Marketing on a Budget
💡 Lets talk about how to effectively market your software application even if you have no money!
If you have little to no budget, this is your guide on how to acquire your first 100 users without spending a dime!
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a grind, but sometimes you have to do what it takes.
Across all your social media accounts you should be posting content relating to what you are working on. BUILD IN PUBLIC! I will share a few thoughts for each platform as they are each a bit different when it comes to messaging.
Each of your content will be different but here is a general guide you can follow.
In "DotCom Secrets" by Russell Brunson, attractive character types and their associated stories are super important to effective marketing strategies. Here's a summary of some key character types and story types discussed in the book:
Attractive Character Types:
- The Leader: This character is an authority figure in the niche, someone who has achieved success and is respected by others. They lead by example and inspire followers.
- The Adventurer/Explorer: This character embodies the spirit of exploration and discovery. They are willing to take risks and try new things, often sharing their experiences and lessons learned with others.
- The Reporter/Journalist: This character is a storyteller who seeks out information and shares it with their audience. They are curious and inquisitive, always searching for the latest news and trends.
- The Reluctant Hero: This character starts from humble beginnings or faces significant challenges but ultimately overcomes adversity to achieve success. Their story is one of perseverance and resilience.
- The Inspirational Character: This character has overcome major obstacles or setbacks and serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for others. They demonstrate that anything is possible with determination and hard work.
Different Types of Stories:
- The Origin Story: This story explains how the attractive character got started in their niche or industry. It often involves personal anecdotes, struggles, and pivotal moments that shaped their journey.
- The Epiphany Bridge: This story revolves around a moment of realization or insight that led the character to their current path. It highlights a turning point or mindset shift that propelled them forward.
- The Value Ladder Story: This story illustrates the progression of the character's offerings, from entry-level products or services to higher-ticket items. It demonstrates how they provide increasing value to their customers over time.
- The Backstory: This story delves into the character's background, including their upbringing, education, and early experiences. It helps humanize the character and create a deeper connection with the audience.
- The Future-Based Story: This story paints a picture of what the future could look like for the audience if they follow the character's guidance or use their products/services. It taps into aspirational desires and goals.
Pick the character and story type that best suits you and run with it.
A more professional setting. This is where everyone puts on their corporate mask so we need to tailor our messaging towards that.
Post articles relating to the niche and problem you are trying to solve with your software and provide your thoughts and opinions on it.
Always end posts asking a question to drive some engagement and conversation on the post.
Share the app itself, at this point it can simply be some designs, nothing has to actually work. Share screenshots of pages and relate it back to pain points in that industry.
You can also share that you are part of a challenge and share some of the hardships you have faced, your learning experience, and what you have achieved thus far.
JUST SHARE YOUR STORY!
This is where you are going to be telling your story in detail. You should be posting daily about the app up until its launch.
Talk about the entire process. Tell people what you are actually doing. People love to follow stories and see the final outcomes, especially when the story teller is like them.
Tell them about your personal journey and mix in some posts about your software specifically, where you are at in the process etc.
This is where you should be joining groups specific to your niche and find where your target audience hangs out.
Once you get in these groups start sharing what you are building and just genuinely engaging with people in there and guiding them to your waitlist sign up.
Words spreads quickly if you can solve a problem that they are all having.
Instagram is visually oriented, so leverage high-quality images, graphics, and videos to showcase your software's features and benefits.
Utilize Instagram Stories to provide behind-the-scenes looks of the build process, sneak peeks, etc.. Engage with your audience through interactive features like polls, quizzes, and Q&A sessions.
Use relevant hashtags and geotags to expand your reach and visibility within your target audience.
Paid Idea: Find theme pages in your niche where your target audience is and you can DM them for a feature on the page. Depending on follower count it can range from $20-$200. Probably a better option for when your app is released but hey, something to think about. (Can also offer commission based pay of revenue they drive).
Tiktok
Here you can utilize the library of Brett’s short form content about Saas to guide users to your own application. You could use his as a “hook” and then film yourself talking about your app or of you using it on your computer.
Lots of marketers of Saas just record their computer screen with their phone of themselves just using the apps. Has to have a wow factor for this to work so get creative.
Personal Contacts (SMS)
That’s right, pull out your phone. Odds are you have 100s of contacts in there. You should write out a message with a link to your waitlist page and tell them you releasing a beta version in 1 month and would love to get their feedback!
I give a couple of options depending on the relationships a majority of your contact list will be. Of course, text your closer friends and family with personal message and talk how you would normally.
But to everyone else who you probably never talk to, lets write out some possible scripts. If you have time to personalize each one, DO THAT! Your conversion rate will increase drastically, I mean DRASTICALLY.
But, lets assume you don’t have that kind of time.
Hey {{First Name}}! Been a while, hope you are doing well! Would love to hear what you have been up to! I recently started to work on a software which is crazy since I knew nothing about technology a few weeks ago haha.
But would be super cool to get your feedback on it! Releasing it next month! Mind if I send you a link to it
This is just to give you an idea. MAKE IT SOUND LIKE YOU!
Forums
Post in the following communities/platforms and try and find your specific niche. Simply talk about what you are building
Find discord communities, Reddit, and Google forums in your specific niche. https://www.reddit.com/
As far as posting schedules, if you have time to post on all platforms everyday that would be AMAZING. However, lets assume you have a life and cant do that.
- Post on: Linkedin & Tiktok
- Post on: All Forums
- Post on: Twitter & Instagram