Hey, Richard here, founder and author of A Better Lemonade Stand.
For nearly a decade, A Better Lemonade Stand was at the forefront of the ecommerce industry, guiding hundreds of thousands of ecommerce entrepreneurs each month on their own entrepreneurial journey.
Now, I’m shifting focus to the future: digital products and the utilization of AI, no-code, and automation to build even better online businesses.
You can read more about my story and the history of A Better Lemonade Stand here.
A Rich Legacy in Ecommerce
A Better Lemonade Stand’s history was shaped initially by my deep passion for dissecting, distilling, and distributing the complexities of building an ecommerce business with my community.
Previously, I grew the brand to 250k+ monthly readers and amassed over 15 million pageviews.
Now, I’m ready to do it again.
The Future of A Better Lemonade Stand: Your Opportunity
Digital products are the new frontier, and I’m diving in headfirst.
My focus on AI, no-code, and automation is resonating with a new generation of digital entrepreneurs, and I’m just getting started.
Here’s What You Need to Know
Welcome to A Better Lemonade Stand. Here, a large community of enthusiastic learners, entrepreneurs, and creators seeks practical insights for building an online business.
π Metrics That Matter
When it comes to A Better Lemonade Stand, the numbers are a testament to the value I provide and the community I’ve built:
- A vibrant community of 20k email subscribers, eager and engaged.
- Steady growth is evident with 15k monthly visitors flocking to the blog, seeking insights and value.
- My newsletter isn’t just another email; a solid 30% open rate proves it captivates attention.
- Not just passive readers, the 3.5% click rate underlines the actionable interest of my audience.
π€ A History of Success in Partnership
When I collaborate with partners at A Better Lemonade Stand, magic happens. My commitment to fostering deep, aligned partnerships has yielded impressive results:
- A whopping 463,282 leads for past partners, showcasing the potential we can tap into together.
- 100,416 qualified leads to a single partner over a multi-year partnership.
- One standout collaboration led to $2.9M+ in direct sales for a leading print-on-demand company, a testament to the synergy and power of our combined efforts.
𧬠Audience DNA
I. Demographics & Audience Interests
- Age Range:
- Predominantly: 35-44 years old
- Next largest segment: 45-54 years old
- A strong 72% of the audience falls between the age range of 25-55.
- 7.9% are young adults aged 18-24.
- The senior segment (65+) comprises just 2.1%.
- Business Inclination:
- The majority are still in the planning phase.
- A growing 38% are already running their businesses (a rise from 34% the previous year).
- Entrepreneurs exhibit comparable reasons for starting a business, irrespective of their business stage.
- Predominant Challenges:
- Funding constraints.
- Knowledge gaps.
- Limited time and lack of product/service ideas.
- Product/Service Focus:
- The vast majority offer tangible products or services.
- Digital offerings sellers have seen a rise to 11% from 6% the previous year.
II. Business Operations & Preferences
- Business Model & Sourcing:
- Dropshipping emerges as a prevalent choice (grown from 32% last year).
- Homemade or bespoke products/services are popular but come with scalability challenges.
- Platform of Choice:
- Shopify remains a top choice for platforms.
- Many entrepreneurs also leverage marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and Etsy.
- Passion vs Business:
- A significant portion of entrepreneurs are truly passionate about their offerings and target market.
- Entrepreneurial Journey:
- Most are sole founders of their ventures.
- Interestingly, 40% of those with partners would choose to go solo if given another chance.
III. Tactics, Challenges & Financial Insights
- Business Initiation:
- The majority kicked off their business while retaining another job.
- 34% took the leap of quitting their job to fully dive into their venture (a rise from 29% the prior year).
- Marketing Channels:
- SEO stands as the primary method to drive traffic.
- The effectiveness of Facebook Ads has declined to 32%, seeing a significant drop from the previous year.
- Instagram Ads are gaining momentum in effectiveness.
- Challenges Faced:
- Traffic generation remains a major hurdle for many.
- The challenge of sourcing is on an upward trend.
- Journey Hurdles:
- A massive 95% have tasted failure at least once.
- Most underwent 2-3 failed attempts before tasting success.
- Finances & Investment:
- The majority launched their ventures with a minimal budget of $0-$250.
- Upcoming entrepreneurs are earmarking budgets either within $0-$250 or the $2,501-$5,000 range for startup costs.
Advertising Quests
Step into the arena with 20k engaged email subscribers hungry for what you offer.
Choose your quest, align your brand, and unlock the next level of your marketing game.
Quest/Adventure | Type | Description | Price | Deliverables |
---|---|---|---|---|
π The Scout Quest | Email Ad | Minimalist approach | $75 | Meta Details |
πΊοΈ The Pathfinder Quest | Email Ad | Small ad with narrative | $200/single, $450/trio | 50 words + small image |
π‘οΈ The Gladiator Quest | Email Contest | High-engagement campaign | $2,500 + prize | Prize & media assets |
π¦ The Sage Quest | Blog Editorial + Email Highlight | Deep brand dive | $3,750 | Logo + interview |
π± The Legend Adventure | 3+ Months Sponsor | Deep ongoing engagement with a custom brand journey | $3,750 + $2,500/mo | Multiple |
π The Scout Quest
Scout the terrain. Gain initial visibility with a minimalist approach.
“The Scout” is about initial reconnaissance. It’s a minimalist, quick-hitting entry point to grab the audience’s attention. You’re getting on the radar with just your name and a brief description without committing to a larger campaign. It’s a quick, low-investment way to test the waters and see if the audience resonates with your message, similar to how a scout surveys land before a bigger venture.
Location: Usually towards the bottom or interspersed within link sections.
Approach: Designed for seamless integration; less intrusive, offering more organic reader interaction.
Unique Value: Priced lower but with potential for high engagement due to its organic, non-intrusive nature.
Deliverables: Meta Details Only (Name + Description)
πΊοΈ The Pathfinder Quest
Trailblaze with a small but compelling ad. A narrative snippet and an image guide the audience towards your brand.
“The Pathfinder” is about setting the course and leading the way. With a small but compelling ad, you’re laying down initial markers, capturing attention, and directing it toward your brand.
The Pathfinder package is a starting point for engagement, setting the path for potential deeper connections. It’s like sending out scouts to blaze the trail for the main expedition.
Deliverables: Max 50 words + small image
π‘οΈ The Gladiator Quest
Enter the arena. Engage the audience with a contest that builds buzz and provides a tantalizing reward.
“The Gladiator” is about high-engagement, high-stakes advertising. By sponsoring a contest, you’re entering an arena of intense audience interaction. The aim is to create buzz, engage the community, and offer a rewarding prize, similar to how gladiators would fight for glory and rewards in an arena. It’s a more aggressive, high-impact form of marketing. To the victor, go the spoils.
Contest Campaign: $2,500 per campaign + prize
Duration: 4 weeks (4 email newsletters)
Deliverables: Prize & media assets
π¦ The Sage Quest
Be the wisdom in the room. A dedicated deep dive that goes beyond the surface, telling your startup’s story and offering invaluable insights.
“The Sage” is a deep, thoughtful exploration of your brand, founder, or app. It’s a dedicated editorial spotlight that tells your startup’s story in-depth and provides valuable insights. The objective is to position you as a thought leader or an authority in your field, much like a sage is considered wise and knowledgeable.
π± The Legend Adventure (3+ Month Sponsorship)
Cement your legendary status with a custom brand journey crafted exclusively for you.
This is more than sponsorship; it’s a strategic alliance that sets the stage for monumental growth and engagement.
Seize the unique opportunity to align with a digital entrepreneurship titan. The adventure of a lifetime awaits. Are you in?
Total Sponsor Slots: 1
- Location: Top of the newsletter, above the fold.
- Visibility: High-impact, one of the first things readers see.
- Features:
- Your logo is prominently displayed in the header.
- Sponsored content section within the newsletter, designed to blend seamlessly with our original content.
- Approaches:
- Traditional: Logo in header, followed by our content, then your sponsored section.
- Alternative: Sponsored content placed near the top, right after a brief intro.
Join Me in Building Better Online Businesses
With a track record of success in ecommerce and now at the frontier of digital products utilizing AI, no-code, and automation, partnering with A Better Lemonade Stand means you’re aligning with a vision that’s shaping the future of online entrepreneurship.
Choose your quest.