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3 months ago was my first day as Indie Entrepreneur.
Yesterday MakerBox crossed $11 000 in total revenue 🔥
Here are 10 actionable learnings from this journey.
Save this thread if you plan to launch content products 🧵
Yesterday MakerBox crossed $11 000 in total revenue 🔥
Here are 10 actionable learnings from this journey.
Save this thread if you plan to launch content products 🧵
1) Launch a lot
You never know for sure what will happen.
We launch 1-2 products each month. Some of them succeed, and others flop.
If you spend more than a month on your first version, reduce the scope. Focus on the single use case.
You never know for sure what will happen.
We launch 1-2 products each month. Some of them succeed, and others flop.
If you spend more than a month on your first version, reduce the scope. Focus on the single use case.
2) Start thinking long-term early
One day Twitter algorithms raise you above the sky.
The next day they show your tweet to 10 people.
Start a newsletter, and invest in SEO.
It won't get your short-term gain. But it will boost you in 1 year.
One day Twitter algorithms raise you above the sky.
The next day they show your tweet to 10 people.
Start a newsletter, and invest in SEO.
It won't get your short-term gain. But it will boost you in 1 year.
3) There is life beyond Product Hunt
You will have terrible launches. Product Hunt couldn't be your entire marketing strategy.
Reddit, Facebook Groups, Affiliate marketing, Cold outreach, Influencer marketing.
Don't focus on ONE platform.
You will have terrible launches. Product Hunt couldn't be your entire marketing strategy.
Reddit, Facebook Groups, Affiliate marketing, Cold outreach, Influencer marketing.
Don't focus on ONE platform.
4) Marketing first
We ship good-enough products with good-enough marketing.
It's better than brilliant products with no marketing.
Have some marketing tasks every week. Learn to enjoy marketing your products.
We ship good-enough products with good-enough marketing.
It's better than brilliant products with no marketing.
Have some marketing tasks every week. Learn to enjoy marketing your products.
5) Treat content products as SaaS
Content products don't mean garbage quality.
It means solving problems with words, not lines of code.
You still need usability testing, social proof, A-ha moments, and other cool things from digital products.
Content products don't mean garbage quality.
It means solving problems with words, not lines of code.
You still need usability testing, social proof, A-ha moments, and other cool things from digital products.
6) Be different
Don't launch another Habit tracker in Notion.
Your idea shouldn't be unique, but your implementation should.
Always add a personal touch and unique value. This is how you win customers.
Don't launch another Habit tracker in Notion.
Your idea shouldn't be unique, but your implementation should.
Always add a personal touch and unique value. This is how you win customers.
7) Invest in design
90% of Indie products are ugly.
Spending a few hours on UI could quickly boost the conversion rate x2.
Make your landing page irresistible. Or don't be surprised why people ignore it.
[Check MakerBox Roasting 😅]
90% of Indie products are ugly.
Spending a few hours on UI could quickly boost the conversion rate x2.
Make your landing page irresistible. Or don't be surprised why people ignore it.
[Check MakerBox Roasting 😅]
8) Build in public
It should be a no-brainer in 2022.
Share your progress, make friends, and get customers from Twitter.
Possible the best low-risk, high-reward idea.
It should be a no-brainer in 2022.
Share your progress, make friends, and get customers from Twitter.
Possible the best low-risk, high-reward idea.
9) Leverage Value Ladder
Start with cheap products <$49
Introduce intermediate product >$49 but <$99
Launch a high-ticket product > $199
Have something for every wallet.
Start with cheap products <$49
Introduce intermediate product >$49 but <$99
Launch a high-ticket product > $199
Have something for every wallet.
10) Study your target audience
Each month you should know your target audience better.
Their fears, motivation, opinion leaders, and habits.
If you are not learning, you are not talking with people enough.
Each month you should know your target audience better.
Their fears, motivation, opinion leaders, and habits.
If you are not learning, you are not talking with people enough.
That's a wrap!
This summer was quite a ride.
I couldn't be here without my incredible Co-Founder @sveta_bay.
Now, it's time to crush September.
Follow me @DanKulkov to follow this journey ❤️
This summer was quite a ride.
I couldn't be here without my incredible Co-Founder @sveta_bay.
Now, it's time to crush September.
Follow me @DanKulkov to follow this journey ❤️
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Daniel Vassallo @dvassallo
·
Sep 1, 2022
Great thread, and well done! 👏