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Guest050x2
Guest
Firstly, kudos on maintaining that commitment and focus for 2 years. That alone tells me that, regardless of whatever path in life you choose, you will inevitably be successful at some point. You're already doing what 99% of the global population can't and won't.I am stuck. In middle of my journey I'm compeletely stuck. As some already know from the forum I was developing system. I had learnt how to code. I had started writing my saas platform in November. Yesterday was day when my 2 years self-improvment journey had reached the key moment. Yesterday i had realised that now its moment when my web application (saas business) is ready to go.
Secondly, this is ultimately where most newer developers - especially those doing exactly what you're doing (e.g. creating a SAAS) - start getting hit with imposter syndrome, self-doubt, etc. You are correct: coding is a safe space for developers, and you will be forever stuck in it if you don't escape it, and move forward to the "business" side of running a SAAS.I can still develop this and code all day but that have it makes zero sense. Why develop it if i don’t whether people will use it. Coding for me bacame easy. Now i have to leave my safe space and start making money from my system. I have to start my application on domain (exacly what to do on my progress thread) and my application can welcome first traffic.
This is excellent practice. You blueprinted what you were aiming to do, from start to finish, and how to get there. However, in regards to SAAS, your process was backwards. In the SAAS world, idea/market validation and capital (either in the form of money or time) are your two most important resources. You want to maximize them.What i had planed in my Planasy was
- develop a web application
- create marketing agency based on my web application
the main service I wanted to provide was to run advertisements for people thats why i had created web application because I need to have a place where I can place ads for my client.
Now my main problem is find answer to the question how to start selling. How to convince people that what they are being offered is worth their money. I have experience in marketing but is B2C how i have to switch on to B2B.
Basic SAAS Process:
1. You form an idea based on something you've seen that needs improved upon, or something brand new you believe the market would pay for.
2. You conduct market research on your idea. Ask questions. Take notes on your findings.
Examples
2a. Who has your audience (e.g. are you competing with Nike or Sketchers? Microsoft or the little guy next door?)
2b. What are they offering?
2c. Do you see any ways you can improve upon their offer? (avoid the "lowest price point" shtick. That's how you end up broke).
2d. Are people even paying for the service?
If the idea looks solid, you can confirm it's a solution people are paying for, then you move forward to the next step.
3. MVP (Minimum viable product)
This is single-handedly one of (if not the most important) aspects. All you're doing here is creating the most basic version of your app, showcasing its purpose and how it fulfills said purpose. You're not adding 100 features in this stage. Just what's required. Basic functionality and why it stands out.
So, for example, if you're creating an app that utilizes AI to streamline the process of changing image types (jpg to svg, etc.), your MVP would showcase precisely that: a basic AI-fueled app, streamlining the process of changing image types, and why your app is different. You can add the features later.
4. Once your MVP is ready, you deploy it for feedback. Send it to people in the industry you're targeting. Most people I know create basic social media profiles to correspond with the launch of their MVP. This part can be difficult as it typically requires you have some type of footing in the industry. A lot of people that have been in industries for decades aren't going to test an app from some random, so you genuinely have to give them a reason to test it.
It's imperative they test it and you collect their feedback because that feedback is ultimately what determines whether or not you deem it's worth further pursuing. This is the part where you allow people to test it, and outright ask "is this a solution you'd pay for?"
If not, figure out why. Make updates to your MVP. Again, don't spend months on it, but you need to spend enough time on it, and gather enough feedback with it, to determine if it's worth pursuing. Which leads to the final step...
5. If the feedback received is looking great, then you continue building from there. Try to get something launched ASAP, based off of your MVP, and then continue adding to it. Again, all of this being based on feedback.
If the feedback you receive is negative, then continue from there. What is your audience saying? Do they not like the UI? Is it difficult to read text? Or are they simply committed to the company/app they've been using for 30 years? You don't know until you ask.
Don't assume you know what your audience wants. ASK THEM.
People fear rejection. They shouldn't. Be thankful for it. Why? Because even if you release an app, and everyone tells you it's trash and you should stop trying, who cares? They just saved you countless hours you would've otherwise poured into an app that would've done nothing for you outside of cause you misery and frustration. Besides, guess what? When you finally create something that's a success, those same people will be begging to be involved.
Everything above said, yes to everything you've done so far. You want to maximize social media channels. But you also don't want to stretch yourself thin. Make your social channels on everything for branding sake (ensure you've secured names). Make sure all of your branding is universal across everything.I want to have as many marketing channels as possible I already have ig fb I am going to start seo and linkedin. I have seen on the forum that people are sending cold emails or running start-up marketing services to people at very low or no start-up rates.
From there, pick a few platforms to focus on and build on those first. Preferably platforms you've had previous success with, or platforms targeted at your audience (e.g. if you're aiming for B2B, LinkedIn will probably be a big one for you).
I personally hate cold outreach and don't do it. But for app development, I would more than likely resort to cold outreach, depending on my position in the industry. In my current industry, I have 20+ years in it, therefore I would do absolutely 0 cold outreach as I already have a network. In almost any other industry, however, I have to do a ton.
And yes, once again: offering free/discounted services is a fantastic way to land some early clients to get some cash flow going, as well as collect feedback.
Reviews/feedback = one of the greatest forms, if not the greatest form, of social proof in existence. Prioritize gaining authority and social proof, even if you're working for a little less money at first.
(Of course, if you don't have to sacrifice your cash flow at first, then don't. This will really just depend on the types of clients/industries you encounter).
Network. Network. Network. Content creation. Content creation. Content creation.Now I don't really know what to do or what direction to take over the last almost five months when I wrote the application. My only goal at the time was to write it as quickly as possible, I really wanted to be in that place and say "I've finished what's next". But when I said those words I heard no response. That's why I'm now asking you "I'm done, how do I start selling, what do I do to get people to know me, what would you do in my position or what would you do in a similar situation".
Those 6 things will be your biggest allies. Since your web app is finished, I'd run tests on it for integrity. Once it has passed basic tests, start creating content aiming at your app on LinkedIn, and as stated above, 1-2 other platforms. I'd create a spreadsheet with questions I want my first testers/users to answer (if they're willing). Have a way your clients can submit feedback 24/7.
Did a form just break, but you're taking a shit? Cool, doesn't matter, you still need to know about it ASAP. At this point, you basically want to be standing in the busiest intersection of the busiest city with a cowbell telling people about your app/service (but don't actually stand in traffic...).
You want people to see you doing SAAS things with your SAAS. You want people to see your offer and see why you're a badass. You want people to see why they should give you their money.
Cheers.
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