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14 Comments

🔹 Trends #0032 — Micro-SaaS

  1. 6

    I think "platforms cloning the plugins" is actually becoming a universal problem for us all.

    @dru_riley you touched upon this sentiment in the Haters section, but I think it's getting much more real. (I've built a plugin over Gmail for 14 years, so I am perhaps a bit jumpier about this than most.)

    Everything is so instrumented by the giants now, that it takes real gamesmanship to get big without being spotted and attacked.

    • Apps must be in App Stores, with real time user growth metrics tracked by the platform owner
    • Google tracks backlinks, so knows which websites are blowing up
    • FB famously bought a VPN (Onavo) to spot and buy startups taking off with the teen market before they became a threat (as WhatsApp had done years before).

    Sadly, I also don't trust the comforting story that BigTech only goes for billion dollar ideas. I think what actually happens is they build a generalised billion dollar product at first, then ambitious product managers look for the most successful surrounding niches it can expand into. Asana stated as much in their IPO, that they are generalised, but relentlessly speak to customers and build onboarding templates/customisations for every conceivable niche.

    So for our indie hacker careers, we have to decide what strategy we're going to take:

    • Somehow get big enough to defend ourselves without being seen. I have no idea how this is possible (nor is the IH mentality to want to be so big). But I think the greatest chance lies in building a lot of political capital / audience before launching, so you can launch with much more momentum out the gate.
    • Be hard to copy. A beloved brand (kinda), a data moat (stronger, but also BigTech's home game).

    But my favourite is to become more of a raider as a career. Spot an opportunity, take it, make a decent return, get spotted & crushed by BigTech, return to the shadows, repeat. Personally I quite like this idea because it's all the fun parts of being an entrepreneur (the start). This strategy also relies heavily on @dru_riley's fab earlier post on building and maintaining an audience.

  2. 5

    I've noticed that B2B platforms (like Shopify) are way more respectful with their plugin creators as compared to B2C platforms (like Facebook/Twitter). Not sure why is this the case though, just something I've noticed over the years.

    1. 3

      Thanks Darko. Interested in this. Have any links?

      That point to B2B being more respectful

  3. 3

    Great report. Would be grateful to be included in this 🙏

    Here's our story of growing a Shopify plugin to $25k MRR

    I wrote an extensive guide for new app developers to succeed on the Shopify app store

  4. 3

    Woah, already on report #32?? Keep crushing it Dru! I'm loving these reports.

    1. 1

      👊Appreciate it Whit

  5. 1

    I have a good experience with Google Sheets addons - led me to 3k MRR.
    I just release a new one - https://gsuite.google.com/marketplace/app/hr_candidate_search/873568994812

  6. 1

    Interesting insights, thanks for sharing

  7. 1

    What an amazing work, and the scope of your research topics looks broad and relevant at the same time. Congratulations on the constant delivery too. I just subscribed ! Love the clean, fresh design too

  8. 1

    Hi Dru!

    The articles are awesome. Was the blue diamond in the subject line intentional in this issue of the newsletter? While scrolling through my inbox it kept looking like it was an unread in the mail app. Keep up with the great content and thanks for curating it!

    1. 2

      Hi Allen!

      Each report has an emoji that goes with it

      That was an unintentional side effect this week.

      1. 1

        Out of curiosity did you see an increase in opens due to there being that emoji? Either way the microsaas email was great!

  9. 1

    You guys. Best. One. Yet. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

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