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In 2021 my primary goal is to build and launch a SaaS (software-as-a-service) with no-code tools.
Here's what I'm betting on and why...
Here's what I'm betting on and why...
I spent the last 15 months launching at least one no-code product or project each month.
I did this for a few reasons:
To learn
To build confidence
Because building is easier than actually validating an idea first 
I did this for a few reasons:
To learn To build confidence Because building is easier than actually validating an idea first
My 2020 products included:
- A newsletter + podcast ( http://growthlessons.co )
- A few potential micro-saas ( http://vidpops.com , http://userevu.com , http://daily.so )
- Two communities ( http://launchmba.co , http://scribelounge.com )
- A newsletter + podcast ( http://growthlessons.co )
- A few potential micro-saas ( http://vidpops.com , http://userevu.com , http://daily.so )
- Two communities ( http://launchmba.co , http://scribelounge.com )
Although it may sound odd to have so many things on the go, it does have some significant upsides:
- Less emotional attachment, more analytical thinking
- Broader understanding of different business models
- Confidence in my ability to ship quickly
- No fear of failure
- Less emotional attachment, more analytical thinking
- Broader understanding of different business models
- Confidence in my ability to ship quickly
- No fear of failure
@dvassallo writes about the benefits of making lots of small bets.
@alexwestco wrote about finding SaaS success on his 19th attempt.
@csallen says the biggest success predictor is your ability to not quit.
@alexwestco wrote about finding SaaS success on his 19th attempt.
@csallen says the biggest success predictor is your ability to not quit.
Your ability to not quit is crucial.
It's the one piece of business advice that supersedes all other advice.
Making small bets makes it much easier not to quit. Less time and money invested, less risk, lower consequences of failure, easier to get back up and try again.
It's the one piece of business advice that supersedes all other advice.
Making small bets makes it much easier not to quit. Less time and money invested, less risk, lower consequences of failure, easier to get back up and try again.
The other good thing about multiple small bets is the learning compounds.
My chance of success with upcoming projects is much higher than it was at the same time last year, and it will continue to increase.
So for 2021 I'm going to continue making small bets.
My chance of success with upcoming projects is much higher than it was at the same time last year, and it will continue to increase.
So for 2021 I'm going to continue making small bets.
My biggest learning of 2020 is to:
- Find my target customers BEFORE coming up with a product idea.
- Validate my ideas with target customers BEFORE building it.
Thanks to @arvidkahl and @JelmerPe for making these points stick.
- Find my target customers BEFORE coming up with a product idea.
- Validate my ideas with target customers BEFORE building it.
Thanks to @arvidkahl and @JelmerPe for making these points stick.
To come up with a target customer, I looked at the crossover between areas I'm interested in and growing markets.
The most obvious one is online communities:
The space is growing fast
I started two online communities in 2020
I enjoy it
The most obvious one is online communities:
The space is growing fast I started two online communities in 2020 I enjoy it
I then started thinking about problems I personally would like solved.
One thing I've noticed is that although the @LaunchMBA community feels like it's buzzing, a large proportion of members are inactive.
However all the analytics just highlight the best members.
One thing I've noticed is that although the @LaunchMBA community feels like it's buzzing, a large proportion of members are inactive.
However all the analytics just highlight the best members.
This leaves me feeling guilty about all the people who paid to join but are not getting value from the community.
They may have insights into how the community could improve.
If they're not supported, they may churn or give a bad review.
They may have insights into how the community could improve.
If they're not supported, they may churn or give a bad review.
IDEA: An analytics and engagement tool to track member participation and make it easier to support and engage with all members.
Not just celebrating the best members, but also reaching out to the less active members to see what I can do to help.
Not just celebrating the best members, but also reaching out to the less active members to see what I can do to help.
I asked a couple of friends who run communities and described my idea.
Both said they would pay for it if it existed! A small amount of validation, but important.
So @kevinmgalang and I are working on making it exist.
Both said they would pay for it if it existed! A small amount of validation, but important.
So @kevinmgalang and I are working on making it exist.
We also found a catchy and available domain name, which is surely a good sign 
If you run a community and Slack or @CircleApp and would be interested in being a beta user, please join. http://communitycopilot.com
If you run a community and Slack or @CircleApp and would be interested in being a beta user, please join. http://communitycopilot.com
@kevinmgalang and I will be building this in public, and I'm excited to be working on it while doing the @beondeck No-Code Fellowship run by @thisiskp_.
Looking forward to a productive and SaaSy 2021!
Looking forward to a productive and SaaSy 2021!
Forgot to mention - we are initially focusing http://communitycopilot.com on Slack and Circle communities only.
It's much easier to serve a defined niche, and these are the two platforms I use personally.
If you know any communities running on either, please tag them!
It's much easier to serve a defined niche, and these are the two platforms I use personally.
If you know any communities running on either, please tag them!
