1. Start with Identifying a Problem:
– Engage in consulting within the desired industry to uncover software gaps and understand customer pain points.
– Learning to build custom software can showcase where opportunities exist.
– Focus on pre-existing problems instead of generating new ideas, emphasizing the importance of learning from existing frustrations and recurring customer needs.
– Use “frustration lists” to identify common problems that need solutions.
– Analyze data from spreadsheets created by professionals in various departments as these contain insights into potential SaaS solutions.
– Exploit trends to identify emerging markets and their specific challenges.
2. Building a Prototype:
– Create a clickable prototype to validate your concept before investing in development.
– Test the prototype on actual potential users to get feedback and avoid building unwanted features.
– Use tools like pen and paper, Balsamiq, Figma, or InVision App to design prototypes.
3. Validate Your Product:
– Validate the product market fit by getting potential customers to commit financially.
– Launch an early adopter program to allow early supporters to invest in the product with financial commitments.
– Crowdfunding can also be an effective strategy for validation.
4. Building Your MVP (Minimum Viable Product):
– Keep feature sets constrained and aim to launch within a 3-month window.
– Avoid spending excessive amounts on the prototype — use the minimum to get a working version.
– Consider hiring through platforms like Upwork or utilizing no-code solutions for faster deployment.
5. Collect Customer Feedback:
– Engage with customers directly through calls to understand their experience and improve the product.
– Use provided feedback to analyze patterns and deploy improvements that address common issues.
– Avoid building features that only a loud minority requests, and focus on those that will turn more users into power users.
6. Generate Demand:
– Use partnerships, paid acquisition, content publishing, and press as basic channels to create demand.
– Leverage partnerships to gain quick exposure to large audiences, paying partners with an affiliate fee.
7. Finding a Growth Hack:
– A growth hack is a unique advantage in customer acquisition that is not widely known or used.
– Creativity is key to identifying uncommon and cost-effective ways to access customer groups.
– Tactics should be ethical and align with overall business goals rather than short-term gains.
