All of us know how difficult it could be to stand out in the Ed-Tech SaaS market. But JotBot, which used to be a cheating aid for students, surprisingly managed to do that.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at JotBot's journey from struggling to find success to reaching $50k Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) in just six months. We'll explore the unconventional marketing strategies they employed, the turning moments that changed their trajectory, and the lessons we can learn from their experience. Let's get started!
Getting started
Declan and Derrick, the co-founders of JotBot, had tried everything from a social alarm clock app to an AI voice alarm, a gratefulness journal, an AI tutor for special ed, a habit app, an AI notes app, and even sneaker reselling. But nothing seemed to stick. That is, until they decided to focus all their efforts on JotBot and implement an unconventional marketing strategy involving super long domains and creative content.
The idea that changed everything
The idea that changed everything for JotBot came about when Declan was sitting on the toilet. He came up with an idea for a video featuring a super long and specific URL directing traffic to their site. The domain: ihaveanessaydueatmidnight.com. They had no hopes for this video, but after a few hours, it gained traction on Reels with 30,000 views. They quickly bought the domain and started getting traffic. The video peaked at 7 million views, and they remade it with the exact same script, gaining another 10 million views.
Their domains are hilarious:
- ihaveanessaydueatmidnightthatireallydontwanttodo.com
- ihave18tabsopenforthisresearchpaperthatsduetonight.com
- ihaveanessayatmidnightthatireallydontwanttodo.com
- 10pagepaperisat0pagesrightnow.com
- thisstupidessayiswaytoolong.com
They bought 100+ long domains like this and redirected them to the main one. They found that this strategy worked wonders for gaining an initial user base, even though the novelty eventually wore off.
Reposting viral videos to meme accounts
JotBot's strategy of reposting their most viral content on relevant Instagram meme pages is a great example of how to repurpose content and gain exposure to a wider audience.
Memes have become a powerful tool for reaching a younger demographic and JotBot took full advantage of this trend. By paying these meme pages to repost their videos, they were able to tap into an already engaged audience and gain more visibility for their brand.
Furthermore, the fact that these meme pages were mostly run by teenagers trying to earn some pocket change proved to be a steal for JotBot. With a small investment, they were able to reach a large audience and gain more users. This strategy demonstrates the value of finding cost-effective ways to reach a wider audience and the importance of understanding your target market.
Additionally, by reposting their most viral content on meme pages, JotBot was able to give their content a second life. This strategy allowed them to extend the lifespan of their content and reach even more people.
JotBot Viral 100m impressions
Multiple TikTok accounts
Since followers don't matter as much on social media platforms anymore (except for LinkedIn), JotBot decided to create multiple different accounts to go viral. They found that this strategy worked wonders for Tabs Chocolate as an E-Commerce App, but it worked even better for Ed-Tech SaaS like Studybuddy and JotBot. By having multiple accounts, they were able to reach different audiences and increase their chances of going viral.
JotBot TikTok Multiple Accounts
From cheating tool to useful tool
JotBot's success story is not only about their unconventional marketing strategies but also about their ability to pivot and adapt to what works best for their business. Initially, JotBot started as a cheating tool for students to get mediocre AI-generated essays. However, they quickly realized that this model didn't have great retention.
In response, JotBot made a significant pivot to position themselves towards writing and research, offering three use cases: AI-assisted writing, draft generation, and note-taking. This shift allowed them to improve retention and establish themselves as a valuable resource for students.
Their growth has been impressive, despite facing some hurdles along the way. One of those hurdles was getting scammed by one of their affiliates for $2000 who bought Google Ads on their own branded keyword.
However, JotBot's resilience and ability to learn from their mistakes have helped them maintain their growth and position themselves as a useful business with tons of growth potential.
JotBot affiliate program
In addition to their successful marketing strategies, JotBot also offers an affiliate program. If you're interested, you can sign up and earn a 50% commission on purchases made through your unique referral link. The program features easy link creation and a 50% revenue share on every subscription purchased through your link. For more information, you can visit their affiliate program page.
Conclusion
JotBot's success story teaches us that sometimes, thinking outside the box and taking risks can lead to incredible results. By using super long domains and reposting viral videos on meme pages, they were able to gain an initial user base and stand out from the competition. And by pivoting from a cheating tool to a useful tool for students, they were able to improve retention and position themselves as a valuable resource for students.
So, whether you're an Ed-Tech SaaS company looking to make your mark or an individual looking to earn some extra income, take a page out of JotBot's playbook and think creatively. You never know what might work!
