I created an app, now I need to grow a marketplace.
I built an app that allows people to list their properties for sale without the need for an estate agent. (I know this exists in other countries but in the UK there is no real private seller competitor to Rightmove).
I did the classic dev move and vastly underestimated how difficult marketing is.
It feels like the more traditional SaaS marketing methods to get initial users don't work when you apply them to marketplaces. Does anyone have experience or tips on growing a marketplace that relies on user generated content?
Maybe you need to put some more thought into your positioning. With respect perhaps you have visions of toppling Rightmove but that ain't going to happen without a whole lot of resources so what's your plan to bring in revenue and grow from nothing to something? Without buyers your sellers will not pay to advertise. Can you advertise properties on Rightmove. If you can then great you have buyers and getting sellers just got a whole lot easier. Some others doing that I think. If you don't want to go that route then you will need to identify a niche and a compelling differentiator. Fledgling to me suggests first time buyers.
Thanks for a really well thought-out reply Rab, much appreciated!
This was exactly the type of reply I needed to refocus on the important and not rabbit-hole on some stupid idea.
I'm not gonna try advertise listings on Rightmove this doesn't seem like the right fit for what I'm trying to build. However, I have just had an epiphany of sorts, and so a much clearer idea of who my target audience is. :)
positioning is definitely the way forward for me now. it's almost as if this is what all the books say too... :P
How's it going? Made any headway?