6 steps to successfully launching a product in the Webflow space

Relume was co-founded by Adam Mura & Dan Anisse in 2018. It started as an agency in 2018 but did you know that Relume almost closed in 2020? The component library was not always part of the plan but a timeline cloneable that Adam made set the place alight.

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I sat down with Dan for episode 75 of the podcast - killer episode if I say so myself: "Losing 200K to co-founding Relume"‍

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Anyway, here are 6 crucial bits of advice that Dan said to me when I asked him how he would pivot to creating a product if he were to start today.

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6 steps to successfully launching a product in the Webflow space

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1) Agency

Dan explains that setting up an agency was one of the best ways to work out products to build. He was constantly seeing problems within the agency world and he and Adam figured if they were having problems, other people were having them as well. Problems are just solutions yet to be realised. Now, Dan made it explicit that he wouldn't advise setting up an agency specifically to find out big hairy problems with clients or agencies. But, if you're reading this article, you've probably already started working with clients and spotting problems in design, development, client communication, asset delivery and more. If you find yourself complaining about something being sub-par or simply not existing, maybe you could use that as fuel to create something to solve that problem?!

If the goal is to eventually have some sort of idea of a product, it's just not forcing it, but just when you're experiencing insights, whether or not you're working with a client, whether or not you're building an actual website or whether or not you're dealing with payments, whatever problems start to really frustrate you just.

2) Create an MVP in a week

Dan explains how important it is not to close down your webflow business, re-mortgage your house to pay for a team and to start a product business when you find problems you think you can provide a solution for. Hold your horses there cowboy. You've isolated a problem you want to solve but you will still need to support your family while working on the problem. Keep the lights on with your regular income but steal a bit of time to create a quick, rough version of the solution. Dan suggests giving yourself a week or so to try and crack a problem. This will force you to take action and not overthink it because there will be little time to think.

3) Don't think that your first product is going to be the biggest product ever

Before you start dreaming of the ferrari you'll buy with that sweet recurring income, let's not put pressure on this being something massive. Let's face it - it's very probably a data point to get you closer to something successful rather than the winner winner chicken dinner. That's no bad thing by the way. Most people don't even start. Dan warns attaching your sense of self worth to the outcome - try and be detached from the outcome but all in on the process of making something that is genuinely solving the problem you set out to solve.

Don't think that your first product is going to be the biggest product ever.

4) Put it out there to the community

Ok, squeaky bum time indeed. You've made a thing for the Webflow community. It's very probably too hot to handle but either way, you need to see if this beef is underdone, perfectly cooked or more charcoal than charcoal (that's my weird metaphor to say if your thing is any good). Dan recommends posting something on twitter where the webflow community is living it large. Things that provide value to the webflow community generally get a lot of engagement there so it's a good place to start.

So once you do have an idea, lean into it and start to explore, but like, come up with a plan that's attainable. Be like, I'm going to build something because agency, balancing agency cashflow and balancing building a product is pretty difficult in a sense that you need to make sure, obviously money's still coming in and you're also building something effective. So like reducing your bet.

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5) Test and iterate

Holy shit! You're idea generated more excitement than anything you've ever done in your life! This is a sign. I'm not talking about some spiritual tosh - I'm talking about real, objective, solid support for this thing to exist in the world. Dan explains this is time to double down on the idea, iterate and collaborate with fans to make it even better.

Essentially you're trying to see whether that has traction within the community. And if it does, that's a really good indication that essentially it's worth developing that idea further.

6) Set up a paid tier

Now, you've put some really thoughtful effort in to this fruitcake. It's got even more valuable with maybe more premium features. Now, you can see if people are going to pay for it with a pay wall.

6 Steps - go get it! Thanks to Dan for sharing so vulnerably!