Alston Antony – SaaS & AI SEO Expert

MSc Software Engineering (Distinction) | BCS Professional Member | 15+ Years SEO Experience. I don’t just “do” SEO Marketing. I Engineer It.

I’m Alston Antony. I was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and now live in Coimbatore, India.

I’m not a millionaire. I’m not working as a slave to achieve somebody else’s dream. I dictate my life. I choose what to work on, when to work, and how to work.

Over the past 15+ years, I’ve built 100+ websites, tested 50+ SEO and AI tools (with my own money), taught 30,000+ students, and grown a community of 15,000+ digital entrepreneurs. My MSc dissertation on “Automated SEO Management System” was awarded one of the most interesting projects of the year at the University of Greenwich.

When I review a tool, I show you my actual screen, my real data, my actual results—not fake screenshots or theoretical case studies. If a tool is garbage, I’ll tell you it’s garbage. If a strategy takes 6 months, I’ll tell you it takes 6 months.

That’s it. That’s who I am.

If you want the full story—how I got here, what shaped me, and why I do what I do—keep reading. I wrote this on my birthday, and it’s long. But if you’re serious about understanding who you’re learning from, this is where you’ll find the truth.

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My Life Story

Where I Come From

From the day my brother and I were born, both of our parents worked hard just to survive.

My parents didn’t know what to do for income, so they sold Idli & Dosa batter from our home—1 KG for 50 Rupees (less than half a dollar). Every day they sold around 20-40 packets.

It was a difficult business. People would come anytime during the day to buy, including at midnight. My mother was always grinding and packing. My father stayed at the front to handle customers and walked around 2 km with his unhealthy body (he has an untreatable spine problem) just to buy essentials and bring them home.

From the day I can remember, my mother took my brother and me daily to early morning mass at our church, where each day we listened to kind thoughts and guidance.

Every day I saw how much my parents suffered and worked hard to put food on our plate and get us an education.

This is my starting point.

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School: The Day Everything Changed

I studied until grade 8 in St. Anthony’s Maha Vidyalayam in Colombo, a government Tamil school with no expensive fees and average education.

One day, my class teacher Miss. Subshani called my parents and said: “Please do not waste his talents by leaving him here.”

So my parents borrowed money and got me an interview at Oasis International School in Colombo.

When I visited the interview with my father, the principal tried talking to me in English. I couldn’t understand a word. They brought a Tamil teacher to explain it to me.

They told my father it would be impossible for me to get into grade 8 with the Edexcel syllabus without knowing how to speak or write English. To prove the point, they gave me a “General English” question paper meant for Grade 3 students.

I scored 30 out of 100.

The principal told my father: “If you want, he can join since it’s your money. But since you come from a poor background, let me tell you—if you try putting him in an international school with his current knowledge, you’d be wasting your money.”

We returned home.

My mother asked me: “I don’t care about what anyone else thinks about it. You tell me—can you do it or not?”

I said YES. And I will.

The next week I joined the school. I had great friends there who did not bully me, and my teachers treated me with kindness.

I would see all the lessons as exciting stories. When I came home, I did not meet with friends, did not go out to play, no girlfriend, did not watch cartoons or TV.

I helped my parents sell when customers visited home, and the rest of the time, I sat in front of the computer—revising school lessons, learning English, learning how to make money online.

I followed this every day for the next three months.

I came 10th in the class for quarterly exams.

The principal noticed this and asked me to bring my father.

When I brought him to my principal, she stood up and held her hands together (a gesture of respect or forgiveness) and said she was sorry for saying it would be impossible for me to study in English medium. She said she would never underestimate anyone ever again.

From that point on, I became a prefect and sports captain. When I came back home, I was back at my computer learning.

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Degree: The Youngest Student in Class

While doing my O-levels in school, I wanted more knowledge in IT. So I signed up for a part-time Bachelor’s IT program at ESOFT in Sri Lanka.

Monday to Friday: school. Saturday and Sunday: bachelor’s degree.

I was the youngest student in the class.

For the next two years, I studied my bachelor’s parallel with my school education.

During exams for both school and degree, I never memorized or crammed. I just read everything one last time before the exam day and wrote from personal experience.

For example: In economics, if there was a question on supply and demand, I would use the experience of what happens when Idli and Dosa batter goes unsold at home.

There were times I had exams back to back—as soon as I finished a school exam, I would run to my degree exam, then run back again for the next exam at school.

After finishing school, I took all the remaining subjects in my bachelor’s degree in one semester (which is not recommended since it’s extremely challenging). I reduced the time required to finish a 4-year degree to 2.5 years.

I scored 95% across all subjects.

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Masters in the UK: A Completely New World

This is where I had started earning money from the Internet (more on that below).

I wanted to get my master’s degree from the United Kingdom because no one in our family had ever done such a thing. It was one of my goals.

With money earned by my brother and me, plus money my parents borrowed, I applied to the University of Greenwich in the United Kingdom.

I got in.

But they requested me to complete IELTS and come soon since the program had already started (the introduction tour for students was over).

That day I went to inquire about IELTS exams from the British Council. They told me there was an exam that evening, but without any training, it would be difficult since they test academic English skills.

I told them I could do it. They gave me a one-day library card to check whatever resources were available. I stayed there to look through everything I could, then went to the exam.

I scored 9 out of 10.

(Later I discovered some students go through 6 months of training to pass this.)

Immediately after, I got my visa. I was in the UK the next week.

It was a completely new world for me.

For the first year, I stayed with my friend Desmond at Croydon and had to go to Greenwich every day. I got lost a lot in subways and buses. I had to walk when trains and buses got cancelled. I had to eat low-cost meals because good meals were expensive. I even got lost trying to find my classrooms because the University was so big.

One time I cried alone because I wasn’t sure I could do this.

But whenever I thought about my family, I got back up.

I made a map. I wrote down the routes. I made walking into exercise. I started to enjoy the low-cost meals. I took one whole free day and visited every classroom, corridor, and floor in the University and memorized everything so I wouldn’t miss another class.

I completed my Masters with Distinction.

My dissertation project—”SEO Management System for Beginners”—was awarded one of the most interesting projects of the year.

I got opportunities to work in the UK with a work visa. But I couldn’t stay.

I knew the hardship my parents had faced for us. I wanted to live with them, care for them, and do my best to return what they had done for us.

So I returned to my home country.

I made my parents stop working. I got a luxury apartment for rent—70,000 LKR—with an elevator, pool, automated gates, and much more. And I spent my time with them.

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My Online Money-Making Journey

How It Started

As you already know from my family background, it was challenging to earn money. So when I came back from school, I was on the computer trying to make money online.

I did not go out with friends, did not go to play, no girlfriend. I wanted to get my parents out of that life and place them in a respectable position.

How I Got Scammed (Multiple Times)

When I started looking for ways to earn money online, I fell for so many fake programs: fake pay-per-click websites, paid-to-visit sites, pay-per-download sites, survey sites.

I tried all those fake gurus’ internet earning programs. (There are some good ones out there, but over 90% are garbage—people using fake screenshots to grab money quickly from beginners like me.)

My parents said: “Son, you have LKR 55,000 ($300) in your savings in the bank. It’s what we saved for you after years of hardship. It’s for you, so do what you want with it.”

I used it to buy tools, PayPal money generators, ad auto-clickers, WSO courses, and “make money on the internet” courses.

After six months, I exhausted my entire savings fund.

I was devastated. I had spent all my parents’ hard-earned money like this.

All my friends and neighbours kept saying that I would fail, that there’s no such thing as making money on the Internet, that they had tried and it was impossible.

There were times I went to church, sat alone, and prayed.

The First Success: $15 That Changed Everything

The first success happened after one year.

I discovered something called file-sharing: when you upload files and users download through your link, you get paid. Nothing big—usually for 1000 downloads, I’d get $2.

I was working for a site called HotFile.

I worked hard for six months to earn the minimum payout threshold of $15.

I withdrew it as a cash cheque since Payoneer wasn’t available during that time. It was pending for 20 days.

Then one day I got a signed post cheque.

I was shocked because both the Bank of America cheque and envelope had my name on it.

I took my father and went to People’s Bank in Sea Street. I showed the manager the cheque and explained.

She heard what we said, looked at the cheque, and said it was fake—unrecognizable in her 25 years of experience.

I was shaken to my core again.

She saw what it meant to me, so she told me to leave the cheque with her. During lunchtime, she would call the head office and ask about it.

I still remember how my father was trying to be supportive when we were walking home, saying: “Don’t worry, son, you can work in the city with your computer skills.”

When I came home, I went straight to my bed. I didn’t even have lunch.

Around 4:00 pm, my father got a call. It was well past the bank’s closing time. The lady told my father to come to the bank.

Dad and I went again. The bank was closed, but security allowed us inside after the lady gave permission.

As soon as she saw us coming, she apologized to my father: “Please, I am sorry to have said this cheque is fake—because it’s not.”

It was a real cash cheque. It was the first of its kind that People’s Bank in Sri Lanka had ever handled in history in Colombo.

I almost cried right there.

It was just $15. But:

• I saw the look of amazement in the bank manager’s eyes
• I saw how happy my father got when he heard the news
• Now I had proof for everyone who said you couldn’t earn money online
• And the moment I told my mother—how she proudly smiled at me because she never lost faith in me (even when my father had doubted me when I spent all the money from my savings, my mother told me I could do it)

At that point, I even became friends with the bank branch employees. They would ask me to repair computers in the bank and their personal laptops.

Building Momentum: My First $100, Then $1000

After years of trying, I had earned $15.

Just think—I did all that hard work without knowing whether it would work. But now I had proof.

During school intervals and PE sessions, I always thought about what I could do next and how I could do it. After school, I sat at my computer and worked until 11 pm.

After three months, I achieved my second $15 threshold. The cheque came and got paid within 20 days.

Something clicked in my brain. There was no longer any doubt.

I built websites, forums, and uploaded to many sites. I learned to automate some of the work and bought services to make things easier, but I always invested my full time in it.

I made my first $100 on the Internet in the next three months.

When DMCA got strict and SOPA came after the pay-per-download sites hard, I pivoted.

I worked with many file-hosting websites—FileServe, Filesonic, Hotfile, MegaUpload (all of them are shut down now). I sold graphics on a community called Wjunction, charging $1-5 for work. Locally, I designed a “First Holy Communion” invitation card for a neighbour for LKR 1000—my mother still has that currency note in her locker since it was the first offline work I did. I became a computer repair guy, going to people’s homes to install antivirus or Windows XP.

Within six months, I became one of the super affiliates and made my first 4-figure income.

People who had discouraged me were now working routine jobs—sales staff paid around LKR 12,000 per month ($75), customer support, mechanic work.

I was earning in one month what others were making in one year.

Then the companies I worked for got sued and shut down without paying the remaining commission. I lost around $2000.

One day I had everything. The next day I had nothing.

Learning the Right Way

This time I wanted to make money in a fully legal way that wouldn’t suddenly stop.

I researched and studied a lot.

I started with Google AdSense, making micro-niche websites—finding very low competition keywords and trying to rank in Google.

I ranked well. But I made a massive mistake: I asked friends and family to click on the ads for me. AdSense detected this and banned my account.

Then I researched and started promoting digital products from Clickbank, MarketHealth, and others.

All ten sites I built failed.

But I took all that knowledge and experience and applied it to my next projects.

I succeeded in promoting products in the weight loss and muscle building categories. I built free blogs that reached 3,865 visitors a day at their peak. I launched Amazon affiliate websites.

During this time, I built around seven AdSense websites, five Clickbank websites, and four Amazon websites. I drove traffic solely from Google using tools like GSA Search Engine Ranker, Ultimate Demon, Senuke, and Scrapebox.

Then Google Panda and Penguin happened.

For people who don’t know—these were Google search engine updates that removed low-quality websites or websites with bad link profiles.

All my websites got hit. Only one site survived, and I still keep that site alive for sentimental reasons even though it doesn’t earn me much now.

This was when I started to learn about building authority websites, creating content that users actually value, and marketing strategies that are sustainable.

It was a turning point. Even the next five sites I built failed, but the experience helped me build authority websites that survived all updates and attracted natural backlinks.

After owning over 100 websites, I became somewhat of an expert. These projects continue to be my best side income source.

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Why a 9-to-6 Job Wasn’t for Me

After returning from the United Kingdom, my parents told me to apply for a “REAL JOB.”

So I sent one application to a digital marketing company in Sri Lanka for the position of Digital Marketing Manager.

I got selected. The founder was an excellent, understanding person. The team was very supportive.

I worked a total of one month.

Then I noticed:

• I wasn’t able to sit in one place all day to work
• Travelling to the office took about 2 hours each way
• After the UK, I had different eating habits, and I didn’t like the restaurant food near the office
• Each day ran very fast
• Each day became a daily routine
• I realized I was working for someone else’s dream, not mine

So I quit.

In my life, even if the salary I make is less, I want it to be my choice—fulfilling my own dream and goal. I want to spend as much time with my family as possible.

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How We Started Maxinium

After quitting my job, I had a discussion with Deepashika Gunasekara (BCS Regional Manager), who suggested: “Why not start your own company in Sri Lanka to help fellow Sri Lankans?”

So my brother and I opened our own digital marketing company and named it Maxinium—meaning Maximum Results in Minimum Time.

We took projects for small startups to help them succeed on the Internet. We helped friends’ projects too, like Desmond’s DFT bedding business (he’s the one who gave me a place to stay when I visited the UK for my studies).

We made our parents open the office and sit at the desk first.

We did fantastic work for clients: getting results quickly, targeted PPC so leads came from day one, amazing web designs, stable white-hat SEO to increase ranking, no minimum duration contracts, and transparency.

But then we realized we were still working on other people’s dreams.

We didn’t want to fully depend on clients.

So we decided to stop taking external clients (except for a selected few or struggling startups, since I always liked helping them).

We started building in-house projects where we had total control and complete ownership.

No more reports, meetings, or formal dressing.

Welcome to working on what I want, where I want, and whenever I want.

We built several projects targeting Sri Lankan audiences and worldwide audiences too. This way, we weren’t working for someone else’s dream—we were working for our own.

This is where we are now.

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Why I Teach and Share What I Know

There are multiple reasons:

Numerous friends and family members from low-income backgrounds have approached us asking how to make money online. We wanted to document our growth—what we learn, what we succeed at, and what we fail at. We don’t like keeping our faces hidden from the rest of the world. We wanted to show that anything is possible, regardless of where you’re from or who you are. We want to help others avoid the traps we fell into when starting out. We want to help startup SaaS founders showcase their products to their target audience. And we get self-satisfaction knowing that we’ve helped at least one next-generation digital entrepreneur.

Sharing knowledge doesn’t reduce it—it increases.

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What I Do Now

Today, I run multiple platforms and projects:

SaaSPirate (saaspirate.com) — A platform dedicated to SaaS lifetime deals and discounts. We’ve published 1,561+ deals, attracted 180,000+ website visitors, and built a community of 15,000+ members. When we write content, we rank—100+ first-page positions in Google. We’ve helped SaaS founders generate over $15,000 in revenue from single product listings.

ZPlatform AI (zplatform.ai) — A platform focused on AI tool lifetime deals and AI software discounts.

Maxinium (maxinium.com) — Sri Lanka’s #1 SEO company, offering comprehensive search engine optimization services.

YouTube Channel (youtube.com/AlstonAntony) — 426+ videos with 400,000+ views. Honest, in-depth reviews of AI tools, SEO strategies, and SaaS lifetime deals.

Facebook Community — 15,000+ members learning profitable SEO, sharing lifetime deals, and getting honest advice.

Udemy Courses — 30,000+ students taught across multiple digital marketing courses.

Podcast — Honest conversations with SEO practitioners, SaaS founders, and marketers about what actually works.

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My Credentials

Education

MSc in Software Engineering (Distinction) University of Greenwich, United Kingdom (2014-2016) Dissertation: “Automated Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Management System for Small Business Owners” Awarded: “Most Interesting Project of the Year 2016”

BCS Higher Education Qualifications Professional Member (MBCS) of the British Computer Society Completed Level 4 Certificate, Level 5 Diploma, Level 6 Professional Graduate Diploma, and Postgraduate Diploma Project

Bachelor of Technology (BTech) – Computer Science ESOFT Metro Campus, Sri Lanka 95% score across all subjects

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What Makes Me Different

I show actual data. When I review a tool or teach a strategy, I open my screen and show you exactly what I’m doing—my real websites, my real analytics, my real results. Not fake screenshots. Not theoretical case studies.

I buy tools with my own money. I’ve wasted thousands of dollars testing tools so you don’t have to. When I say a tool is garbage, it’s because I actually used it and it was garbage.

I admit when things fail. I’ve built 100+ websites. Many of them failed. I show you the failures because that’s where the real learning happens.

I practice what I teach. I’m not an “SEO consultant” who hasn’t ranked a site since 2015. I own and operate my own portfolio of SEO-driven projects. I’m in the trenches right now.

I don’t sugarcoat. If a tool is trash, I’ll say it’s trash. If a strategy takes 6 months, I’ll tell you it takes 6 months. No fake timelines. No hype.

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Who I Help

Business Owners & Entrepreneurs — You need more customers through search, but you don’t have time for complicated strategies or 40-hour courses. I teach you the SEO workflows that bring customers—not just traffic.

Marketing Professionals & Managers — You need to prove SEO ROI to your boss, stay ahead of AI search changes, and advance your career. I show you how to build data-driven SEO strategies with clear reporting.

Agency Owners & SEO Service Providers — You need to scale your agency with repeatable systems and train your team. I teach you systematized SEO workflows that your team can execute without you.

Freelancers & Solopreneurs — You need to build a portfolio, land better clients, and charge more. I give you portfolio-ready strategies and honest tool recommendations that save you money.

Content Creators & Bloggers — You need more traffic to monetize your content. I teach you no-code SEO workflows and AI content optimization that actually works.

SaaS Founders — You need to launch and grow your product. I help you reach a verified buying audience of 15,000+ digital entrepreneurs through SaaSPirate.

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Connect With Me

Email: [email protected] Mobile: +91 8056742144 (Please message on WhatsApp instead of calling) Website: alstonantony.com

Find Me On:

• YouTube: @AlstonAntony
• Facebook Group: Alston Antony’s Profitable SEO Community (15,000+ members)
• LinkedIn: Alston Antony
• Instagram: @AlstonAntony
• X (Twitter): @AlstonAntony

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Final Words

I know no one likes to read a post this long. But if by any chance you did—thank you. It means a lot to me.

Don’t ever regret your life. Every second is precious—just go to a hospital to see how many are fighting for it.

Live life with your family. Live it the way you want.

Treat your friend, colleague, or stranger how you want to be treated.

When you’re having a bad day, know that someone else is having a much worse day.

Don’t think of all the things you don’t have. Instead, be thankful for the life you’re living, your beautiful family, and the things you own.

With Best Regards, Alston Antony MSc (Software Eng), MBCS