Interview
with
Most of us have big dreams when we launch our startups. We often start building them as something on a side, but hope that one day, the product will grow to take over and become our main source of income, right?
But it doesn't always work out.
Listen to my interview with Derrick Grigg, who's been running PageProofer as a side business for over 11 years now.
Derrick shares how PageProofer was born out of his frustration as a developer dealing with feedback during web development projects. The tool simplifies the process, making it easy to leave and manage visual, bug, and client review feedback.
Derrick discusses the challenge of marketing PageProoferafter its launch, realizing that marketing would be a bigger challenge than building the product. This revelation marks the beginning of his journey into understanding the complexities of product promotion.
Derrick briefly touches on how the market for feedback and bug tracking tools has evolved, with increased competition since PageProofer's launch. Derrick reflects on how the landscape has changed significantly over the years.
Derrick explains his initial marketing strategy and the challenges faced, such as competing with larger companies. Over time, he shifted his focus to SEO and content marketing, learning to navigate the complexities of digital marketing.
Derrick discusses how he manages PageProofer as a side project, balancing it with his full-time web development work and family responsibilities. Despite its moderate success, PageProofer remains a side venture rather than a full-time commitment.
Derrick explains how he manages the development and customer support aspects of PageProofer, noting that the support load is minimal due to the product’s robustness. This allows him to maintain the tool with minimal time investment.
Derrick talks about how he uses feedback from clients in his web development projects to inform new features and improvements in PageProofer. This continuous loop of feedback ensures the tool evolves with user needs.
The discussion covers the benefits and realities of running a small, bootstrap business. Derrick highlights the unique advantages of being a one-person operation, such as the ability to be quirky and authentic in ways that larger companies cannot.
Derrick shares his approach to marketing, which now includes a focus on SEO, content creation, and the recent addition of video to engage users and improve visibility. These strategies help him connect with his audience and enhance PageProofer’s online presence.
Derrick reflects on the success of PageProofer as a side project, highlighting the satisfaction of having a product that is profitable and sustainable over ten years. Despite its modest scale, the tool has achieved a lasting impact.
"PageProofer never took off the way that I had hoped... It's done well, but it hasn't done fabulously well to the point where I can go full-time into it."
