How Bradley Adkins Grew Designfly to $10k MRR in 18 Months
Who is Brad Adkins?π
Bradley Adkins, the founder of Designfly, is an experienced designer with over 10 years in the field, who transitioned from an in-house design role to launching his own productized design service after being inspired by similar business models.
What problem does Designfly solve?π
Designfly helps SaaS startups by quickly delivering high-quality UI/UX designs, saving them time and ensuring their interfaces attract and retain users effectively.
How did Brad come up with the idea for Designfly?π
Bradley Adkins, the founder of Designfly, came up with his business idea after feeling frustrated in his job as an in-house designer. With over ten years of design experience, he noticed a gap in the market for a streamlined, productized design service specifically for SaaS startups. Inspired by similar services and motivated by a desire for more freedom and control, he decided to leverage his design skills to create Designfly.
Bradley validated his idea by offering a reduced pricing plan within a private group of business founders, quickly achieving full bookings. To refine his service, he actively sought feedback from clients and the creator community, allowing him to make necessary adjustments, such as lowering prices initially and speeding up delivery times. Through this iterative process, Bradley learned the importance of simplicity in communication and the value of being open to feedback, setting the stage for his business's early success.
How did Brad build the initial version of Designfly?π
Bradley Adkins built Designfly by leveraging his extensive 10-year background in design to create a productized design service. The development process revolved around structuring the service to offer unlimited UI/UX design for SaaS startups, focusing on speed and efficiency. Initially, the service delivery time was three business days, which was reduced to two days based on client feedback, highlighting the iterative nature of the development process. Bradley utilized tools like Figma and Webflow, reflecting industry-standard design software, to ensure rapid delivery and high-quality results. Establishing the service was challenging, particularly in terms of setting the right price point and communicating effectively on the landing page, but feedback from the creator community helped refine the business offering.
How did Brad launch Designfly and get initial traction?π
Lower Pricing Strategyπ
Bradley Adkins initially struggled to attract clients with his high price points ranging from $3,700 to $4,900 per month. Realizing this was a barrier, he lowered his pricing to a more accessible range of $1,000 to $1,900 per month. This strategy was pivotal in acquiring his initial clients quickly. Within the first month of adjusting prices, Designfly generated $4.9K in revenue, attracting clients who were now more willing to commit to the service.
Why it worked: By offering a lower introductory price, Bradley was able to onboard clients who might have been hesitant at the higher price point. This strategy effectively reduced the entry barrier for potential clients, allowing them to experience the quality of his service at a manageable cost, thereby generating essential word-of-mouth promotion.
Community Engagementπ
To get the word out about Designfly, Bradley engaged actively in online communities and platforms like Indie Hackers, Twitter, and private Discord groups. He shared his startup journey, offered advice, and posted updates about his wins and failures. He also sought feedback from these communities, which not only helped him improve his offerings but also kept his service top-of-mind for potential clients.
Why it worked: Engaging with niche communities offered two benefits β visibility and credibility. Bradley positioned himself as a helpful and knowledgeable resource, which attracted attention from fellow members who would later become customers. This grassroots approach helped him generate more leads without a formal marketing budget.
Roasti as a Lead Generation Toolπ
Bradley created Roasti, a design roasting service, as a side project. While it generated some revenue, its primary role was as a lead-generation tool for Designfly. By providing expert feedback on UI and UX designs, he demonstrated his design expertise, impressing clients who then transitioned to purchase more comprehensive services from Designfly.
Why it worked: Offering a unique and engaging service like Roasti helped Bradley showcase his skills in a less conventional way. It allowed him to connect with potential clients on a practical level while demonstrating his expertise, making the transition to hiring Designfly an easy decision for many.
What was the growth strategy for Designfly and how did they scale?π
Social Media Engagementπ
Designfly harnessed the power of social media, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), to engage with potential clients and share updates. By sharing insights into wins and challenges, they not only showcased their expertise but also built a community around their brand. This strategy allowed them to gain over 1,000 followers in a short period.
Why it worked: Engaging with niche communities and sharing valuable content allowed Designfly to connect with their target audience organically. By giving advice and sharing progress, they generated interest and leads without spending on advertisements.
Pricing Strategyπ
Initially, Designfly lowered their pricing to $1,000 per month to attract early clients. This pricing strategy was crucial in encouraging sign-ups with nearly half of their clients joining without a demo. After attracting initial clients and gaining feedback, they gradually increased the price as demand rose.
Why it worked: Affordable pricing lowered the barrier for startups looking for quality design services, which was a key factor in their early growth. As they gained testimonials and improved services, higher prices became justifiable, optimizing revenue without losing their client base.
Design Roasting (Side Project)π
Designfly launched Roasti, a design roasting service that provided feedback on UI/UX designs. This initiative attracted clients to Designfly by displaying Bradley's expertise in a fun and engaging way, effectively turning Roasti into a lead generation tool.
Why it worked: By offering a taste of their expertise through a low-commitment side project, potential clients could see Designfly's value firsthand. This visibility and potential for upselling converted many curious users into paying clients for their more extensive services.
Networking and Creator Communitiesπ
Bradley engaged with online creator communities such as Indie Hackers, as well as private Discord groups, to share his journey and solicit feedback. This open and authentic communication helped in generating leads.
Why it worked: Being active and interactive in these communities allowed Designfly to reach audiences who were already interested in entrepreneurship and design services. This strategy fostered trust and credibility, attracting clients who valued interaction and real-world insights.
What's the pricing strategy for Designfly?π
Designfly offers unlimited UI/UX design services for startups with pricing starting at $1,000/month for standard delivery, and $1,750/month for faster 2-day delivery.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building Designfly?π
- Focus on Expertise: Specializing in UI design for SaaS startups allowed Designfly to provide high-quality work and build a strong reputation in a niche market. Leveraging years of experience can fast-track success.
- Pricing Strategy Matters: Initially setting prices too high made it hard to close sales. By lowering the prices, Designfly attracted more clients and generated valuable feedback, later allowing for a gradual increase in pricing as demand grew.
- Listen and Adapt: Feedback from clients was crucial in refining services. Listening to what clients needed helped Designfly double their revenue and improve service offerings, such as reducing delivery times.
- Build Online Presence Wisely: With no initial network or marketing budget, prioritizing an impressive online portfolio and engaging in relevant online communities helped generate leads and build an audience effectively.
- Practical Side Projects as Lead Generators: Launching a design roasting service, Roasti, not only generated additional revenue but also acted as an effective tool for attracting potential clients to Designfly.
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More about Designfly:π
Who is the owner of Designfly?π
Brad Adkins is the founder of Designfly.
When did Brad Adkins start Designfly?π
2023
What is Brad Adkins's net worth?π
Brad Adkins's business makes an average of $10K/month.
How much money has Brad Adkins made from Designfly?π
Brad Adkins started the business in 2023, and currently makes an average of $120K/year.
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