Another Productized Design + Development Service / Side Hustle - Minimal Investment
Hey Hackers!
And it's here: https://wearesuperclan.com/
After having worked in the design industry for a while, I thought I would try something of my own as a side hustle. As a UX/UI designer, I'm inspired by the success stories of Brett from DJ and other vibrant indiehackers. I've started SuperClan (www.wearesuperclan.com), aiming to provide unlimited design (one request at a time) and development services for anyone who needs them. :)
I have previous working experience in freelance marketplaces and with direct clients, but after getting into a full-time job, I completely stopped taking on new projects. This project is what I believe will give me the freedom to work without worrying too much. ;)
Investments made so far for this project include buying a domain for $12 and hosting for about $12 per year. I am using WordPress (free) and Elementor for building the page. I already have some plugins that I pay for yearly, Figma for design - free
and of course, my time. :)
To test the waters, I have put up a simple website with not much going on, but I'm focusing on the work and the value one gets upon signing up. I'm starting with low prices and plan to increase them in the future. Additionally, I'm considering launching SuperClan on Product Hunt as well. If anyone wants support there, please drop me a message, as I'm looking to learn from PH launchers. :)
My goal is to secure our first client within a month, showcasing the value SuperClan brings. I'm eager to learn from fellow creators, share insights, and build meaningful connections within the indiehacker community.
URL: https://wearesuperclan.com/
Please take a look and share your feedback. :)
Hey 👋 @heysree, congratulations on the launch!
I love the design - very clean and clear. I'm keen to see how you do, as someone who recently launched (and then pulled the plug on) an unlimited design subscription service.
I pulled the plug for a few reasons (including personal), but one of the big ones is due to the over-saturation in the marketplace right now, fuelled largely by the success of DesignJoy and the course Brett launched that has essentially created 1,500+ competitors in the space.
I'm curious as to what your UX services include? I can't see any in your services section - only UI Design. And to that end, how do you handle UX services in 5-6 days?
Good luck with it all - I'm rooting for you ⚡️🤞🏻
Hey Norriehansen, thanks for taking time to check out SuperClan. I really value your feedback and I agree that the market is competitive. However, let’s hope SuperClan will be a success :)
Currently, I haven't incorporated UX services into SuperClan. If a request for such services comes my way, I hope the client will understand the time and complexity involved in delivering results. I think it should be transparently communicated in order to manage expectations.
And good news is I'm in talk with a possible client, It not a reoccurring one but a simple fix in WP side. I can possibly pitch more of my services if this comes through :)
Thanks again
That's good news! Good luck with it.
I think you're right about the UX side of things, and that makes sense. With that in mind, you ought to consider renaming the 'UI/UX DESIGN' plan to just 'UI DESIGN'. It currently looks like you offer UX, because of how it's named.
Like you say, transparency in the communication is key! 💪
Congratulations on starting your side business as a UX/UI designer, SuperClan! The website looks fantastic.
I think your cheap pricing strategy and your intention to raise rates in the future is a wise move to draw in new customers while highlighting the benefits SuperClan provides. Launching on Product Hunt is a smart move because it can increase awareness and present new opportunities.
It's encouraging to see you pursue your passion and start your own business. I hope you're able to land your first client within the next month. Looking forward to seeing SuperClan grow and prosper.
Thank you for your kind words and thanks for checking out SuperClan, I appreciate your support.
I believe that the affordable pricing strategy and the plan to increase rates in the future will be effective in attracting new customers.
Launching on Product Hunt, I hope it will open doors to new opportunities.
I'm optimistic about landing my first client within the next month.
Thank you again for your support, and I look forward to sharing more updates along the way!
Very cool and super clean landing page! (🥁) The video is a bit low res but otherwise I think the landing page and value prop are really clear. I wish you the best of luck!
Thank you so much for taking the time to visit the landing page and sharing your thoughts. We're really glad you liked the clean design and value proposition. Your feedback about the video resolution is noted, and I will work on improving that.
thanks a lot again.
Update 1 :
Recently completed a web design project valued at $2000 through a custom deal. The client demonstrated great understanding of project timelines and expectations, making the collaboration a smooth experience. While focusing on acquiring new clients, I encountered some challenges with prospects seeking extremely low-cost solutions and expecting lightning-fast delivery. Some with miracles to happen :P
Good learnings :P
The website's design is truly impressive, showcasing a simple and straightforward layout complemented by concise copy. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was built on WordPress. One suggestion I have is to consider making the typography bolder for the hero and heading sections to make it more eye-catching and act as a differentiator.
There has been a recent uproar on the internet due to the explosive conversations involving Brett and DJ. While it's tempting to give it a try, I have some concerns about it actually working for product designers, where the work involves collaboration, communication, and exploration. However, I genuinely appreciate your willingness to take the leap. Looking forward to seeing how it goes for you. :)
I have two questions regarding payment collection and customer acquisition!
I noticed that you are using Stripe due to the advantages you have. Could you please provide information on alternative options for collecting subscription payments without the need to establish a formal company? I'm looking for options where I can experiment with this process.
By the way, have you onboarded any clients thus far? If so, may I ask through what medium you acquired them?
Hey @amilliondreams thanks for checking out SuperClan.
I will keep a note on your suggestion about the font, I will explore more variations there.
I understand the importance of collaboration, communication, and exploration in the field, But let's see how it goes and we can always tweak it to make it better.
Regarding the payment
You can explore alternative options like PayPal, Square, Gumroad, or Paddle if you're looking for flexibility without establishing a formal company.
As for client acquisition - I'm still in process of finding my 1st customer :) Hope to find them soon.
Open for partnership and collaborations :)
Thanks for the helpful info, Sree. I appreciate it.
I enjoy working with motivated people and I'm open to collaborating with you in any way possible. Please let me know if there's anything specific in the near future.
Hi Sreemon,
Beautiful website given the fact it's made in WordPress. Great font and colors selection. Love how the pricing is well sectioned and has different options to pay.
(But video quality is a bit questionable) and the work can be shown in better way.
I have some questions to ask tho.
How have you setup Stipe in India. Have you formed LLC for it?
How you are doing marketing to acquire customers?
Hey, @Vansh22 thanks for checking out SuperClan.
Video quality I need to thoroughly check though. Because from my end it's all working good. Quality is looking fine for me.
Could you please tell me which browser, OS, and resolution of your screen in which you checked ?
Regarding Stripe, No I will be collecting payments from my wife's account who is in Canada. India stripe had some limitations like we had to give registration of indian govt and some more hustle. I can see you are also in the same space, For payments you can try Paypal or RazorPay. I can suggest some more which I forgot now.
Marketing is a good question - I'm analyzing different ways to do it. PH is one option I have right now.
Hope I answered your question.
I'm on Windows 11, MS Edge 1920×1080.
Yes, I'm following the same journey, still finding the best way to market the service.
Currently using Paddle for payments. Thought of using Lemonsqueezy, but it doesn't let you pause the subscription.
I heard good about paddle, You can try Paypal also or find a 3rd party payment aggregator which can integrate multiple payment options.
Super interesting and congrats on a cool looking site and portfolio!
I’ve been seriously looking at launching a similar service although I’m getting cold feet about the whole subscription thing.
Wondering if in fact the same principles could be applied I.e speed in terms of onboard/purchase and turnaround, but not a subscription model.
In other words, I have an agency site with services ready to buy with a few clicks, but they’re priced individually.
Did you consider this approach at all before going for the subscription route?
I’m coming at this as a Wordpress design & build freelancer with a partner for graphic design and the sub model just seems a bit scary! What if someone wants a full website for instance? Do they just submit a bunch of requests for each page etc then you slowly churn through them one at a time?
All the best with it!
Hey!
Thanks for the kind words.
In terms of speed and turnaround, you can definitely apply the same principles without the subscription model. I have some freelance experience (single project basis) before as well so I think I will be a able to handle client requests fairly.
For clients wanting a full website, you can work closely with them to give an expectation of what can be delivered in this time frame and the next chunk of requests can be taken once this is finished. You cannot deliver a full website in 5 6 days if it has 15 20 pages to be designed. You have to set the expectations correctly to the client and gather requirements correctly so you can estimate the time.
Hope this helped you.
Hi, why should a customer subscribe to your service vs paying one time some where else?
Hi @kdr , Thanks for asking.
With a subscription, you get unlimited design at a flat monthly cost, which can be more budget-friendly in the long run than the customer getting charged on every project.
One can scale usage as the needs evolve, submitting design and development requests whenever there's a need for assistance, Basically on-going support and constant requirements of needs can be covered in this subscription itself.
If you consider project-based services while they may have their benefits, But there are some drawbacks
With a one-time payment, you typically have access to a specific set of project scope or service for a limited duration, without the flexibility to expand or adapt beyond the initial agreement. This means you may need to make additional payments for future updates or ongoing support, It can get costly going forward in the scenario of products for example.
These may not come with ongoing support unless you have opted for a retainer, but even then, there are limitations on the level of support and improvement they can provide over time. This can be a disadvantage if you encounter issues or require assistance in the future.
Here in subscription, you don't have to worry about that :)
Hope I answered your question.
Ok but one thing i really don't get: how do you tell your customer that his quota is exhausted and he has to wait until next month for his stuff?
Seriously, customers always want their things delivered immediately and if they have a subscription like a flat rate i think most of them will not understand why they have to wait.
And also, if you say a subscription is more budget friendly in the long run means on the other side there is less money for you, right?
There is no quota exhaustion here, each request will be delivered within the mentioned timeframe (you can see the website where I mentioned the delivery time). And each request is taken one after another, not everything at once.
Yes you are right most of them won’t understand why they have to wait, it is also a part of the process where I have to make them understand how this works and what can be expected.
Yes every customers want everything delivered faster, that’s why we have put up a expected delivery time on each request. Requests can be bigger and smaller, Hope customer can understand the complexity involved, If not, they are in the wrong place :)
Thanks for explaining. Would love to hear some update at someday!
Sure :)
Same question here, what are the competitors?
Hi @alvarovillalbaa thanks for asking this question.
I have answered question above.
Regarding the competitors
There are many competitors on the market right now, You can search for productized services for design. The most famous one is from Brett here in IH itself.
Cheers
Hello there, glad to see you're working on a creative project. I checked out your website and here are some of my feedback:
• The design is clean and minimalist, which is good for readability and usability. However, it could use some more visual elements or colors to make it more appealing and engaging. Maybe you could add some images or icons to illustrate your services or testimonials.
• The copy is clear and concise, which is good for communicating your value proposition and benefits. However, it could use some more personality and emotion to make it more persuasive and memorable. Maybe you could add some storytelling or humor to your headlines or subheadings.
• The call-to-action is prominent and visible, which is good for conversions and leads. However, it could use some more urgency or incentive to make it more compelling and irresistible. Maybe you could add some scarcity or social proof to your offer or button.
Overall, I think you have a good website that showcases your skills and expertise. However, I think you could unlock 20X growth with 23000+ designs but having UIHUT B2B Design Platform offers using and reselling access at a very low cost. I hope this helps you improve your website and achieve your goals. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask me.
Remember: Don't sell your product for a lifetime!!
Hey there! Thank you so much for taking the time to check out the website and share your feedback. We really appreciate it!
I totally agree that adding some images or icons could make our website more interesting and eye-catching. We'll definitely look into incorporating them to better showcase our services and testimonials.
Love your idea of adding some personality and emotion to the website. It's important to connect with our visitors on a deeper level. I will work on making our headlines and subheadings more relatable and engaging, maybe even sprinkle in a little humor!
Your suggestion of creating a sense of urgency and offering incentives is spot on! I will explore ways to make our call-to-action more compelling and irresistible.
I will check out UIHUT, Seems interesting.
Once again, thank you for your feedback and support. If you have any more ideas or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.
heysree,
Thank you for your kind words and positive feedback. I'm glad you found my comment helpful and insightful. I really enjoyed reading your reply and want to share more with you about how can you secure your first client within a month.
Here are some core points to increase sales and growth, but I hope you will able to secure your first one by applying these strategies that I suggest for my paid clients:
No 1. Connect with your customers: One of the most important ways to increase sales is to build trust and rapport with your customers. You can do this by understanding their needs, challenges, goals, and preferences. You can also communicate with them regularly, provide value-added information, offer feedback, and ask for referrals. By connecting with your customers, you can create loyal and satisfied customers who will buy from you again and recommend you to others.
No 2. Provide value: Another way to increase sales is to provide value to your customers. This means offering solutions that solve their problems, improve their situation, or enhance their experience. You can also provide value by adding extra features, benefits, or services that differentiate you from your competitors.
By providing value, you can increase customer satisfaction, retention, and loyalty. As I suggest you UIHUT B2B Design Market to solve your ultimate design resources problem and saving thousend plus days and big amount of dollar. By the way, you mentioned it's seems interested to you, so you may talk with it's founder here is his linkedin ID: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mdmhsami/
No 3. Present the product effectively: A third way to increase sales is to present the product effectively. This means highlighting the features and benefits of your product that match your customer's needs and wants. You can also use stories, testimonials, demonstrations, or samples to show how your product works and how it can help your customer. By presenting the product effectively, you can persuade your customer to buy from you and not from someone else.
No 4. Increase the number and size of transactions: A fourth way to increase sales is to increase the number and size of transactions. This means encouraging your customers to buy more often or buy more at once. You can do this by offering discounts, bundles, upsells, cross-sells, or loyalty programs. By increasing the number and size of transactions, you can increase your revenue and profit.
No 5. Invest in yourself: A fifth way to increase sales is to invest in yourself. This means improving your skills, knowledge, attitude, and habits that can help you become a better salesperson. You can do this by reading books, taking courses, attending seminars, listening to podcasts, or hiring a coach. By investing in yourself, you can increase your confidence, competence, and credibility.
Remember: Your product is the silent ambassador of your brand.
Hey bro. I think you're using ChatGPT for your comments (edited to include your personal business details). Could you confirm if this is so? It would be good to know.
I got an almost identical answer from ChatGPT a couple of weeks ago when I was demonstrating it to my Dad for his business.
ChatGPT is an AI Model Language it's trained as a human. So, sometimes it's works as a Human tune. I used this tool for 2 months maybe, but I don't find good. So, I don't using ChatGPT for last month almost. But I don't hate this one.
Hi good luck! I was just wondering how you you plan to onboard clients? How much work in terms of client meetings, etc before the work starts.
I know DJ doesn't do this but it seems a bit harder to do that with UX and development.
Hi, I will be having meetings with clients for sure in order to understand the scope and set an expectation on the deliverables, But will limit these to a certain amount of time, Say 15 to 30 mins max.
On the work side - I will use Trello for onboarding them and I will always like to start with Giving the client an idea of what's coming, For example, Wireframing(once approved) and then design.
Hope I answered your question :)
Nice price point compared to portfolio quality for sure. Wish you luck finding that first client. You have a really good value for the turnaround time, imo.
Thanks Bran for sharing your thoughts.
Do you think that the price is too low ?
I wanted to get some clients initially and then raise prices going forward.
Not too low. I’d have done the same, start low and slowly increase prices and decrease turnaround time. I think you’re easing into it intelligently
Thanks Bran. That’s the plan :)