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(SaaS) The world's first copy and paste Store Locator App

A topic related to SAAS or APPs

mgenius

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Hi all,

Been a long time member, mostly just checking the gold/progress/AMA thread from time to time. A little bit of background about me, I am a software developer/architect by trade. I started my side mobile app business for a hobby since the start of the iPhone revolution. The mobile app business ran by itself and generate some decent cash flow.

At the end of 2015, my day job was off-shored to India and I decided to go on a sabbatical. 6 months into my mini retirement, I completely ruptured my right Achille tendon. My surgery did a great job re-attaching it back, but I was stuck at home for 3 months. During that time, my focus was on researching on recovery and at the same time I started my first SaaS.

So here it is, I created a KickStarter campaign to raise some capital for sales and marketing.
The world's first copy and paste Store Locator App

For forum members who has retails or distribution network, PM me for a beta tester account, I will hook you up asap. Any retails association members?
StoreLocatorApp.co
 
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MJ DeMarco

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I read two paragraphs and watched the video -- even after that, I have no clue what you do or where the value proposition is.
 

mgenius

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I read two paragraphs and watched the video -- even after that, I have no clue what you do or where the value proposition is.
Hi MJ,

An honor to get such a timely reply.

The value proposition is further down:

The App

While most national chain with deep pockets are shelling out thousands and thousands of dollar adding Store Locator on their website and ripping the benefits since the dawn of the internet, an easy to use and affordable store locator service is still out of reach for most budding entrepreneurs and small/medium business owners.

As an entrepreneur /business owner, it’s often frustrating and time consuming to hiring web designer and programmer to add anything to your website. You need to sit through meeting after meeting discussing the dreaded REQUIREMENTS. Who has the time for that? You are an entrepreneur on a mission, you know a store locator can bring in more customers, why can’t you just sign up to a service, copy the store locator and paste it right into your website?

StoreLocatorApp.co did exactly that. You sign up, enter your store and distributor locations, copy the embed code and paste it right into your website. Voila! A working store locator ready to bring you more customers launched in minutes rather than weeks after weeks of negotiation and frustration.
 

458

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Hi MJ,

An honor to get such a timely reply.

The value proposition is further down:

The App

While most national chain with deep pockets are shelling out thousands and thousands of dollar adding Store Locator on their website and ripping the benefits since the dawn of the internet, an easy to use and affordable store locator service is still out of reach for most budding entrepreneurs and small/medium business owners.

As an entrepreneur /business owner, it’s often frustrating and time consuming to hiring web designer and programmer to add anything to your website. You need to sit through meeting after meeting discussing the dreaded REQUIREMENTS. Who has the time for that? You are an entrepreneur on a mission, you know a store locator can bring in more customers, why can’t you just sign up to a service, copy the store locator and paste it right into your website?

StoreLocatorApp.co did exactly that. You sign up, enter your store and distributor locations, copy the embed code and paste it right into your website. Voila! A working store locator ready to bring you more customers launched in minutes rather than weeks after weeks of negotiation and frustration.

Your approach is way off. This is B2B, your marketing suggests B2C which makes everything very confusing.
 

SquatchMan

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Interesting. I like the concept, but you really gotta improve your pitch. I had no clue what you were trying to sell, or who your customer is, until about halfway down the page. There are lots of great copywriters here that would write your pitch.

Greatness costs money though.
 
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SquatchMan

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Hi MJ,

An honor to get such a timely reply.

The value proposition is further down:

The App

While most national chain with deep pockets are shelling out thousands and thousands of dollar adding Store Locator on their website and ripping the benefits since the dawn of the internet, an easy to use and affordable store locator service is still out of reach for most budding entrepreneurs and small/medium business owners.

As an entrepreneur /business owner, it’s often frustrating and time consuming to hiring web designer and programmer to add anything to your website. You need to sit through meeting after meeting discussing the dreaded REQUIREMENTS. Who has the time for that? You are an entrepreneur on a mission, you know a store locator can bring in more customers, why can’t you just sign up to a service, copy the store locator and paste it right into your website?

StoreLocatorApp.co did exactly that. You sign up, enter your store and distributor locations, copy the embed code and paste it right into your website. Voila! A working store locator ready to bring you more customers launched in minutes rather than weeks after weeks of negotiation and frustration.

This pitch takes two paragraphs to explain what your app even does. When someone asks you, "What does your app do?" and "How does it add value?" don't spend two paragraphs explaining the problem. They want to quickly know what the app does and how it adds value. Here's a better and more concise explanation for your product:

Store Locator App (I'd think of a better name, this is kind of generic) allows business owners to quickly add store locator functionality to their website without writing any code.

-----

Everyone hates writing code and everyone loves saving time. Easy problems to solve that don't need three paragraphs to explain.
 
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Kung Fu Steve

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I read two paragraphs and watched the video -- even after that, I have no clue what you do or where the value proposition is.

Make that three of us!

So... it's a widget for your website? Or... it's a mobile app for consumers to find stores?

... errr... I'm still so confused... I really want to help because it's exciting that someone is doing something... but help a ninja out?
 
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Kingmaker

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Your Kickstarter video says "we served thousands of websites" but you need beta testers. Okay... Let's call that lie, 'marketing'.

Then your website says "world's first copy&paste location app". Umm, there's at least a few that already do this. Store Locator App & Widget | Storemapper for example, which I'm sure you know of/got the idea from. More 'marketing'.

Hopefully you find a way to actually add value beyond being a copycat service.
 

mgenius

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Your Kickstarter video says "we served thousands of websites" but you need beta testers. Okay... Let's call that lie, 'marketing'.

Then your website says "world's first copy&paste location app". Umm, there's at least a few that already do this. Store Locator App & Widget | Storemapper for example, which I'm sure you know of/got the idea from. More 'marketing'.

Hopefully you find a way to actually add value beyond being a copycat service.
Interesting. I like the concept, but you really gotta improve your pitch. I had no clue what you were trying to sell, or who your customer is, until about halfway down the page. There are lots of great copywriters here that would write your pitch.

Greatness costs money though.
Interesting. I like the concept, but you really gotta improve your pitch. I had no clue what you were trying to sell, or who your customer is, until about halfway down the page. There are lots of great copywriters here that would write your pitch.

Greatness costs money though.

Anyone you recommend?
 

mgenius

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Your Kickstarter video says "we served thousands of websites" but you need beta testers. Okay... Let's call that lie, 'marketing'.

Then your website says "world's first copy&paste location app". Umm, there's at least a few that already do this. Store Locator App & Widget | Storemapper for example, which I'm sure you know of/got the idea from. More 'marketing'.

Hopefully you find a way to actually add value beyond being a copycat service.

Yea, just another Italian restaurant with a secret sauce that every other Italian restaurants are using...

458 was right, kickstarter is more for B2C, more cater for people who like board games or gadgets. It has no internal traffic...
 
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Argue

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Yeah, you want to offer this service to businesses because that is your target market. Retail, coffee shops, etc.

However, I'm confused about what your software does?

I agree with @spyt that less is more.
 

mgenius

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Yeah, you want to offer this service to businesses because that is your target market. Retail, coffee shops, etc.

However, I'm confused about what your software does?

I agree with @spyt that less is more.

Probably redo the video and clean up the pitch.

The thing with project on kickstarter vs sales page is that the backers like to back a project for the reason the project owner started the project rather than the benefit of the product itself.

I am open for suggestion like how to pivot the product, angles to sale it and I am going to test it out.
 

rpeck90

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If the app is one of those map widgets people can put on their site, lead with what it actually is:
  • "Wordpress plugin to show store location"
  • "Magento plugin to show store location"

If the app is an iOS app, you need to sell the audience:
  • "Reach 10,000 visitors a day by advertising your store location on our app"
--
You also need real results to show. Claiming it will "increase sale by 300%" is a lie unless backed up with proof.
 
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workinprogress

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Damn, what an epic thread. This guy got shot down real quick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Kung Fu Steve

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Damn, what an epic thread. This guy got shot down real quick.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not trying to shut him down by any means... I just still don't understand what it is?
 
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MKHB

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Any suggestion?

I am still amazed more people don't know about this forum (MFF). This is unbelieveable, you posted a question on a Tuesday night and already received extremely valuable feedback from DeMarco and a few others guys that know this e-commerce shit inside and out; the next day!

I don't know SaaS or apps or tech or anything like that, I am a real estate guy, so I can't help you on your location finder thingy. However, you are a bright guy so I will give you the best tip you will ever get.

Real money is made from disruption and right not retail is being disrupted in a monumental way.

Everyone always asks "when will the next real estate/financial crisis hit" ....it already has, it's just confined to one sector. As with every disruption the next one is always different, lighting does not strike twice. Don't wait to get foreclosed homes in good areas for 20 cents on the dollar, it ain't gonna happen.

However, bricks and mortar retail is on death's door. There is 10B in CMBS coming due on large retail centers across the country and they have can't cover. Sears, JC Penny, Limited, Wet Seal, Macy's, HH Gregg, etc. they are toast, and there is a long line of loser behind them.

Follow the money. Both the big REITs and the retailers are ready to empty them wallets if someone can help them solve the problem by way of technologies that improve the supply chain or enhance the customer experience. If you can help these folks compete with Amazon; you will hit the mother lode.

Research The Target Open Store, Bespoke.co at Westfields in SF, RocketSpace.com the incubator, and super successful online brands like Stitch, Bonobo, Warby Parker and other online retailers that are making the transition from online to bricks and mortar. Find the secret sauce and marry it to solutions the traditional need.

When you do that you won't need Kickstarter, there are plenty of accelerators that will provide seed if you have a prototype and solve a problem.
 

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