Subscribe Now For A Free Five Step Tutorial
Get a free five-part email course that shows you how to find, validate, and launch your side hustle idea — no experience required.
What It's About
When things don't go according to plan, this artist creates a million dollar app.
Business Model
Service
Skills Required
Design & Marketing
Complexity
Medium
Profit Potential
High
Words of Wisdom
Find your product-market fit and know your target audience inside-out. If you know your people, you will be able to solve the issues that they are looking to solve. Build out customer profiles and picture exactly who that person is that you want to sell to.
Fun Fact
After making $10,000 in the first week, Christy shook up a bottle of champagne, opened it and sprayed it around like a locker room celebration.
Notes from Chris
Episode 998
Christy Laurence, a New Zealander living in Australia, was unable to continue her career in advertising due to an illness that severely limited her mobility for a year-and-a-half. During that time, she began illustrating and selling artwork on Instagram. Her work was bringing in some money, and she thought she was on to something. Christy understood that her followers weren’t just interested in her art—they were interested in her—and she began to share more of her story. She would show her followers when she was experimenting with a new medium, demonstrate the tools she used, and bring them along on that journey. It soon became clear that it wasn’t her artwork that was Christy’s best creation but the way she was using Instagram to sell that artwork, and ultimately herself to the audience. She saw similarities between what she was doing on her own and that of bigger companies who were lighting up the platform. They weren’t selling a product … they were telling a story. That’s how the PLANN app came to be, at least after she figured out how to make an app. It turned out that for Christy, unlocking the secrets to Instagram success was the easy part. PLANN is a technical solution, but she had no tech experience. However, having worked in marketing for digital agencies, Christy understood the concept of wireframing. She drew out her wireframes, outlining how she envisioned the app to be, and turned to YouTube to learn how to build them. Eventually she taught herself all she needed to know, and created the initial version of the app herself. So what does this app actually do? PLANN helps users create compelling Instagram stories for their brand, schedule posts, and analyze what content is keeping your audience engaged. Most people are aware of how powerful the platform can be, but they’re not sure how to harness that power. They were clamoring for guidance. PLANN was profitable before its first birthday and currently brings in more than a million dollars in annual revenue. As their customers grow their businesses, PLANN wants to grow alongside them. The company is soon to launch a web app with more features to address the needs of growing businesses.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- PLANN app: Learn more about Christy's app and see if it's the right plan for your hustle needs.
- Designer Earns Extra $5,000/Month Posting Logos on Instagram: After first rejecting Instagram as being “only for selfies,” a Sri Lankan designer starts a popular account that earns steady affiliate commissions.
- Instagram Calligraphy Project Earns $9,000 in Year One: A corporate employee in Texas enters the online world of calligraphy and hand-lettering, then changes along the way to suit her strengths.
- Avid Reader Sells Used Books On Instagram: An IT analyst makes page-turning profits after building a dedicated audience of book enthusiasts. You can make money without a large following!
Quote of the Day
"Find your product-market fit and know your target audience inside-out. If you know your people, you will be able to solve the issues that they are looking for solutions for."
—Christy Laurence #SideHustleSchool
