Episode 716 | Positioning Against Incumbents, Changing Your H1, How Tech Stack Affects Valuation, and More Listener Questions

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Jun 4, 2024

Dive into the world of startups as insights flow about positioning against established competitors. Learn when to tweak your H1 for maximum impact and how your choice of tech stack could drastically alter your valuation. There's also a debate on whether to progress through the traditional steps or leap directly into launching a standalone SaaS. Plus, a compelling look into what truly enhances a startup's value beyond just tech—think branding and team. Perfect for entrepreneurs navigating their unique challenges!

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ADVICE

Positioning Against Incumbents

Consider mentioning large competitors if their name recognition helps your positioning.
Be cautious of potential legal issues, although lawsuits are rare.

ADVICE

Testing H1 Changes

Don't change your H1 frequently unless your positioning is unclear.
A/B test H1 changes if you have high traffic, otherwise use a "poor person's split test."

ADVICE

Modern Niche Identification

Explore niche communities like subreddits to gauge market interest.
Use tools like SimilarWeb, Alexa, Crunchbase, and Bureau of Labor Statistics for market research.

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In episode 716, join Rob Walling for another solo adventure where he answers listener questions. He shares how he would position against incumbents, when to change an H1, and how choosing a tech stack affects your business valuation. Rob also weighs whether to skip a “Step 1” or “Step 2” business and start directly with a standalone SaaS in the Stair Step Method of Bootstrapping.

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Topics we cover:

4:07 – How directly should I position my product against incumbents?
8:25 – Making and testing changes to your H1
12:22 – Identifying and qualifying niches based on traffic
18:07 – Should I skip a “Step 1” or “Step 2” business to start a SaaS?
20:16 – How a tech stack affects valuations
27:29 – Differentiating between B2B and B2C

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If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

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