What if I told you that you could launch a product and make $10 000 in just 50 days? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, Next Starter AI did just that, and it’s not magic — it's a smart strategy. Launched on March 18, 2024, this next.js boilerplate for indie hackers made waves, bringing in $8K in April alone and attracting 1 291 monthly visitors to its website. Curious about how they pulled it off? Let’s break it down.
General data
Launch date: March 18, 2024
April revenue: $8 000
Monthly web traffic: 1 291
What's Next Starter AI?
Next Starter AI is a next.js boilerplate designed for indie hackers eager to launch their own SaaS, AI, and web apps quickly and efficiently. Plus, it comes with handy tools to market your product with ease.
The business model
We’re talking a lifetime usage model here, with a one-time payment. Prices range from $169 to $199. After launching in March, Next Starter AI pulled in $2 000. Fast forward to May, and they’ve hit the $10 000 mark!
How did they do it?
Next Starter AI’s growth strategy hinges on three pillars: backlinks, SEO blogs, and social media. Here’s the scoop:
Backlinks
Backlinks are hyperlinks from one website to another. They play a significant role in search engine optimization (SEO) and web traffic generation. Here's why they're crucial:
- Boosting SEO rankings: Search engines like Google use backlinks as a signal of a website's credibility and relevance. The more high-quality backlinks a site has, the higher it is likely to rank in search engine results.
- Driving traffic: Backlinks from popular and relevant sites can direct significant amounts of traffic to your website. When other websites link to your content, their visitors are more likely to click through to your site.
- Building authority: Quality backlinks from reputable sites enhance your website's authority and reputation. When authoritative sites link to your content, it signals to search engines and users that your site is a trusted source of information.
- Networking and relationships: Creating backlinks often involves collaboration with other sites and bloggers, fostering relationships and networking opportunities within your industry.
Building a robust backlink network was Next Starter AI’s priority number one. They crafted an all-encompassing marketing guide, analyzing almost every site out there along with their domain authorities. This guide features key startup directories like Product Hunt, Side Project, TechCrunch, TrustPilot, and guest blog sites.
Remarkably, they landed their first customer just three days after submitting their product to over 150 sites listed in the guide.
Their success boils down to two factors: product quality and smart promotion. Knowing they weren’t the only boilerplate out there, they packed their offering with features developers were craving. Plus, they tackled marketing hurdles head-on, creating a guide that’s been a game-changer for their product—and it can work for you too!
SEO blogs
SEO blogs are articles or posts designed to rank highly on search engine results pages (SERPs). They are crafted not only to provide valuable information to readers but also to be easily discoverable by search engines. Here’s how they work and why they’re important:
- Keyword optimization: SEO blogs are written with specific keywords and phrases in mind — terms that potential customers are likely to search for. By incorporating these keywords naturally throughout the content, the blog can rank higher in search results for those terms;
- High-Quality content: Search engines prioritize content that is informative, well-written, and relevant. SEO blogs aim to answer common questions, solve problems, or provide in-depth information on a particular topic, ensuring that readers find them useful and engaging;
- On-Page SEO elements: These blogs include various on-page SEO elements such as meta descriptions, header tags (H1, H2, H3), alt text for images, and internal linking. These elements help search engines understand the content and improve the user experience;
- Backlinks: High-quality SEO blogs can attract backlinks from other websites, which further boosts their authority and search engine ranking. When other sites link to your blog, it signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy;
- Regular updates: SEO blogs are often updated regularly to keep the content fresh and relevant. This can involve adding new information, updating statistics, or optimizing the content for new keywords;
- User experience: They are designed to be easy to read and navigate, with clear headings, subheadings, bullet points, and images to enhance readability and keep readers engaged.
Backlinks have been driving most of Next Starter AI’s traffic, but SEO blogs played a crucial supporting role. They penned detailed, easy-to-understand blogs about their product, helping potential users visualize how they could use it to create their own projects. Plus, top-notch customer support has boosted loyalty and made Google algorithms work in their favor.
Social media
As developers working 9-5 jobs, they know the struggle of finding time to develop a side project. They’ve been through the tough economic times and understand the hesitation to quit a stable job. This product is their way of shining a light and offering support to fellow developers in similar situations.
Their social media content is crafted with care, aimed at helping and inspiring others. Backed by their strong backlink strategy, their social media presence has been a key driver of their success.
Key takeaway
Effective time management can take your product to new heights.
Every hour saved on software development is an hour you can spend perfecting your product. By offering detailed, accurate solutions to common problems and having a solid marketing strategy, you can accelerate your marketing efforts and achieve great results. Remember, sometimes you don't need to reinvent the wheel to solve a problem.
Conclusion
So, what’s the secret sauce behind Next Starter AI’s rapid success? It’s all about smart marketing, high-quality product development, and understanding their audience. By leveraging backlinks, SEO blogs, and social media, they created a buzz and built a loyal customer base in record time. This isn’t just a story about quick revenue; it’s a masterclass in efficient, effective growth strategies. Take a page out of their book, and who knows? Your next big idea might just be the next big thing.
