Creating Successful SaaS: Lessons Learned
I have been creating different SaaS in public for the last 3 years, and I am very clear on two things...
Three years ago I started my first adventure creating a product as an Indie Maker.
I thought it would be something simple, it solved a personal problem and it seemed that people would be willing to pay for it, but I found myself with the reality.
During these three years I have not succeeded yet, but I have learned two lessons that I consider very valuable.
It's not easy to be successful
When I say success, I mean generating +1k/m (over $1,000 per month).
Despite the numerous success stories you come across, they represent only a minority.
Many projects, if you observe them from the beginning, eventually fade away after a year or two.
Just take a look at old projects on Product Hunt; they speak volumes.
Challenges are Inevitable
There are always problems, always.
Let me share my experience with my first SaaS, Monse – an app designed to connect your bank and help you spend your money efficiently, maximizing savings and investments.
What initially seemed like a small and relatively simple project eventually became more complex.
The banks' APIs didn't work as they should, and many users encountered difficulties connecting their accounts, fetching transactions, checking balances, and more.
Learning from this lesson, I embarked on creating my second product. MetricsWave – an event-based alternative to Google Analytics.
This time, I aimed to develop a solution that didn't rely on APIs or third-party services.
However, I soon encountered another hurdle – ad blockers.
For no apparent reason, ad blockers started blocking my domain.
It wasn't even a script to track visits; it affected the main domain of my landing page.
If you have one of these extensions installed and visit the landing page, you will encounter something like this:
This issue, yet again, is beyond my control and hampers the user experience I intended to provide.
Presently, I am actively working on finding a solution. Only time will tell how it turns out.
Conclusion: Embrace the Journey
Throughout my experience in creating SaaS, one thing is clear: something unexpected will always happen.
It is crucial to stay motivated and passionate about what you do; otherwise, you may give up at the first sign of a problem.
Starting a venture solely for money or success is not the right approach.
Enjoying the journey is essential because the reality is that the chances of not succeeding are very high.
Remember, the road to success is paved with challenges and obstacles.
Embrace them, learn from them, and remain dedicated to your vision. It is this unwavering dedication and love for the process that will drive you forward, despite the odds.
