Author: bryan

WordPress has become the jumpstart to building your idea fast!

WordPress has a massive market market share for a reason. It’s collection of plugins, out of the box features, and extendable UI allow your micro-SaaS project to get off the ground fast for low cost and low build time.

I have my micro-SasS idea but how to I build it?

So you have figured out your micro-SaaS idea maybe after reading my post on how to find ideas and now want to know what options you have to build your micro-SaaS project? WordPress. Yes, really. I will tell you why.

Startups building a project need to focus on three key items: speed, agility, and cost. When startups go down the path of building their idea, they spend a lot of cycles over-engineering simple concepts, coming up with your super detailed microservices architecture on AWS or Google Cloud and engineer your project to hell before you even have a working proof-of-concept or MVP. By the time you do build something, the time to add a feature to keep your first client or add something quickly that your competitor released in their app, you have such a mess you need to hire a team to assist.

The essence of this problem is that a lot of startups and founders worry too much on bleeding edge or the latest Javascript UI framework of the week and lose track of ready-made solutions which with a few adjustments can bring you a good-enough MVP to the market and test it much faster without spending thousands of dollars on offshore teams and a code base that becomes a money pit to maintain.

Leverage an existing giant to boost you forward

WordPress has over 43% of the marketshare on the web. I know you are probably thinking, “what a blog platform have to do with my web application?”

The answer is simple, WordPress offers you custom post (content) types, an array of plugins, and a core platform that allows you to manage users and other core features.

WordPress for SaaS

WordPress is a Content Management System or a CMS. The content doesn’t have to be blog posts. Content is what you make it so whether a post is a standard blog, recipe, pictures of your trip to Fiji, a profile page, resume, shirt, quiz, lesson, video, podcast.. the list never ends.

When you move past the standard blog, you are moving into WordPress Custom Posts which is its secret ability to display any amount of work from its backend relational database with a readymade API solution and user management.

On top of being able to extend this yourself using a developer friendly PHP and MySQL platform, you can implement your own plugins from the over 58,000 plugins, many of which offer free tiers to get you started and can be upgraded to paid if you begin to require support and custom features as your app grows.

• WooCommerce: Full e-commerce solution ready to integrate with templates and themes.
• BuddyPress: Social network plugin to bring a Facebook like feature set to your website.
• LearnPress: E-learning plugin with courses and lesson plans.
• myCred: Gamification and loyalty plugin to drive social media growth.
• MailPoet: Newsletter plugin and list manager to send automated emails as well as post notifications.
• WPForms: Drag and drop form builder.

WordPress also allows you to build your own plugins or hire a solo developer to bring you the features you want very quickly (and cheap!) to integrate your idea instead of needing a team to start fresh. For example, Fiverr, a marketplace of quick to hire individuals for services starting at $5 has over 89,000 results for “WordPress”.

How Do I Get Started?

To get started with your SaaS WordPress Application, I usually follow the steps below to churn out sites and projects quickly.

Register your micro-SaaS domain

You need a domain to post your new SaaS application to. For registrations, I have been a Namecheap fan for over two decades. Their support, pricing, and overall policies on ownership keep them above the rest and even have fun giveaways and contests on social media.

WordPress Hosting Types

Choose your hosting depends on how your technical skills are.

If you take the self hosted route, you can buy a VPS hosting from sites like Vultr for a few dollars a month and install WordPress yourself. You become responsible for updates, operating system, and securing the entire platform. It may sound simple but with todays bots and scanners, it is amazing how fast you will get hammered with logins, scans, and attempts to find something outdated when a new internet site comes online so really for an experienced professional.

They also offer a WordPress Hosting which if you put on their standard compute VPS runs you about $5/month and comes preinstalled with WordPress in a more controlled approach. You still will need to make sure your server is updated but does take a lot of the heavy lifting out of it.

If you are someone like me who wants to host Multiple WordPress Sites and not deal with the headache and monitoring, I am addicted to SpinupWP. You buy a server from AWS, Vultr, or a range of providers and they managed the entire system. System reboots for operating system updates, WordPress site deployments, and quick build and destroy multiple sites on a single server. The amount of time they have saved me is incredible and if you sign up using this link, you get credited $50 in free credits to use for your first few months.

WordPress SaaS Themes

The WordPress interface has plenty of existing themes you can install, many of which are free. If you are someone who likes to launch ideas rapidly, you can also look at a premium theme package which is very customizable and has monthly and lifetime options for unlimited installs such as GeneratePress. Using the visual editors, you can visually customize themes with your own content and layouts and drop in plugins and widgets.

Themes are responsive which means you can see how they look on web as well as on mobile so your users get the same experience on all platforms.

WordPress SaaS Plugins

Look at plugins available to offer the features you need. WordPress offers ratings and installed counts so you can find ones that are more well done.

As you grow, you can enlist developers and agencies to help customize even further or reach out to us for your application development needs. Fiver as mentioned before has plenty

Taking your SaaS idea beyond WordPress

At the heart of WordPress is the relational database that powers it. As you grow your micro-SaaS MVP, you may find the need to leverage new architecture for your user interfaces and do things like power native mobile applications or completely redo the web interface.

You don’t need to throw away all the work you did!

There are plugins available that can bring your backend data into a powerful API or even operate in a Headless WordPress form. You now can keep your existing application to power your next version with out the heartbreak or terror or having to do a full-stack transformation.

WordPress SaaS Use Cases

If you are still looking for some inspiration, here are a few WordPress SaaS based websites that I have built around WordPress.

Use Case 1: On Demand Moving Services

A local niche SaaS website that accepted requests for people looking to move and pulled a full quote for moving in and out services. The pain of having to look for cleaning, cleanout, transportation, and shipping is a big time consumption. WordPress allowed me to create a website where you submitted information about your services and needs, fill out a questionnaire, and then automate the email to local services that I had indexed to provide a streamlined broker process. The response from the vendor I then imported into my HubSpot CRM with the contact information and generated an email with the quotes with a single click to the original subscriber.

Use Case 2: IPO Filing Announcements

IPOs for new public companies get filed with the SEC every day. Keeping track of them can be difficult and knowing when to be on the look out to start trading them is important. To remove the need to have to focus on the user facing side, I was able to use WordPress as the central blog post, user management, and emailing signup so every time there was a new filing I needed to post, anyone who was signed up was able to get an email of the filing.

To make this more powerful, my custom built application was responsible for downloading the documents and handling the processing services. I then can use WordPress’s powerful API to create the posts and let the backend already provided by WordPress handle the rest of the flow to reduce my development time and able to quickly turn out this micro-SaaS project.

I previously wrote an article about “what is micro-SaaS” and the power to build quick, segment focused ideas around a simple platform. A lot of people ask, “where to find micro-SaaS ideas?”. There is no one answer to this question. The best way to find micro-saaS ideas is to brainstorm with other entrepreneurs and leaders in your field. You can also look for articles, blog posts, and white papers related to your industry that may contain micro-saaS ideas. Finally, ask yourself what kind of business could be built on a micro-saaS platform and how it could benefit customers or employees.

Look for micro-saas problems that need solving

If you’re looking for ideas for a micro-SaaS business, a good place to start is by looking for problems that need solving. This can be done by talking to people in your target market and seeing what kinds of problems they’re facing. Once you’ve identified a problem that people are willing to pay to have solved, you can then start thinking about how you can create a micro-SaaS business that solves that problem.

Identify a target market for micro-SaaS ideas

There are a few key things to keep in mind when trying to identify a target market for your Micro-SaaS business:

1. Keep it niche – When it comes to Micro-SaaS businesses, it’s important to focus on a specific niche market. This will help you better understand the needs and wants of your target market, and allow you to create a more targeted solution for them.
2. Know your audience – It’s important that you have a good understanding of who your target market is. What are their demographics? What are their interests? What motivates them? The more you know about your target market, the better you’ll be able to cater to their needs.
3. Do your research – Once you’ve identified a potential target market, it’s important to do your research and make sure there is a demand for what you’re offering. This can be done through online research, talking to potential customers, or even conducting surveys.
4. Consider your competition – When entering any market, it’s important to be aware of your competition. What are they offering? How are they marketing themselves? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Knowing this information can help you better position yourself in the market.

Consider what people are already paying for

There are a few things to consider when thinking about what people are already paying for when it comes to micro-SaaS ideas. First, consider what people are already using in their daily lives and see if there is a way to improve upon it or make it more efficient. Secondly, think about what people are willing to pay for in order to make their lives easier or to save time. Lastly, consider what people are already spending a lot of money on and see if there is a way to provide a cheaper or more efficient solution.

Find a niche within your target market

it can be difficult to find a micro-saas idea. one way to discover a niche within your target market is by looking for problems that people are trying to solve. what needs do they have that are not being met? what processes could be made easier or more efficient?

another way to uncover a niche is through industry research. look at trends in the larger market and see where there might be an opportunity for a smaller, more specific service. this could involve looking at what new technologies are being adopted and how they could be used to solve specific problems within your target market.

Think about what people want or need

Keep it simple – people don’t want or need anything too complicated.

Micro-SaaS ideas can come from anywhere, but it’s important to keep them simple. People don’t want or need anything too complicated; they just want something that solves a problem for them. The best way to find micro-SaaS ideas is to think about what people want or need and then create a solution that meets those needs. There are plenty of problems out there that people are looking for solutions to, so all you need to do is find one that you can solve. Once you’ve found a problem that you can solve, the rest is just a matter of creating a simple, effective solution.

Make it easy to use – people should be able to use your product without any hassle.

Micro-SaaS ideas can come from a variety of places, but one of the best places to start is by thinking about what people want or need. In particular, you should focus on making your product easy to use. People should be able to use your product without any hassle.

One way to make your product easy to use is to make it self-service. This means that people can sign up for your product and use it without having to contact you for support. This is a great way to reduce customer support costs and make your product more accessible.

Another way to make your product easy to use is to have excellent documentation. This way, people can find answers to their questions without having to contact you for support. Excellent documentation also makes it easier for people to get started with your product.

Finally, you should always be thinking about ways to improve the user experience of your product. This includes things like making sure that your product is easy to navigate and that it has a consistent look and feel. Improving the user experience of your product will make it more likely that people will continue to use it and recommend it to others.

Create a solution to the problem

If you’re looking for ideas for a micro-SaaS business, the best place to start is by solving a problem that you’re passionate about.

Think about the problems that you’re faced with on a daily basis, and try to come up with solutions that could make your life (or work) easier. Once you’ve identified a problem that you think you could solve, do some research to see if there’s already a solution out there.

If there’s already a solution out there, see if you can improve upon it or offer a different take on the same problem. If there’s no solution out there, then you may have found your micro-SaaS idea!

Develop your business model

What problem are you solving?

Micro-SaaS businesses are built around solving a specific problem for a specific customer group. To find a micro-SaaS idea, you need to start by identifying a problem that needs solving.

There are a few ways to go about this:

1. Talk to people in your target market and ask them what problems they’re facing.
2. Look for pain points in your own life and see if there’s a way to solve them with technology.
3. Keep an eye on trends in your industry and look for problems that new technologies can help solve.

Once you’ve identified a problem that needs solving, you can start thinking about how to turn it into a micro-SaaS business.

Who is your target customer?

There are a few ways to come up with ideas for a micro-SaaS business. One way is to look at the needs of a specific target customer group and see if there are any gaps that could be filled with a new software solution. Another way is to look at existing software solutions and see if there are any areas that could be improved upon or if there are any new features that could be added. Finally, you can also look at industry trends and see if there are any new technologies or ideas that could be used to create a new micro-SaaS business.

How will you reach your target customer?

There are a few key things to consider when trying to develop your business model and reach your target customers:

1. Who is your target customer?
2. What needs does your target customer have?
3. How will you reach your target customer?
4. What value will you provide to your target customer?
5. Who is your target customer?

When thinking about who your target customer is, it is important to consider both who they are and what they need. For example, if you are selling a product that helps people save time, your target customer might be busy professionals or working mothers. Once you have considered who your target customer is, you can begin to think about how to reach them.

What needs does your target customer have?

Your target customers likely have a variety of needs, but it is important to focus on the needs that your product or service can address. For example, if you are selling a time-saving product, your target customers might need help with time management or organization. Once you know what needs your target customers have, you can begin to think about how to reach them and what value you can provide.

How will you reach your target customer?

There are a number of ways to reach your target customers, but it is important to consider which channels will be most effective for your product or service. For example, if you are selling a time-saving product, online channels such as social media or search engine optimization might be more effective than offline channels such as print advertising. Once you know how you will reach your target customers, you can begin to think about what value you can provide.

What value will you provide to your target customer?

Your product or service should provide value to your target customers in order to be successful. This value can come in the form of time savings, cost savings, or some other benefit that meets the needs of your target customers. For example, if you are selling a time-saving product, your target customers might value the time savings that your product provides.

What is your pricing strategy?

Pricing your micro-SaaS product can be tricky. On one hand, you want to charge enough to cover your costs and make a profit. On the other hand, you don’t want to price yourself out of the market.

One way to find the right price is to start by looking at your competitors. See what they are charging for similar products and use that as a starting point. Then, consider your costs and what you need to charge to make a profit. From there, you can adjust your price up or down based on what you think the market will bear.

Another approach is to start with a low price and then increase it over time as your product becomes more established in the market. This can help you attract early adopters who are more price-sensitive and then capture more value as your product grows in popularity.

Whatever pricing strategy you choose, be sure to monitor your sales and customer feedback closely. This will help you gauge whether your price is too high or too low and make adjustments as needed.

How will you make money?

Many Micro-SaaS businesses choose to use a subscription-based pricing model. This means that customers pay a recurring fee, typically on a monthly or annual basis, in order to access your software. In some cases, you may also offer a free trial period.

Another common pricing model for Micro-SaaS businesses is usage-based pricing. With this model, customers pay based on how much they use your software. This can be particularly helpful if your software has the potential for high scale – meaning that users could potentially spend a lot of money if they make heavy use of it.

Some Micro-SaaS businesses opt for a Freemium model, where the core product is offered for free and additional features are available for purchase. This can be a great way to get people hooked on your product and then upsell them later down the line.

Finally, you could also consider offering your software as part of a larger package deal. For example, many web development agencies will include Micro-SaaS products as part of their service packages.

What are the costs of starting and running your business?

There are a few key costs to keep in mind when starting a Micro-SaaS business:

1. The cost of your product or service.
2. The cost of marketing and acquiring customers.
3. The cost of running and maintaining your infrastructure.
4. The cost of hiring and retaining employees.

Create a prototype of your product or service

Creating a prototype of your product or service is important for several reasons. First, it allows you to test the feasibility of your idea and get feedback from potential customers. Second, it helps you determine the manufacturing costs and time required to bring your product to market. Finally, it gives you a physical product that you can use to pitch investors and partners.

There are a few different ways to go about creating a prototype. The most important thing is to start with something small and simple that you can iterate on quickly. One approach is to create a paper prototype, which is essentially a storyboard of how your product would work. Another approach is to create a functional prototype using 3D printing or other methods. This could be as simple as making an Arduino-based device that simulates the functionality of your final product.

Once you have created a basic prototype, you can then begin testing it with potential customers. This will help you validate your concept and gather feedback about what people like and don’t like about your idea. From there, you can iterate on your design and continue refining it until you have something that people are willing to pay for.

Test your product or service with potential customers

Use online resources

If you’re looking to validate a Micro-SaaS idea, there are a few online resources that can be helpful. First, try posting your idea on sites like Reddit or Quora to get feedback from potential customers. You can also create a landing page for your product and test whether people are willing to sign up for it. Finally, consider running ads on Google or Facebook targeting people who might be interested in your product.

Market and sell your Micro-SaaS idea

If you’re looking for ideas for a micro-SaaS business, there are a few places you can look. First, try to think of a problem that you have that could be solved with a software solution. Alternatively, you can look for problems that people are already trying to solve with software, but that don’t have a great solution currently available. Finally, you can look at other micro-SaaS businesses and try to come up with a new twist or angle on their offering.

Once you’ve come up with an idea for a micro-SaaS business, the next step is to validate it. This means finding out if there is actually a market for your product or service. To do this, you can talk to potential customers and get their feedback on your idea. You can also look at whether there are any similar products or services already available, and how successful they are.

Once you’ve validated your idea, the next step is to start building your micro-SaaS business. This involves creating the actual software product or service, and then putting together a marketing and sales plan to start selling it to customers. If you’re not sure how to get started, there are plenty of resources available online to help you.

With a little bit of effort, you can easily find ideas for micro-SaaS businesses and then validate and build them into successful businesses.

If you’re looking for ideas for a Micro-SaaS business, be sure to check out our blog post on how to find them. Let us know what you think in the comments below!