How Tejas Rane Grew Affiliate Corner to a $90K Exit
Who is Tejas Rane?π
Tejas Rane, the founder of Affiliate Corner, is an innovative entrepreneur from India with a background in computer engineering and a strong expertise in SEO and digital marketing. Before fully venturing into his SaaS business, he held roles in various companies, including working as an SEO growth strategist for a major fintech firm in the U.S., before deciding to pursue his passion for building online businesses and transitioning to full-time entrepreneurship.
What problem does Affiliate Corner solve?π
Affiliate Corner solves the overwhelming challenge of finding profitable affiliate programs by offering a streamlined platform, saving marketers valuable time and effort in research.
How did Tejas come up with the idea for Affiliate Corner?π
Tejas Rane's journey to founding Affiliate Corner began during his 9-to-5 job when he felt confined by the traditional work structure and sought the freedom of entrepreneurship. With a background in SEO and digital marketing, Tejas noticed how time-consuming and challenging it could be for affiliate marketers to find and evaluate the best affiliate programs across various niches. This realization was pivotal, as he identified the need for a streamlined research platform that could provide valuable insights to affiliates, leading to the birth of Affiliate Corner.
Before fully committing to this idea, Tejas leveraged his strong foundation in content creation and digital marketing to validate his concept. He used his understanding of the market dynamics and personal pain points encountered during affiliate marketing to craft a unique positioning for Affiliate Corner. By focusing on building a platform that marketing professionals would find indispensable, he ensured the solution stood out amidst existing directories and databases.
Throughout the ideation phase, Tejas faced the challenge of differentiating his offering from other similar products. He overcame this by concentrating on the value-added features and insights his platform could provide, making Affiliate Corner a "done-for-you" research solution. This experience taught him the importance of product positioning and understanding customer needs. Feedback from early adopters and his proactive engagement with online communities were instrumental in refining the platform and ensuring it met the expectations of its target users.
How did Tejas build the initial version of Affiliate Corner?π
Tejas Rane developed Affiliate Corner, a SaaS product focused on affiliate marketing research, by first positioning it uniquely as a "research solution" rather than a simple directory or database. The development process began in December 2021, with the pre-sale taking place in March 2022 and the full launch in June 2022, making it a six-month timeline from conception to launch. Tejas collaborated with his co-founder Rishabh Garg, a developer, to build a comprehensive database of affiliate programs, providing additional insights like keyword searches and niche audience targeting, which differentiated the product in the market. Despite technical skills challenges, leveraging no-code tools and outsourcing certain development aspects helped in managing the build process effectively. Creating the right positioning was essential, and initial pre-sales success validated their market approach.
How did Tejas launch Affiliate Corner and get initial traction?π
Facebook and Twitter Promotionπ
Tejas Rane initially spread the word about Affiliate Corner through social media platforms, primarily Facebook and Twitter. He actively engaged in Facebook groups related to marketing and lifetime deals, such as SaaS Warriors, to create interest and launch a pre-sale. On Twitter, he leveraged his following and interactions within the niche site community to draw attention to the product.
Why it worked: Engaging directly with the target audience in relevant online communities allowed Tejas to tap into enthusiastic groups who were interested in lifetime deals and affiliate marketing tools. These communities were ripe for introducing new products, making them more willing to engage and purchase.
Pre-Sale Strategyπ
A pre-sale strategy was executed to gauge interest and generate immediate revenue. The team set up a dedicated landing page to explain the product and offered a pre-sale with early-bird pricing, promising access after one month.
Why it worked: The pre-sale strategy created urgency and exclusivity, with interested customers keen to be part of the initial batch. This helped validate the product and generated $6,000 within two to three days, confirming market interest.
Facebook Ads Experimentationπ
After the successful initial launch, Tejas used Facebook ads to further promote Affiliate Corner. They spent between βΉ50,000 and βΉ70,000, achieving a 3.5X return on ad spend. The most significant traction came from regions such as Singapore and Malaysia, which were outside their primary target markets of the US and the UK.
Why it worked: By experimenting with Facebook ads, Affiliate Corner was able to reach a wider audience beyond their initial organic reach. The ads helped increase visibility and drive further traffic and sales, especially during peak promotional periods like Black Friday.
What was the growth strategy for Affiliate Corner and how did they scale?π
Twitterπ
Tejas Rane began leveraging Twitter to promote Affiliate Corner in 2020. He actively participated in the Twitter niche site community and shared information about SEO, niche sites, and affiliate marketing. Through engaging tweets and threads, he was able to connect with like-minded individuals and potential customers, raising awareness for Affiliate Corner. The engagement on Twitter also led to collaborations with influencers who helped expand the productβs reach.
Why it worked: Twitter's platform allowed Rane to build an audience interested in SEO and affiliate marketing, engaging directly with them through content and discussions. This direct interaction fostered trust and enabled expert positioning, which helped generate interest in Affiliate Corner even before its launch.
Facebook Groupsπ
Rane utilized Facebook Groups, particularly those focused on lifetime deals, to promote Affiliate Corner. These groups, such as SaaS Warriors and LTD Warriors, became platforms where he could engage with dedicated audiences seeking new tools and solutions in affiliate marketing.
Why it worked: These Facebook Groups were filled with early adopters looking for innovative solutions, especially lifetime deals. Engaging directly with an audience already interested in such products allowed quick initial traction, as evidenced by the success of the pre-sale campaign.
Facebook and Instagram Adsπ
After launching the product, Rane experimented with Facebook and Instagram ads, spending between INR 50,000 and 70,000. These ads targeted major audiences in regions like the US, UK, and India, leveraging visual platforms to drive engagement and conversions.
Why it worked: Social media ads allowed Affiliate Corner to reach a broader audience beyond organic methods. Despite being a risky bet, the use of Instagram especially helped tap into a visual platform with a large audience base, generating good returns on investment, particularly during sale events like Black Friday.
Influencer and Micro-Influencer Partnershipsπ
Rane reached out to micro-influencers on YouTube and Instagram, establishing collaborations for Affiliate Corner. By offering commissions or a one-time fee, he engaged influencers to produce content featuring the product, thus reaching their followers.
Why it worked: Micro-influencers usually have dedicated and engaged audiences. Collaborating with them allowed Affiliate Corner to tap into these niche communities effectively. The authentic endorsements from influencers led to higher trust in the product and drove sales through commission-based partnerships.
What's the pricing strategy for Affiliate Corner?π
Affiliate Corner provides monthly subscription plans priced between $25β$99.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building Affiliate Corner?π
- Valuing Different Revenue Models: Affiliate Corner found that selling through a lifetime deal could quickly generate revenue without the complexities of a subscription model. However, they learned that recurring revenue models can potentially increase valuation, highlighting the importance of considering future growth and sustainability.
- Effective Positioning: By positioning Affiliate Corner as a 'research solution' rather than a simple database, the product stood out in a crowded market. This demonstrates the power of positioning and how a slight change in wording can significantly impact market perception and success.
- Marketing Channel Diversification: The company leveraged a mix of channels like Twitter, Facebook, and niche forums. They discovered that diversification helped reach broader audiences but also learned that sustaining growth requires focusing on effective channels that consistently drive results.
- Listening to Customer Needs: By continuously updating their database and listening to customer feedback, Affiliate Corner was able to maintain value over time. Regular updates and improvements ensure that products stay relevant and useful, increasing customer retention and satisfaction.
- Timing of Exit: The founders realized that exiting while the product was growing would have likely resulted in a higher valuation. This emphasizes the importance of understanding market dynamics and the state of your business when deciding to sell, rather than waiting until growth stagnates.
Affiliate Corner Acquisition: How much did Affiliate Corner sell for and what was the acquisition price?π
Affiliate Corner, started by Tejas Rane in April 2022, was acquired for a five-figure sum in July 2024 after generating nearly $90,000 in revenue.
Discover Similar Business Ideas Like Affiliate Cornerπ
Rezi, an AI-powered resume builder, skyrocketed from a simple $9.69 Microsoft Word template to serving over 2.6 million job seekers and achieving a monthly recurring revenue of $215K, showing how clever branding, strategic early decisions, and creative growth hacking can turn a side project into a profitable SaaS business.
A passionate computer-coder entrepreneur shares the story behind his successful PDFShift business which after a year and a half generates $3.2k of monthly revenues with the focus now on growth.
More about Affiliate Corner:π
Who is the owner of Affiliate Corner?π
Tejas Rane is the founder of Affiliate Corner.
When did Tejas Rane start Affiliate Corner?π
2022
What is Tejas Rane's net worth?π
Tejas Rane's business makes an average of $7.5K/month.
How much money has Tejas Rane made from Affiliate Corner?π
Tejas Rane started the business in 2022, and currently makes an average of $90K/year.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
