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Idea #2: AppSumo for the creator economy
A deal website with discounted digital assets and resources from top creators in a specific niche.
A thread:
Idea #2: AppSumo for the creator economyA deal website with discounted digital assets and resources from top creators in a specific niche.A thread:
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The Background Story
More and more people are joining the creator economy movement.
@gumroad, a platform for selling digital products, grew over 150% in the past 5 years on exploding topics: https://explodingtopics.com/topic/gumroad
The Background StoryMore and more people are joining the creator economy movement.
@gumroad, a platform for selling digital products, grew over 150% in the past 5 years on exploding topics: https://explodingtopics.com/topic/gumroad
3/ All these creators need tools and assets to keep creating:
NewsletterOS by @janelsgm
MakerMinions by @gill_works
BetterSheets by @kamphey
Build Once, Sell Twice by @jackbutcher
Icons by @traf
NewsletterOS by @janelsgm
MakerMinions by @gill_works
BetterSheets by @kamphey
Build Once, Sell Twice by @jackbutcher
Icons by @traf
4/ We need an @AppSumo for digital assets and resources.
Niche it down - for people creating newsletters, teaching entrepreneurship, editing videos, for visual designers, for poster designers...
Niche it down - for people creating newsletters, teaching entrepreneurship, editing videos, for visual designers, for poster designers...
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Why build this now?
More and more people are creating side projects and digital products (eBooks, swipe files, fonts, icon sets, spreadsheets, etc.) are among the most popular category.
Why build this now?More and more people are creating side projects and digital products (eBooks, swipe files, fonts, icon sets, spreadsheets, etc.) are among the most popular category.
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How to execute on this idea?
Pick a niche: this should be one that you are familiar with and better yet, you already have a network in.
If you don’t have a niche, focus on an area that you are interested in and willing to put in the work to grow in.
How to execute on this idea?Pick a niche: this should be one that you are familiar with and better yet, you already have a network in.
If you don’t have a niche, focus on an area that you are interested in and willing to put in the work to grow in.
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Start building an audience from day 0:
Find creators in your space. Go hunt on Gumroad etc.
Start tweeting about creators in your space
Start a newsletter highlighting one creator every week (do an interview with them to build a relationship)
Start building an audience from day 0: Find creators in your space. Go hunt on Gumroad etc.
Start tweeting about creators in your space
Start a newsletter highlighting one creator every week (do an interview with them to build a relationship)
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Here’s the landing page I built for this idea: http://thriftypack.carrd.co .
Use it to validate if creators would be interested in providing their product at a discount to your subscribers.
Here’s the landing page I built for this idea: http://thriftypack.carrd.co . Use it to validate if creators would be interested in providing their product at a discount to your subscribers.
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Validate the business model
AppSumo works on a revenue share model. You’ll need to figure out a model that works for your partners.
Validate the business modelAppSumo works on a revenue share model. You’ll need to figure out a model that works for your partners.
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Build a listing website:
Your newsletter can serve as a good jumping ground. Expand it with a listing website.
For the MVP I’d use a simple tool like Sheet2Site from @AndreyAzimov to build the initial listing page.
Build a listing website: Your newsletter can serve as a good jumping ground. Expand it with a listing website.
For the MVP I’d use a simple tool like Sheet2Site from @AndreyAzimov to build the initial listing page.
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Long term considerations
Only let in high-quality contributors. Good relationship building will be key.
Stick to your niche: as the project grows, you might be tempted to venture into other niches.
Long term considerationsOnly let in high-quality contributors. Good relationship building will be key.
Stick to your niche: as the project grows, you might be tempted to venture into other niches.
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How to validate it
Build relationships with creators of digital assets - create a newsletter to showcase their work.
Validate if they'd offer products at a discount?
If people start subscribing and creators are ok with discounts you are onto something.
How to validate itBuild relationships with creators of digital assets - create a newsletter to showcase their work.
Validate if they'd offer products at a discount?
If people start subscribing and creators are ok with discounts you are onto something.
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Distribution channels 1
Start building a following on Twitter.
Answer questions and join conversations in your niche community.
Offer a digital asset of your own for free.
Similarly to offering a digital asset you can build a tool that helps your audience.
Distribution channels 1Start building a following on Twitter.
Answer questions and join conversations in your niche community.
Offer a digital asset of your own for free.
Similarly to offering a digital asset you can build a tool that helps your audience.
14/ Distribution channels 2
Ask creators to share the offer with their audience - leverage their followers.
Create an online course & offer it for free on Udemy or Skillshare.
Pay for well-priced ads. Buy cheap ads in newsletters focused on the same niche, buy Reddit ads.
Distribution channels 2Ask creators to share the offer with their audience - leverage their followers.
Create an online course & offer it for free on Udemy or Skillshare.
Pay for well-priced ads. Buy cheap ads in newsletters focused on the same niche, buy Reddit ads.
15/ Distribution channels 3
Create a referral program. Use digital assets you created as rewards.
Use an affiliate program.
Build it in public and post about your progress on IndieHackers and Twitter.
Distribution channels 3Create a referral program. Use digital assets you created as rewards.
Use an affiliate program.
Build it in public and post about your progress on IndieHackers and Twitter.
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Get ideas like this one every week at https://ideastomakers.com/
Get ideas like this one every week at https://ideastomakers.com/
