Meet Nikola Baldikov

Early Influences

Ever heard the saying “You need a good education so you can enjoy a good life?” Me too. Quite often,actually. As a child, the importance of getting a good education was instilled into the very fiber of my being. So, I studied hard.

When the time came, I enrolled in one of the most prestigious high schools in my hometown. Marketing quickly became one of my favorite subjects next to accounting. Back then, digital marketing wasn’t a thing yet. So, when it came to choosing the direction for my university education, I opted for accounting. It just made sense plus it helped me land my first job in banking. During those four years when I worked at a bank, I started my first side hustle.

The Start of It All

Speaking of side hustles, here’s what happened.

In 2012, my cousin and I founded a small online shop selling printed T-shirts. At the time, I didn’t know anything about online marketing. I had to rely on instinct. This was the first time I’d ever dealt with the digital world. And I was absolutely hooked!

Early on, I tested the waters with Facebook marketing (not SEO as yet). Keep in mind that Facebook then was worlds away from what it is today. Organic reach really worked and small paid campaigns brought in decent results. The most interesting part was working with influencers (a term I didn’t know at that time). Similarly, they didn’t know the extent of their value yet and the return on investment (ROI) was incredible.
This was a brand new niche in my country.

And speaking of niches, this is another element I’m particularly proud of from my early digital marketing career. Our shop was focused on targeting a specific niche that is still relevant today—printed T-shirts.

The verdict? My instincts did not mislead me. The efforts we put into creating a brand differentiated us from our competitors. We weren’t merely selling ordinary T-shirts. We produced them with a unique personal touch defined by distinct printed designs.

After a few years, I went abroad to work and study for my second Master’s degree. I also sold my share of the business to my partner. I knew that I wanted to be in a fast-growing industry, where I can push my limits and meet people from all over the world. But it didn’t last long. Don’t get me wrong; it was a one-of-a-kind experience! However, I realized that my country is my real home and the place I feel happiest. That’s why I returned. I started working as an accountant. While this was my dream job since high school, after a year, I recognized that I wasn’t suited for it. I came to the conclusion that accounting wouldn’t be my future. It just didn’t feel right. I sensed that there was something better for me out there.

Curiosity Paid Off

Let me fast-forward to 2015, where I found myself in SEO.

This was supposed to be a side gig but one educational course led me to the next and I decided to look for a full-time SEO role in early 2016. The learning never stopped. I continued taking courses but at a more intensive pace. And just a couple of months later toward the end of the year, a great opportunity came along.

I started working at Brosix, a pioneer of the instant messaging industry still on the market today. It was an exciting experience, but I also had a lot of responsibilities on my shoulders. I had to deal with all the brand’s SEO and marketing activities while managing my rapidly growing team. In all honesty, the first years were really hard. That’s because apart from working this full-time job, I was constantly attending courses to develop and establish myself as an expert. Needless to say, all the hard work paid off eventually because I began to see the fruits of my labor. I spent more than four years at Brosix. We faced challenges but we achieved incredible results. It was a wonderful experience, but I felt ready to take on a new challenge.

Not long after I became the SEO manager at SiteGround, one of the biggest hosting companies in the world. I had the chance to work with incredible specialists in the industry, which I’m really thankful for. While challenges continued to arise, I needed to quickly adapt and find creative ways to overcome them. The results we wanted were not long in coming. However, I knew I had to follow my own path.

In September 2022, I decided it was time for the next step in my career. I focused my full attention on my new project: InBound Blogging. This is the professional undertaking that brings me immense joy. Working with different clients as an SEO consultant, while actively developing our company blog, is my secret to achieving steady business growth I’m excited to see what the future brings.

Some Humble Achievements

Based on my keyword research content strategies, I was able to grow organic traffic by 100% in a
short period of time for a client.

I’ve succeeded in generating higher organic traffic, visibility, and stronger average positions
for a client’s website, putting it neck-and-neck with the giants. This was achieved by working
with a small team and based on more than 200 keywords we tracked with the highest business
potential for the company.

I am a Product Hunter with №5 product of the day and won second place on Product Hunt’s annual
award Golden Kitty.

I’m honored to be an author on authority websites:

entrepreneur.com

marketingprofs.com

business2community.com

g2.com

allbusiness.com

jeffbullas.com

thriveglobal.com

hackernoon.com

tweakyourbiz.com

socialnomics.net

socialmediaexplorer.com

noupe.com

readwrite.com

freshworks.com

prowly.com

shift4shop.com

cloudtalk.com

rswebsols.com

pointerpro.com

My publications are featured on reputable websites, such as:

techrepublic.com

contentstudio.io

jotform.com

serpstat.com

authority magazine

getresponse.com

cloudways.com

campaignmonitor.com

databox.com

digitalolympus.net

tidio.com

keap.com

smallbizztrend.com

itpro.co.uk

mailshake.com

Finally…

I am grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the connections I’ve made, the sites I’ve contributed to, and the results I have been fortunate enough to drive through my career.
Still, there’s a lot more work to do and more topics to discuss.

My true passion doesn’t come from making money alone. Instead, it’s when I’m lucky enough to meet someone new, and I can teach them SEO and online marketing lessons that I believe will change their lives.
I’ve helped many businesses achieve impressive results through strategic SEO. And I can do the same for you. Regardless of what you’re aiming for, I’ll help you get there faster. Don’t waste time. Your future self will thank you!
If you want to work with me or are interested in having a consultation, get in touch with me.

Posts by Nikola Baldikov