How to Find Your Niche and Build a Micro SaaS Around It

Welcome to today’s post! I’m sharing a powerful story and a practical framework to help you find your niche and turn it into a real micro SaaS product that solves problems, earns income, and grows over time.

The Story That Sparked It All

Earlier today, I visited a small emissions testing shop deep in the Bronx. It was a no-frills place, run by an 84-year-old man whose family had owned much of the block for generations. His father was a blacksmith, and he himself had been running this automotive shop since 1956.

Despite the rundown setting, what struck me was the depth of knowledge, consistency, and love for the craft. He never “scaled” or “pivoted” in the way we talk about online. He found what he loved, committed to it, and built a life around that one thing.

That’s the big takeaway:

Stick with what you know, master it, and let the compounding begin.

What Is the Real Lesson Here?

• Experience: The shop owner’s decades in one trade built a legacy.
• Expertise: He knew his craft better than anyone because he stuck with it.
• Authoritativeness: He served his local community consistently over decades.
• Trustworthiness: His repeat customers and word-of-mouth referrals spoke volumes.

In the online world, the same principles apply. Find your niche, dig deep, and build from a place of credibility.

Your Niche Already Exists (You Just Haven’t Named It Yet)

Think back to what you’ve done naturally for years:

• Are you always the one troubleshooting tech problems for your friends?
• Do you obsess over baseball stats or fantasy football rankings?
• Are you the go-to person for wine recommendations or lawn care tips?

These are clues. Your niche isn’t something you chase; it’s something you recognize in yourself.

Start Small: Solve One Pain Point

Micro SaaS means focusing on ONE very specific problem. Here’s how to get there:

1. Find Breakage: What are people losing? Time, money, attention?
2. Fix It: Build a tool that does ONE thing really well.
3. Test It for Free: Give it to users, collect feedback.
4. Improve Relentlessly: Make it better until people can’t live without it.

You don’t need to build the next Salesforce. You just need to help someone do something 10x easier.

Micro-SaaS Ideas (100)

Simple list of niche-focused ideas for quick reference.

🏈 Sports & Fitness

• 1.Youth Sports Stat Tracker
• 2.Golf Handicap Analyzer
• 3.Tennis Match Planner
• 4.Running Race Predictor
• 5.HS Recruiting Dashboard
• 6.Fantasy Sports Optimizer
• 7.CrossFit WOD Logger
• 8.Swim Heat Sheet Generator
• 9.Cheer Stunt Safety Checker
• 10.Pickleball Partner Matcher

🍔 Food & Lifestyle

• 11.Meal Macro Calculator
• 12.Recipe Cost Estimator
• 13.Wine Pairing API
• 14.BBQ Smoke Log
• 15.Coffee Roast Logger
• 16.Allergen Scanner
• 17.Restaurant Waitlist SMS
• 18.Cocktail Cost Calculator
• 19.Farmers Market Vendor Tracker
• 20.Community Garden Plot Manager

💻 Tech & Media

• 21.Podcast SEO Optimizer
• 22.YouTube Sponsorship Calculator
• 23.TikTok Trend Alert
• 24.Newsletter Subject Tester
• 25.Blogger Internal Link Builder
• 26.Domain Vault Analyzer
• 27.AI Thumbnail Split-Tester
• 28.Music Royalty Tracker
• 29.Course Completion Tracker
• 30.Local News Trend Monitor

💵 Finance & Work

• 31.Side Hustle Tax Estimator
• 32.Freelancer Proposal Generator
• 33.Affiliate ROI Dashboard
• 34.Crypto Tax Exporter
• 35.Payday Loan Interest Calculator
• 36.Remote Time-Zone Scheduler
• 37.1099 Contractor Tracker
• 38.Stock Dividend Calendar
• 39.Side Hustle Goal Planner
• 40.Etsy License Manager

🏡 Home & Lifestyle

• 41.Lawn Care Schedule Planner
• 42.Home Energy Analyzer
• 43.Pet Feeding Tracker
• 44.Airbnb Cleaning Scheduler
• 45.Neighborhood Watch Alerts
• 46.Trash Day Reminder
• 47.Plant Health Scanner
• 48.Tool Lending Library
• 49.Water Usage Logger
• 50.DIY Material Estimator

🚗 Travel & Transport

• 51.Road Trip Fuel Estimator
• 52.RV Campground Finder
• 53.Airline Baggage Fee Calc
• 54.Travel Adapter Checker
• 55.Cruise Excursion Planner
• 56.Airport Wi-Fi Speed Tracker
• 57.Public Transit ETA Alerts
• 58.Carpool Cost Splitter
• 59.Hotel Resort Fee Calculator
• 60.National Park Permit Tracker

🎉 Family & Relationships

• 61.Baby Feeding/Nap Log
• 62.Birthday Party Budgeter
• 63.Wedding RSVP Tracker
• 64.Family Chore Points
• 65.Elder Med Scheduler
• 66.College Packing Generator
• 67.Reunion Attendance Tracker
• 68.Holiday Gift Splitter
• 69.Team Carpool Planner
• 70.Pet Medical Record Vault

🎨 Hobby & Niche Interests

• 71.Comic Book Value Tracker
• 72.Guitar Practice Log
• 73.Drone Flight Logbook
• 74.Aquarium Water Logger
• 75.Homebrew Batch Tracker
• 76.Cosplay Budget Planner
• 77.Board Game Night Scorer
• 78.Knitting Pattern Tracker
• 79.Photo Location Mapper
• 80.Fantasy Series Tracker

🛡️ Security & Utility

• 81.Password Expiry Reminder
• 82.VPN Speed Tester
• 83.Niche Breach Monitor
• 84.Home Wi-Fi Heatmap
• 85.Smart Lock Code Manager
• 86.Family Digital Vault
• 87.Online Identity Scorecard
• 88.IoT Device Tracker
• 89.Kids’ Screen Time Report
• 90.Neighborhood Drone Alert

🎯 Misc & Fun

• 91.Trivia Night Generator
• 92.Local Weather Comparator
• 93.Car Maintenance Log
• 94.License Plate Bingo
• 95.Office Secret Santa
• 96.Dog Training Tracker
• 97.Daily Riddle Generator
• 98.School Fundraiser Tracker
• 99.Volunteer Shift Manager
• 100.Niche Meme Scheduler

Real-World Examples of Micro SaaS Opportunities

Niche	Micro SaaS Idea
Golf	Handicap tracker & swing log
Wine	Food pairing recommendation engine
Lawn Care	Water usage logger & scheduler
Podcasts	SEO optimizer for podcast episodes
Real Estate	Lead pre-qualification gatekeeper

These ideas work because they serve specific communities with specific needs.

Case Study: Filtering Real Estate Leads

Real estate agents waste tons of time on leads that go nowhere. A simple SaaS tool that pre-qualifies leads based on budget, timeline, and credit readiness saves agents hours every week.

You’re not selling leads. You’re helping agents keep their time and sanity.

And that is exactly the kind of breakage that a micro SaaS can fix.

Don’t Overbuild. Just Solve One Thing Exceptionally Well

The temptation is to add features, go big, and try to impress. But great products are born from focus and iteration.

• Start lean
• Focus on your core user
• Get real feedback
• Improve weekly

You can use tools like Bolt, ChatGPT, or even no-code platforms like Glide or Bubble to speed up development.

Final Thoughts: This Is the Path to Digital Leverage

You don’t need venture capital. You don’t need a dev team. You don’t even need a perfect idea.

You just need to:

• Know yourself
• Solve a problem
• Show up consistently

Everything else compounds.

Ready to cash in on the spooky season? This follow-up guide builds on our first Halloween strategy video, showing you step-by-step how to create content, drive traffic, and earn serious affiliate commissions during one of the most lucrative times of the year.

Why Halloween Is a Hidden Goldmine for Affiliate Marketers

Halloween spending in the U.S. alone exceeds $10 billion annually, and a big chunk of that goes to costumes. Everyone from parents and couples to pet lovers is looking for fun, unique costume ideas. With smart positioning and timely content, you can tap into this demand and drive sales with high-converting affiliate offers.

Here’s why this niche works:

• Seasonal urgency: Limited time frame drives action
• High emotional appeal: Costumes are fun, nostalgic, and visual
• Evergreen opportunities: Every October, demand surges again

Spotlight Offer: 80% Commissions from HalloweenCostumes.com

While browsing OfferVault, I found an outstanding affiliate program from HalloweenCostumes.com offering up to 80% commissions per sale. This is extremely rare—most affiliate programs pay 10–30% at best.

Here’s what that could look like:

Product Price	Commission Rate	Earnings Per Sale
$50	80%	$40
$100	80%	$80
$500 (Deluxe Costume)	80%	$400

📌 Pro tip: These companies often pay generously because they’re acquiring a new customer who may return year after year. Your job is to send warm, relevant traffic.

How to Choose the Right Content Topics (Even if You’re a Beginner)

If you’re unsure what to create, let AI do the heavy lifting. Use ChatGPT to generate ideas like:

• “Top Halloween costume trends for [current year]”
• “Best couples costumes under $100”
• “Creative costume ideas inspired by [movie/tv show/game]”

Then do quick keyword and trend validation:

• Check Google Trends for popular costumes
• Browse YouTube Shorts and TikTok for high-performing posts
• Research upcoming movie releases (e.g. Lilo & Stitch, Dogman, Elio)

Content Creation Blueprint: Costumes + Short-Form Video = 🚀

Short-form video content performs exceptionally well for visual niches like Halloween. Here’s a simple workflow:

1. Order a few costumes (even inexpensive ones)
2. Film short try-on or review videos (30–60 seconds)
3. Mention or overlay your affiliate link/website
4. Post to TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts

Types of content that work:

• “Top 5 funniest Halloween costumes under $50”
• “Watch me try on 3 last-minute costume ideas”
• “This $40 costume went viral (and here’s why)”

Proof of Demand: Traffic Opportunities on YouTube

Searching “top Halloween costumes” on YouTube reveals:

• Shorts with 1M+ views
• Consistent uploads every Halloween season
• Channels getting tens of thousands of views with simple review-style content

This content has a predictable annual spike, giving you a chance to rank or go viral if you start early enough.

Monetization Strategy: Funnel the Traffic to One Offer

The strategy is simple but powerful:

• Hook attention with helpful or entertaining content
• Redirect traffic to your landing page or affiliate link
• Capture attention with strong calls to action (“Check out the full list here”)
• Use urgency (“Only 6 weeks left until Halloween!”)

🛠 Optional: Build a simple one-page site with buttons linking to your top 5–10 costume picks, complete with images, affiliate links, and short blurbs.

How to Scale It (Without Burning Out)

• Batch content creation (film 5–10 shorts at once)
• Use scheduling tools like Later or Buffer
• Repurpose one video across multiple platforms
• Add value with a simple email list for costume deals or updates

Consistency over the next 4–6 weeks is the key to results.

Want Help with the Setup?

If you need help building a landing page, picking a website builder, or coming up with daily content prompts, just let me know in the comments. I’m happy to share what’s worked for me and others in the community.

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How to Sell Memberships That Actually Convert

If you’re struggling to sell your membership — whether it’s online or in-person — this breakdown is going to change the game for you. I’m sharing key lessons from my own business and client work, including how to price confidently, position your offer, and build irresistible value.

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Remove All Assumptions & Opinions 

• “You can’t sell a digital product on Etsy for more than $2-$4”

• Can’t sell memberships at $2,000 a year? $200/month + $1850

The biggest mistake? Assuming what people will or won’t pay.

• You think $2,000/year is too much for a fitness membership? Think again. High-end gyms already charge more. Gyms easily charge $90-$415 per month! That’s $4980 a year! Safe to say people will spend double that!
• A video I once watched about selling digital products said they can’t sell for more than $4. I’ve sold thousands at $20-$60+ on Etsy. It’s all about what the offer is, and if it’s bringing value to people’s lives. If you’re bringing value — making something easier, faster, simpler — you can get some easy wins!

Assumptions kill creativity and limit your success. Focus on facts, not fears.

The best way to figure this out is to test. Try a price, try a package, get feedback, make adjustments…. the outcome might surprise you. It has surprised me!

People buy outcomes, not products.

Craft your offer around what they want to achieve, not just what you’re selling.

Here’s how to do that:

• Clearly outline what they get (weekly check-ins, weigh-ins, progress tracking).
• Add support structures: nutrition consults, blood panels, expert referrals.
• Present everything in a way that removes risk and builds trust.
• Use testimonials, before/afters, and demo videos to show it works.

And always offer an out: a guarantee, excellent customer service, or a refund window.

Test Your Market With Ultra Clear Messaging!

• Remove clientele assumptions, opinions, and misconceptions

• Show exactly what they get & what they don’t get

• Be transparent about the offer, benefits, & pricing

• Offer an ‘out’ for them. Can be a guarantee, a warranty, or stellar customer support

• Back everything up with UNDENIABLE PROOF!

• Client testimonials, photos, videos

• Show it’s easy to use & saves time

• Craft the offer so the customer cannot lose.

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Test, Tweak, and Prove It Works

You need real data.

• Track visits, clicks, and conversions. Start with a 1% conversion benchmark.
• If it’s not converting, diagnose the friction points: pricing, clarity, design?
• Use customer feedback to fix weak spots. Sometimes it’s as simple as adjusting your copy or visuals.

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Think in Entry Points and Upsells

Don’t go straight for the $2K annual. Use a step-up model:

• Offer a 30-day challenge or low-cost starter program. Try and get a deposit for $400 and see if anyone bites. If someone wants a refund, give them the refund!
• Upsell into the annual with a cash incentive.
• Bundle perks like private access, exclusive merch, or bonus sessions.

The goal is to create momentum and long-term commitment.

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Know Your Customer Inside-Out

Drill into who they are and what they need.

• What are their frustrations?
• What outcomes are they chasing?
• What did they try before that didn’t work?

Reverse-engineer your offer to fix those pain points.

If You Struggle With This Stuff I Offer 45 Minute 1-on-1 Calls

I’ll personally review your site, strategy, or idea and show you exactly what I’d do if I were in your shoes. If you’re serious about making this work, this session will save you time, frustration, and missed income.

✅ 45-minute private Zoom or phone call

✅ Website & SEO feedback (local or national)

✅ Affiliate strategy optimization

✅ AI tool recommendations to speed up your workflow

✅ Optional session recording for reference

✅ Call notes delivered as a PDF via email

Fast Traffic Methods

• Paid Ads – Facebook, TikTok, IG, YouTube, Google Search, Google Maps

• • Paid ads are a direct way to engage with folks in the geographic area.
  • Map ads allow you to bid on terms for when folks are looking for XYZ in the area
  • Free giveaways, guides, classes, and evaluations make for excellent lead magnets.
    • Thinking in terms of 6-week challenges, bootcamps, starter courses, 7-14 day starters, fitness evaluations, accountability programs, seasonal/themed packages. 

• Press Releases

• • • Fast traffic, authoritative – Great for fast visibility – and for funneling traffic to a sales page.

• Programmatic Social Media

• • Classes, Tips, Instructions – Great for engagement, leads
  • NOT RANDOM STUFF – Must be targeted!!!! Think horizontally – who is your ideal customer? How can I craft this offer for them?
    • The ex-pilates, ex-yogi we don’t need to sell hard to.
    • Gym – athletes with injuries – you can have a phyiscal therapist on staff. Weekly wellness checkins.
    • Run through yoga techniques, breathing techniques, etc.

 

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Stack Revenue with Smart Extensions

You can increase profits without getting more members:

• Offer affiliate-recommended tools, gear, or supplements.
• Create partnerships for cross-referrals.
• Sell branded merchandise or limited-time challenges.

Recurring revenue gets easier when you’re delivering ongoing value.

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Keep Them Happy = Lower Churn

Customer service matters.

• Follow up regularly.
• Offer support channels.
• Listen to concerns and adapt fast.

The longer they stay, the more profitable they become. Simple.

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Final Tip: Programmatic Content Strategy

Use tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm horizontally. Example:

• Barber school? Make videos on every haircutting technique.
• Tree service? Make content around 25 pests homeowners deal with.

Segment it. Use it. Point everything to your lead magnet or offer.

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Want My Personal Help?

I do 45-minute one-on-one calls where I review your site, your offer, and give you actionable next steps. It’s $49, includes a recording + call notes, and I’ll also share traffic strategies, affiliate setups, and automation tools I use.

✅ 45-minute private Zoom or phone call

✅ Website & SEO feedback (local or national)

✅ Affiliate strategy optimization

✅ AI tool recommendations to speed up your workflow

✅ Optional session recording for reference

✅ Call notes delivered as a PDF via email

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Everyone loves the dream of building a simple app that makes money while you sleep. That’s the promise of micro SaaS — lightweight, niche software tools that generate monthly recurring revenue (MRR). But here’s the truth: most micro SaaS ideas fail. Not because the founders can’t code, but because they skip strategy. In this post, I’ll break down why so many micro SaaS products flop, the framework that actually works, and real examples you can model today.

Why Most Micro SaaS Ideas Fail

1. No Target Audience

If you don’t know who your customer is, you don’t have a business. Too many developers jump into building features without understanding who they’re serving.

2. Features Without Problems

A tool is useless if it doesn’t solve a real pain point. Building for fun is fine, but if you want revenue, your SaaS must remove friction or create clear value. This is extremely important if you’re paying for tools like Cursor! If you’re not making money with it, cut it off!

3. Coding Before Strategy

“Build it and they will come” doesn’t work. Without validation, you risk creating something nobody wants.

4. No Distribution Plan

Even great tools fail if nobody hears about them. Marketing, community, and customer acquisition are just as important as the code. Start by offering a free version to a small group of people and test. Ask for their feedback, and make improvements to the product so that it’s worth the money you want to charge for it.

What Actually Works

Step 1: Start With Your Audience

Look at your own life, skills, and communities. If you’re into podcasting, drones, or vinyl records, you already know problems people face. Build for them.

Use our trigger word list for ideas:

Time & Productivity

• Schedule
• Deadline
• Reminder
• Tracker
• Workflow
• Calendar
• Timer

Money & Business

• Invoice
• Expense
• Budget
• Quote
• Payment
• ROI
• Subscription

Media & Content

• Podcast
• Video
• Audio
• Transcription
• Editing
• Captions
• Templates

Health & Wellness

• Nutrition
• Workout
• Sleep
• Stress
• Water
• Steps
• Mood

Data & Files

• Upload
• Convert
• Compress
• Backup
• Export
• Sync
• Analyze

Community & Hobby

• Pets
• Music
• Travel
• Fitness
• Photography
• Gaming
• Collectibles

AI & Automation

• Generate
• Summarize
• Translate
• Detect
• Enhance
• Optimize
• Classify

Step 2: Bundle Value Into a Suite

Don’t just build a single feature — package multiple solutions into one platform. For example, Podcastle offers recording, editing, AI audio enhancement, and hosting. That bundling increases stickiness.

Step 3: Use AI + Open Source Tools

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Many micro SaaS products are polished wrappers around existing AI or open source tools. The value comes from packaging, UX, and convenience.

Step 4: Monetize Smartly

• Subscriptions: predictable monthly income.
• Pay-as-you-go: great when costs scale with usage (e.g., per audio minute).
• Always match pricing to your backend costs.

Niche Hunting: How to Find Winning Micro SaaS Ideas

Finding the right niche is the foundation of micro SaaS success. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Start With Communities You Belong To

If you’re already part of a hobby, profession, or industry, you have insider knowledge of common pain points. Communities like Reddit, Discord groups, and industry forums are goldmines for complaints that hint at unmet needs.

2. Look for Friction and Repetition

The best micro SaaS ideas solve tasks that are repetitive, frustrating, or time-consuming. Pay attention to the problems people complain about over and over again — those are opportunities. Like in the video above, I show you how Podcastle does it, they are packaging tools together that happen to also use AI.

3. Research Willingness to Pay

Not every problem is worth solving. Focus on niches where people already spend money (ads in search results, premium tools, or existing SaaS products). If money is already flowing, you can carve out a slice by offering a better, simpler, or cheaper solution.

4. Validate Early

Before writing code, test your idea with a landing page, a waitlist, or even a simple demo video. If you can get sign-ups or pre-orders, you know you’re on the right track.

Pro Tip: Don’t chase huge markets. Micro SaaS thrives in small niches where big companies can’t be bothered to compete. Small, repetative issues that can be solved allows you to focus on making one thing do something really, really well.

Real-World Micro SaaS Idea Examples

• Noise Reduction SaaS → CleanVoice, NoiseReducer.
• Audiophile Tools → turntable calibration, DJ booth visuals.
• Hobbyist SaaS → RC drone logbooks, musician practice trackers.
• AI Utilities → background remover, podcast transcription, voice cloning.

These tools succeed because they target specific niches with money to spend.

Strategy Before Code

• Use free tools like ChatGPT or Gemini to brainstorm and validate. This is your leverage of AI, use it to boost your thought process!
• Research demand signals: Google Ads, competitor pricing, YouTube view counts.
• Don’t chase trends you don’t understand — build where you have insider knowledge.

FAQ: If You’re Lost and Confused

• Do I need to code? No. You can hire developers, use no-code tools, or build on APIs.
• How do I know if people will pay? Validate with pre-orders, waitlists, or even just conversations.
• Is micro SaaS saturated? No — niches keep emerging, and people pay for better packaging and service.
• What’s the #1 reason micro SaaS fails? Lack of strategy and distribution.

Get The Strategy

Most micro SaaS ideas fail because people jump into coding without a clear audience, strategy, or monetization plan. But if you start with your niche, bundle tools into a useful suite, leverage AI and open source, and choose a smart revenue model, you can stand out.

If you want the full strategy of finding niches, using AI, and getting traffic that converts — this is it.

Over 70% of site shopping carts are abandoned. For Shopify store owners, that’s often the difference between breaking even and scaling profitably.

The go-to fix for years has been abandoned cart emails. They’re better than nothing—but if you’re relying on them alone, you’re leaving a lot of money behind. Let’s look at why they fall short, and then explore the newer, smarter solutions that go beyond a simple reminder email.

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Why Abandoned Cart Emails Aren’t Enough

Abandoned cart emails have been around for a long time, and they do work—to a point.

• The average open rate is about 40–50% .

• Of those who open, only 5–10% actually finish checking out .

• Many shoppers never even see the email because their inbox is already overflowing.

And the biggest problem? They’re generic.

A typical message looks like this:
“You left something in your cart. Click here to finish your purchase.”

That’s fine, but it doesn’t address why the shopper left in the first place. Was it price? Shipping? Uncertainty about the product? Cart emails don’t solve those objections—they just remind people of what they already decided to walk away from.

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The Bigger Picture: You’re Losing 95% of Visitors

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: most e-commerce sites lose 95% of their visitors without a purchase.

Think about that. You’re paying for ads, investing in SEO, building your brand—and almost everyone leaves without buying. Worse, if they never opted into your list, you may never have another chance to reach them.

Abandoned cart emails only give you a small crack at recovery. They don’t solve the root issue: preventing abandonment before it happens.

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The Path Forward: AI-Powered Personalization

This is where the industry is moving. Instead of waiting until a customer leaves, modern AI-powered systems act like digital sales reps.

They can:

• Watch how visitors interact with your site in real time.

• Understand what they’re interested in and where they hesitate.

• Engage them with tailored prompts, offers, or reassurance before they leave.

• Follow up with personalized emails or SMS if they still don’t buy.

This is very different from generic cart emails. It’s not a reminder—it’s a conversation.

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A Real-World Example

Let’s make it concrete.

Imagine someone lands on your Shopify store, looks at a supplement product, spends time reading about the ingredients, maybe even adds it to the cart—but doesn’t buy.

A traditional abandoned cart email would say:
“Hey, you left this in your cart.”

An AI sales agent could do something smarter:

• Reference the exact product page they spent time on.

• Tailor the message to their likely demographic.

• Mention the benefits they were reading about.

• Add a time-sensitive offer like free shipping for the next 12 hours.

That feels like a one-to-one message. And customers are much more likely to respond to that kind of personalization.

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Why It Matters

This approach shifts you from reactive recovery to proactive conversion.

Instead of recovering a tiny fraction of abandoned carts, you can:

• Reduce bounce rates.

• Recover more of the traffic you already paid for.

• Build trust by showing you understand customer needs.

• Automate the whole process so it runs in the background while you focus on growth.

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What to Look For in a Solution

If you’re considering tools in this space, here’s what matters:

• Behavior-based triggers: not just time delays, but reactions to real actions.

• Personalized messaging: emails or SMS that adapt based on the shopper, not a template.

• Easy integration: ideally a Shopify app or simple code snippet.

• Flow customization: set rules for discounts, upsells, and follow-ups.

• Privacy compliance: GDPR/CCPA adherence and respect for unsubscribes.

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Addressing Common Doubts

“Will this feel spammy?”
Not if it’s done right. AI-driven messaging is contextual and relevant, which customers actually appreciate compared to generic reminders.

“Is it hard to set up?”
Most modern tools are lightweight—typically just a code snippet or app integration.

“What if it doesn’t work for me?”
Some platforms, like Hyros AIR, even offer performance-based billing or free trials, so you only pay if you see results.

“Is it privacy compliant?”
Yes, as long as it’s configured properly. Opt-outs and unsubscribes still apply.

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From Recovery to Prevention

If you’re researching “abandoned cart emails Shopify”, remember this: emails are only the starting point.

The future is AI-powered sales agents that act like real reps for your store. They don’t just chase customers after they leave—they help prevent abandonment in the first place and bring shoppers back with personalized, one-to-one follow-ups.

That’s how smart brands are squeezing more revenue out of the traffic they already have—without spending more on ads.

Stop Building SaaS… Unless You Do This First

If you’re stuck building SaaS after SaaS and getting nowhere, you’re not alone. Thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs fall into this trap: spending months or even years building something nobody asked for. In this post, let’s break down exactly why that happens—and how to fix it.

Why Most SaaS Projects Fail (And How to Avoid It)

Most failed SaaS products don’t flop because of bad code or poor design. They fail because they lack direction.

You need to start with clarity:

• Who are you building for?
• What problem are you solving?
• Why should anyone care?

If you can’t answer those three questions in one sentence, you’re in trouble.

How to Come Up with SaaS Ideas That Actually Work

Forget about building “cool” tech. Focus on solving specific, annoying problems. Here’s a step-by-step method to uncover strong SaaS ideas:

1. Look at your daily habits
   • What tools or processes do you use regularly?
   • What annoys you or slows you down?
2. Mine your work experience
   • What did people at your last job complain about?
   • What tasks were repetitive, boring, or broken?
3. Listen to niche communities
   • Visit subreddits, Facebook groups, and forums
   • Look for posts where people vent frustrations
4. Spot inefficiencies
   • Anything people do manually or with multiple steps is ripe for automation

The Power of Micro-Niches

“Fitness” is too broad. “Meal plans for diabetic truck drivers” is specific.

Examples of strong micro-niches:

• Canvas painting tutorials for beginners
• Diet plans for PCOS sufferers
• Custom dashboards for RV rental businesses

Specific problems = specific solutions = paying customers.

If You’re Already Stuck with a SaaS…

Maybe you’ve already built something and it’s not working. Here’s how to troubleshoot:

• Does it solve a real pain point? If not, pivot or refine it.
• Is it too broad? Narrow your niche.
• Are you trying to build too much? Strip it down to one clear, valuable function.
• Are people using it? Get feedback. Even 5 honest users can guide your next move.

B2B SaaS? Solve for Breakage

Businesses pay to avoid losing money. That loss is called breakage.

Common breakage sources:

• Theft (e.g., retail shrinkage)
• Wasted time (e.g., manual data entry)
• Errors (e.g., wrong file formats or missed emails)

Build tools that prevent or reduce these, and you’ve got demand.

Small Tools Win Big

You don’t need to build a massive platform. Solve one problem, and solve it completely.

Examples:

• A QuickBooks-to-Excel converter
• A WordPress plugin that creates AI-driven content plans
• A browser extension that formats resumes

Real-World Example: A Micro SaaS Plugin That Works

The video shows a demo of a tiny SaaS plugin that:

• Helps users define their niche
• Automates logo and background generation
• Creates blogging plans using AI

It’s not revolutionary tech. It’s focused and useful. And yes, it has paying users.

Why Hosting Is Your First Step

You can’t test or build anything serious without hosting. Here’s what hosting gives you:

• A playground to experiment with plugins or MVPs
• A way to share your work with others
• Full ownership (no surprise takedowns)

Free platforms are like renting. Hosting is ownership.

Want to Build a SaaS That Actually Succeeds? Start Here ✨

Solve one painful, specific problem for one clear group of people. That’s the secret.

The rest? Just experimentation and iteration.

Ready to turn ChatGPT-5’s new “thinking mode” into a profitable tool? In this video, you’ll see how Matt uses ChatGPT-5 to build a live-updating international tariff calculator that taps into real government data. If you’ve ever tried importing goods and got slammed by unpredictable costs, this tool (and video) is for you.

Intro: ChatGPT-5 Thinking Modes Can Now Make You Money

• ChatGPT-5 just dropped new “thinking modes” that go beyond basic prompts.
• You can now set GPT to do deep research, real-time querying, and smart filtering.
• We’re applying this to build something real: a tariff calculator for importers.

Why Tariffs Are a Goldmine Right Now

• With tariffs constantly in the news, importers are struggling to keep up.

• Big opportunity: sites like World Trade Online charge $1,180/year for trade news.
• Even a modest tool with 30 subscribers at $98/month could earn ~$3,000/month.
• Get a few hundred users? You’re building a serious income stream.

The Calculator Concept: What Importers Really Need

• Goal: Build a simple yet powerful HTML-based tariff calculator.
• Features needed:
  • Country selection dropdown
  • HS code input
  • Goods value, freight, insurance fields
  • Automatic tariff lookup with latest rates
  • Export to PDF and downloadable schema

Step-by-Step: Using ChatGPT-5 to Build It

• Started with a basic calculator concept using GPT-5 Auto mode
• Switched to “thinking mode” for deep research on tariffs
• Pulled tariff data from sources like DataWeb.gov and loaded it in
• GPT parsed and implemented live logic, dropdowns, and calculation formulas
• Output: functional calculator that computes landing costs based on inputs

Why Gemini Didn’t Work (and GPT-5 Did)

• Tried Google Gemini — clunky, bad UI, limited results
• GPT-5’s code and UX output were far more polished and usable

Traffic Potential: Who Would Use This and How to Reach Them

• Competing tools rank for 3,200+ searches/month for “tariff calculator”
• Examples like TimeTrax show that even simple tools attract traffic
• Google Trends confirms “tariffs” are a rising topic
• Combine with trending terms like “PPI report” for news-based content hooks

Promotion Strategy: How to Launch Fast

• Create press releases tied to economic reports (e.g. PPI)
• Make YouTube videos breaking down new tariff updates
• Offer calculator as a lead magnet (PDF downloads, email opt-ins)
• Bonus: Turn news insights into a premium membership platform

Bonus Monetization Insight: InsideTrade’s Pricing Model

Platform	Offer	Monthly Price	Annual Revenue Potential
World Trade Online	Exclusive trade news access	$98.33	$1,180 per user/year
Your Calculator	Interactive + news content	$20-$100	Scale w/ memberships

Final Thoughts: Tariffs Are Confusing, But This Tool Solves It

• Real-world story: Matt tried importing LCD screens, couldn’t figure out tariffs
• GPT-powered tools fix this problem with clarity and consistency
• If you need accuracy, automation, and authority, this is how you build it

A Game-Changing Update Everyone Missed While most people have been complaining that GPT-5 is a letdown, I noticed something huge buried in their livestream: a tiny tool called Preamble. OpenAI hardly mentioned it, but it changes everything for people building automations or generating code.

What Is Preamble (and Why It Matters) Preamble lets GPT-5 output strict JSON. That might sound minor, but if you’ve ever had to wrestle with broken curly braces or invalid formatting in 4o, you know how frustrating that was. One tiny mistake and your entire workflow broke. With Preamble, everything is clean, valid, and production-ready. No more babysitting the AI to fix its own code.

Here is the Custom N8N GPT I built – Note: make sure you’re using GPT5 in the model settings

Sample JSON:

How I’m Using It to Print Money (Literally) I used to build my workflows in GPT-4o, but it was slow, clunky, and error-prone. Now, with GPT-5 and Preamble, I’ve streamlined a blog post generator that spits out fully formatted, WordPress-ready HTML content based on niche keywords. I’m talking:

• No manual edits
• No formatting tweaks
• Just upload and go

And yeah, this actually makes me money. Why? Because I’m creating real, targeted content—not spam. I’m leveraging automation to scale up while keeping the quality tight.

Behind the Scenes: My Automation Stack

• Inputs: Carefully selected niche keywords
• GPT-5 + Preamble: Generates blog content in valid HTML
• Output Format: Clean .txt files with WordPress-ready code
• Uploader Tool: Bulk uploads all content as drafts in seconds

That’s dozens of posts in minutes instead of hours. Each one goes through a light QA before it’s published.

Why Strategy > Tools The real win here isn’t the tool—it’s the strategy. While others pump out low-quality junk, I’m focused on:

• Ranking for valuable keywords
• Building authority in a niche
• Turning each post into a monetizable asset

If you want to make real money online, it’s not about flooding the internet with content. It’s about being intentional—targeting problems people are already searching for, offering actual value, and automating the grunt work so you can scale.

Bonus Tool: Automation Idea Explorer At the end of the video, I dropped a bonus tool—Automation Idea Explorer.

Whether you’re in marketing, image creation, SEO, or customer support, this tool helps spark automation ideas tailored to your workflow. You can even pin it to your sidebar and start building right away.

Examples of What You Can Automate with GPT-5

Use Case	Result
SEO Blog Creation	Avoid expensive agencies, rank faster
Customer Service AI	Auto-reply to emails, chats, and SMS inquiries
Personalized Upsells	Tailored product emails post-purchase
Image Generation	Auto-generate visuals for posts or social media

Your Turn: Build Smarter, Not Harder If you’re serious about building real income online, you need more than tools—you need a strategy and a system.

You need to know…

• How to build a real content engine that attracts traffic
• What keywords to target for sustainable income
• How to leverage AI to do 80% of the work
• How to monetize with products, affiliate offers, and services

If you’re new and everything feels noisy—lists of “100 side hustles,” contradictory advice, shiny tools—here’s the quiet truth:

Methods aren’t businesses. Niches are.
Drop shipping, affiliate marketing, YouTube, print-on-demand… those are delivery methods. Start with a niche you care about, then pick the methods that fit.

Below is a simple, beginner-proof path you can follow in a weekend—and keep building for the next 30 days. (At the end, I’ll link the step-by-step system that helped me put this on rails.)

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What “niche” actually means (in plain English)

A niche is just a specific group of people + a specific set of problems you’re willing to help with.

• Too broad: “Fitness”
• Better: “Busy moms getting back into lifting at home”
• Too broad: “Cooking”
• Better: “Indoor herb gardening in small apartments”

Pick something you’re at least curious about. Passion helps, but curiosity + consistency wins.

Google it!

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The 90-Minute Niche Picker (do this once)

Step 1: Brain dump (15 min)
List 10–20 things you’ve done, enjoy, buy, fix, or explain to friends. Jobs, hobbies, gear you research, stuff you’ve solved.

Step 2: Real-people check (30 min)
For 3–5 candidates, google:

• “best [thing] for beginners”
• “[thing] problems / mistakes / how to”
• “[thing] reddit”
  You’re looking for questions people repeat and products that actually sell.

Step 3: Money signal sniff test (15 min)
Can you find:

• Products (Amazon categories, niche stores)
• Courses/eBooks (Gumroad, Udemy)
• Affiliate programs (brand footer links that say “Affiliates”)
  If yes, there’s a path to revenue.
• Check OfferVault.com for ideas

Step 4: Choose one (30 min)
Pick the niche with:

• Clear beginner questions
• Obvious starter products/tools
• A crowd you won’t mind helping for a year

Example niche we’ll use below: Indoor gardening for beginners in small spaces (zero prior knowledge needed.)

Click For Help Making Money Online

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Your simple business model (one page)

Audience: Apartment dwellers who want fresh herbs and zero plant drama
Problems: Which lights? What pots? Why do plants die? What’s the monthly cost?
Starter products: Grow lights, beginner kits, timers, seed packs, indoor-safe soil
Content plan: “Setups,” “fixes,” “gear picks,” “beginner wins”
Monetization: Affiliate links, printable planners/labels, beginner bundle guide, 1:1 “plant doctor” calls

Keep this in a Google Doc. Done is better than perfect.

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Week 1: Make your Starter Stack (no tech headaches)

1. Home base: a simple site (WordPress or Carrd)
   1. One clean homepage, one blog page, one “About,” one “Recommendations” page.
2. Email capture: one opt-in (ConvertKit, Beehiiv, MailerLite)
   1. Lead magnet idea: “Indoor Herb Starter Pack: 3 setups under $50, $100, $200 (with links)”
3. Affiliate basics: apply to 2–3 programs
   1. Amazon Associates + 1–2 niche brands (look for “Affiliate” in site footer).
4. Tracking: one spreadsheet
   1. Columns: Date | URL | Topic | Target question | Products mentioned | Notes
   2. That’s enough to launch.

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What to publish (copy/paste templates)

1) “Set it up for me” guide

Title: Indoor Herb Garden Setup for Small Apartments (3 Budgets, Step-by-Step)
Sections:

• What you’ll get (outcome, photos)
• Three setups: under $50, $100, $200
• Step-by-step with 5–7 photos/screenshots
• Maintenance: weekly checklist (5 bullets)
• Troubleshooting: 5 quick fixes (yellow leaves, gnats, mold, weak stems)

Why it works: Helps a beginner go from zero → success in one sitting. Natural place to include affiliate links.

2) “Fix my problem” post

Title: Why Indoor Herbs Keep Dying (and the 10-Minute Fix)
Sections:

• Quick diagnosis table (symptom → cause → fix)
• 10-minute rescue routine
• “If this happens again, do this” plan
• Recommended tools (timer, moisture meter, light)

Why it works: Solves pain. Readers convert.

3) “Best for beginners” roundup

Title: Best Beginner Grow Lights for Herbs (Simple Picks That Don’t Cook Your Plants)
Sections:

• What actually matters (3 criteria)
• 3–5 picks (one-paragraph each, pros/cons, who it’s for)
• 60-second setup checklist
• “Try this first” recommendation
• Why it works: Meets “what should I buy?” search intent.

Post one of these per week for 4–6 weeks. That’s it.

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Traffic without social burnout

• Search (SEO, beginner-level):
  Answer exact questions people type. Put the question in your title and first paragraph. Show steps, pictures, and a tiny checklist. That alone beats 80% of posts.

Click For Help Making Money Online

 

• Reddit (respect the rules):
  Help first. Link sparingly when it truly answers the question. Your non-salesy guide should feel like a comment that just happens to live on your site.
• YouTube Shorts/Reels (optional):
  30 seconds: “$50 apartment herb setup.” Show parts → assemble → result. Link to the full guide.
• Email (low effort, high ROI):
  Weekly note: “This week’s fix: why basil gets leggy + my $100 starter layout.”

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Monetization: keep it simple at first

1. Affiliate links on every “setup,” “best,” and “fix” post
2. One small digital product (Week 3–4)
   1. Indoor Herb Starter Pack (PDF): parts list, wiring diagram, light schedule, watering checklist, printable labels. $7–$19.
3. Optional service
   1. 20-minute “plant doctor” call, flat fee.

When in doubt, sell the outcome (healthy herbs, zero fuss), not the features.

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Your 30-Day Plan (print this)

• Week 1
  • Pick niche, write one “Setup” post, set up email + one opt-in.
• Week 2
  • Write one “Fix” post, apply to 2–3 affiliate programs, add links.
• Week 3
  • Write one “Best for Beginners” post, draft your $7–$19 Starter Pack.
• Week 4
  • Publish Starter Pack, write a second “Fix” post, post 2–3 helpful Reddit comments with no link, then one where your guide is the obvious answer.
  • Daily (30–45 min): Write 3–5 sentences, add one image, or answer one real question in your niche. Consistency > sprints.

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• Common beginner mistakes (skip these)
• Niche hopping every two weeks
• Product spam without real how-to steps
• No pictures (your phone is fine)
• Hiding prices or never giving a budget option
• Walls of text (use headings, bullets, checklists)

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FAQ (for true beginners)

• Do I need to be an expert?
  No. Be one step ahead and document honestly. Beginners trust clear steps + results.
• What if I pick the “wrong” niche?
  Give it 30 days and four posts. If you hate showing up, pivot once—not weekly.
• How long to see money?
  Fastest path is affiliate links in problem-solving posts. First sales often happen from 100–500 visits if the posts are truly helpful.

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• Want the whole system laid out?
• If you want a clear, do-this-then-that roadmap to go from niche → content → traffic → income (with examples, templates, and coaching), this is the program that helped me connect the dots: