- A Better Lemonade Stand
- Posts
- A Better Lemonade Stand #271
A Better Lemonade Stand #271
Insights, trends & tools to build a better online business.
Welcome to the Black Friday edition of this newsletter.
I'm Richard, founder and writer here at A Better Lemonade Stand.
Every week, I write an email filled with the most intriguing insights, trends, tools, and opportunities that can empower you to create profitable digital products and businesses.
This week's dispatch includes:
đź“° News: Unbound X A Better Lemonade Stand
🥇 Deals: The Best Black Friday Deal to Hit My Inbox
đź’ˇ Insights: Building & Selling a Niche Marketplace in 18 Months
đź”— Noteworthy Links & Updates
Let’s go!
🤝 In Partnership with Unbound Merino
Meet Unbound Merino + Their Only Sale of the Year!
In case you missed my last email, I'm thrilled to introduce Unbound Merino, as the new sponsor for A Better Lemonade Stand.
Founded by three entrepreneurial friends I've known for over 22 years – Dan, Dima, and Andrew – Unbound Merino offers high-performance Merino wool clothing, perfect for the entrepreneurial lifestyle.
Now, for the exciting part: Unbound Merino's Black Friday event is their only sale of the year!
Why Unbound Merino?
Comfort & Style: Their apparel, known for comfort, breathability, and odor resistance, is perfect for the on-the-go entrepreneur.
Eco-Conscious: Made from sustainably sourced, mulesing-free wool, it's a win for your wardrobe and the planet.
Versatile: Ideal for travelers, nomads, minimalists, and entrepreneurs, their clothing embodies simplicity and adaptability.
This is your exclusive chance to experience their versatile, stylish attire that effortlessly transitions from work to leisure, day to night, and everything in between for up to 40% off storewide.
You can’t go wrong picking up a few of their t-shirts, and if you haven’t experienced the miracle of modern wool socks, grab some of those as well.
Thank you again to Dan and the team at Unbound for their sponsorship and for keeping A Better Lemonade Stand free for the community.
🥇 The Best Digital Entrepreneur Deals
Unbeatable Black Friday Deals for Every Digital Need
This Black Friday brings a variety of deals right to your digital doorstep. From enhancing your digital lifestyle to boosting your online business, there's a deal for every need.
Below, I've shared the best offers that have hit my inbox, complete with my own insights, to help you make the perfect choice.
Name: Outsite Coliving and Coworking
Description: A global network of coliving and coworking spaces, perfect for digital nomads.
Deal: Up to 40% off on bookings with code BLACKFRIDAY.
Why: Discover a world of diverse cultures and workspaces in breathtaking global locations. Before COVID, I had the opportunity to live and work alongside fellow digital nomads across various countries. Outsite stands out as a top-tier coliving company, offering exceptional experiences worldwide.
Link: Deal Posting
Name: Nomad Goods
Description: High-quality, sleek tech and travel accessories.
Deal: Up to 30% off until November 27, 2023.
Why: Elevate your tech lifestyle with beautifully crafted, durable accessories. As a tech enthusiast, Nomad remains my go-to for quality gear. Recently, I've added their Steel Watch Band for the Apple Watch 9 to my collection – a testament to their excellence.
Link: Shop Now
Name: WPX Hosting
Description: Ultra-fast, secure WordPress hosting service.
Deal: 4 months free on annual plans or 98% off for 2 months.
Why: Experience lightning-fast website performance and top-notch support. I am moving A Better Lemonade Stand back to WPX this weekend after being with another host for the last few years. You can’t beat their service and speed - the Black Friday deal make it a no-brainer.
Link: Get the Deal
Name: Surfer SEO
Description: AI-driven tool for advanced SEO strategies.
Deal: Up to 30% off on plans, community game, and double credits.
Why: Optimize your content with cutting-edge AI and join an engaging SEO game. I started using SurferSEO last year when I purchased their Black Friday deal, and I plan to snag more credits this year.
Link: Sign Up
Name: No Code MBA
Description: Comprehensive learning platform for mastering no-code tools.
Deal: 40% off on membership.
Why: Unlock a world of digital creation without any coding expertise. If you’re looking to really dive into nocode tools and build novel apps and tools, No Code MBA is the best place to start.
Link: Join Today
Name: Site Stats Database
Description: An extensive database for discovering niche websites and market trends.
Deal: Special pricing: $199/lifetime, $149/year, $24/mo.
Why: Unearth hidden online niches and analyze top-performing sites effortlessly.
Link: Find Hidden Gems
Name: Beehiiv
Description: Powerful tools for growing and managing newsletters.
Deal: 20% off annual plans with code BFCM23.
Why: It's not just my preferred newsletter service, but also a frequent highlight in my own newsletters. Beehiiv has been instrumental in the newsletter boom, empowering creators to turn their newsletters into thriving businesses. Reminiscent of Shopify's early impact, Beehiiv is a game-changer. If you're planning to start a newsletter in 2024, this deal is a golden opportunity.
Link: Upgrade Your Newsletter
Name: Heartbeat
Description: A dynamic platform for community engagement and management.
Deal: 50% off on monthly and annual plans with code BLACKFRIDAY23.
Why: Build a lively, engaged community with Heartbeat's interactive tools. Just as Shopify revolutionized e-commerce and Beehiiv transformed newsletters, Heartbeat is reshaping community building. It provides the essential tools to cultivate and grow vibrant niche communities.
Link: Grab the Bundle
Name: Koala AI
Description: AI writing tool for generating top-notch content.
Deal: Up to 45% off credit packs.
Why: Create compelling content effortlessly, proven to rank and engage.
Link: Get Koala AI
Name: Duuce
Description: Marketplace for buying and selling quality newsletters.
Deal: Up to 60% off newsletters.
Why: Looking to acquire a newsletter? Duuce launched their first ever Black Friday Deals. With newsletters selling for up to 60% OFF the original price.
Link: Explore Duuce
🌟 Insights
Duuce: A Case Study in Building a Successful No-Code Marketplace
In the rapidly evolving world of digital entrepreneurship, the story of Duuce stands out.
Katt over at No-Code Exits recently interviewed Jonas, the founder of Duuce, on how he built and sold it in 18 months using no-code tools.
I highly recommend reading the full interview, but I wanted to summarize some of the insights for you.
Who’s Jonas?
Founded by Jonas, a former employee at Meta, Duuce emerged as a unique marketplace dedicated to buying and selling newsletters. This report delves into Jonas’s journey, highlighting key strategies, tools, and insights beneficial for entrepreneurs looking to venture into similar digital marketplaces.
Background of the Founder
Jonas's transition from a career at Meta to launching Duuce is a testament to leveraging professional experience in entrepreneurial ventures. His shift from content-related projects to a No-Code marketplace underscores the potential for skill transfer and innovation in the digital space.
Genesis of Duuce
The inception of Duuce stemmed from Jonas's personal interest in newsletters and marketplaces. Identifying a niche market for a newsletter trading platform, he combined his passion with a market need, setting the stage for Duuce’s unique value proposition.
Building the Marketplace
Initial Steps: Jonas kickstarted Duuce with a simple landing page on Carrd, gaining early traction and validation through a Product Hunt launch.
Key No Code Development Tools:
Bubble: For creating the marketplace without needing to code.
Postmark & Email Octopus: For email management and automation.
Stripe: To handle transactions.
Zapier, Airtable, Gmail: For integrating and automating various processes.
Canva & Figma: For design and visual elements.
User Acquisition and Growth Strategies
Direct Outreach: Jonas personally connected with newsletter creators, building a robust network.
Building Online Presence: Leveraging Twitter, he established authority in the newsletter market.
Content Marketing: Regular newsletters and a blog featuring industry insights and platform updates kept the community engaged.
Evolving Business Models
Jonas experimented with different revenue models before settling on a 5% commission on successful sales.
This approach balanced revenue generation with market growth, illustrating the importance of flexibility in business models.
The Sale of Duuce
Facing the need for a more advanced platform, Jonas made the strategic decision to sell Duuce. The acquisition by a French company highlights the market value of specialized digital platforms and the strategic importance of exits in the entrepreneurial journey.
Entrepreneurial Insights from Jonas
Focus on Engagement: Engagement drives growth and sustains project development.
Strategic Selling: The benefits of selling extend beyond immediate financial gain, opening up networking and future opportunities.
Revenue Generation: Early revenue is crucial for demonstrating viability and potential.
Jonas’s experience with Duuce offers valuable lessons for anyone interested in building a marketplace.
His journey emphasizes the importance of identifying niche markets, leveraging no code tools for rapid development, and the need for adaptive business models.
Don’t forget to read the full interview with Jonas over at No-Code Exits and sign up for Katt’s newsletter. It’s one of the best for people interested in building and selling nocode businesses.
đź”— Noteworthy Links
AskPot: Level up your competitive analysis. Analyze product/service pages to extract unique value propositions, audience insights, positioning, and more – all at 5x speed. Say goodbye to manual analysis! Check out AskPot.
LinkLab: Upgrade your social media game. Get a free, branded link for your cluttered link-in-bio. It's a zero-effort solution, free for 6 months to 1 year, no credit card required. Visit LinkLab.
Groove.ooo: Network with creative entrepreneurs in a unique coworking app. Join a Groove for structured one-hour sessions for bursts of encouragement and accountability. Discover Groove.ooo.
Meco: The perfect app for email productivity, especially if you’re subscribed to dozens hundreds of newsletters. Meco streamlines your inbox management, offering a clutter-free, focused email experience. Get Meco.
That's it for this week. Go snag some deals!
Richard 👊🏼
Need help as an entrepreneur, brand, or company?
Here are some of the ways I can help:
Advertising: Reach 30k entrepreneurs for $250 per newsletter. Passionate audience guaranteed. Learn more
Long-Term Sponsorships: Let's make a big impact with sponsorship and collaboration. Learn more
This communication is not intended as business counsel. It serves as a weekly briefing on entrepreneurship and my initiatives, designed for informational and entertainment purposes. Revenue may be generated through sponsorships, affiliate links, and digital product sales.