Case Study👉 How YOU Can Go from $0 to $250k in 2 Years Selling Spreadsheets

The Scott Max Newsletter

In Partnership with International Intrigue

Hi 👋, this is the Scott Max newsletter. The soon-to-be-daily newsletter bringing you one step closer to your own thriving online business.

We analyze a wonderful, small, online business each week with a full breakdown of how it makes money, why it makes money, and its opportunities to grow. Below that, we give you the action steps to build a business like this to create freedom for yourself.

This is the best way to learn the tactics, skillset, and nuance of making money online.

Let’s get to the good stuff you'll see in this email:

• An E-commerce business selling printables.

• The success formula this business uses to stand out as a top Etsy seller.

• How to build your 6-figure e-commerce empire.

But first, let me introduce our partner for this email,

International Intrigue

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The What 🚀

An Etsy Store Selling Printable Pdf Spreadsheets and Raking over $100,000 Per Year!

Have you ever tried to find budgeting printables online but were discouraged to use them because they looked like balance sheets from the 80’s?

Well, the venture we’re analyzing today makes budgeting fun by selling aesthetically pleasing spreadsheets that are not only functional but also visually appealing.

Customers can discover the valuable collection of printables on its Etsy storefront and on the Shopify store attached to its website.

In addition, the business owner offers budget coaching services and an online course that teaches entrepreneurs how to successfully sell their own digital products.

How does this business manage to be a top 0.1% Etsy seller and earn over $100k yearly? Let’s have a detailed look.

The How 💻

The sale of printables is the major income source for this business. In fact, since its inception in 2020, it has made over 29,000 sales on Etsy!

This business earns the most from selling premium bundles that can cost up to $70 or more.

These premium bundles consist of several digital products sold together at a discounted rate, helping customers to get more value while saving some coins.

Another income source for this business is the sale of spreadsheet templates to entrepreneurs that want to resell them for profit.

Now that we know how this business makes money, let’s unlock the secrets behind its success!

The Why 🔥

Algorithmic Optimization: One secret behind this business’ success as a top 0.1% Etsy store is that the business owner analyses Etsy’s algorithm and optimizes the store accordingly.

This is evident from its use of Etsy keyword research tools, keyword optimization in product descriptions, coupled with best practices such as speedy replies and great customer service.

Algorithmic optimization together with platform compliance is key to improving visibility, Etsy search rankings, sales and revenue.

Keyword Research: Through keyword research, this e-commerce business was able to pinpoint budget spreadsheets as one of the most sought-after items in the digital printables niche on Etsy.

An Etsy SEO tool called eRank also helps the business to find longtail keywords in its niche—especially keywords with low competition and medium to high search volume.

Targeting lower competition keywords gives the store a good chance at ranking high on Etsy search results.

These keywords are often included in product descriptions, product titles and product tags.

Ultimately improving the store’s visibility, reach, and potential sales.

Niche Selection & Problem-Solving: Using the information from keyword research, this business carved out a potential target audience to cater to.

Most of the existing budget spreadsheets on Etsy are not aesthetically pleasing and do not cater to the typical young woman looking to manage her finances.

This is a pain point that this business has solved for its target audience by developing eye-catching products which attract and retain paying customers.

Positive Reviews: Five-star reviews are one of the factors that Etsy’s algorithm uses to rank stores and this business has a good number of them!

The store also boasts speedy replies, seamless digital file fulfilment (equivalent to shipping for physical products) and great customer support.

Not only does this store have an average of five-star reviews, but it also has nearly 3,000 reviews from real customers —an indication that it encourages customers to drop feedback or that its products are just that good.

Email Marketing: This business leverages the power of email marketing for increased customer loyalty and engagement.

Additionally, it increases lead generation by using lead magnets such as free digital products to get email signups through its website.

The Opportunities 🔥🔥🔥

Website Optimization: 

In order to make the website’s content clear and readable, this business should opt for clearer text colors as some of its existing text colors appear quite faint.

According to Nielsen Norman Group, displaying low-contrast text is bad for website usability and can lead to higher bounce rates or lower dwell time which hurts a website’s traffic

The website can be optimized for improved conversion by using compelling CTAs, placed in strategic positions and displaying social proof.

Additionally, website metrics should be tracked often to understand audience behavior and improve strategies.

• Improve SEO:

Analysis from Ahrefs shows that this business’ website has a long way to go in terms of organic traffic, backlinks and domain rating.

SEO practices such as keyword research, high-quality content, and on-page SEO, will help to improve the site’s organic traffic and sales.

Internal linking and high-quality backlinks are also necessary to improve the websites’ authority and search engine ranking.

Opt for PPC Campaigns:

Although the product and blog pages for this website are optimized with low competition long tail keywords, they still attract little organic traffic.

PPC advertising can help to target customers and drive more traffic to the website through compelling copies, CTAs and optimized landing pages.

PPC ads also help to test what works and what doesn’t through A/B testing as well as generate quick results compared to relying solely on organic traffic.

Utilize Social Media:

This business should leverage social media platforms to promote its digital products and drive traffic to its website as it currently has an underutilized presence on Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest.

Social media is relevant for engaging with customers, building brand awareness and reaching a wider audience.

Expansion:

This business currently focuses more on the sale of digital products, however, it can leverage its varied services for increased competitive advantage and income.

Through expansion, the business owner can delegate the task of running the Etsy store to other staff and focus on growing the budget coaching service as well as the online course for entrepreneurs.

These varied services can prove to be a great source of additional income if they are properly executed.

The Big Reveal 👀

Are you ready to discover the star of today’s analysis? It is none other than PrettyArrow.com!

This e-commerce store is owned and run by Emily McDermott, a young entrepreneur who offset her $35,000 student debt through careful budgeting and financial planning.

She started PrettyArrow as a side hustle but eventually quit her day job to focus on the business and make it a success at all costs.

Emily credits the success of her Etsy store to effective keyword research, optimization, and adherence to Etsy's algorithmic guidelines.

She has shifted her focus from singlehandedly building PrettyArrow to helping people transform their debt profile.

Additionally, she is currently acquiring knowledge and skills in running effective ads for her business.

The Takeaway, What We Learned 🎓

Let’s take a look at the essential action points from today’s analysis;

• Understanding the algorithm of an e-commerce platform allows a business to optimize its store and product listings, potentially increasing visibility and sales.

• Keyword research is essential to gain insights, improve targeting and visibility.

• Niching down helps to attract loyal customers while problem-solving increases customer satisfaction.

• Providing good customer service can help a business to build a positive reputation and stand out from its competitors

• By optimizing a website with good text and UI, a business can improve the user experience for its customers, and increase conversions and search engine rankings.

• Improving SEO for a website is important for various reasons such as increasing website organic traffic and domain authority.

• PPC campaigns provide quick results for driving more traffic, targeting the audience and producing measurable results.

• Social media and email marketing can improve brand awareness, customer engagement, and sales.

Action Steps, From Day 0 To ∞ 👩‍💻

So, you will have your own website, hosting account, and a good grasp of digital marketing fundamentals if you are a student/graduate of Max Business School.

If not, get started here, it’s totally free and will teach you all the skills you need to build yourself a business (and the freedom it provides you) similar to the one we’ve analyzed today.

Day 0

You’ve read this email and love this particular business model and/or niche.

If not, we'll be sending more ideas in our next email or check our archive here.

If yes;

Consider if this is a business you can happily commit to for 3-5 years?

If yes;

Is it a customer/topic/day-to-day activity you can get passionate about?

If yes;

Would starting this business cause you to lose focus on the business that you are currently building?

If yes, don’t do it.

Focus on building what you have and take lessons from my analysis above to implement them into your current business.

But if not, then move to day 1.

Day 1

Identify Your Niche and Target Audience: The first step is to choose a niche for your e-commerce business and identify the specific group of customers who have a need for the products or services that the business will offer. Use Ahrefs to find keywords that will attract your target audience, and analyze your competitors' metrics to learn how they attract a following.

Map Out a Detailed Business Plan: Create a detailed plan that outlines the business's goals, marketing strategies, financial projections, and target audience.

Select a Suitable Business Name: Choose a name that is memorable, unique, and easy to pronounce. The name should also reflect the brand's values and mission. Conduct a trademark search to ensure its availability as a domain name and on social media platforms

Choose a Domain Name and Hosting Account: Acquire a domain name that matches your business name and set up a hosting account with a trusted provider such as DreamHost. This will allow you to build a website and make it accessible on the web

Commence the Website-Building Process: Build a website that is visually appealing and easy to navigate. The website should also include detailed product descriptions, customer reviews, and a secure payment system. Use a website builder like WordPress to simplify the process and Module 1 of our course which provides everything you need to create a website whether you have prior experience in website design or not.

Set up Social Media Accounts and Join an E-commerce Platform: Open social media accounts for your business on platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. Use these accounts to promote your services and engage with potential clients. Buffer is an easy-to-use tool for social media management. Join an E-commerce platform like Etsy to leverage an existing audience.

Day 2

Develop a Content Strategy and Create Content: Use keyword research to formulate a strategy and include these keywords in blog posts, product descriptions, videos, and other forms of content. Again, Ahrefs is a perfect tool for this.

Optimize your Website: Use technical SEO and content SEO techniques to improve your website's visibility on search engines and ditto for your Etsy store. Optimize on-page elements like titles, tags, and meta descriptions. Use internal linking to improve website structure and user experience.

Monetize your Website Store: Select the payment gateway that suits your digital storefront like PayPal or Google Pay. Optimize your website for conversions, with prominent CTAs, streamlined checkout processes, and easy-to-use navigation.

Promote Content: Develop a plan for promoting your content and store through social media, email marketing, influencer marketing, and paid campaigns. Track the performance of your content and optimize your promotion strategies.

Day 3 to ∞

Aim for 5-Star Reviews by delivering exceptional customer service to your customers. Encourage them to give you feedback and write reviews on your store. Utilize customer feedback and reviews to refine your services and build a trustworthy reputation.

Track and Organize Your Content: Set up a content schedule to systematize your content production and ensure reliable delivery of top-notch content. Use analytics tools like Ahrefs to track the effectiveness of your content and adjust your strategy as needed.

Create a Diverse Product/Service Strategy: You can include custom template services to suit the unique needs of customers or teach other entrepreneurs how to run a successful e-commerce store like your own

Continually Analyze Website Metrics: Evaluate the performance of your business and website to find areas for improvement. Use analytics tools like Deep Crawl to track your website's performance, such as traffic, bounce rates, and conversion rates.

Establish and Nurture a Community: Leverage social media and email marketing to interact with your target audience, address their queries and feedback, and foster connections with them. Use freebies, discounts and offers to attract and retain loyal customers.

Collaborate with Industry Fellows and influencers: Collaborate on content creation, organize events, and endorse each other's content. Seek to establish credibility, and amplify your brand recognition by gaining relevant backlinks and internal linking. Additionally, stay informed on industry developments and updates via pertinent sources and digital communities.

Before You Go 👋

Thank you for reading.

In my next email, I’ll have another business breakdown for you.

Remember, if you know someone who might like this newsletter, sharing is caring.

If you are ready to get started with your own business, one of the first steps is always a website. Click here for our exclusive hosting deal and click here for an invite to our Max Business School community where you’ll hang out with thousands of fellow ambitious business builders.

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Bye for now,

Scott Max