Is this (possibly) unique sales idea a good idea?
Hi all
I've just started my indiehacker journey a couple of days ago.
I want to build a website soon, but before I do that I would like to try my hand at selling some information. I've seen a few articles on here mentioning that.
I'd actually like some validation on my marketing idea for this product.
So I have a method for job applications that as far as I'm aware nobody has done, I've searched hundreds of images online and not found anything remotely similar. It helped me and a couple of friends get really good jobs. They promised they wouldn't share my method.
Now I'm considering selling it.
It's only going to be a 4-6 page document most likely. I think it's worth $40. I know that seems steep, but at the end of the day, if it helps you get your dream job, it's worth it and it is unique, not a regurgitation of other things out there.
What I'm wondering is this:
Is it a good idea to make a min and max number of buys?
Let's say I sell it for $20.
If I sell 10 units at $20 then I don't want to sell it. Because currently this method gives me an advantage in the job market and I'd rather others not know about it in case it leaks.
So I'd like to say minimum 1,000 buyers or nobody gets it. I'd also like to put on a maximum of say 10,000 buyers so that not too many people get it and it feels more rare to people.
I would also have purchasers sign an honour pledge (via checkbox) to not share the information to keep it's value up.
Is this a terrible strategy or is it a good idea? Are these numbers too ambitious? I think it's unique and a bit different and may spark interest and it's definitely from a place of honesty that I'd like to share in the sale's pitch. I genuinely don't want it out there unless it's truly worth it for me.
Not even sure how I'd implement this if you folks approve.
Any advice welcome. :)
I'd say run the experiment and take the conclusions by yourself. Very few of us have been in your shoes, so the chances that of you receiving a bad advice are quite high. Do it Dan!
As for your comment about wanting to build a website, I'd say beware of deferring plans to the future. If nothing is preventing you from working on your website right now, then just do it.
Cheers!
Thank you.
That's good advice. I'll just go for it and see what happens. Only one way to find out I guess :) - I'll report back what I find out of course.
re: The website. I will be going for it very soon, don't you worry.
However, as I want to get away from the 'spend ages building and then maybe think about how I'll market it later' cycle I'm going to do a marketing first approach. So I've been listening to the audio book 'traction' that someone recommended. I'm going to hang about on the marketing forum on here and learn as much as I can for a month or so and then build only a landing page and try and get lots of signups before I even write a line of code (minus the singup page of course).
This is what I need to do as marketing is my weakness, not building apps/websites :)
I'm just trying this experiment first as it will be very quick to make and I'll get a bit more marketing experience before I start.
Thanks again :)
Compare your situation to any of the thousands of products that offer a secret or "one weird trick" method to achieve something. Most of those products are bogus whereas yours is supposedly real, but it seems to me that the principle is the same, namely that they rely on the fact that the buyers don't have an efficient way to get in touch with each other to tell each other what the trick is, whether it works, etc. So instead of trying to keep it scarce they just put it out there and presumably make enough from customers who don't know each other that it's worth it. If someone does publish the "Dan C method of job hunting" (in spite of your honor agreement) and it spreads so far and wide that it impacts your potential customer base significantly, then you are famous and can monetize with a website with, for instance, additional details about applying your method.
Having said that, I agree with other comments that it doesn't hurt to try the scarcity method first.
This is a good point. I was more thinking if I put the word out in a relevant area of Reddit for example, that this could happen as people seem to dislike promoters a lot, they might just repost it.
I'm sure if the main method was SEO this wouldn't be an issue and would be fine, like you say.
Lots to consider. Away for a couple of weeks on holiday now but will have a think on my return.
That's what I thought before I come to this part "Are these numbers too ambitious?"
Pretty ambitious, considering there is nothing to back your claims, and no offense but no one knows about you.
Aiming for a minimum of $20K on your first digital product with 4-6 pages of information is also bold however nothing is impossible. Go for it, learn, and share along the way.
I mean I may adjust these figures I've not done any sums, more of the concept of min/max.
I'll give it a go anyway after finding best place to advertise and then report back.
The concept of min/max needs to evoke a feeling of scarcity. In this case, there is none for me. I won't feel bad for not pre-purchasing your product. I don't have a sense of FOMO. This could be just me or only a minority.
A common approach is to raise or double the price on every N sale. You might not do any sums but "If I sell 10 units at $20 then I don't want to sell it." hints at the expectation. TBH $200 for a first product with 10 customers is a very good starting point.
Another way to look at it. This post was seen by ~20 people and commented on by 2. What kind of conversion and impression you'll manage to fetch when/if you decide to sell your product. To be able to make X (1000) sales, how many views do you think you'll need, and how many will convert and put their card on it.
I mean to be fair I haven't even described the product yet. So I think it's a little early to judge it in the way you have.
The post was about the marketing strategy. So either a hard no or 'if you can write an interesting copy/good landing page then maybe' would have been more useful advice.
I'll consider your thought about the reducing fee though, this could work. So thanks for that input.
Alright, if that's what you're looking for; it's a hard no. I'm glad to be helpful.