klaipeda
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Hello, I'm building a marketplace, and I'm very close to the release of the MVP. I created the brand following the concept I learned reading Al Ries books about positioning; My brand is in a new category compared to the competitors and has a new approach to the market, bringing new technology. Full story here
# The marketplace
My marketplace lets the user load a video about a home issue. The problem is recognised using AI technology, and the correct tradesman close to the user is contacted to make a quote. The video and AI reduce all the friction on the user side and makes it easier for the tradesman to understand and quote the service.
# The Problem and my solution
The problem I'm facing now is the bootstrapping of the marketplace. I read the book The Lean Marketplace, and it suggests starting with the suppliers. Maybe with something like Fiverr, it makes sense, but here I think the best approach is the opposite (thanks @Andy Black). Presenting yourself to the tradesman with a customer ready to quote is the best introduction.
Here is my plan. I loaded on my marketplace 100 tradespeople spread in a specific area of Melbourne (Australia), I found their details on the internet. I focus my marketing on the users to load a video. Whenever a video is loaded for a quote, 5-7 tradespeople get an email/SMS with the link to watch the video and quote.
The tradespeople don't know my brand so. I'll pay an Australian girl to follow up the email/SMS to make the quote.
The restricted geographical area let me start little and grow from there.
Now, I do not know much about marketing, but I was thinking something like this:
The service will be out for free. The goal is to bring value and get people to use the service. I want to create a community on Facebook where people can give me feedback, but at the beginning, I would be happy to call the customers to interview them and get feedback.
After some videos loaded, I would add a landing page for the tradespeople and reach them on LinkedIn/email/Facebook.
# Goals
As I wrote before, the main goal is to bring value and solve a problem. I want to release ASAP as Beta and see if there is a product-market fit. Once there are some customers and the service is mature enough, I can get some revenues.
I can Ask the tradies to pay a monthly subscription and offer the early adopters a 1-year discount. That would be an excellent start to get some fuel and continue the development.
I can add the payment in the app and get a % fee for every transaction. The major competitor asks 22%, but the service I provide is more focused, and it can get a good revenue asking for less (like 10%)
# Questions
What do you think about this strategy?
Do you think I should hire someone on Fiverr/Upwork to help me develop the marketing strategy?
I found a copywriter, and she offered me a strategy for 2000$, but I had bad vibes. I feel she is applying a method learned in some books without understanding what I'm doing and my goals.
I feel that a good landing page would be enough, and I can find a copywriter able to write me a good copy for ~400$. After that, I will talk in the groups and see how it goes.
What do you think?
# The marketplace
My marketplace lets the user load a video about a home issue. The problem is recognised using AI technology, and the correct tradesman close to the user is contacted to make a quote. The video and AI reduce all the friction on the user side and makes it easier for the tradesman to understand and quote the service.
# The Problem and my solution
The problem I'm facing now is the bootstrapping of the marketplace. I read the book The Lean Marketplace, and it suggests starting with the suppliers. Maybe with something like Fiverr, it makes sense, but here I think the best approach is the opposite (thanks @Andy Black). Presenting yourself to the tradesman with a customer ready to quote is the best introduction.
Here is my plan. I loaded on my marketplace 100 tradespeople spread in a specific area of Melbourne (Australia), I found their details on the internet. I focus my marketing on the users to load a video. Whenever a video is loaded for a quote, 5-7 tradespeople get an email/SMS with the link to watch the video and quote.
The tradespeople don't know my brand so. I'll pay an Australian girl to follow up the email/SMS to make the quote.
The restricted geographical area let me start little and grow from there.
Now, I do not know much about marketing, but I was thinking something like this:
- landing page with 2 CTA for the customer:
- 1) load a video
- 2) subscribe to email to get updates. Not everyone has an issue to solve now. I want to keep the user and make brand awareness
- A "gumtree post" direct to who is looking tradesman that redirects to the landing page.
- Talk about the service on local groups on Facebook.
The service will be out for free. The goal is to bring value and get people to use the service. I want to create a community on Facebook where people can give me feedback, but at the beginning, I would be happy to call the customers to interview them and get feedback.
After some videos loaded, I would add a landing page for the tradespeople and reach them on LinkedIn/email/Facebook.
# Goals
As I wrote before, the main goal is to bring value and solve a problem. I want to release ASAP as Beta and see if there is a product-market fit. Once there are some customers and the service is mature enough, I can get some revenues.
I can Ask the tradies to pay a monthly subscription and offer the early adopters a 1-year discount. That would be an excellent start to get some fuel and continue the development.
I can add the payment in the app and get a % fee for every transaction. The major competitor asks 22%, but the service I provide is more focused, and it can get a good revenue asking for less (like 10%)
# Questions
What do you think about this strategy?
Do you think I should hire someone on Fiverr/Upwork to help me develop the marketing strategy?
I found a copywriter, and she offered me a strategy for 2000$, but I had bad vibes. I feel she is applying a method learned in some books without understanding what I'm doing and my goals.
I feel that a good landing page would be enough, and I can find a copywriter able to write me a good copy for ~400$. After that, I will talk in the groups and see how it goes.
What do you think?
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