Digital Downloads Businesses, Show yourself (Not SaaS)
I've seen a lot of SaaS here. Good for you.
I'd love to know indie hackers who started digital download businesses. I'm looking to start one and I'd love to learn from your stories.
I've seen a lot of SaaS here. Good for you.
I'd love to know indie hackers who started digital download businesses. I'm looking to start one and I'd love to learn from your stories.
That's good to hear that you want to enter in SAAS. I have also developed Extendons Digital Downloads App. It helps stores selling digital products increase revenue. It lets you add multiple file formats and attach them to products, and provide download links or QR codes. You can upload any file format and create rules for managing digital downloads. The app also offers analytics for storage and order details, as well as order management and history. It's a great tool for enhancing the customer experience and increasing revenue.
https://apps.shopify.com/extendons-digital-downloads?
I have WooCommerce extension called PickingPal. It's a WordPress plugin that extends the functionality of WooCommerce. PickingPal eliminates (or minimizes) eCommerce shipping errors through the use of barcode scanning.
First built it because I needed it for one of my eCom sites. Then decided to package it up so it could be sold as a software license.
Originally launched the product on the WooCommerce Extension (App) store. But then pulled it off after Woo/Automattic had contractual language that I wouldn't agree to.
Now selling it directly via my PickingPal website. People make a purchase, they get an email with the software download link and their API Key. They can be up and running -- basically in minutes.
It's both a B2B & B2C sale. Sometimes the end customer is buying it directly, and sometimes an agency or web developer is buying it for their customer.
The software has a yearly license, managed by an API key. Once the license term expires, a new license is required to keep the plugin unlocked/running.
Switched over to a yearly license 2 years ago, so starting to see some compounded growth from return customers. I'm sure I loose some repeat customers from those who hack the code and work around the API Key restrictions, but there's not much that can be done to entirely eliminate that.
You could consider me Head of Product as well as first/second level support. I have a small development team out of Russia that handles the main coding, updates, and 3rd-level support.
Overall support is pretty easy, and pretty infrequent.
Not a huge revenue maker yet. So far this year it's generated around $10k, and I haven't done any paid advertising ever. I do plan to do some email marketing, as well as possibly testing some paid Google ads, and will see if either move the revenue needle any.
That's about it :) Questions?
I'm really interested in the route you took for development. Did you have the Russian dev team build it up from scratch? Do you have any technical ability or do you completely outsource any development that needs to be done? How did you find this team? How have you found it to be working with them throughout the product life cycle?
@Microvert - thanks for your questions!
Yes, the Russian dev team built PickingPal from scratch.
As for a quick backstory -- started working with the founder / main developer (Alex) back in 2012 when I wanted to build an integration between WooCommerce and ShipStation (which did not exist at the time).
Originally found Alex through eLance (now Upwork). He was a solo developer at the time I believe -- or only worked with one other coder.
Built the ShipStation <> WooCommerce integration via a WordPress plugin using Alex as dev. Eventually sold that plugin to WooCommerce / Automattic.
Over the years, I had Alex & team build several WordPress plugins for me. So, when I decided to build what is now PickingPal, I went to them first since we already had a pre-existing relationship.
As for working with developers -- TBH it's always hit-and-miss. I've been working with devs (frontend, back end, db, QA, UX, etc.) for 20+ years. Sometimes you work with rockstars, other times you work with those still learning.
Now that Alex's team is a little bigger, I sometimes work with junior developers on his team. So, even still today, development does not always go as smooth as I would like it to.
Personally, I don't code -- so I outsource everything. Did a bit of coding a very long time ago, but it's not something I enjoyed doing. That said, I understand all the main things needed to develop an app or SaaS, from a Product pov.
I can build out requirements and most wireframes, and can explain how everything interconnects and needs to look/function.
Finding good & reliable developers is tricky. I have a few goto devs atm, but since they are pretty talented, most of the time they are busy working on other projects.
If I were to look for devs today for a project, I'd likely start here, on Upwork, TopTal, r/hireaprogrammer.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
I am into a very early phase of the journey.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.yog4lyf.pranayama
At 2k MAU right now.
Most downloads coming through Facebook groups right now.
That looks like something I would use
Do share your feedback. Or any features you would love to have :)
BTW next on my list are Alarm Notifications and adding audio instructions in German , English US and English UK.
This comment was deleted 3 years ago