Read on Twitter
My 2nd app WideReview is now at $1000 MRR.
I created it without using my current users base.
And I wasn't the developer here so I had to hire!
16 steps to do the same
I created it without using my current users base.
And I wasn't the developer here so I had to hire!
16 steps to do the same
The 1st goal of this app was to start working with developers.
Because I used to be the developer in my different projects (and managing developers is very different)
I also wanted to prove that my system to create a Shopify App was working by doing it twice!
Because I used to be the developer in my different projects (and managing developers is very different)
I also wanted to prove that my system to create a Shopify App was working by doing it twice!
1) Finding a problem
Exactly what I did for WideBundle. I used Facebook Groups (French FB groups) to find some problems.
And I noticed that some people wanted features that didn't exist in the current Shopify Apps.
+ They wanted something that didn't look like "dropshipping"
Exactly what I did for WideBundle. I used Facebook Groups (French FB groups) to find some problems.
And I noticed that some people wanted features that didn't exist in the current Shopify Apps.
+ They wanted something that didn't look like "dropshipping"
2) Validating the idea
I knew what people wanted and WHY they wanted it.
Some features that didn't exist. Easy to set up. And that didn't look like dropshipping.
The goal now was to validate the idea. To see if some other people were interested.
I knew what people wanted and WHY they wanted it.
Some features that didn't exist. Easy to set up. And that didn't look like dropshipping.
The goal now was to validate the idea. To see if some other people were interested.
3) Creating a mockup
Part of my process is to create a mockup of what the app should look like to make it more "real".
I opened photoshop and created something in 1-2 hours (or pay someone to create the design)
Part of my process is to create a mockup of what the app should look like to make it more "real".
I opened photoshop and created something in 1-2 hours (or pay someone to create the design)
4) Post on Facebook Groups
Just ask if people want what you offer.
No excuses, you have all my list here: https://www.notion.so/Groups-to-promote-e-com-SaaS-2bcc45dbc7ff4cff983656fdf784f8ca
You can even target other markets (Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian, etc)
Just ask if people want what you offer.
No excuses, you have all my list here: https://www.notion.so/Groups-to-promote-e-com-SaaS-2bcc45dbc7ff4cff983656fdf784f8ca
You can even target other markets (Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian, etc)
5) Contact every single people who commented and liked
If you didn't have any comments, forget about your idea.
Contact every single person to understand why they want your app.
That's the questions I like to ask
If you didn't have any comments, forget about your idea.
Contact every single person to understand why they want your app.
That's the questions I like to ask
• Why do you want it?
• What do you currently use for that? (To find competitors)
• Why aren't you satisfied? (For copywriting later)
• What would you do on the app I showed you if you had a magic wand? (for MVP features)
• How bad do you want it? (1 to 10)
• What do you currently use for that? (To find competitors)
• Why aren't you satisfied? (For copywriting later)
• What would you do on the app I showed you if you had a magic wand? (for MVP features)
• How bad do you want it? (1 to 10)
Quick tips:
• If they don't want to reply it means they are not interested
• If they are interested they might even send you messages themselves
• You don't need 500 persons, 10 highly engaged users is enough
• If they don't want to reply it means they are not interested
• If they are interested they might even send you messages themselves
• You don't need 500 persons, 10 highly engaged users is enough
6) Post your developer job offer
I went to Upwork and created a job post to find my developer.
I wanted someone who spoke English fluently, in the timezone, with Shopify Experience and for whom prioritization and communication was important
I went to Upwork and created a job post to find my developer.
I wanted someone who spoke English fluently, in the timezone, with Shopify Experience and for whom prioritization and communication was important
7) Do interviews
I had 15 appliances.
I accepted 7 of them for an interview based on their previous job, motivations, etc.
I then took 4 of them I liked based on my feeling for a technical test
I had 15 appliances.
I accepted 7 of them for an interview based on their previous job, motivations, etc.
I then took 4 of them I liked based on my feeling for a technical test
8) Do technical tests
The good point here is that I knew how to create an app myself.
So I created a test job (1-page document) where they had to make a Shopify App.
The document I created had to be done in 8 hours (I know how to code so)
The good point here is that I knew how to create an app myself.
So I created a test job (1-page document) where they had to make a Shopify App.
The document I created had to be done in 8 hours (I know how to code so)
But actually, it was an 11h-12h job. 
It allowed me to see:
• Their technical skill
• If they would cheat on time (if they do everything in only 8 hours it's either because they cheated or because they are genius)
...
It allowed me to see:
• Their technical skill
• If they would cheat on time (if they do everything in only 8 hours it's either because they cheated or because they are genius)
...
• Their prioritization strategy (what tasks they will avoid and why)
• Their communication skills (some parts of the document are ambiguous, will they ask for help?)
The goal here wasn't to successfully complete the job but to show me they could work on that.
• Their communication skills (some parts of the document are ambiguous, will they ask for help?)
The goal here wasn't to successfully complete the job but to show me they could work on that.
9) Technical interview
Then I took them on a new interview to test their app live and walk me through their code.
Then I took them on a new interview to test their app live and walk me through their code.
10) Hire
I then hired my developer and god I'm still working with him and it's a perfect fit!
I then hired my developer and god I'm still working with him and it's a perfect fit!
11) Build MVP
We quickly built the MVP of the app. I was still in contact with people who liked or commented all this time.
I even posted new posts to bring in new interested people.
We quickly built the MVP of the app. I was still in contact with people who liked or commented all this time.
I even posted new posts to bring in new interested people.
12) Release it unlisted
I went through the Shopify Approval Process (Had to do it twice because it was rejected the 1st time)
I keep it unlisted because I don't want to grow here. I don't want people to find it while it's still in beta.
I went through the Shopify Approval Process (Had to do it twice because it was rejected the 1st time)
I keep it unlisted because I don't want to grow here. I don't want people to find it while it's still in beta.
We created a simple landing page with the words people told us.
We asked for payment from day-1 with a 14-day free trial and a discount for early users.
(You don't know otherwise if they want it because it's free or because they like it)
We asked for payment from day-1 with a 14-day free trial and a discount for early users.
(You don't know otherwise if they want it because it's free or because they like it)
We had only 10 users in the beginning and it's enough!
You want people who want the app so bad they are willing to help you build it!
They will even talk about it to others and you'll slowly grow.
You want people who want the app so bad they are willing to help you build it!
They will even talk about it to others and you'll slowly grow.
13) Iterate with feedbacks
We talked to our users and started to edit/add features to the app to make it "perfect"
We talked to our users and started to edit/add features to the app to make it "perfect"
14) List it when it's good enough
Put the app on the app store when you have enough users to leave many reviews.
And when you are not afraid of getting new users from the app store.
We were able to get 7-8 reviews fast that way
Put the app on the app store when you have enough users to leave many reviews.
And when you are not afraid of getting new users from the app store.
We were able to get 7-8 reviews fast that way
15) Keep going until your reach PMF
Iterate while listening to feedback from users and track your data using Mixpanel
(I just released a FREE course about that)
We'll soon reach it (you know it when you start to see more traction)
Iterate while listening to feedback from users and track your data using Mixpanel
(I just released a FREE course about that)
We'll soon reach it (you know it when you start to see more traction)
16) Enjoy
If you followed this process and made your app paid from day-1, you'll reach $1K MRR.
You'll probably reach it faster than me as I wasn't focused at all on this app.
If you followed this process and made your app paid from day-1, you'll reach $1K MRR.
You'll probably reach it faster than me as I wasn't focused at all on this app.
We'll soon ask our affiliates to talk about WideReview
We'll soon put ads on WideBundle's Dashboard for WideReview
And we'll send many emails to our users base
You don't want to do this before you reach pre-PMF otherwise you'll send the traffic to a dead app.
We'll soon put ads on WideBundle's Dashboard for WideReview
And we'll send many emails to our users base
You don't want to do this before you reach pre-PMF otherwise you'll send the traffic to a dead app.
If you enjoyed this thread, like it and retweet it!
And if you want to learn more, follow me @DsMatie
And if you want to learn more, follow me @DsMatie
If you didn't read the thread about my previous app WideBundle
I explained how I grew it to $25K MRR https://twitter.com/DsMatie/status/1476994975707455488
I explained how I grew it to $25K MRR
https://twitter.com/DsMatie/status/1476994975707455488
