A SaaS idea that sells itself is difficult to find; but not impossible.
When I talk to early SaaS enthusiasts, I hear a lot of them saying:
- It seems all problems are solved, nothing to do now!
- I searched for a week but didn’t find a problem to solve
- I couldn’t find a unique problem, so I decided to copy an existing competitor’s idea
If you also struggle to come up with great SaaS ideas, this free guide may be the answer to your search.
It’s a simple system that helps you use free resources to find a unique problem. You can then choose to solve the problem using technology
So instead of building something out of impulse and struggling to get paid customers, this system will allow you to find a SaaS idea that people are already willing to pay for.
Unfortunately, without a proper method, coming up with the right SaaS idea can be both difficult and time-consuming. That’s a big reason why so many early enthusiasts try taking a shortcut and fail to earn any money from their SaaS.
But it doesn’t have to be a tragic end. A good system can save you.
The secret lies in finding a great problem.
Today I’m showing you how to find a great PROBLEM, so you can build a SaaS that attracts customers on its own.
Here’s how to do it, step by step:
Step 1: Select a Topic of Interest
Make a list of topics that come to your mind and pick a topic that you’re passionate about.
You could pick any topic that interests you and start digging deeper about that topic.
Your objective is to find out:
✅ Where do people related to that topic hang out in social media
✅ What do they talk about
✅ What are the problems they often mention in their posts
Remember, it’s crucial to pick a topic that you’re passionate about.
Don’t select something just because it’s making money.
You’ll be spending a lot of your initial time reading other people’s post.
So if you select a topic that you’re not passionate about, you’re gonna lose interest very soon.
You don’t want that to happen.
Step 2: Join Social Media Platforms
Join the social media platforms where people related to the topic you’re passionate about hangout. It could be
Go visit social platforms where such business owners regularly flock.
👉 Subreddits
👉 Facebook Groups
👉 LinkedIn Communities
👉 Popular Forums
👉 Slack Communities(maybe!)
See what’s the weather like. Try to understand what people talk about the most. Create a list of topics that frequently discussed.
Let’s say you’re looking for people interested in backyard gardening. A good way to start is by assuming they have a backyard garden, and then searching for online places where these people gather. Try searching for:
- “Backyard Gardener forum”
- “Backyard Gardener community”
- “Backyard Gardener mailing list”
These searches will lead you to places where these individuals chat and share tips about backyard gardening.
This is a good starting point. Sign up and start listening to their conversations. Identify their backyard gardening problems and offer assistance.
You can also use other keywords like group, list, community, help, wiki, questions, meetup, resources, association, customers, tutorials, awards, user group, or blog to discover more of these interesting online hangouts.
Step 3: Identify Frequently Discussed Problems
When you encounter discussions about problem-solving, pay close attention to the participants’ concerns, previous attempts, and how your product can assist them.
Start by manually transcribing a conversation to gain insights into your audience and stimulate your thinking.
Identifying Pain Points: Make note of the issues people are facing, including the facts, emotions, and actions triggered by their problems. Under ‘facts,’ record their current situation and desired outcomes. In the ‘actions’ category, document what they’ve done so far, such as seeking help, procrastinating, hoping, exploring alternatives, experimenting, or taking shortcuts.
Understanding Jargon: Depending on your audience, they might use specialized vocabulary or insider terms. Record these unique words and phrases for future reference when communicating with them.
Seeking Recommendations: People in forums often provide advice, references, or product suggestions.
- Advice typically takes the form of suggestions like “try this,” “consider this approach,” or “avoid doing this.”
- References may involve recommendations to read, listen to, or follow specific sources.
- Product recommendations often include opinions on what to buy or avoid, often accompanied by personal experiences.
Analyzing Worldview: Take notes on the overall perspective people have. Do they approach problems as value-focused professionals or as emotionally driven consumers who consider status and fashion?
Understanding their worldview can guide your interactions and assistance based on their specific needs.
Identify recurring problems that people keep mentioning now and then.
From there, select a problem that can be solved using software.
Patience is the key here. Don’t just go to a social media platform and pick a problem that first catches your eyes.
The longer you spend in research, the better problem you find to solve.
Once you have found a problem that people face pretty often and can be solved using a software, it’s time to take your socializing game to the next level.
Step 4: Participate and Engage
Socialize with people who have mentioned that problem in a post or comment.
Participate in discussions through post comments. Try to familiarize with people. Put meaningful and value-adding comments when people post about a problem.
Gradually invite people to dm. Get to know them.
This way build a network of at least 100 people. You need to do your due diligence here. Keep expanding your network as much as you can.
Once you have exchanged around 12-15 messages with each of them, ask them about that problem they had.
Try to understand how much it bothers them. Also, if they would be willing to get rid of it.
If you see that 15-30 people say they are willing to pay to get rid of this problem from their personal/professional life, it’s a good sign for you to start your SaaS.
Takeaway
Once you’ve used this system to find a SaaS idea, the future of your SaaS will automatically be set on the right track.
Through the community engagement, you’ll gain valuable insights about what resonates, and you’ll have detailed information about how to plan your marketing communication when you launch.
Remember: Every great SaaS founder uses some form of idea generation method to come up with a SaaS idea that’s easy to market to the right audience.
And if your SaaS tool is not easy to market when you launch, you’ll end up spending a lot of resources to attract customers.
So I want you to take a deep breath and decide which way you want to go.
Do you want to observe first and start slow, or you want to build fast and struggle afterward?
This method will set your SaaS dream on the right track and ultimately enable you to build – a successful SaaS.
All the best.
[PS: Whenever you’re stuck in your SaaS journey, there are 3 ways I can help you
➡️ 1:1 early SaaS founder consultation
➡️ Building a social media following of your ideal customers
➡️ Go-to-market Strategy
You can find me here]