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How I Kept Failing at Dropshipping… Until I Built a SaaS Around It

October 10, 2024 / Software Sensei

I still remember the late nights, the endless hours tweaking my Shopify store, and the mounting frustration as yet another Facebook ad campaign drained my budget without a single sale to show for it.

Dropshipping was supposed to be my ticket to financial freedom—a low-barrier entry into the world of entrepreneurship that anyone could succeed in with enough hustle.

But the harsh reality? I had started too late.

The Dropshipping Dream Turned Nightmare

When I first heard about dropshipping, it seemed like the perfect opportunity. No need to hold inventory, the ability to test products quickly, and the promise of scalable profits. I dove in headfirst, brimming with excitement.

But soon, I hit the same roadblocks many latecomers face:

  • Saturated Markets: Every niche I explored was overcrowded with competitors offering the same products.
  • Rising Ad Costs: Facebook’s algorithms seemed to work against me, and customer acquisition costs skyrocketed.
  • Product Quality Issues: Suppliers often delivered subpar products, leading to unhappy customers and refund requests.
  • Shifting Trends: By the time I identified a “winning product,” the market had moved on.

I tried everything—investing in courses, hiring so-called “gurus”, even experimenting with different ad platforms. Yet, despite pouring in time, money, and energy, the results were dismal.

The Turning Point: A Chance Encounter on Facebook

Just when I was about to throw in the towel, a Facebook group caught my eye: “SaaS Shipper.”

The group’s tagline intrigued me:

“Test Software Ideas Lean and Fast—Just Like Dropshipping!”

Curiosity piqued, I joined the group. The community was buzzing with energy and insights. At the helm was someone who had not only succeeded with dropshipping back in its heyday…

…but had also transitioned into something even more exciting—building scalable SaaS businesses using the same lean principles.


Discovering the SaaS Incubator

As I delved deeper, I learned about the SaaS Incubator—a revolutionary program that allowed entrepreneurs to:

  • Launch and scale profitable SaaS businesses in just 7 days, without any coding skills.
  • Leverage Done-For-You (DFY) services to handle all the technical development.
  • Apply advanced customer acquisition strategies that had been refined through years of e-commerce and marketing expertise.

It sounded almost too good to be true. But the more I read, the more it resonated. The challenges I’d faced with dropshipping—saturation, thin margins, supplier issues—were virtually non-existent in the SaaS model.

Why SaaS Felt Like Dropshipping 2.0

Here’s what clicked for me:

  1. Low Barrier to Entry (Again): Just like dropshipping, SaaS didn’t require inventory or significant upfront costs.
  2. High Scalability: Software could be distributed globally with minimal additional costs.
  3. Recurring Revenue: Unlike one-time product sales, SaaS offered subscription models that built ongoing income streams.
  4. Unprecedented Timing: SaaS was in a booming phase, much like dropshipping had been a decade ago. But this time, I had the chance to get in early.

Joining the Movement

Motivated, I decided to take the plunge. I signed up for the SaaS Incubator through the group.

From day one, the experience was transformative:

  • Ideation with Acquisition in Mind: I learned how to generate software ideas that catered to real market needs, focusing on solutions that would practically sell themselves.
  • Feature Roadmaps & Fine-Tuned Model Workflows: The program provided templates and guidance on outlining my product’s core features, ensuring a lean development process.
  • Done-For-You SaaS Development: This was the game-changer. Their expert team took my ideas and turned them into fully functional software—without me writing a single line of code.
Turning ideas into reality with the SaaS Incubator.

Building SaaS Products for E-commerce

Given my background, it made perfect sense to create SaaS tools for the e-commerce niche. Who better to solve the pain points of dropshippers than someone who had lived through them?

I focused on software that could:

  • Enhance Product Research: Tools that identified trending products before they became saturated.
    • Since the incubator let me put any public data source into my feature roadmaps, their team was able to build me a SaaS which helped my users find best-selling products from Amazon, to Aliexpress, all the way to real-time ads
  • Generate Copywriting from Real-Time Product Data: Leveraging AI to generate product page & ad copies directly from customer reviews.
    • Something that drew me into the SaaS Incubator was their focus on Fine-Tuned AI Models. In the video trainings, I learned how to build out Model Mind Maps using any data source as input, which their team was then able to use to train AI Models to execute exact & specific marketing strategies. So I took advantage to build AI Models trained to turn customer reviews into high-performing psychological copywriting for products and ads.
  • Analyze Top Stores & Automatically Alert Users: Tracking the best stores in the world, including their most profitable campaigns, to validate opportunity for any product.
    • I learned about ‘Near-Line Flows’ in the video trainings, then was able to build extremely profitable features that my users could use to track the best stores when they were not online. Then alert them in real-time for any event, like when they found new winning products.

Deploying via Discord: The Secret Sauce

One of the most innovative strategies I learned was deploying my software through a Discord server.

This ‘Discord SaaS’ approach allowed me to:

  • Engage Directly with Users: Building a community around my product fostered loyalty and provided immediate feedback.
  • Offer Interactive Free Trials: Users could test features directly within the Discord server using bots, increasing conversion rates.
  • Create Viral Growth Loops: Satisfied users invited others, exponentially increasing my user base without massive ad spend.

The Results? Astonishing.

In just a few short months:

  • I was growing my Discord community by over 10 new free-trial users per day, converting over 50% to paid plans, all profitably with barely any ad spend.
    • Advertising a Community, instead of another Software Website: The video trainings taught me how to leverage advanced Lead Generation & Content Marketing principles, to advertise the Discord Community itself at the top of my funnel. This let me get extremely high CTR, with low Cost per Subscriber, since I was displaying Discord’s UI in my ads.
  • Monthly recurring revenue surpassed anything I’d achieved in dropshipping.
    • Discord Stripe Shop: I learned how to configure my Stripe account into the Discord Shop, directly inside my Discord Server. This let my community convert into monthly paid users without needing to leave the Server.
  • Customer satisfaction was through the roof, leading to positive reviews and word-of-mouth referrals – which I leveraged immediately in my content marketing style ads.

But perhaps most importantly, I felt reenergized and excited about my entrepreneurial journey.

Why This Matters to You

If you’re like me—a driven individual who’s poured time and effort into dropshipping without seeing the returns you hoped for—this could be the pivot you’ve been searching for.

The SaaS Incubator Offers:

  • A Fresh Start: Break free from saturated markets and declining trends.
  • Leverage Existing Skills: Apply your marketing expertise in a more lucrative, scalable arena.
  • Access to a Booming Industry: SaaS is on an upward trajectory, and the timing has never been better.

Join the ‘SaaS Shipper’ Community

I’m not here to sell you a dream but to share an opportunity that genuinely changed my life. The ‘SaaS Shipper’ Facebook group is a goldmine of free resources, insights, and a supportive community of like-minded entrepreneurs.

Why You Should Join:

  • Learn from Real Experiences: No hype, just honest discussions about what works and what doesn’t.
  • Access Valuable Content: The group owner regularly shares free videos and guides that can help you get started.
  • Network with Peers: Connect with others who are on the same journey, share insights, and collaborate.

Take the First Step

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels in the oversaturated dropshipping space and want to explore a path with higher potential and less competition, I highly recommend checking out the ‘SaaS Shipper’ group.

Click Here to Join the Free Facebook Group Now!

Final Thoughts

Success in entrepreneurship often hinges on timing and the ability to adapt. I missed the initial dropshipping wave, but I wasn’t about to miss this one. The SaaS Incubator provided me with the tools, support, and community to finally turn my efforts into tangible success.

Don’t let this opportunity pass you by. Whether you’re an experienced marketer or just starting out, the world of SaaS holds immense potential—and the door is wide open.


P.S. The SaaS Incubator isn’t just another program; it’s a movement that’s leveling the playing field. If you’ve ever felt like you were always a step behind the trends, now’s your chance to get in early on something big.

As a Start – Join the ‘SaaS Shipper’ community today, and let’s build the future together.


Why This Could Be the Game-Changer for You

  • Ride the SaaS Wave Early: Just like dropshipping had its golden era, SaaS is currently in a massive growth phase. Early adopters stand to gain the most.
  • Apply What You Already Know: Your experience with e-commerce and marketing gives you a leg up in creating and promoting your SaaS products.
  • Avoid Past Pitfalls: Learn from my mistakes and leverage a system designed to minimize risk and maximize growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have no coding experience. Can I really build a SaaS?

A: Absolutely! The SaaS Incubator’s Done-For-You development service means you don’t need any technical skills. They handle the backend while you focus on strategy and growth.

Q: How is this different from other programs?

A: Unlike courses that focus solely on theory or one aspect of business, this incubator provides an end-to-end solution—from ideation and development to marketing and scaling. Plus, the unique Discord deployment strategy accelerates user acquisition and engagement.

Q: Is the SaaS market already saturated?

A: Far from it. While SaaS is growing rapidly, it’s still ripe with opportunities, especially in niche markets and by leveraging innovative deployment strategies like those taught in the incubator.

Join a Community That’s Redefining Success

Don’t let fear or past failures hold you back. The support, resources, and strategies you need are all within reach.

Click Here to Join the ‘SaaS Shipper’ Facebook Group Now!


Your future self will thank you. See you inside the group!

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