How we built a Pro version and made $1000 from our free product in 2 months
We decided to start new thread series a while ago about our adventure in crafting a Pro version of our free product http://mockupgenerator.co 🛠️
We were exploring the world of product-led growth and learning a lot along the way 🌱 This is the start of a never ending journey. We share simple tips on how we got our first sales in minutes after launching.
🌟 The Beginning of Our Journey
Our adventure started over a weekend, experimenting with bulk poster mockups as a feature for our existing product at the time. Our aim was to simplify and speed up the mockup creation process for print-on-demand people, which can often be tedious and repetitive.
It was a simple concept - highlighting transparent areas in green and then progressing towards automated image scaling. It was a modest beginning, yet it marked the start of an exciting venture.
🏗️ From Feature to Standalone App
Receiving unexpectedly positive feedback, we were thrilled and motivated. This led us to evolve our experiment into its own independent app. It was quite the jump, transforming a singular feature into a full-fledged application!
Choosing an appropriate name was crucial. We decided on http://mockupgenerator.co – straightforward and SEO-friendly. This name accurately encapsulates our services.
We started off with a simple tech stack: a basic Next.js app, no fancy backend or anything. Just mock data and super easy for anyone to use - no need to sign up or anything. We threw in a few more mockup types and just left it online to see what would happen, not expecting much.
👀 Gaining Traction and Planning a Pro Version
After launching our first version, we quickly noticed something exciting: people loved its simplicity and quality. More and more visitors started coming in. It wasn't just luck – our tool was getting mentioned in blogs, on social media, and beyond. The word was definitely spreading!
We tweaked it a bit now and then, but had loads of other projects, so it wasn’t our main thing. Fast forward about a few months, we realized it was really making a difference, meeting a real need.
That was the moment we knew it deserved more of our focus. We started thinking about how to make it beneficial for us too, like figuring out a sweet spot to monetize ensuring it could sustain our future efforts.
We began thinking about a Pro version, but first, we wanted to gauge interest. Would people be willing to pay, or was the free version enough? To find out, we set up a simple Pro waitlist to see who might be interested.
We use ConvertKit for collecting emails & sending newsletter. It is simple, nice and free up to 1000 subscribers to try things out and see if it works.
🛣️ On the Road to 100 Subscribers
After we launched and placed Pro feature teasers throughout the app, interest started to pick up. Subscribers to our waitlist began to trickle in - first one, then three, five, ten.
Showcasing Pro features, even though they weren't ready yet, turned out to be a smart way to naturally highlight the upcoming Pro version. Simple interactions from the Pro features like favoriting the mockup would bring up a Pro modal and the waitlist form.
With just two developers working on this project alongside our full-time jobs, we set a goal: once we hit 100 subscribers on our waitlist, we would launch Pro v1.
🌐 Launching on Product Hunt, Reddit & More
After reaching a promising number of initial subscribers, we felt the momentum building. It was clear that the interest we had garnered was not just fleeting curiosity - it was genuine excitement for what we were building. This was the sign we needed to take the next big leap. We decided it was the perfect time for our initial launch on Product Hunt, Reddit & more to showcase our project to the world.
Our strategy was simple yet effective. We created engaging posts that highlighted the unique features of our app, sharing our journey and inviting feedback. The response was overwhelming. Upvotes, comments, and valuable insights began to pour in, and our subscriber list saw a significant uptick - doubling, then tripling.
As our subscriber count approached the milestone of 100, we knew our decision to engage directly with potential users on platforms like Product Hunt and Reddit was a game-changer.
⚒️ Building the Pro Version
We developed the Pro version using;
- Next.js for frontend (hosting it on Vercel),
- Node.js for backend (hosting it on DigitalOcean),
- MongoDB for our database (hosting it on MongoDB Atlas),
- NextAuth for authentication,
- Stripe for payment processing
Opting for these technologies wasn't about chasing the latest trends but leveraging what we knew best to build efficiently. Our goal was to create a user interface that was straightforward and easy to navigate. People have loved the layout and usability, and it has not changed much since day one so far.
Check out at https://mockupgenerator.co
💵 Introducing the Pro Version and Getting the First Sales
We rolled out the Pro version on January 10, complete with API access, easy content management, and social login for Pro accounts. We decided to introduce one-time payments for lifetime value since it is usually easier and more appealing than adding another subscription for the users. After notifying our first 100 subscribers, the excitement was immediate: 3 sales in the first few minutes 🎉, reaching 10 in the next few days.
But then, a hiccup – our initial dynamic pricing with the price increasing after the limited 10 spots, didn't resonate, seen as too soon and a bit steep. Learning from feedback, we shifted to a straightforward, single-price model until the Beta phase concludes. This tweak reignited interest, sparking new sales without relying on heavy marketing or SEO. Just organic growth through discovery and community sharing.
We were happy with the initial transaction and interest, since this is a side project for us. With the limited time we can spare, it was amazing to earn something from what we are dedicating in our free time.
In almost 2 months after introducing Pro version, we reached over $1000 total revenue and 40 Pro users without putting proper marketing efforts thanks to product-led upselling. Now it is time to think about growth! 🌳
Who we are
We're passionate indie makers, software developers and creatives. We build cool stuff together and share our learnings. Follow our journey on https://x.com/noecrafts
