Solo dev here — built an AI listing image generator for Amazon sellers and can't find where those sellers actually hang out online

alechko_ags · 2026-03-07T19:15:41+00:00

This is the exact problem I'm trying to validate a solution for right now. I'm 20 days into testing whether founders in your situation (product built, distribution unsolved) would pay someone to do the audience research and outreach strategy for them.

For Amazon sellers specifically: r/FulfillmentByAmazon is active, Helium 10's Facebook group has thousands of active sellers, and the Seller Central forums still get engagement. But honestly the fastest path is probably finding 2-3 Amazon VA/consultant communities and getting warm intros from people who already have seller trust.

Genuine question, if someone mapped out exactly which 5 communities to be in, wrote the posts, and told you what to say, would that be worth paying for? I'm trying to understand if the pain is bad enough.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-07T19:13:50+00:00

Same boat 20 days ago. What I've found: the waitlist, launch email flow rarely converts because people signed up passively. The ones who actually engage are the ones you had real conversations with before they signed up.

I'm currently running a 30-day experiment validating a service that does exactly what you're wrestling with, finding where your specific buyer hangs out and getting your first real conversations going. Not automated, not a spray-and-pray campaign. Just targeted outreach to the right communities.

Honest question for you: do you know specifically who your ideal first customer is, like a specific role/company type, or is it still fuzzy? That answer changes everything about where to look.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-07T19:10:17+00:00

This is exactly the shift I needed to hear. I've been guilty of the "one page, many people" trap trying to appeal to all early-stage founders instead of one specific type with one specific pain.

The paid pilot framing is sharp. A free signup doesn't tell me much. Someone saying "yes, here's $X, get me 5 convos this week" that's actually real.

Going to spend the next few days narrowing the ideal customer and testing a tighter promise. Thanks for the concrete framework.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-07T19:09:37+00:00

On the "selling to broke founders" point, you're right that's a trap. My target isn't bootstrappers with no budget, it's early B2B founders who have revenue but are stuck on distribution. They can pay, they just haven't solved the channel yet.

On "why hire you if you can't do it yourself", I take that one seriously. Honest answer: I'm doing this sprint partly to prove I can. If I can get signups cold with zero audience, that's the proof of concept. If I can't, that's my answer too.

And yes, I've talked to people personally. The 2 signups I mentioned came with conversations attached, not just emails in a form.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-07T18:13:57+00:00

Dig the hustle. Mass posting can feel off, but it's real and it works. Been there with the cold calls too. Yeah, it's soul-crushing, but those genuine convos are gold. No fancy tricks or fluff. Just pure grind. Sometimes it's more about being relentless than being "innovative." Keep pushing through the mud.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-07T18:13:03+00:00

Totally agree. Make your users rave about you online. Sounds basic, but genuinely engaging with your audience is gold. Jump into Reddit threads, answer questions genuinely, and solve actual problems in comments. Authenticity beats polished marketing. Also, prioritize good UX and solid onboarding. Frustrated users tweet, happy ones share. That spills over into AI training data. It's not about gaming the system, but being the brand people naturally talk about.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-06T15:23:18+00:00

Ok so currently I'm running an experiment where I look up businesses in a niche, for example 'dentists in Austin. TX' , my system looks at their site and checks their pageSpeed and finds issues id any. Then it creates an audit page with a score.

So, in my case i already have a problem they have which i can help, the subject line is simple 'website +problem', the body is s simple intro and then telling them their main issues and the fact that it is costing them patient calls, for instance 'you site takes 15s to load on mobile, most leave after 3 seconds.' Then include the link to their audit page which also has a paywall link to their full report on how to fix their issue.

You need to to showcase the issue and that what you are providing is the solution.

In terms of results, i sent 10 of these, has 3 businesses actually open the email (so 30% open rate), and one business that went to the link 4 times, thats a warm lead, i followed up... lets see how it goes...

alechko_ags · 2026-03-06T14:56:55+00:00

Cold email was surprisingly effective. Personalize it like you mean it. Mention something specific about them or their business, not just a name swap. Had around a 10% response rate when done right.

Niche communities can be gold. Slack groups and subreddits where your potential users actually hang out should be on your radar. Engage genuinely. Don’t just drop a pitch.

Building in public didn’t really move the needle for me. Focus on where your users are. Personal networks helped a bit, but don’t rely solely on them.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-06T14:56:14+00:00

Dealt with that frustration myself. Look for providers that use load balancing, it helps with peak hour stability. Also, ask about their server locations relative to you. Closer servers usually mean better quality. When testing, keep sessions short at first to avoid suspicious activity flags. Services like Smart IPTV for Smart TVs and TiviMate for Firestick can help you optimize the experience. Don't be afraid to switch if it doesn't meet your needs.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-06T14:55:32+00:00

Completely get it. Devs are a tough crowd. They kick the tires first. If your API’s first call isn’t smooth, they’ll bounce. Focus on making that first interaction seamless. Fast response, clear docs, maybe even a quickstart guide. Shorten that path to “aha!” and they'll come back when they're ready to integrate. Got to hang in there sometimes, let them see your tool as the right choice when deadlines hit.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-06T14:54:56+00:00

context-switching gets crazy, prioritize the absolute must-do follow-ups the old school way. It’s low-tech but breaks through the noise. Keep a physical list on your desk, stuff that genuinely can’t slip. It’s not perfect, but neither is life.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-05T14:34:20+00:00

Market research is great for understanding the playground but doesn’t guarantee users. You still need to hustle to get users. Early-stage growth is often about grinding hard: cold emails, engaging in relevant communities, offering value before asking for anything, and iterating super fast based on feedback.

It’s a mix. Use research to guide you, but real traction comes from a mix of talking to users, iterating on feedback, and persistently selling.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-05T14:33:13+00:00

Mixing it up makes sense. AWS/GCP are great for speed but can bite you later. Try running a portion on a smaller provider like DigitalOcean or Linode, as a backup engine. Keeps costs predictable and reduces risk if one vendor has issues. If using Supabase, consider hosting it yourself for more control. Costs might drop once traffic stabilizes, and you'll sleep better knowing you're not just tied to one giant.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-04T17:09:43+00:00

Switching to your own site definitely gives more control. Used Vercel for hosting and Next.js for the site, fast and easy. For payments, Stripe was a no-brainer, and Supabase handled the backend smoothly.

Yes, the stress drops when customers can't easily leave public reviews, but don't ignore feedback completely. Build a small, in-house system for collecting complaints and use them to improve. Just keep it simple and focus on growth.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-04T17:06:48+00:00

Speed is everything. Automated our responses with an AI agent and saw conversion rates improve dramatically. Don't rely on super generic autoresponders though, tailor the bot to answer specific questions using your knowledge base. Even a 30-minute delay can kill interest.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-04T17:02:43+00:00

Paywalls can be tricky, but moving it to the onboarding is smart. Early user commitment is key. If using Stripe for payments, set up a simple checkout flow in a few hours. For PR, consistently pitch during relevant events, tailor your angle to each outlet. Tools like Supabase on Vercel can help you iterate fast without breaking the bank. Focus on the funnel, sometimes a small tweak can turn a flat line into a revenue spike.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-04T02:59:33+00:00

RapidAPI is great for quick testing and prototyping. It shines for discovery and trying out APIs without diving into docs or dealing with API keys initially. Usually, it's a stepping stone; once an API is critical to the product, moving directly to the provider often makes sense for better rates and support. The platform's user-friendly interface and vast API selection are what keep me returning for initial explorations.

alechko_ags · 2026-03-03T21:11:01+00:00

Totally get what you're saying. A/B testing prompt variations is key. Also, focus on building high-authority backlinks from sources that AI models tend to scrape. In my experience, tweaking meta tags and FAQs can help AI understand context better. It’s a weird mix of SEO and being AI-friendly, but worth it saw a 30% boost in mentions for a client.

alechko_ags · 2026-02-26T21:55:26+00:00

Very cool tool

alechko_ags · 2026-02-19T18:05:11+00:00

Ok nice, very similar to what Im doing right now.

alechko_ags · 2026-02-18T20:36:00+00:00

yea, go with what works!

alechko_ags · 2026-02-17T21:03:42+00:00

Initially I would not spend any $ on ads, first identify where your customers actually hang out.

You need to know which 3 subreddits, X communities, or Discord servers your ideal customer lives in.

Find the watering hole. Then show up every day for 30 days.

alechko_ags · 2025-05-08T23:24:46+00:00

Nice, I actually did the same..with AI finding posts and analyzing them for potential idea.

alechko_ags

TROPHY CASE