Ever wonder how a side project can skyrocket into a $35,000 success?
JustBeepIt, a SaaS tool, designed to facilitate and enhance communication between businesses and their customers, achieved its success using organic traffic and smart marketing strategies. Starting from a startup accelerator with no marketing budget and zero sales, JustBeepIt used innovative approaches to move from obscurity to significant profitability in the competitive SaaS industry.
In this article, we'll explore the steps and insights that fueled JustBeepIt's path to success.
After graduating from a startup accelerator, JustBeepIt had no marketing budget and zero sales. But they didn’t let that stop them. They brainstormed a list of all the free ways to boost visibility and sales, including:
- Product Hunt launch;
- Reddit, Medium, IndieHackers posts;
- AppSumo Select launch;
- Being active on LinkedIn/Twitter.
Step 1: Product Hunt launch
Kicking things off with a bang, the team aimed for the top spot on Product Hunt. They prepared for four weeks, growing their mailing list to 3-4k people to reach out to on launch day. Their strategy paid off, landing them the coveted 1st spot. "We took this very seriously and started preparing well in advance," they shared. A detailed post about their strategy can be found on Reddit.
Step 2: Posts on IndieHackers, Reddit, and Medium
Introducing the "Infinite Marketing Glitch" strategy: every little success, whether it’s the first 100 users or landing the top spot on Product Hunt, became a post. Many of these posts went viral, often making it to the homepage of IndieHackers. "Every time we had a win, big or small, we shared it," they said.
Step 3: Active on LinkedIn/Twitter
Posting consistently on social media is often overlooked but incredibly effective. They posted about their product at least five times a week, sharing both successes and failures. This brought in nearly 40% of their traffic and grew their follower count from 100 to over 2k. "Just talk about your company. It brings traffic and grows your audience," they advised.
Step 4: AppSumo Select
AppSumo Select was a game-changer. With no marketing budget, getting into this program was a boon since AppSumo paid for their ads. The unique aspects of their product and the positive feedback from Product Hunt helped them get accepted. About 70% of their sales came from here. "It’s all about having something unique and proving it with results," they explained.
Here's the exciting part: last month, their product JustBeepIt raked in $12 000 in revenue, propelling their total sales to an impressive $35,000, all thanks to the strategies outlined earlier.
Bonus tips for boosting visibility and sales:
1. Tag people (and brands) on social media
Tagging your loyal customers, brand evangelists, or even neighboring businesses and vendors on social media can significantly expand your reach. This tactic helps you tap into new potential audiences, grow your following, and possibly attract more clients. Encourage your followers to tag your social media handle or business location in their posts as well. Additionally, tag happy customers in your own posts (with their permission), exposing your business to their network.
2. Use hashtags!
Using hashtags is a free and effective way to extend your reach on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Broad or trending hashtags can help boost your brand identity, but they shouldn’t be your only focus. More specific hashtags, similar to long-tail keywords, are useful for sharing resources or advice. If you’re a local business, location-based hashtags are essential. Don’t forget to create custom hashtags too! Use a mix of different hashtag types to ensure your posts reach the right audience.
3. Do some local SEO
Google’s algorithm is designed to deliver the most accurate, high-quality, and relevant content for any given search query, leveling the playing field for small businesses to compete with larger ones. Local SEO is free but can take some time to show results, so start now and keep at it — the long-term benefits can be substantial. Here are some essential local SEO tips:
- Use location-based keywords: Add keywords like “Portland bakery” to the titles, headings, and body content of your main website pages;
- Get listed in online directories: Ensure your information is consistent across all platforms;
- Publish local content: Create pages or blog posts specific to the neighborhoods you serve.
4. Develop an email marketing plan
Email marketing is still one of the most reliable ways to get a great return on your marketing investment. It’s perfect for getting new visitors engaged and keeping your existing customers in the loop. Here’s how to make your email marketing game strong:
- Craft creative subject lines: Make your emails irresistible right from the subject line;
- Include a clear offer: Ensure every email has an offer that encourages readers to take the next step;
- Track performance: Monitor your email campaigns and run A/B tests to see which copy and offers resonate best with your audience.
Some additional email marketing tips:
- Offer incentives for signing up: Get new website visitors to subscribe to your newsletter by offering bonus content or a discount.
- Nurture your subscribers: Gradually build a relationship with your subscribers until they’re ready to become paying customers.
- Start free: Use free email marketing services like MailChimp to kick off your promotional campaigns.
5. Create data-rich infographics
Infographics are powerful marketing tools. They’re visually appealing, easy to digest, and highly shareable, making them great for driving referral traffic and backlinks.
Hiring a designer for an infographic can be costly, but you can create your own using free tools like Canva, Adobe’s free vector kits, or Visme.
If you don’t have original data, you can use existing data and give it a fresh twist. Government data is available at data.gov or The Census Bureau. For global statistics, try UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Find data relevant to your industry and audience interests, and you’re good to go!
6. Form industry partnerships
Team up with a business in a related industry (but not a direct competitor) for a joint project. This could be a local event, an online webinar, or a promotional giveaway. Partnering with another business means double the exposure and access to a whole new audience.
Industry partnerships give small business owners access to marketing expertise, technology, and customer bases they couldn’t reach on their own. To form a successful partnership, you need to:
- Clarify expectations: Make sure both parties are on the same page;
- Engage and vet: Talk to different businesses and assess how you can collaborate effectively;
- Have multiple conversations: Discuss thoroughly before making anything official.
7. Recycle your old content
Don’t let great content gather dust — repurpose it! If you have a successful webinar, turn it into a video tutorial. Combine related blog posts into an ebook and promote it through site pop ups or your email marketing program.
Don’t be afraid to mix up and re-promote your old content. Many people in your audience may have missed it the first time, so it will feel fresh and new to them.
Conclusion
JustBeepIt's strategic roadmap shows how creative thinking and persistent effort can pave the way to success in the competitive SaaS landscape. With each step — from viral marketing strategies to industry partnerships — their journey not only boosted visibility but also drove significant revenue growth. Ready to take your SaaS venture to new heights? Explore these battle-tested strategies and witness your own path to success unfold.
