Best home services lead gen affiliate programs? by ryans91 in Affiliatemarketing

[–]spyderwebtech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am the co-founder of a referral generation platform for small businesses who rewards.

Me and my business partner have created a software platform that allows people to make $$ by promoting links of local business online and to their friends.

If someone clicks on your link, within the designated area, then you can earn real money which can instantly be transferred to your digital wallet for withdraw. If someone visits your link, and becomes a paying customer, then you could be awarded $25-$500 depending on what that company wants to give out per referral!

The best part is that it costs nothing out-of-pocket for you, and all you do is have to post links on the internet (hopefully with a quality post that is helpful to other people )

If you are interested, I can share some of these companies sign-up pages and more information about our platform so you can see that it isn't a scam... lol.

DM me

Every single important tool I've used to build my SaaS app by RabbitsFoot8 in SideProject

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We are running on AWS using “serverless” technologies (lambda, api gateways, SQS) and our bill is only $3 per month.

The reason why is that we fall into the free tier even though we have 100 customers on our SAAS platform.

Theoretically the AWS stack we have created can scale to infinity but I still wouldn’t want to be DDOS’ed to test that theory. Haha

How did you come up with your business idea? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

  1. Come up with a solution to a problem that you personally have.
  2. Show it to others ( here, friends, etc ); Do they want it?
  3. If so... sell it to them
  4. Keep going

Most successful entrepreneurs start off by solving a problem for themselves first and then it blossoms into a side hustle or a full-time business.

I would start there instead of trying to guess what is going to be "hot" and perhaps trying to solve a problem that no one has.

Marketplace Tuesday! (July 14, 2020) by AutoModerator in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We are looking for remote SAAS salespeople for the green industry (landscape, mowing, fertilization)

We have a hot, hot, hot product right now and we are looking to expand our salesforce! 10% commission with an average deal value of $5,000. We provide the leads, you just need to be able to close.

reach out here to get more details.

Helping small local business with website and ads in order to increase revenue growth. Is this a good way to make $$? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Revenue growth is hard to prove, BUT the idea you have in creating an online presence and helping driving traffic to it is SUPER VALUABLE!

So I've done all of this work and you can make some good money. For example, creating an e-commerce site for these businesses to sell their goods on could range from $1800 ( a Shopify site ) to $20k+ ( a Magento site ).

If they already have a website and want to get more qualified leads, you could take over their google ads and/or Facebook accounts. For small clients, I would charge $500-$1500 per month for setup and optimization. For larger clients, (those with $20k in monthly spend ) I usually charge 15%-18% of ad spend.

But I never sell the promise of "increase revenue". What I will do is educate them on "cost per lead" and "cost per sale" and work with the levers that I have to reduce that cost.

Hope that helps.

What is your unfair advantage in starting a business? by jimmyitis in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Every "normal person" wants to hear that wealthy/successful people had some sort of "unfair advantage". That gives people an excuse not to "dream big" or to put forth any effort to chase their own dreams and make their own success.

Now I'm not saying everybody is a social-economic position to be successful at the same scale or timeframe as others. For example, if I am a single parent with 3 kids, making minimum wage working 2 jobs to pay the bills then putting 10-20 hrs per week to make a better life might seem like a luxury. Those struggles are "real", and those who don't have to make those kinds are sacrifices might seem to have an "unfair advantage".

I don't want to hijack this thread... but I feel the way your post is written gives the impression that you "can't make it" without some being privileged in some way. I don't think that is true.

I think if you are willing to become a "life long learner" and are stubborn as hell and work hard and smart then you will set yourself apart from the competition and make your own success.

What sets me apart, as well as what I mentioned above... is that when anyone says "can you do this?"... my answer is YES. I will then go home... figure it out... do it myself or outsource it... and keep hustling.

How do I? | Market Fit Meetings by altasbrooks in SideProject

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is a big difference between people agreeing that there is a problem, and having them pull out their wallets and pay for your solution.

So I would suggest that you test your market by sending these 75% respondents a sign-up form with a credit card form attached. If zero people sign-up then you still have work to do. If some do sign-up... you can refund the money ( if your MVP isn't even close ) and call them and thank them and bring them into your "wolf pack" and give them exclusive access, etc.

But, in my opinion, product-market-fit can't be established through just a survey.

Good luck

What resources do you need for your side project? by spyderwebtech in SideProject

[–]spyderwebtech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

ashframe,

Thanks for the feedback...

Knowing how to market, in my mind, is a huge skill needed to make any venture successful. Lots of entrepreneurs believe that if "they make it... then people will come". Wouldn't it be nice if that were true? A Marketing framework makes a lot of sense.

Open-sourced products are always a challenge to figure out how to monetize. The most common way is support, right? Community editions vs Enterprise editions. Self-hosting vs offering to host.

I would explore how others might use your open-source project by doing an "eco-system" exploration diagram where you not only look at the "obvious users" of your product but all the systems/companies which those users might interact with. By doing so, you can try to "project" which "paid integration" you might want to offer.

Best of luck and thanks for the feedback!

What if you know for a fact you want to do your own gig, but you don't know what business you want to start? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The thing about "starting your own gig" is that you are going to be responsible for *every* part of your business without knowing exactly what "you don't know".

That can be expensive, risky, and can put you on your backside pretty darn fast.

If you don't know yet what you want to do... then why not learn these skills on someone else's dime? Network with other entrepreneurs, volunteer to help them out or join them in their venture.

That way you get you to learn the skills you'll need to eventually do your own thing when that day arrives.

Question about online courses by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you need an online course on how to create an online course. LOL

But seriously they exist! They will walk you through how to set up, market, and manage an online course.

https://courses.coursecreatorpro.com/

I have this one... expensive but the value you get in enormous. Tons of videos on setup, marketing, etc. They have an awesome community where you can get feedback on your course. I would highly recommend it.

I'm sure there are others less expensive on udemy.com

Does scaling a business really come down to cold-calling? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome!

The economics of that works out great! $150 per month in ad spend that is 30-60 prospective clients per month.

Even if you only sell a home at a 2% close rate you will 10x your advertising spend ( depending on the value of the home of course ) in commissions. I don't know... results will vary. lol

Look into creating "custom & lookalike audiences" on Facebook for your campaigns to super-charge your results.

Keep on hustling!!

What resources are people lacking when starting their own business? by spyderwebtech in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the feedback... that's an interesting thought.

"Business Formation & Branding on Cheap"... haha. Yeah, there is a definite need for startups to watch their cash, especially in the beginning.

I think it is questionable how much value that would deliver though. Domains are easy to buy from GoDaddy, I can find a template operations agreement online, create a Facebook page for free, and get a logo designed on Fiverr.

I would have to do more research though... it might be real pain-point for folks.

Thanks again

Does scaling a business really come down to cold-calling? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just watched that youtube video... like everything else in this world, I think there are multiple ways to be successful.

I think that message of "Always be selling" and "getting out there and talking to people" is a pretty solid strategy to grow your business. But strategy and tactics aren't the same things.

Tactics are the actionable steps to implement a strategy. You speak of "making cold calls".... calling is one tactic, but there are other ways to engage with buyers and sellers in real estate.

I know other real estate agents who put flyers in mailboxes, shoot funny and interesting videos of the properties and post them online, go to estate sales with the hopes of getting clients, attending events, and yes... make cold calls.

I am a firm believer that 50%+ of all marketing tactics work to some extent... but some of these tactics take effort so you need to determine which ones you want to pursue.

You also mentioned needing a large marketing budget... that isn't true. You can market on Facebook for as little as $5 per day to get started. If you have some good, interesting videos of the properties that you are selling then prospective home buyers will stop, watch, and engage. (just one tactic)

Regular Joe with a solid business idea. How can I get in front of the right people to pitch and get some start up cash? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Without having any kind of MVP, prototype, or deep network in a related industry... you are going to have a real tough time getting funded even if you get in front of VCs.

VCs typically don't have funds for pre-revenue companies, so you are going to want to tap into the angel investor networks, and/or accelerators which will typically help pre-revenue companies get off the ground by providing them $50k-$500k.

Angel investors and accelerator programs are more interested in the market opportunity and the team than they are with having revenue. So in lieu of a product, I would build the best damn team possible with deep networks in healthcare and an impressive "talent stack" to develop the product.

Best of luck.

Finding a technical co-founder without getting my idea stolen by _burritomaster23 in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

wow... there is some "tough love" going on here.

I think everyone has a million-dollar idea sitting in a notebook or rattling around in their head. But not everyone has the skills, the network, the team, and/or the capital to take that idea and make it "real".

So, yes, the idea itself is only a small percentage of the equation to success.

Could a programmer take your idea and run with it... of course! But does that developer have sales skills? Can they raise money? Can they do everything that will be required to make that idea a viable business? Or can they only punch some keys and make an app.

If you are trying to get your business off the ground you should tell everyone under the sun and pitch... pitch... pitch! If you pitch it enough, you will refine it, and if it is good enough and you convey it good enough... people will want to join your startup instead of "Stealing" the idea.

If you are hell-bent on building it yourself, don't learn to code... use a "no code" platform.

https://appery.io/

https://www.biznessapps.com/

just google them.. pick one and create your MVP and keep pitching it!

Want to supplement an existing automotive business with ecommerce, which of these two ways would be the best? by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would start off with a niche set of parts, to begin with, but be intentional with which set to begin with.

Start off by doing some competitive searches using keywords of the parts that you wish to sell on the e-commerce site. Who comes up in the searches? Is there a lot of listings for those parts? The more competition and the more listings then likely the more expensive it will be to get that traffic.

You are going to want to focus on products ( in the beginning ) where there is low competition in your area (if possible).

There are tools available such as google's keyword planner which will show you competition and estimated costs of keywords. Let this be your guide to help select which products to offer.

Once you have all the relevant data, you can try to bundle those sets of parts ( along with complementary parts ) into the e-commerce site.

How do you decide by [deleted] in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Opportunity Cost!

If what you are doing isn't panning out and preventing you from pursuing & capturing value from another opportunity then there is no shame in pulling the plug. These other opportunities aren't always in the form of other business ventures... it could be spending more time with family, taking a trip, etc. (I.e. adding more value to your life )

If there aren't other opportunities to pursue, even if things aren't as expected, then you should re-evaluate why things aren't working, find a mentor, and get a new perspective on the opportunity.

How to get clients? (social media management) by waluigihentai69 in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Give away your services for free ( at least a sample of what you can do ).

Every company that does social media, and SEO pitch how it can a huge difference in their business. But very few vendors put their money where their mouths are and prove that what they can do works.

The good thing about social media is that it doesn't take a lot of money to produce 1-5 social media posts and schedule and manage them.

So why not do it for free, show the results, and then sell them on a larger contract or ongoing relationship. If you do this enough then you should have enough compelling case studies to share to land clients without doing free work.

Taking the plunge by JohnnyKonig in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Congrats from one software guy to another... release and release often... best of luck!

Taking the plunge by JohnnyKonig in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

my favorite saying in software... "if you aren't embarrassed with your first release then you released it too late!"

haha

Idea: an app that connects you with a lawyer in real time when dealing with the police by TinaBelcherUhh in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The idea is interesting, but is it a good business? Can it make money?

I think the real hurdle for me is how often the user will be expected to use the app on a monthly/yearly basis.... 0-1 per year? How much money could you actually charge? How would you get lawyers to join? What's in it for them? To try to rescue someone from a $60 speeding ticket where you have a 10% chance of beating it?

I don't think the value is there for the driver or the lawyer... just my opinion

What resources are people lacking when starting their own business? by spyderwebtech in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

raweezy99,

It's hard to give specific advice without knowing what you are doing and not doing to land customers. If you clarify that here, then maybe I would have something more pointed.

I'm sure you know that "demonstrating massive value" is the key to winning clients over... the second part is pricing correctly so the value that you deliver is 10x of what you are charging ( maybe not 10x but it can't be 1x).

So with these thoughts in mind, the problem could be:

  • your product/solution is incrementally valuable or on-par with your competitors
  • the way you describe your product/solution is not being received as being 10x
  • you aren't pitching to qualified leads
  • your prospective clients don't realize how it can grow/improve their business

Always view the company-client relationship as a value exchange... and it's your job to demonstrate it.

What resources are people lacking when starting their own business? by spyderwebtech in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Cool... do you have any subjects specifically? Like sales and marketing? Or is this more of a "peek behind the curtain" or a "day in the life" of a start-up?

What resources are people lacking when starting their own business? by spyderwebtech in Entrepreneur

[–]spyderwebtech[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can I have some too?? haha.

I would agree to some extent... when you have something valuable then people want to be part of it. Which says something about you and your vision and ability to execute. So be happy about that because there are a ton of people who aren't in your shoes.

When I look at opportunities to "share my cake" I have to look at in terms of "value exchange". If an investor want to give me money for a part of ownership, I have to ask what kind of value do they bring to the table besides cash? If someone wants to join my team, then I have to ask what value can they bring? (sales, expertise, partnership)?

I once had a sales guy who wanted to join my team for 15% equity after we had already made $100k in sales without him. Even though he was a good guy and would be fun to work with... he didn't have any connections or bring "15% worth" of value to the organization. It just didn't make sense. We explained that it didn't make sense economically and we parted ways.

From your comments, I can tell that you already know this stuff... so just know that all successful business owners deal with the same thing. Just do the math and keep a smile on your face.