HitTail

SaaS tool that recommended long tail organic search keywords.

SEOKeyword researchSaaS

Acquired^{Source [2]}Last verified Oct 2, 2026

About HitTail

HitTail was a long tail keyword tool that analyzed a website's traffic in real time and produced a list of organic search terms to target. Walling had been a user since 2006, and the product had been mentioned in outlets including Inc and The Wall Street Journal before he bought it.^{Source [1]}

Under Walling, Google's 2012 to 2013 move to hide search keywords forced a rework that routed data through Google Webmaster Tools. Walling reported growing revenue 10x in 15 months, and he used its profits to fund Drip (self-reported).^{Source [2]}^{Source [3]}

What happened

HitTail analyzed a site's visitor stream in real time to recommend organic search terms to target. Rob Walling bought it from its owner in August 2011, rebuilt its infrastructure and grew revenue, then sold it through broker FE International in 2015 after Drip took his focus. The buyer and price were not disclosed.^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}

Timeline

2015Sold by Rob Walling through FE International.^{Source [2]}
2012Reworked after Google stopped passing most organic keyword data.^{Source [2]}^{Source [3]}
2011-08Acquired by Rob Walling.^{Source [1]}

Products and brands

HitTail: Real time long tail keyword recommendations from a site's existing search traffic.^{Source [1]}

How it makes money: Tiered monthly subscriptions starting at $10 a month.^{Source [3]}

Leadership

Rob Walling

Owner^{Source [1]}^{Source [2]}

2011 to 2015

Funding and financials

Monthly revenue: About $1,500 to $2,000 at purchase in 2011, peaking around $25,000 to $30,000 under Walling (self-reported on Mixergy)^{Source [3]}

People on Founded, and where they went next

1 person on record, connected to 3 other companies.

Person	Here	Also built
Rob Walling	Owner2011 to 2015	TinySeed2018 to nowActiveDrip2012 to 2016AcquiredMicroConf2011 to nowActive

Sources

The Inside Story of a Small Startup Acquisition (Part 1), RobWalling.com, 2012-01-25. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
What I Learned Buying, Growing, and Selling My Startup, RobWalling.com, 2015-12-02. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
How Drip started as a widget and was acquired by Leadpages for a life-changing sum, Mixergy. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.

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