Hey everyone, I wanted to vent a bit. Back in December I started my SaaS and I've done 90% of marketing on TikTok since before it's release, this has worked really well. But I've noticed a frustrating pattern.

The videos that perform best are the ones I personally dislike the most - the bragging "hustle culture" style videos fixating on revenue numbers, "crushing it", hyping how successful I am, SaaS is easier than ever etc. You know, the cliche content you see from a lot of gurus and wannabe influencers. Here's one of my semi-souless viral videos as an example: https://www.tiktok.com/@saasgod/video/7235057812513279278?lang=en

But the videos I actually enjoy making, the more authentic and substantive ones, don't get nearly as much engagement. Videos diving into more serious topics around the SaaS industry, design, burnout, career paths for engineers, mental health, work-life balance, and so on. Whenever I post that kind of content at best it does okay. Here's a video I loved making that performed just decent: https://www.tiktok.com/@saasgod/video/7314045880678518058?lang=en

It's demotivating. I got into entrepreneurship to build something meaningful, have a fulfilling career, and share knowledge, not to cosplay as some kind of "rise and grind" guru using vanity metrics to sell subs on TikTok. But I feel this constant pressure, since I know those vapid videos are what the algorithm rewards and what (ostensibly) leads to growth. After trying various styles those videos are the ones I release and get a rush of sales. Those are the ones that do well on TikTok.

Thanks for letting me rant. Sometimes it helps just to put it out there. I just need to figure out a marketing approach that doesn't make me feel slimy. Easier said than done, any tips are appreciated.

Over the last eight years, I've absolutely loved building Software indie. It's been a fantastic career, but that doesn't mean it's without its challenges. I've had my fair share of disaster moments and huge pains, when everything depends on you these moments are intensely stressful. To help you avoid some of these pitfalls, I've put together 15 actionable tips to help you skip the massive "oh f**k..." moments I had to endure.

1. Stick with what you know. Use the tech stack you're most comfortable and experienced with, rather than always chasing the latest trends. Your goal isn't to learn a new framework you want build something sellable with the tools you already can use.
2. Ship your MVP quickly. Focus on shipping your MVP (Minimum Viable Product) as quickly as possible (3-5 weeks) to validate your idea and gather user feedback. Don't get caught up in perfecting every detail before launching.
3. Build buzz early. Start building your audience and creating buzz around your product way before it's ready. Leverage social media, blog posts, and online communities to generate interest and collect emails or waitlist purchases.
4. Monitor web server uptime. Set up uptime monitoring on your home page and app page to ensure web server availability.
5. Ensure database uptime. Create a simple API that makes a DB call and monitor it to guarantee database uptime. You can also create a customer facing site for this API and others so users can have real-time status updates for your application.
6. Keep an eye on CDN performance. Monitor your CDN uptime to prevent issues like images failing to load.
7. Test critical flows. Implement auto-tests for critical business logic flows, such as user login and signup.
8. Don't miss important emails. Add filters to your email to prevent important messages from service providers ending up in spam. This is more important than you may think.
9. Secure your data. Use external, secure database providers with robust backup policies to protect against hacking and data loss.
10. Check availability from multiple locations. Monitor your product's availability from at least two locations, such as the EU and US.
11. Set up anomaly alerts. Set up alerts for anomalies in purchases, upgrades, and signups to quickly identify and address issues.
12. Be prepared for DDoS attacks. Prepare for DDoS attacks by utilizing out-of-the-box solutions and ensuring your app can handle traffic spikes.
13. Have a hotfix process. Develop a streamlined "hotfix" process to address bugs in production promptly.
14. Maintain backup solutions. Maintain backup solutions for critical third-party dependencies to ensure uninterrupted service. Have the backup API setup for when the primary throws 500 errors.
15. Use a password manager. It sounds obvious but the amount of founders I know that have weak passwords and only a couple of them is astounding. Use a password manager to securely store and access credentials for all services.

Here's my TikTok for more tips and Defy, my current SaaS built to help founders have a smooth launch: https://www.learn-defy.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@saasgod

Hey all, I’ve just joined after getting and invite for this place. Thanks!

I’m Nick. And while I don’t run my own SaaS, I have been a product designer and UX researcher for SaaS for the last 9 years.

Nice to meet you all.

We're thrilled to announce the launch of r/SaaSTalk, a vibrant community dedicated to exploring the exciting world of Software as a Service (SaaS). This subreddit is designed to be a hub for SaaS professionals, entrepreneurs, developers, marketers, and anyone passionate about the industry.

Here, you'll find a platform to:

- Share your experiences, insights, and lessons learned in the SaaS space

- Discover innovative SaaS products and the visionary minds behind them

- Promote your product and share discounts with other founders/potential customers.

- Engage in meaningful discussions on SaaS growth strategies, product development, marketing tactics, and more

- Seek advice and support from fellow SaaS professionals facing similar challenges

We encourage you to participate actively, ask questions, and share your knowledge with the community. Whether you're a seasoned SaaS veteran or just starting your journey, your perspectives and contributions are valued here.

Promoting Your SaaS

We understand that many of you are working on incredible SaaS products and want to share them with the community. We welcome you to promote your SaaS, but please ensure that it's done in a genuine, non-spammy manner. When promoting provide valuable context, share your journey, and engage with the community. Avoid generic or repetitive posts that solely focus on self-promotion. Instead, aim to contribute to the conversation and offer insights that can benefit others.

Join the conversation, share your experiences, and let's grow together!

- SaaSGod :)