach gave the impression of an established resource and helped the site begin ranking for multiple keywords. Post-launch, the site’s SEO strategy emphasized consistent content publishing, which signals Google to crawl the site regularly, boosting rankings.
Since its launch, over 2,000 articles have been added, solidifying The Word Counter as a top resource for English-language queries. The platform’s growth was further supported by acquiring backlinks through press releases, reporter outreach, and creative methods such as testimonials. These efforts increased domain authority and reinforced the site’s reputation as a trustworthy resource for users and search engines alike.
Earnings
The Word Counter generates $20,000 per month in advertising revenue through AdThrive. Initially created as a proof of concept rather than a profit-making venture, the site’s success has opened opportunities for additional revenue streams, such as affiliate marketing. Partnerships, like the current collaboration with Grammarly, highlight its potential for growth.
Future plans include expanding affiliate marketing partnerships with businesses that align with the site’s user intent, such as online English courses. By maintaining its commitment to providing free tools while increasing revenue, The Word Counter continues to demonstrate the value of quality content and strategic SEO in building a sustainable online business.