Building SaaS with a full time job, finding focus and pacing

[adiakritos]

Hey everyone,

I've got a killer SaaS product idea and I've created the MVP. I can take orders and the product functions properly.

Now it's time to promote this baby. But here's my dilemma - my core skill is in creating apps and I have a full time job. There is SOOO much for me to do alone, and I really don't have the inclination to do it all myself. What I'd PREFER to do is align myself with others who do know what they're doing.

So what I did tonight was post an ad on craigslist to find a sales person to sell while I'm at work, believing that this may bring in customer sales much more quickly than the time it will take for me to call them myself and screw up (which is fine, but that'll just take so much time..), write ad copy, create ads, let the run, wait... etc I freaking hate waiting!

What I need right now is to get customers so I can test the software, iron out the kinks quickly, and then even focus on building out other important features while someone else brings in the business.

Then when I have a solid product with a set of complete and focused features I can let the sales person do their thing, while I focus on online advertising, improving the ad copy, creating the ads..etc OR I can just start looking at the cost of hiring a copywriter and let them do that. I'll create the ads and all that...etc That would be the perfect time to think about doing anything else. If it's too expensive for the time being I'll model some other SaaS preneur's out there and tweak the copy to be relevant to my own appeals..etc I know enough about copywriting to understand how they're using pain and pleasure to motivate..etc The appeals are different tho but that's ok.

Next, when I have online working and the sales person really in full gear I can either sit back and let the cash roll in or I can begin focusing on other features I can build as up-sells or separate packages. I have one in mind in particular which I know would also do very very well. But first things first.

At some point I'll have to hire a senior developer contractor to help me optimize things, because I have skill but there's always some wizard stuff I don't know.

Lastly, I'll ship that other feature, save and invest my profits, and focus on automating everything and making everything easy to manage for non-technical people - mainly to make it easier to sell the whole thing.

Anyway, this is my stream of consciousness on what I'm doing to execute. It helps to think out loud.

I know I've been very ambiguous but I'm thinking that someone might be able to relate and have something to share.

 

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[LeoistheSun]

You should make the first few sales before spending money.

Have you validated the idea?

I feel like your way ahead of yourself. I do this all the time. But its best to make your first $100 or $1000 before thinking of yachts etc.

 

[adiakritos]

You should make the first few sales before spending money.

Have you validated the idea?

I feel like your way ahead of yourself. I do this all the time. But its best to make your first $100 or $1000 before thinking of yachts etc.

Yup! The idea is validated. I didn't run with an unvalidated idea this time. I'm competing with someone else who's already generated decent results with it. It's just that the idea isn't common on a large scale yet so it's perfect.