fanofgod1992
New member
Within 2 weeks, I ran a campaign that generated over $20,000 in pre-launch sales that funded my MVP all from a Powerpoint Presentation delivered in 15 mins.
I'm going to tell you how with examples, because a lot of people talk about the principle of doing this, but don't show the execution.
Here's what I did:
I created a simple opt-in page for a Waitlist and a logo.
Posted about this a few times on social media which generated approx 100 people in the waitlist.
I created a very basic version of what I wanted (Imagine if Audible just created ONE audiobook - that's what I did. I created ONE prototype product.)
Some might claim that this IS an MVP. I don't think so. I think an MVP is defined by the Founder and at which point the bare minimum of their vision is reflected in a functional way.
I send out an email to my existing business database of 1500 people, asking if they would fill in a quick 2 min survey about Books. I asked questions such as:
Now, I have approx 300 people (waitlist + survey) who had shown interest in the idea.
Some might think that having the 1500 in warm contacts from my previous business was an advantage, and I'd say 'Yes, it was'. When starting your startup you want to take every advantage you can. If you are starting with 0 contacts, then the alternative is to leverage off other people's contacts with a Joint Venture or Ambassador program offering them % of the revenue generated from tapping into their database.
I developed a Powerpoint Pitch Deck, originally to try to find investors, but then adapted to consumers. My goal was to develop a dynamic pitch that could be completed within 15 mins, that was compelling with an irresistible offer at the end.
I tested this Pitch deck with a few leads from the 300 and found that almost everyone was saying Yes and buying in.
Here is an actual (16 min) presentation:
I hired a sales person and trained them in delivering the 15 min presentation. We role played this a few times each, and when I felt like he could do a good job of it, I set up an online calendar and moved to the next stage to book each person in for their private walkthrough.
I recorded this teaser video and sent it out via email and messenger to everyone that was on the survey (I promoted the survey a few more times via email and social media which bumped up the numbers to approx 250).
Teaser Video:
Here is an exact Social Media message with slid into people's DM's with after they showed interest (like or love or comment):
My sales guy was booked solid with 3-4 appointments every hour for 4 - 6 hours every day for close to 2 weeks, and we had something like 92% conversion rate. Almost everyone loved the idea, loved the concept, loved our short and direct delivery, and loved the 3-year special offer we made to them.
Here is an example of my sales guy making a sale in 13 mins:
This generated over $20,000 in sales within 2 weeks, and gave us the cashflow and market validation to invest further in building the MVP.
4 weeks later we launched the Web App to our early adopters and we were off and running.
12 months later I set up another startup using a similar approach and within 2 weeks generated over $20K in sales. Not bad, right?
I'm not suggesting my approach is the best, and I can definitely see areas for improvement now, but when you are in the thick of taking massive action, progress trumps perfection, right?
Hope this helps someone out there take their idea to the next stage.
Happy to answer any questions.
I'm going to tell you how with examples, because a lot of people talk about the principle of doing this, but don't show the execution.
Here's what I did:
1 - WAITLIST
I created a simple opt-in page for a Waitlist and a logo.
Posted about this a few times on social media which generated approx 100 people in the waitlist.
2 - PROOF OF CONCEPT
I created a very basic version of what I wanted (Imagine if Audible just created ONE audiobook - that's what I did. I created ONE prototype product.)
Some might claim that this IS an MVP. I don't think so. I think an MVP is defined by the Founder and at which point the bare minimum of their vision is reflected in a functional way.
3 - BASIC MARKET DATA SURVEY & SEEDING OFFER
I send out an email to my existing business database of 1500 people, asking if they would fill in a quick 2 min survey about Books. I asked questions such as:
- Would you find value in a service that did X and Y?
- How much would you expect to pay for a service like this?
- What would you love to see included in a service like this?
- Would you be interested in being offered a personal & private walkthrough to this world's first service that does XYZ? ("seeding" the offer)
Now, I have approx 300 people (waitlist + survey) who had shown interest in the idea.
Some might think that having the 1500 in warm contacts from my previous business was an advantage, and I'd say 'Yes, it was'. When starting your startup you want to take every advantage you can. If you are starting with 0 contacts, then the alternative is to leverage off other people's contacts with a Joint Venture or Ambassador program offering them % of the revenue generated from tapping into their database.
4 - Powerpoint Pitch Deck
I developed a Powerpoint Pitch Deck, originally to try to find investors, but then adapted to consumers. My goal was to develop a dynamic pitch that could be completed within 15 mins, that was compelling with an irresistible offer at the end.
I tested this Pitch deck with a few leads from the 300 and found that almost everyone was saying Yes and buying in.
Here is an actual (16 min) presentation:
5 - Sales Person
I hired a sales person and trained them in delivering the 15 min presentation. We role played this a few times each, and when I felt like he could do a good job of it, I set up an online calendar and moved to the next stage to book each person in for their private walkthrough.
6 - Recorded a Teaser Video to Promo the Private Walkthrough Demo
I recorded this teaser video and sent it out via email and messenger to everyone that was on the survey (I promoted the survey a few more times via email and social media which bumped up the numbers to approx 250).
Teaser Video:
Here is an exact Social Media message with slid into people's DM's with after they showed interest (like or love or comment):
7 - Rack 'em & Stack 'em - Crazy 2 Week Sales Campaign
My sales guy was booked solid with 3-4 appointments every hour for 4 - 6 hours every day for close to 2 weeks, and we had something like 92% conversion rate. Almost everyone loved the idea, loved the concept, loved our short and direct delivery, and loved the 3-year special offer we made to them.
Here is an example of my sales guy making a sale in 13 mins:
RESULT
This generated over $20,000 in sales within 2 weeks, and gave us the cashflow and market validation to invest further in building the MVP.
4 weeks later we launched the Web App to our early adopters and we were off and running.
Fluke? Can I do it twice?
12 months later I set up another startup using a similar approach and within 2 weeks generated over $20K in sales. Not bad, right?
I'm not suggesting my approach is the best, and I can definitely see areas for improvement now, but when you are in the thick of taking massive action, progress trumps perfection, right?
Hope this helps someone out there take their idea to the next stage.
Happy to answer any questions.