Become the Wise Advisor with Mike Ritchie

all right we are all right we are live back with our final sixth and final live back with our final sixth and final live back with our final sixth and final keynote of microcom promote keynote of microcom promote keynote of microcom promote thanks again for joining me and sticking thanks again for joining me and sticking thanks again for joining me and sticking around we're gonna have about a 20 around we're gonna have about a 20 around we're gonna have about a 20 minute minute minute conversation with mike ritchie and conversation with mike ritchie and conversation with mike ritchie and myself and he myself and he myself and he is the founder of sequel dot io he's is the founder of sequel dot io he's is the founder of sequel dot io he's gonna share how he tapped into authority gonna share how he tapped into authority gonna share how he tapped into authority building platforms building platforms building platforms to reach their earliest customers by to reach their earliest customers by to reach their earliest customers by providing insights and solutions to providing insights and solutions to providing insights and solutions to potential customers specifically potential customers specifically potential customers specifically on quora and stack overflow but during on quora and stack overflow but during on quora and stack overflow but during our conversation our conversation our conversation uh we'll talk about i'll bring up uh we'll talk about i'll bring up uh we'll talk about i'll bring up several other q a platforms several other q a platforms several other q a platforms that i believe can be used for similar that i believe can be used for similar that i believe can be used for similar purposes purposes purposes it's early stage sas it's getting 10 50 it's early stage sas it's getting 10 50 it's early stage sas it's getting 10 50 or the first hundred or the first hundred or the first hundred customers and with that let's welcome customers and with that let's welcome customers and with that let's welcome mike richie to the show mike richie to the show mike richie to the show how's it going sir good have you doing how's it going sir good have you doing how's it going sir good have you doing all right thanks for joining us today all right thanks for joining us today all right thanks for joining us today we're gonna um as i was telling folks we're gonna um as i was telling folks we're gonna um as i was telling folks we're gonna have about a we're gonna have about a we're gonna have about a 20-minute chat you have some slides 20-minute chat you have some slides 20-minute chat you have some slides prepared and prepared and prepared and then we will have 10 minutes of q a ish then we will have 10 minutes of q a ish then we will have 10 minutes of q a ish and we'll wrap around sometime around uh and we'll wrap around sometime around uh and we'll wrap around sometime around uh 9 30 pacific 12 30 uh 9 30 pacific 12 30 uh 9 30 pacific 12 30 uh eastern so with that i'll let you take eastern so with that i'll let you take eastern so with that i'll let you take it away from here it away from here it away from here um you can intro yourself and and dive um you can intro yourself and and dive um you can intro yourself and and dive into the slides and then we'll i'll into the slides and then we'll i'll into the slides and then we'll i'll chime in as needed yeah sounds good chime in as needed yeah sounds good chime in as needed yeah sounds good and just set some context because i'm and just set some context because i'm and just set some context because i'm sure not everyone is familiar with with sure not everyone is familiar with with sure not everyone is familiar with with my small niche of the world my small my small niche of the world my small my small niche of the world my small company so sql company so sql company so sql is an app that helps customers our is an app that helps customers our is an app that helps customers our customers which are generally data customers which are generally data customers which are generally data analysts

analysts analysts people that know sql but are not too people that know sql but are not too people that know sql but are not too much more tech savvy than that much more tech savvy than that much more tech savvy than that it helps those analysts push data from it helps those analysts push data from it helps those analysts push data from their data warehouse their data warehouse their data warehouse into other applications so you can think into other applications so you can think into other applications so you can think of those things or places that are of those things or places that are of those things or places that are interesting to push data as places like interesting to push data as places like interesting to push data as places like google sheets google sheets google sheets slack even things like salesforce just slack even things like salesforce just slack even things like salesforce just all this all this all this insight and data that's locked up in a insight and data that's locked up in a insight and data that's locked up in a customer in one of our customers data customer in one of our customers data customer in one of our customers data warehouses we just make it dead simple warehouses we just make it dead simple warehouses we just make it dead simple for anyone that knows sql to get it out for anyone that knows sql to get it out for anyone that knows sql to get it out of their warehouse and drop it into of their warehouse and drop it into of their warehouse and drop it into other places that they're interested in other places that they're interested in other places that they're interested in and when i first built the product i and when i first built the product i and when i first built the product i started completely as a side project started completely as a side project started completely as a side project um it was something that i kind of used um it was something that i kind of used um it was something that i kind of used and dabbled with a bit and dabbled with a bit and dabbled with a bit at my last company and decided you know at my last company and decided you know at my last company and decided you know kind of spin off as a little side kind of spin off as a little side kind of spin off as a little side project project project got some customers pretty early um but got some customers pretty early um but got some customers pretty early um but after that very first customer i after that very first customer i after that very first customer i realized okay this is you know something realized okay this is you know something realized okay this is you know something that that that people might actually want to use might people might actually want to use might people might actually want to use might be interested in um so started to kind be interested in um so started to kind be interested in um so started to kind of think about like how of think about like how of think about like how you know marketing would look and how we you know marketing would look and how we you know marketing would look and how we could kind of get on the first could kind of get on the first could kind of get on the first you know 10 users after that first user you know 10 users after that first user you know 10 users after that first user um and um and um and um robert are the are the slides up um robert are the are the slides up um robert are the are the slides up because i only see myself right now cool and i guess that i can control it cool and i guess that i can control it with this with this with this there we go great um so you know this there we go great um so you know this there we go great um so you know this first slide is basically what the first slide is basically what the first slide is basically what the initial strategy was which was initial strategy was which was initial strategy was which was try to find places that people were try to find places that people were try to find places that people were asking questions or really trying to asking questions or really trying to asking questions or really trying to figure out how to build our product figure out how to build our product figure out how to build our product on their own so that would look like you on their own so that would look like you on their own so that would look like you know for our specific use case it would know for our specific use case it would know for our specific use case it would look like look like look like people trying to write python scripts

people trying to write python scripts people trying to write python scripts and trying to set up servers and do all and trying to set up servers and do all and trying to set up servers and do all these things to try to like automate these things to try to like automate these things to try to like automate this data flow this data flow this data flow from their warehouse into these other from their warehouse into these other from their warehouse into these other destinations like google sheets destinations like google sheets destinations like google sheets so this is like really clunky process so this is like really clunky process so this is like really clunky process that people were fault you know hitting that people were fault you know hitting that people were fault you know hitting problems problems problems you know in multiple steps along the way you know in multiple steps along the way you know in multiple steps along the way they might be they might be they might be getting they might be getting caught up getting they might be getting caught up getting they might be getting caught up with going through the google oauth with going through the google oauth with going through the google oauth process process process in terms of like getting credentials set in terms of like getting credentials set in terms of like getting credentials set up they might be getting jammed up with up they might be getting jammed up with up they might be getting jammed up with getting it getting it getting it set on a schedule so having a server set set on a schedule so having a server set set on a schedule so having a server set up and making sure that that's running up and making sure that that's running up and making sure that that's running reliably 24 7. reliably 24 7. reliably 24 7. there's a ton of different places that there's a ton of different places that there's a ton of different places that they could be falling you know falling they could be falling you know falling they could be falling you know falling into a trap or hitting a roadblock into a trap or hitting a roadblock into a trap or hitting a roadblock and you know basically that's what we and you know basically that's what we and you know basically that's what we try to do is we try to help people try to do is we try to help people try to do is we try to help people overcome overcome overcome that individual roadblock that they hit that individual roadblock that they hit that individual roadblock that they hit um so you know maybe it was um so you know maybe it was um so you know maybe it was um you know authenticating to their um you know authenticating to their um you know authenticating to their database with python we were helping database with python we were helping database with python we were helping people people people answer that question but then we were answer that question but then we were answer that question but then we were also saying hey by the way this is going also saying hey by the way this is going also saying hey by the way this is going to be a pain to be a pain to be a pain 12 more times like you're going to run 12 more times like you're going to run 12 more times like you're going to run into 12 more roadblocks into 12 more roadblocks into 12 more roadblocks um sql is perfectly built to solve this um sql is perfectly built to solve this um sql is perfectly built to solve this problem so you might want to you know problem so you might want to you know problem so you might want to you know give that give that give that give that a try and instead of you know give that a try and instead of you know give that a try and instead of you know building it yourself building it yourself building it yourself um so you know this this tweet was you um so you know this this tweet was you um so you know this this tweet was you know mentioned i guess earlier know mentioned i guess earlier know mentioned i guess earlier earlier this month but it's basically earlier this month but it's basically earlier this month but it's basically kind of encapsulates our early strategy kind of encapsulates our early strategy kind of encapsulates our early strategy um and you know one of the first places um and you know one of the first places um and you know one of the first places that we looked um was basically just that we looked um was basically just that we looked um was basically just you know google searching and finding you know google searching and finding you know google searching and finding places that that people have bumped into places that that people have bumped into places that that people have bumped into this issue and kind of already like this issue and kind of already like this issue and kind of already like answered the questions or started to answered the questions or started to answered the questions or started to answer the question answer the question answer the question um so this is you know a screenshot from um so this is you know a screenshot from um so this is you know a screenshot from stack overflow stack overflow stack overflow and it's funny you know there's there's and it's funny you know there's there's and it's funny you know there's there's 12 upvotes here but i could say

12 upvotes here but i could say 12 upvotes here but i could say you know with pretty solid confidence you know with pretty solid confidence you know with pretty solid confidence that this one that this one that this one post on stack overflow has generated post on stack overflow has generated post on stack overflow has generated thousands of dollars in mrr for us thousands of dollars in mrr for us thousands of dollars in mrr for us um since since we initially answered the um since since we initially answered the um since since we initially answered the question so question so question so it's only 12 up votes but tons of people it's only 12 up votes but tons of people it's only 12 up votes but tons of people have seen this and have seen this and have seen this and it's really highly qualified traffic it's really highly qualified traffic it's really highly qualified traffic that we get in that we get in that we get in so this stack overflow question ranks so this stack overflow question ranks so this stack overflow question ranks pretty highly pretty highly pretty highly on on google for various questions that on on google for various questions that on on google for various questions that are related to our product are related to our product are related to our product and you can see the answer here is you and you can see the answer here is you and you can see the answer here is you know crisp to the point know crisp to the point know crisp to the point hey if you don't want to solve this hey if you don't want to solve this hey if you don't want to solve this yourself um you know sequel's out there yourself um you know sequel's out there yourself um you know sequel's out there we've always tried to be as transparent we've always tried to be as transparent we've always tried to be as transparent as possible it's like hey we're one of as possible it's like hey we're one of as possible it's like hey we're one of the founders the founders the founders you know just your full transparency you know just your full transparency you know just your full transparency like we built this product so it's you like we built this product so it's you like we built this product so it's you know it's clear that know it's clear that know it's clear that you're where the pitch is coming from you're where the pitch is coming from you're where the pitch is coming from it's not you know it's not that we're it's not you know it's not that we're it's not you know it's not that we're trying to hide it and post it from trying to hide it and post it from trying to hide it and post it from you know a ghost account or position it you know a ghost account or position it you know a ghost account or position it is though it's one of our customers is though it's one of our customers is though it's one of our customers that's answering anything like that that's answering anything like that that's answering anything like that we're always transparent that it's us we're always transparent that it's us we're always transparent that it's us that's answering the question that's answering the question that's answering the question and then we just try to be crisp and and and then we just try to be crisp and and and then we just try to be crisp and and not canned not canned not canned in terms of the response so we try to in terms of the response so we try to in terms of the response so we try to cater the response whether it's you know cater the response whether it's you know cater the response whether it's you know a place like core stack overflow we a place like core stack overflow we a place like core stack overflow we cater the response to the exact question cater the response to the exact question cater the response to the exact question as opposed to just pasting in you know a as opposed to just pasting in you know a as opposed to just pasting in you know a blanket response that's used for all blanket response that's used for all blanket response that's used for all questions questions questions i think the next slide has an example of i think the next slide has an example of i think the next slide has an example of quora quora quora um so this was another question um so this was another question um so this was another question that we found pretty early on um in our that we found pretty early on um in our that we found pretty early on um in our history in terms of history in terms of history in terms of um when we initially launched um um when we initially launched um um when we initially launched um one thing with quora that's nice is it's one thing with quora that's nice is it's one thing with quora that's nice is it's and actually stack overflow as well as

and actually stack overflow as well as and actually stack overflow as well as you you can you you can you you can update the question or update your update the question or update your update the question or update your answer over time as you add new features answer over time as you add new features answer over time as you add new features or as you or as you or as you kind of improve the product so this is kind of improve the product so this is kind of improve the product so this is exactly what we did here is when we exactly what we did here is when we exactly what we did here is when we initially launched the product initially launched the product initially launched the product uh it was the ui was terrible it was it uh it was the ui was terrible it was it uh it was the ui was terrible it was it was actually you know pretty janky and was actually you know pretty janky and was actually you know pretty janky and clunky product clunky product clunky product so this post was actually updated so this post was actually updated so this post was actually updated multiple times as we improved our multiple times as we improved our multiple times as we improved our product and as the screenshots look product and as the screenshots look product and as the screenshots look cleaner as the product cleaner as the product cleaner as the product neovision became more concise we updated neovision became more concise we updated neovision became more concise we updated these answers these answers these answers and you know made you made the value and you know made you made the value and you know made you made the value prop more more prop more more prop more more clear so it was actually something we clear so it was actually something we clear so it was actually something we did call it like every did call it like every did call it like every quarter to every like six months as we quarter to every like six months as we quarter to every like six months as we kind of go back through these top posts kind of go back through these top posts kind of go back through these top posts which obviously like attribution and which obviously like attribution and which obviously like attribution and tracking is pretty important for tracking is pretty important for tracking is pretty important for understanding understanding understanding where your customers are coming from so where your customers are coming from so where your customers are coming from so that you know which of these posts that you know which of these posts that you know which of these posts actually matter to update actually matter to update actually matter to update um but we've kept that um we've kept um but we've kept that um we've kept um but we've kept that um we've kept that like log that like log that like log of the posts that still matter or the of the posts that still matter or the of the posts that still matter or the answers that still matter to us and we answers that still matter to us and we answers that still matter to us and we go back and update those regularly go back and update those regularly go back and update those regularly if if necessary um so this is one if if necessary um so this is one if if necessary um so this is one example in quora example in quora example in quora and then the third place that we really and then the third place that we really and then the third place that we really found some found some found some initial and early traffic and it's it's initial and early traffic and it's it's initial and early traffic and it's it's not really a q a not really a q a not really a q a um site but it is a place that a lot of um site but it is a place that a lot of um site but it is a place that a lot of our customers were going to for answers our customers were going to for answers our customers were going to for answers so there's actually and this is a very so there's actually and this is a very so there's actually and this is a very little known little known little known uh marketplace that oddly has a very uh marketplace that oddly has a very uh marketplace that oddly has a very large user base like you can kind of see large user base like you can kind of see large user base like you can kind of see some of the numbers that are in just some of the numbers that are in just some of the numbers that are in just this screenshot but if you're looking this screenshot but if you're looking this screenshot but if you're looking for an idea i'd fully encourage you to for an idea i'd fully encourage you to for an idea i'd fully encourage you to go to go to go to google work workspace marketplace and google work workspace marketplace and google work workspace marketplace and just kind of search around at some of just kind of search around at some of just kind of search around at some of the products that have traction there

the products that have traction there the products that have traction there there's applications that are that are there's applications that are that are there's applications that are that are literally just for like add-ons to literally just for like add-ons to literally just for like add-ons to google forms that have google forms that have google forms that have millions of users uh and terrible millions of users uh and terrible millions of users uh and terrible reviews so there's reviews so there's reviews so there's things like apps that are being widely things like apps that are being widely things like apps that are being widely used that are paid apps that have used that are paid apps that have used that are paid apps that have terrible reviews and are poorly built terrible reviews and are poorly built terrible reviews and are poorly built seems like a pretty good um combination seems like a pretty good um combination seems like a pretty good um combination for someone looking for you know a side for someone looking for you know a side for someone looking for you know a side project or a new project to work on project or a new project to work on project or a new project to work on but in our use case um you know pretty but in our use case um you know pretty but in our use case um you know pretty early on we realized that customers were early on we realized that customers were early on we realized that customers were looking for solutions here looking for solutions here looking for solutions here we actually by default had to have a we actually by default had to have a we actually by default had to have a listing here for the initial version of listing here for the initial version of listing here for the initial version of our application so it wasn't something our application so it wasn't something our application so it wasn't something that we discovered on our own like we that we discovered on our own like we that we discovered on our own like we had to be listed here had to be listed here had to be listed here but once we realized how many customers but once we realized how many customers but once we realized how many customers were finding us through the marketplace were finding us through the marketplace were finding us through the marketplace we really worked to improve our ratings we really worked to improve our ratings we really worked to improve our ratings improve our reviews you can see here in improve our reviews you can see here in improve our reviews you can see here in the screenshot we have a 4.9 the screenshot we have a 4.9 the screenshot we have a 4.9 star review with with almost 3 000 users star review with with almost 3 000 users star review with with almost 3 000 users for the first app for the first app for the first app we actually have two apps in the we actually have two apps in the we actually have two apps in the marketplace one for for forms and one marketplace one for for forms and one marketplace one for for forms and one for google sheets for google sheets for google sheets so five star review on the other one and so five star review on the other one and so five star review on the other one and we really worked on making sure we really worked on making sure we really worked on making sure we were number one in the search results we were number one in the search results we were number one in the search results for different terms that matter to us for different terms that matter to us for different terms that matter to us so basically anything you search for so basically anything you search for so basically anything you search for that matters to our company likes that matters to our company likes that matters to our company likes postgres postgres postgres snowflake anything like that uh we are snowflake anything like that uh we are snowflake anything like that uh we are the number one search result and we get the number one search result and we get the number one search result and we get a ton of traffic through here um so a ton of traffic through here um so a ton of traffic through here um so again thousands and thousands of dollars again thousands and thousands of dollars again thousands and thousands of dollars of mrr of mrr of mrr with no spend so it's not like we're you with no spend so it's not like we're you with no spend so it's not like we're you know paying for placement here it's it's know paying for placement here it's it's know paying for placement here it's it's it's purely it's purely it's purely um just doing the work to get uh to get um just doing the work to get uh to get um just doing the work to get uh to get the app reviewed well and the app reviewed well and the app reviewed well and and enlisted well um and enlisted well um and enlisted well um and i think yeah so i think that that's and i think yeah so i think that that's and i think yeah so i think that that's it on it on it on the marketplaces those were the three

the marketplaces those were the three the marketplaces those were the three that we really leaned on um early on that we really leaned on um early on that we really leaned on um early on especially to get the first you know 10 especially to get the first you know 10 especially to get the first you know 10 first hundred customers first hundred customers first hundred customers um the i guess the the overall strategy um the i guess the the overall strategy um the i guess the the overall strategy you know i already mentioned being you know i already mentioned being you know i already mentioned being transparent so making sure that transparent so making sure that transparent so making sure that uh anyone that we um anyone that we were uh anyone that we um anyone that we were uh anyone that we um anyone that we were quote unquote like selling to through quote unquote like selling to through quote unquote like selling to through these marketplaces knew these marketplaces knew these marketplaces knew um you know who it was that was selling um you know who it was that was selling um you know who it was that was selling to them and knew that we were associated to them and knew that we were associated to them and knew that we were associated with the company with the company with the company um always trying to you know speak the um always trying to you know speak the um always trying to you know speak the language it was it was pretty easy for language it was it was pretty easy for language it was it was pretty easy for me just because i was me just because i was me just because i was you know i kind of was our customer um you know i kind of was our customer um you know i kind of was our customer um so i knew sql so i knew sql so i knew sql i wasn't much of a developer so i didn't i wasn't much of a developer so i didn't i wasn't much of a developer so i didn't know a ton about know a ton about know a ton about like back-end infrastructure and things like back-end infrastructure and things like back-end infrastructure and things like that in terms of setting up servers like that in terms of setting up servers like that in terms of setting up servers so so so um i was kind of our customer so i was um i was kind of our customer so i was um i was kind of our customer so i was able to kind of speak that language able to kind of speak that language able to kind of speak that language but if you're not your customer make but if you're not your customer make but if you're not your customer make sure that you're not you know getting sure that you're not you know getting sure that you're not you know getting too far into like technical jargon too far into like technical jargon too far into like technical jargon things that things that things that the customer doesn't care about um in the customer doesn't care about um in the customer doesn't care about um in terms of you know sound like a sales terms of you know sound like a sales terms of you know sound like a sales person so we were just very direct person so we were just very direct person so we were just very direct in terms of answering their questions um in terms of answering their questions um in terms of answering their questions um and then you know the last one which is and then you know the last one which is and then you know the last one which is is probably the most important is uh is probably the most important is uh is probably the most important is uh really really really showing showing how painful free can be showing showing how painful free can be showing showing how painful free can be um so yeah we were like digitalocean has um so yeah we were like digitalocean has um so yeah we were like digitalocean has some great posts on this um their early some great posts on this um their early some great posts on this um their early strategy was very much strategy was very much strategy was very much along these lines is like just showing along these lines is like just showing along these lines is like just showing how incredibly painful it is to manage how incredibly painful it is to manage how incredibly painful it is to manage machines on aws or set up a new you know machines on aws or set up a new you know machines on aws or set up a new you know spin up a new instance on aws spin up a new instance on aws spin up a new instance on aws at the time that the digital ocean at the time that the digital ocean at the time that the digital ocean launched so you know we took that exact launched so you know we took that exact launched so you know we took that exact um same playbook and exact same strategy um same playbook and exact same strategy um same playbook and exact same strategy in terms of like hey in terms of like hey in terms of like hey setting this all up on your on your own setting this all up on your on your own setting this all up on your on your own is going to be a complete nightmare this is going to be a complete nightmare this is going to be a complete nightmare this is not something you want to manage

is not something you want to manage is not something you want to manage especially when our product starts at 50 especially when our product starts at 50 especially when our product starts at 50 bucks a month um this should be bucks a month um this should be bucks a month um this should be you know kind of an absolute no-brainer you know kind of an absolute no-brainer you know kind of an absolute no-brainer for you for at least you know to at for you for at least you know to at for you for at least you know to at least give us a trial least give us a trial least give us a trial as opposed to trying to solve this as opposed to trying to solve this as opposed to trying to solve this problem yourself because free isn't problem yourself because free isn't problem yourself because free isn't always you know really free always you know really free always you know really free um when you kind of factor in all the um when you kind of factor in all the um when you kind of factor in all the hours it's going to take to for you to hours it's going to take to for you to hours it's going to take to for you to kind of build this on your own so kind of build this on your own so kind of build this on your own so um that's pretty much the tips rob any um that's pretty much the tips rob any um that's pretty much the tips rob any any questions on on your side any questions on on your side any questions on on your side yep yeah let me let me dive in with a yep yeah let me let me dive in with a yep yeah let me let me dive in with a couple comments um because actually couple comments um because actually couple comments um because actually i have done very similar approach to i have done very similar approach to i have done very similar approach to what you've done and i did it with what you've done and i did it with what you've done and i did it with hit tail which was a long tail seo hit tail which was a long tail seo hit tail which was a long tail seo keyword tool it was a sas app and so at keyword tool it was a sas app and so at keyword tool it was a sas app and so at that time i went to quora that time i went to quora that time i went to quora subscribe to all the seo and keyword subscribe to all the seo and keyword subscribe to all the seo and keyword research topics and i would chime in research topics and i would chime in research topics and i would chime in similar to you i use the i was very similar to you i use the i was very similar to you i use the i was very personal i always personal i always personal i always uh i always divulged you know that i by uh i always divulged you know that i by uh i always divulged you know that i by the way i run hit tail the way i run hit tail the way i run hit tail but the big thing was i would absolutely but the big thing was i would absolutely but the big thing was i would absolutely show them show them show them and this is a decade ago but i would say and this is a decade ago but i would say and this is a decade ago but i would say they would say how do i do keyword they would say how do i do keyword they would say how do i do keyword research and i'd say research and i'd say research and i'd say here's how you can do it screenshot here's how you can do it screenshot here's how you can do it screenshot screenshot go through google do this screenshot go through google do this screenshot go through google do this or click through to this site pay 20 or click through to this site pay 20 or click through to this site pay 20 bucks a month bucks a month bucks a month you know but disclosure i'm the you know you know but disclosure i'm the you know you know but disclosure i'm the you know i'm the owner of it but i'm the owner of it but i'm the owner of it but it it literally became it it's almost it it literally became it it's almost it it literally became it it's almost like uh you know doing like uh you know doing like uh you know doing the selling for you and even it's funny the selling for you and even it's funny the selling for you and even it's funny because you said you know one of those because you said you know one of those because you said you know one of those posts had 12 up votes posts had 12 up votes posts had 12 up votes but it's created thousands of dollars in but it's created thousands of dollars in but it's created thousands of dollars in value for you value for you value for you similar with with hit tail and then with similar with with hit tail and then with similar with with hit tail and then with drip actually i uh drip actually i uh drip actually i uh you know drip being an email service you know drip being an email service you know drip being an email service provider i subscribe to all the provider i subscribe to all the provider i subscribe to all the email marketing and the um or really a

email marketing and the um or really a email marketing and the um or really a bunch of just email marketing bunch of just email marketing bunch of just email marketing questions and it was similar where ones questions and it was similar where ones questions and it was similar where ones wouldn't get that many upvotes but wouldn't get that many upvotes but wouldn't get that many upvotes but it would just drive highly highly it would just drive highly highly it would just drive highly highly targeted traffic targeted traffic targeted traffic so even if i only got 30 50 visitors a so even if i only got 30 50 visitors a so even if i only got 30 50 visitors a month from those threads month from those threads month from those threads um you know they would convert to trial um you know they would convert to trial um you know they would convert to trial at like 10 at like 10 at like 10 20 when the rest of the site was 20 when the rest of the site was 20 when the rest of the site was converting at 2.1 or 2 converting at 2.1 or 2 converting at 2.1 or 2 it was because they were so qualified it was because they were so qualified it was because they were so qualified and already so interested in the problem and already so interested in the problem and already so interested in the problem so there's a lot of value there and of so there's a lot of value there and of so there's a lot of value there and of course these days even i answer stuff course these days even i answer stuff course these days even i answer stuff about about about sas and marketing and this and that sas and marketing and this and that sas and marketing and this and that because it's you know it's the because it's you know it's the because it's you know it's the the podcast uh micro conf and tiny stuff the podcast uh micro conf and tiny stuff the podcast uh micro conf and tiny stuff that i'm thinking about these days so that i'm thinking about these days so that i'm thinking about these days so there's a lot of value here and what we there's a lot of value here and what we there's a lot of value here and what we do have a question that i'll get to in a do have a question that i'll get to in a do have a question that i'll get to in a second but i wanted to point out some second but i wanted to point out some second but i wanted to point out some other sites other sites other sites obviously quora is is the general one um obviously quora is is the general one um obviously quora is is the general one um but and it covers well it covers a lot but and it covers well it covers a lot but and it covers well it covers a lot of it started out as more of a silicon of it started out as more of a silicon of it started out as more of a silicon valley kind of startup topics and then valley kind of startup topics and then valley kind of startup topics and then it's really expanded from there it's really expanded from there it's really expanded from there stack overflow is the technical one um stack overflow is the technical one um stack overflow is the technical one um and obviously stack exchange has a bunch and obviously stack exchange has a bunch and obviously stack exchange has a bunch of different of different of different uh i mean i believe they have hundreds uh i mean i believe they have hundreds uh i mean i believe they have hundreds of different ones now i mean they have of different ones now i mean they have of different ones now i mean they have rpg.stack exchange and they have rpg.stack exchange and they have rpg.stack exchange and they have english literature and grammar you know english literature and grammar you know english literature and grammar you know just all kinds of stuff so there's a lot just all kinds of stuff so there's a lot just all kinds of stuff so there's a lot of options there of options there of options there um reddit is another place that i've um reddit is another place that i've um reddit is another place that i've seen folks if you're involved in seen folks if you're involved in seen folks if you're involved in um you know a specific if there's a sql um you know a specific if there's a sql um you know a specific if there's a sql users group or developer users group or users group or developer users group or users group or developer users group or uh you know a startup users group uh you know a startup users group uh you know a startup users group whatever that's a place i've seen people whatever that's a place i've seen people whatever that's a place i've seen people be helpful on the internet and those be helpful on the internet and those be helpful on the internet and those can rank if there's a question they can can rank if there's a question they can can rank if there's a question they can rank in google rank in google rank in google clarity.fm is another one that i think clarity.fm is another one that i think clarity.fm is another one that i think people forget clarity people forget clarity people forget clarity is for phone uh mostly it's for

is for phone uh mostly it's for is for phone uh mostly it's for connecting with consultants via phone connecting with consultants via phone connecting with consultants via phone chat chat chat about phone calls but they now have a about phone calls but they now have a about phone calls but they now have a um that you can get involved with and um that you can get involved with and um that you can get involved with and those are the ones that those are the ones that those are the ones that the interesting thing is there's a whole the interesting thing is there's a whole the interesting thing is there's a whole other strategy where it's going facebook other strategy where it's going facebook other strategy where it's going facebook groups forums and groups forums and groups forums and and slack groups you know like microsoft and slack groups you know like microsoft and slack groups you know like microsoft connect those are also helpful but connect those are also helpful but connect those are also helpful but they're different in that you don't get they're different in that you don't get they're different in that you don't get seo out of it seo out of it seo out of it right that's the thing is that quora right that's the thing is that quora right that's the thing is that quora clarity clarity clarity stack overflow reddit these things tend stack overflow reddit these things tend stack overflow reddit these things tend to rank in google to rank in google to rank in google for the for the answer to the question for the for the answer to the question for the for the answer to the question that that person that that person that that person is asking and you would love for your is asking and you would love for your is asking and you would love for your website to rank number one for the website to rank number one for the website to rank number one for the answer to that question answer to that question answer to that question but you don't have the juice you know but you don't have the juice you know but you don't have the juice you know none of us have the juice that cora none of us have the juice that cora none of us have the juice that cora or these other sites do so that's what or these other sites do so that's what or these other sites do so that's what i'll say kind of is i'll say kind of is i'll say kind of is bringing my personal experience to it as bringing my personal experience to it as bringing my personal experience to it as well as um kind of expanding on that in well as um kind of expanding on that in well as um kind of expanding on that in terms of there are other options you terms of there are other options you terms of there are other options you know it's not just the three know it's not just the three know it's not just the three you you pointed out course tech overflow you you pointed out course tech overflow you you pointed out course tech overflow and google workspace marketplace which i and google workspace marketplace which i and google workspace marketplace which i had never heard of had never heard of had never heard of um that's funny all right we got a um that's funny all right we got a um that's funny all right we got a couple questions couple questions couple questions uh from one is from adam he says i think uh from one is from adam he says i think uh from one is from adam he says i think you may have covered this but you may have covered this but you may have covered this but but you know reiterate mike he says do but you know reiterate mike he says do but you know reiterate mike he says do you have any thoughts on using personal you have any thoughts on using personal you have any thoughts on using personal accounts for example accounts for example accounts for example adam versus company accounts example the adam versus company accounts example the adam versus company accounts example the name is my company name is my company name is my company on course deck overflow etc on course deck overflow etc on course deck overflow etc uh we always used personal accounts i uh we always used personal accounts i uh we always used personal accounts i always felt that that was always felt that that was always felt that that was much less salesy um so wherever wherever much less salesy um so wherever wherever much less salesy um so wherever wherever possible we always used a personal possible we always used a personal possible we always used a personal account account account yep that's what i did as well and the yep that's what i did as well and the yep that's what i did as well and the nice part especially on quora you can nice part especially on quora you can nice part especially on quora you can put put put rob walling comma you know founder of rob walling comma you know founder of rob walling comma you know founder of drip founder of whatever and so your

drip founder of whatever and so your drip founder of whatever and so your your company makes it in anyways but your company makes it in anyways but your company makes it in anyways but then you're a human being then you're a human being then you're a human being it's like nobody wants a question it's like nobody wants a question it's like nobody wants a question answered by a company it's i'm instantly answered by a company it's i'm instantly answered by a company it's i'm instantly suspect when i see that right but if suspect when i see that right but if suspect when i see that right but if it's by a person who's the ceo or a it's by a person who's the ceo or a it's by a person who's the ceo or a founder founder founder i actually give them credibility a i actually give them credibility a i actually give them credibility a question question question from kristin carney how do you find from kristin carney how do you find from kristin carney how do you find questions let's see how do you find the questions let's see how do you find the questions let's see how do you find the right questions to answer on the right questions to answer on the right questions to answer on the platform platform platform did you answer hundreds of questions or did you answer hundreds of questions or did you answer hundreds of questions or did you somehow id the questions did you somehow id the questions did you somehow id the questions with a lot of views you weigh in first with a lot of views you weigh in first with a lot of views you weigh in first yeah i don't want to tell folks so i did yeah i don't want to tell folks so i did yeah i don't want to tell folks so i did it it it so that's absolutely a great question so that's absolutely a great question so that's absolutely a great question because quora is just an absolute because quora is just an absolute because quora is just an absolute flood of of the same question over and flood of of the same question over and flood of of the same question over and over so over so over so you can waste a lot of time answering you can waste a lot of time answering you can waste a lot of time answering 100 versions of basically the same 100 versions of basically the same 100 versions of basically the same question question question the way the simple method we used is the way the simple method we used is the way the simple method we used is just google searching so if just google searching so if just google searching so if so we searched through google for the so we searched through google for the so we searched through google for the questions that we cared about for the questions that we cared about for the questions that we cared about for the key terms that we cared about and then key terms that we cared about and then key terms that we cared about and then whatever ranked there whatever ranked there whatever ranked there from quora we would then click through from quora we would then click through from quora we would then click through to quora and answer those questions so to quora and answer those questions so to quora and answer those questions so if you search directly on quora for if you search directly on quora for if you search directly on quora for something like something like something like if you just search the a draw a broad if you just search the a draw a broad if you just search the a draw a broad term like uh term like uh term like uh postgres or google sheets things along postgres or google sheets things along postgres or google sheets things along those lines there will be dozens of the those lines there will be dozens of the those lines there will be dozens of the same question over and over the ones same question over and over the ones same question over and over the ones that we really focused on were the ones that we really focused on were the ones that we really focused on were the ones that were that were that were um basically the ones that were ranking um basically the ones that were ranking um basically the ones that were ranking in google in google in google one other side note on on quora is that one other side note on on quora is that one other side note on on quora is that you can you can you can get tricked probably into um get tricked probably into um get tricked probably into um running ads there or promoting your post running ads there or promoting your post running ads there or promoting your post um just just our own experience we um just just our own experience we um just just our own experience we actually actually actually tried that out it seemed like a tried that out it seemed like a tried that out it seemed like a no-brainer it's like oh like we can

no-brainer it's like oh like we can no-brainer it's like oh like we can instantly get our instantly get our instantly get our our answer to suppose uh to jump to the our answer to suppose uh to jump to the our answer to suppose uh to jump to the top it was a complete top it was a complete top it was a complete failure it did not work at all they failure it did not work at all they failure it did not work at all they actually actually actually uh their ad platform is also terrible in uh their ad platform is also terrible in uh their ad platform is also terrible in terms like setting all that up and then terms like setting all that up and then terms like setting all that up and then getting it to getting it to getting it to um to display appropriately so getting um to display appropriately so getting um to display appropriately so getting the the promotion to display on the the the promotion to display on the the the promotion to display on the questions that you wanted to questions that you wanted to questions that you wanted to was also a disaster so just a quick a was also a disaster so just a quick a was also a disaster so just a quick a quick aside is that quick aside is that quick aside is that like ads on core did not work at all for like ads on core did not work at all for like ads on core did not work at all for us us us versus doing the questions completely versus doing the questions completely versus doing the questions completely for free worked really well for free worked really well for free worked really well that's good to know because i've never that's good to know because i've never that's good to know because i've never tried quora ads and i always see tried quora ads and i always see tried quora ads and i always see quora ads because i am i'm on core i get quora ads because i am i'm on core i get quora ads because i am i'm on core i get their weekly digest and so i'm on it their weekly digest and so i'm on it their weekly digest and so i'm on it once a week kind of searching through once a week kind of searching through once a week kind of searching through the stuff the stuff the stuff of course the digest is always like mcu of course the digest is always like mcu of course the digest is always like mcu movie trivia movie trivia movie trivia and what's going on with dungeons and and what's going on with dungeons and and what's going on with dungeons and dragons and that kind of stuff so it's dragons and that kind of stuff so it's dragons and that kind of stuff so it's like nothing to do with startup which is like nothing to do with startup which is like nothing to do with startup which is actually a nice break but i see the ads actually a nice break but i see the ads actually a nice break but i see the ads all the time and i all the time and i all the time and i i kind of have at the back of my head i kind of have at the back of my head i kind of have at the back of my head like i wonder if i should try those so like i wonder if i should try those so like i wonder if i should try those so interesting data point there um i like interesting data point there um i like interesting data point there um i like that about google searching i wish i had that about google searching i wish i had that about google searching i wish i had thought of that thought of that thought of that because i would go through i would because i would go through i would because i would go through i would subscribe to the topics and then i'd try subscribe to the topics and then i'd try subscribe to the topics and then i'd try to be the first answer for a lot of them to be the first answer for a lot of them to be the first answer for a lot of them and i that worked uh it worked and i that worked uh it worked and i that worked uh it worked well it always worked in terms of i well it always worked in terms of i well it always worked in terms of i would usually start getting upvotes would usually start getting upvotes would usually start getting upvotes quickly quickly quickly but if those didn't appear in search but if those didn't appear in search but if those didn't appear in search results anywhere then i wouldn't get a results anywhere then i wouldn't get a results anywhere then i wouldn't get a lot of traffic from those so it's lot of traffic from those so it's lot of traffic from those so it's it is an interesting uh approach i like it is an interesting uh approach i like it is an interesting uh approach i like what you're what you're thinking what you're what you're thinking what you're what you're thinking another question how do you make your another question how do you make your another question how do you make your answers answers answers not to sound promotional not to sound promotional not to sound promotional yeah and that that is actually hard so yeah and that that is actually hard so yeah and that that is actually hard so if you

if you if you the first draft if you're thinking you the first draft if you're thinking you the first draft if you're thinking you know selling the product it's probably know selling the product it's probably know selling the product it's probably going to come across the sales going to come across the sales going to come across the sales like the thing i always came back to is like the thing i always came back to is like the thing i always came back to is if you are if you are if you are answering the question from a place that answering the question from a place that answering the question from a place that you're not involved with the company at you're not involved with the company at you're not involved with the company at all um so almost put yourself in a you all um so almost put yourself in a you all um so almost put yourself in a you know customers or potential customers know customers or potential customers know customers or potential customers shoes shoes shoes um but that that absolutely is something um but that that absolutely is something um but that that absolutely is something that we had to work on that we had to work on that we had to work on early on and i found the best way for me early on and i found the best way for me early on and i found the best way for me to do it to do it to do it um was to pretend that i was answering um was to pretend that i was answering um was to pretend that i was answering the question either to someone that i the question either to someone that i the question either to someone that i knew knew knew um so like just put yourself um in a um so like just put yourself um in a um so like just put yourself um in a an actual situation where someone that an actual situation where someone that an actual situation where someone that you know is asking you the question you know is asking you the question you know is asking you the question and like a specific person um so i would and like a specific person um so i would and like a specific person um so i would pretend like oh like our product manager pretend like oh like our product manager pretend like oh like our product manager at our last company is asking me this at our last company is asking me this at our last company is asking me this question how would i answer him like and question how would i answer him like and question how would i answer him like and making it a specific person making it a specific person making it a specific person worked really well for me um because if worked really well for me um because if worked really well for me um because if you're answering it you're answering it you're answering it to like the internet like just broadly to like the internet like just broadly to like the internet like just broadly you can come across you can come across you can come across as like maybe sounding a little bit too as like maybe sounding a little bit too as like maybe sounding a little bit too like polished or maybe too like like polished or maybe too like like polished or maybe too like uh on the pr side versus if you're uh on the pr side versus if you're uh on the pr side versus if you're answering a friend answering a friend answering a friend or you know a previous co-worker it'll or you know a previous co-worker it'll or you know a previous co-worker it'll probably come across more natural probably come across more natural probably come across more natural uh we didn't a b test this obviously so uh we didn't a b test this obviously so uh we didn't a b test this obviously so who knows if it works or not but who knows if it works or not but who knows if it works or not but that's the way that um felt better to me that's the way that um felt better to me that's the way that um felt better to me and i guess and i guess and i guess if like upvotes versus down votes mean if like upvotes versus down votes mean if like upvotes versus down votes mean anything it seems like you know anything it seems like you know anything it seems like you know rob mentioned places like reddit um when rob mentioned places like reddit um when rob mentioned places like reddit um when we when we answered more naturally it we when we answered more naturally it we when we answered more naturally it seems like you know people seems like you know people seems like you know people appreciate that and and um you know appreciate that and and um you know appreciate that and and um you know welcome it more than welcome it more than welcome it more than something that's more kind of salesy or something that's more kind of salesy or something that's more kind of salesy or marketing

marketing marketing yeah i like that of just talking pretend yeah i like that of just talking pretend yeah i like that of just talking pretend you're talking to a human or you're you're talking to a human or you're you're talking to a human or you're answering a friend in an email thread or answering a friend in an email thread or answering a friend in an email thread or a slack thread right and it's like what a slack thread right and it's like what a slack thread right and it's like what would i actually tell them i would say would i actually tell them i would say would i actually tell them i would say well here i'm going to answer your well here i'm going to answer your well here i'm going to answer your question and then i'm going to tell you question and then i'm going to tell you question and then i'm going to tell you probably don't do that probably don't do that probably don't do that is usually the way it winds up you know is usually the way it winds up you know is usually the way it winds up you know and and and it can come off not salesy then another it can come off not salesy then another it can come off not salesy then another question question question from mark he says i don't have a quora from mark he says i don't have a quora from mark he says i don't have a quora account account account can i create one today and start can i create one today and start can i create one today and start answering right away or do you have to answering right away or do you have to answering right away or do you have to warm up your account warm up your account warm up your account first i don't think you could warm up first i don't think you could warm up first i don't think you could warm up your account um i definitely your account um i definitely your account um i definitely answered the first day so i started answered the first day so i started answered the first day so i started answering questions i did use answering questions i did use answering questions i did use like our domain so i signed up with our like our domain so i signed up with our like our domain so i signed up with our you know like at sequel.io you know like at sequel.io you know like at sequel.io domain so i did create a separate new domain so i did create a separate new domain so i did create a separate new account for account for account for for sql for the company um but yeah you for sql for the company um but yeah you for sql for the company um but yeah you can can can start answering right away i don't think start answering right away i don't think start answering right away i don't think they do too much they do too much they do too much i don't think they're trying to be too i don't think they're trying to be too i don't think they're trying to be too clever around like new accounts clever around like new accounts clever around like new accounts there is a lot of spam on quora so you there is a lot of spam on quora so you there is a lot of spam on quora so you you know you know you know you do have the possibility of being you do have the possibility of being you do have the possibility of being drowned out by a lot of other spam drowned out by a lot of other spam drowned out by a lot of other spam but um yeah i don't think you need any but um yeah i don't think you need any but um yeah i don't think you need any warm-up period warm-up period warm-up period yeah i i agree with you i think they yeah i i agree with you i think they yeah i i agree with you i think they rely on their upvote down vote system rely on their upvote down vote system rely on their upvote down vote system since it is a human-powered since it is a human-powered since it is a human-powered you know voting system the spam does get you know voting system the spam does get you know voting system the spam does get can get down voted quickly and so um i can get down voted quickly and so um i can get down voted quickly and so um i think if you sign up and start answering think if you sign up and start answering think if you sign up and start answering questions with value questions with value questions with value and and you do get up votes that pretty and and you do get up votes that pretty and and you do get up votes that pretty quickly you'll get the reputation you quickly you'll get the reputation you quickly you'll get the reputation you need to need to need to to continue answering any to continue answering any to continue answering any other questions from folks checking the

other questions from folks checking the other questions from folks checking the slack slack slack and i have a question for you did you and i have a question for you did you and i have a question for you did you was this something you did in the early was this something you did in the early was this something you did in the early days to get early traction days to get early traction days to get early traction and then you stopped at a certain point and then you stopped at a certain point and then you stopped at a certain point where it just didn't move the needle for where it just didn't move the needle for where it just didn't move the needle for you anymore or is it something that you you anymore or is it something that you you anymore or is it something that you continue to do today continue to do today continue to do today yeah this was definitely this was the yeah this was definitely this was the yeah this was definitely this was the very first thing we did um which was very first thing we did um which was very first thing we did um which was just just just google search and we knew we weren't google search and we knew we weren't google search and we knew we weren't gonna have domain credibility gonna have domain credibility gonna have domain credibility um from day one so we google searched um from day one so we google searched um from day one so we google searched found places that we could answer this found places that we could answer this found places that we could answer this question that did have domain authority question that did have domain authority question that did have domain authority that would show up that would show up that would show up and rank in seo results and that was and rank in seo results and that was and rank in seo results and that was like the very first thing we did like the very first thing we did like the very first thing we did as far as like ongoing um it has not as far as like ongoing um it has not as far as like ongoing um it has not been much of a strategy been much of a strategy been much of a strategy like say like the past year um and we like say like the past year um and we like say like the past year um and we have have have mainly just been in maintenance mode so mainly just been in maintenance mode so mainly just been in maintenance mode so if um you know if a post if a particular if um you know if a post if a particular if um you know if a post if a particular post is just looking outdated post is just looking outdated post is just looking outdated um so it's just not really uh displaying um so it's just not really uh displaying um so it's just not really uh displaying the current product anymore we will we the current product anymore we will we the current product anymore we will we will will will update them um some newer channels like update them um some newer channels like update them um some newer channels like as opposed to like core and stack as opposed to like core and stack as opposed to like core and stack overflow have worked well for us so like overflow have worked well for us so like overflow have worked well for us so like as we added more integrations and as we added more integrations and as we added more integrations and destinations destinations destinations new forums um became relevant to us um new forums um became relevant to us um new forums um became relevant to us um so specifically like salesforce when we so specifically like salesforce when we so specifically like salesforce when we added salesforce as a destination for added salesforce as a destination for added salesforce as a destination for our product our product our product we did go we kind of dug into their we did go we kind of dug into their we did go we kind of dug into their their archives and their you know their archives and their you know their archives and their you know previous previous previous you know q and a forms there which are you know q and a forms there which are you know q and a forms there which are very active like there's a ton very active like there's a ton very active like there's a ton of salesforce developers out there a ton of salesforce developers out there a ton of salesforce developers out there a ton of people that use salesforce in general of people that use salesforce in general of people that use salesforce in general obviously obviously obviously um so there are questions that are you um so there are questions that are you um so there are questions that are you know super relevant to our product that know super relevant to our product that know super relevant to our product that we've you know kind of gone in and we've you know kind of gone in and we've you know kind of gone in and answered answered answered um but the uh the amount of work to like um but the uh the amount of work to like um but the uh the amount of work to like keep up with it is actually like

keep up with it is actually like keep up with it is actually like really really low um so like if you if really really low um so like if you if really really low um so like if you if you kind of like have it to do you kind of like have it to do you kind of like have it to do once or twi you know once a month or once or twi you know once a month or once or twi you know once a month or once every other month once every other month once every other month um i think that's more than enough to um i think that's more than enough to um i think that's more than enough to like keep up with like keep up with like keep up with um maybe even like a dozen or so um maybe even like a dozen or so um maybe even like a dozen or so different sources and questions different sources and questions different sources and questions yeah and i think that's something good yeah and i think that's something good yeah and i think that's something good to take away is that's why this is to take away is that's why this is to take away is that's why this is these are you know this whole microcomp these are you know this whole microcomp these are you know this whole microcomp remote 2.0 event is around remote 2.0 event is around remote 2.0 event is around getting that first 10 50 or 100 getting that first 10 50 or 100 getting that first 10 50 or 100 customers it's this is not gonna customers it's this is not gonna customers it's this is not gonna i don't see the scaling the only time i don't see the scaling the only time i don't see the scaling the only time i've seen the scale is jason lemkin i've seen the scale is jason lemkin i've seen the scale is jason lemkin built the entire sashter brand on cora built the entire sashter brand on cora built the entire sashter brand on cora and then he republished on his blog and and then he republished on his blog and and then he republished on his blog and that's the one person i've seen who like that's the one person i've seen who like that's the one person i've seen who like built a built a built a you know huge personal brand but other you know huge personal brand but other you know huge personal brand but other than that it's usually what you've said than that it's usually what you've said than that it's usually what you've said and how i've described hit tail and drip and how i've described hit tail and drip and how i've described hit tail and drip is you do it in the early days and it is you do it in the early days and it is you do it in the early days and it gets you gets you gets you highly qualified folks not a huge amount highly qualified folks not a huge amount highly qualified folks not a huge amount but enough but enough but enough that you know you can use it to get that you know you can use it to get that you know you can use it to get early traction and then from there on early traction and then from there on early traction and then from there on it's it's it's it's just maintenance there is a it's just maintenance there is a it's just maintenance there is a question from eric question from eric question from eric and he he's asking like i think during and he he's asking like i think during and he he's asking like i think during the active time when you were the active time when you were the active time when you were you know really targeting this how much you know really targeting this how much you know really targeting this how much time in a given week did you spend time in a given week did you spend time in a given week did you spend answering questions answering questions answering questions uh super low uh like five or ten minutes uh super low uh like five or ten minutes uh super low uh like five or ten minutes a week a week a week maybe um it was it thought you know a maybe um it was it thought you know a maybe um it was it thought you know a lot of it was lot of it was lot of it was a one-time find everything make a a one-time find everything make a a one-time find everything make a spreadsheet with all spreadsheet with all spreadsheet with all all the questions and go through and all the questions and go through and all the questions and go through and answer them all at once answer them all at once answer them all at once um so you know kind of upfront um so you know kind of upfront um so you know kind of upfront investment investment investment you know definitely less than 10 hours you know definitely less than 10 hours you know definitely less than 10 hours and you know especially when you think and you know especially when you think and you know especially when you think about like getting how painful it can be

about like getting how painful it can be about like getting how painful it can be to get your first 10 customers if you to get your first 10 customers if you to get your first 10 customers if you have the right product that kind of fits have the right product that kind of fits have the right product that kind of fits into this into this into this um the type of product that can be um the type of product that can be um the type of product that can be successful with this strategy successful with this strategy successful with this strategy we easily got more than our first 10 we easily got more than our first 10 we easily got more than our first 10 customers with with less than 10 hours customers with with less than 10 hours customers with with less than 10 hours of work of just going through finding of work of just going through finding of work of just going through finding the relevant questions answering them the relevant questions answering them the relevant questions answering them really well really well really well um and you know just tracking and making um and you know just tracking and making um and you know just tracking and making sure that we knew sure that we knew sure that we knew where those customers were coming from where those customers were coming from where those customers were coming from um so yeah like um so yeah like um so yeah like less than 10 hours initial investment less than 10 hours initial investment less than 10 hours initial investment and then ongoing and then ongoing and then ongoing you know we've been around for almost you know we've been around for almost you know we've been around for almost three years now and i'd say like three years now and i'd say like three years now and i'd say like life to date it's probably another like life to date it's probably another like life to date it's probably another like 10 or 20 hours so it's 10 or 20 hours so it's 10 or 20 hours so it's really low investment yeah and uh really low investment yeah and uh really low investment yeah and uh i like about um what i like about doing i like about um what i like about doing i like about um what i like about doing quora and stack overflow and these quora and stack overflow and these quora and stack overflow and these others is that others is that others is that usually when you see the question it's usually when you see the question it's usually when you see the question it's obvious obvious obvious to you what the answer is but it's not to you what the answer is but it's not to you what the answer is but it's not obvious to everyone else because you're obvious to everyone else because you're obvious to everyone else because you're the expert like you're knee-deep in this the expert like you're knee-deep in this the expert like you're knee-deep in this stuff i mean you can call out particular stuff i mean you can call out particular stuff i mean you can call out particular api calls or you can call out particular api calls or you can call out particular api calls or you can call out particular numbers i mean again when i answer numbers i mean again when i answer numbers i mean again when i answer questions on quora about b2b sas questions on quora about b2b sas questions on quora about b2b sas marketing i'm like referencing page 27 marketing i'm like referencing page 27 marketing i'm like referencing page 27 of the state of independent sas that we of the state of independent sas that we of the state of independent sas that we ran ran ran because it's just it's just all in your because it's just it's just all in your because it's just it's just all in your head and you forget how head and you forget how head and you forget how knowledgeable and how deep your knowledgeable and how deep your knowledgeable and how deep your knowledge is these are not things that knowledge is these are not things that knowledge is these are not things that you research you research you research um at least i never did it was always um at least i never did it was always um at least i never did it was always like you know what are best prac what like you know what are best prac what like you know what are best prac what are the biggest mistakes people make in are the biggest mistakes people make in are the biggest mistakes people make in email marketing and it's like well i can email marketing and it's like well i can email marketing and it's like well i can list five list five list five right now because i see it every day and right now because i see it every day and right now because i see it every day and drip right it's not that i have to go drip right it's not that i have to go drip right it's not that i have to go and spend a bunch of time and spend a bunch of time and spend a bunch of time like writing a dissertation it just kind like writing a dissertation it just kind like writing a dissertation it just kind of it comes out of me because of it comes out of me because of it comes out of me because you're you're knee-deep in it another you're you're knee-deep in it another you're you're knee-deep in it another question from yeah question from yeah question from yeah there's a question from justin okay yep

there's a question from justin okay yep there's a question from justin okay yep now as you said that's a great point on now as you said that's a great point on now as you said that's a great point on on our product as well as like on our product as well as like on our product as well as like this this is a lot of times a person this this is a lot of times a person this this is a lot of times a person that spent like 10 that spent like 10 that spent like 10 15 minutes trying to figure out how to 15 minutes trying to figure out how to 15 minutes trying to figure out how to solve this problem and solve this problem and solve this problem and we've meanwhile spent like six months we've meanwhile spent like six months we've meanwhile spent like six months building a company around it building a company around it building a company around it so like you're exactly spot on rob it's so like you're exactly spot on rob it's so like you're exactly spot on rob it's like it's someone that's like hey this like it's someone that's like hey this like it's someone that's like hey this is a really annoying problem i'm trying is a really annoying problem i'm trying is a really annoying problem i'm trying to solve it right now to solve it right now to solve it right now um they're asking it from a place of um they're asking it from a place of um they're asking it from a place of like you know maybe 10 to 15 minutes of like you know maybe 10 to 15 minutes of like you know maybe 10 to 15 minutes of experience experience experience on like working on it so you might come on like working on it so you might come on like working on it so you might come across as like the most brilliant person across as like the most brilliant person across as like the most brilliant person on earth on earth on earth if you you know answer their question if you you know answer their question if you you know answer their question well after having worked well after having worked well after having worked on the product or the problem for three on the product or the problem for three on the product or the problem for three to six months to six months to six months we have a question from justin he says we have a question from justin he says we have a question from justin he says what were some examples of the google what were some examples of the google what were some examples of the google searches searches searches you did you did you did uh literally the question right so for uh literally the question right so for uh literally the question right so for for for for our product um you know we and this is our product um you know we and this is our product um you know we and this is another another another i think this is a general um theme that i think this is a general um theme that i think this is a general um theme that rob and michael rob and michael rob and michael in general pushes is like niche down in general pushes is like niche down in general pushes is like niche down like you'll find a niche like you'll find a niche like you'll find a niche we were super niche at first like we we were super niche at first like we we were super niche at first like we basically only solved like one problem basically only solved like one problem basically only solved like one problem which was getting which was getting which was getting data from your database into google data from your database into google data from your database into google sheets so it was like write sql sheets so it was like write sql sheets so it was like write sql connected to your database you know connected to your database you know connected to your database you know whether that's like postgres mysql whether that's like postgres mysql whether that's like postgres mysql whatever it is whatever it is whatever it is and instead of having the results you and instead of having the results you and instead of having the results you ever turned into your ide ever turned into your ide ever turned into your ide we were sending the results to somewhere we were sending the results to somewhere we were sending the results to somewhere like google sheets so like that was like google sheets so like that was like google sheets so like that was that was the um the problem we solved that was the um the problem we solved that was the um the problem we solved like that was the niche like that was the niche like that was the niche so we just searched every iteration of so we just searched every iteration of so we just searched every iteration of that problem it's like how do i send that problem it's like how do i send that problem it's like how do i send or how do i connect postgres to google or how do i connect postgres to google or how do i connect postgres to google sheets and those

sheets and those sheets and those different words in between were actually different words in between were actually different words in between were actually pretty important to us so pretty important to us so pretty important to us so things like how do you um things like how do you um things like how do you um how do you send postgres data to google how do you send postgres data to google how do you send postgres data to google sheets how do you connect postgres to sheets how do you connect postgres to sheets how do you connect postgres to google sheets like all these different google sheets like all these different google sheets like all these different iterations and kind of synonyms for iterations and kind of synonyms for iterations and kind of synonyms for various words in that search term various words in that search term various words in that search term were important for us finding um this were important for us finding um this were important for us finding um this those first few questions so those first few questions so those first few questions so trying all the different iterations like trying all the different iterations like trying all the different iterations like you know mysql instead of postgres you know mysql instead of postgres you know mysql instead of postgres snowflake snowflake snowflake which is a popular data warehouse which is a popular data warehouse which is a popular data warehouse instead of postgres um kind of like instead of postgres um kind of like instead of postgres um kind of like adding all those different adding all those different adding all those different iterations and combinations like that's iterations and combinations like that's iterations and combinations like that's what we did to build that spreadsheet what we did to build that spreadsheet what we did to build that spreadsheet and say hey these are the 50 questions and say hey these are the 50 questions and say hey these are the 50 questions that we want to answer and then we just that we want to answer and then we just that we want to answer and then we just went through and knocked them out went through and knocked them out went through and knocked them out you know again in like less than 10 you know again in like less than 10 you know again in like less than 10 hours that first first go around all right yeah justin responded he said all right yeah justin responded he said those examples are gold those examples are gold those examples are gold thank you and that's the thing you know thank you and that's the thing you know thank you and that's the thing you know you can you go to google to find out you can you go to google to find out you can you go to google to find out what's ranking in google but you can what's ranking in google but you can what's ranking in google but you can also go directly to quora and you can also go directly to quora and you can also go directly to quora and you can type in type in type in in your example you could type in in your example you could type in in your example you could type in postgres google sheets in the search box postgres google sheets in the search box postgres google sheets in the search box and see what comes up to see what and see what comes up to see what and see what comes up to see what wording wording wording because there's going to be a bunch of because there's going to be a bunch of because there's going to be a bunch of questions with those two in it and questions with those two in it and questions with those two in it and there's going to be all those connect there's going to be all those connect there's going to be all those connect you know transfer transmit you know you know transfer transmit you know you know transfer transmit you know whatever else whatever else whatever else and then you can do the same thing sql and then you can do the same thing sql and then you can do the same thing sql server google sheets server google sheets server google sheets and uh yeah that's great all right we and uh yeah that's great all right we and uh yeah that's great all right we are at time sir thank you so much for uh are at time sir thank you so much for uh are at time sir thank you so much for uh coming and dropping dropping your coming and dropping dropping your coming and dropping dropping your knowledge today i know that you know knowledge today i know that you know knowledge today i know that you know judging by that the level of the judging by that the level of the judging by that the level of the questions in the number of them i know questions in the number of them i know questions in the number of them i know that provided a lot of value for folks that provided a lot of value for folks that provided a lot of value for folks today today today awesome thanks for having me rob awesome thanks for having me rob awesome thanks for having me rob [Music]