# Client Acquisition Wheel

> A visual framework mapping startup growth channels, sub-tactics, and specific tools

This framework maps the primary client acquisition avenues available to early-stage startups across six core categories. It breaks each channel down into actionable sub-tactics and suggests specific software tools and platforms to execute them. It serves as a single-page reference to audit marketing options and plan distribution experiments.

## The framework

Six segments, each with sub-strategies and tactics:

SEO (green): Backlinks (Micro Launchpads), Keywords (Ahrefs, Semrush, Ubersuggest), Competitors (Ahrefs), Broken Links (DA), Contra (Tasks: High Imp., Medium Imp.), FlexJobs (Tasks: High Imp., Medium Imp., Low Imp.), Linkedin (Task: High Imp., Tasks: High Imp.), Network (Fiverr, Upwork), Task: Med Imp.

Employees (yellow): Paid/employee-driven channel ring with task tiers (Low/Med/High impact).

Paid ads (brown): X ads (Price: Low), Instagram Ads (Price: Medium), Meta Ads (Price: Medium), Reddit Ads (Price: Low), Linkedin Ads (Price: Average), Googls Ads (Price: High), Affiliate platform, X.

Affiliates (red/orange): Lemonsqueezy, Rewardful, Heepsy, Passionfroot, Ezycollab, Micro Influencers, Influencers, Platform, Referrals, Recommendations.

Outbound (purple): Apollo, Phantombuster, Billy Buzz, Repliyguy, F5bot, PH, Founders, Keyword Mentions, Auto Replies, Social Listening, b2b, b2c.

Inbound (blue): Hacker News (Show HN), Reddit (Case Studies), Threads, Instagram (Reels, Short Form), Linkedin (Long-form), X (Memes + Threads), SEO GPT.

## What it is for

- Brainstorm customer acquisition experiments across multiple distribution channels
- Identify specific tools and platforms for outbound outreach and social listening
- Compare paid advertising options based on relative price tiers

## Key points

- Covers six core acquisition pillars: Inbound, Outbound, Affiliates, Paid Ads, Employees, and SEO
- Recommends specific software tools for keyword research, backlink building, and automation
- Breaks down outbound strategies by social listening, auto-replies, and scraping platforms
- Categorizes paid channels by relative cost (Low, Medium, Average, High)
- Maps organic inbound content types across platforms like Hacker News, Reddit, and LinkedIn

## Pricing

Free

## Details

- Type: Framework
- Category: [Marketing & Sales](https://xiry.app/topics/marketing-sales.md)
- Open source: no
- Platforms: other
- For: Startup founders, solo entrepreneurs, and early-stage marketers
- Alternative to: Bullseye Framework
- Tags: framework, marketing, lead generation, startups, growth

## Why it was saved

- [@natiakourdadze, 28 December 2024](https://x.com/natiakourdadze/status/1873066118891569315): A one-glance reference of where to find clients: which channel, which sub-tactic, and which specific tool or platform to use.

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Updated 11 October 2026. Page: https://xiry.app/resources/client-acquisition-wheel

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