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.
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.
📈 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 30k email subscribers, eager and engaged.
- Steady growth is evident with 25k monthly visitors flocking to the blog, seeking insights and value.
- My newsletter isn’t just another email; a solid 39% open rate proves it captivates attention.
- Not just passive readers, the 3% click rate underlines the actionable interest of my audience.
🤝 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.
- One standout collaboration led to $2.9M+ in direct sales, a testament to the synergy and power of our combined efforts.
- Not just about quantity, I’ve curated 100,416 qualified leads for a single partner, ensuring they connect with the right audience every time.
🧬 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 30k 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🔍 The Scout Quest | Email Ad | Minimalist approach | $75 | Meta Details |
| 🗺️ The Pathfinder Quest | Email Ad | Small ad with narrative | $250/single, $650/trio | 75 words + small image |
| 🌍 The Explorer Quest | Email Ad | Large ad space | $400/single, $1,000/trio | 150 words + large image |
| 🛡️ The Gladiator Quest | Email Contest | High-engagement campaign | $2,500 + prize | Prize & media assets |
| 🦉 The Sage Quest | Blog Editorial + Email Highlight | Deep brand dive | $3,750 | Logo + interview |
| 👑 The Guildmaster Adventure (6-Month Sponsorship) | 6-Month Sponsor | Deep ongoing engagement | $3,750 + $1,000/mo | Multiple |
| 🔱 The Legend Adventure (12-Month Sponsorship) | 12-Month Sponsor | Custom brand journey | $5,000/mo | Custom |
🔍 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.
Sponsored Tool: $75 Meta Details Only (Name + Description): Just your name and a punchy description to tease the audience.
Location: Usually towards the bottom or interspersed within link sections.
Visibility: Subtle but effective.
Features:
- 1-3 succinct sentences that blend with our content.
- No imagery.
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)
🗺️ 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.
Small Newsletter Advertisement: $250/single, $650/trio
Deliverables: Max 75 words + small image
🌍 The Explorer Quest
Unfurl the map and reveal more. A larger ad space, more words, and a commanding image make a statement. “The Explorer” signifies a more expansive, deeper engagement with the audience. You’re exploring more territory within the newsletter with a larger ad space, more words, and a commanding image. It allows for a comprehensive narrative that can dive into features, benefits, and storytelling, akin to how an explorer would venture deeper into uncharted lands.
Large Newsletter Advertisement: $400 single, $1,000/trio
Deliverables: Max 150 words + large image
🛡️ 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
🦉 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.
Founder/Brand/App Deep Dive: $3,750
👑 The Guildmaster Adventure (6-Month Sponsorship)
Forge a lasting alliance. As The Guildmaster, you’re not just a visitor; you’re a cornerstone of the community.
“The Guildmaster” represents long-term leadership and strategic alliance. It suggests you’re not just passing through, but setting up shop and investing in the community. Like a Guildmaster who oversees guild operations and long-term quests, you’re committing to a deeper, more involved role. With a 6-month commitment, you’re cultivating long-term engagement.
Investment: USD$3,750 + $1,000/mo (6-month minimum) = USD$9,750 Total Investment
Total Sponsor Slots: 1
Includes:
- Deep Dive: Editorial spotlight on A Better Lemonade Stand.
- Spotlight Email: A dedicated email to shine exclusively on you.
- Newsletter Exposure: Get six months of newsletter sponsorship real estate.
- Location: Lower third of the newsletter.
- Visibility: Moderate but valuable.
- Features: Design is flexible; may include imagery or be text-heavy.
Add-Ons:
- Email Contest Campaign: Additional USD$1,750 (Reduced from $2,500)
🔱 The Legend Adventure (12-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.
Investment: Starting at USD$5k/month (12-month commitment)
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 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.
💪🏼 Digital Mercenary for Hire
Elevate your next mission with a strategic ally.
On a unique business quest and in need of a seasoned hero? I offer bespoke consulting services exclusively tailored for companies that aim to enhance their team with a deeply knowledgeable and agile digital strategist.
But this isn’t just about expertise; it’s about alignment. I’m particularly interested in deep, meaningful collaborations with other talented creatives. Together, we’ll go beyond just getting things done—we’ll craft a strategy that resonates with your vision and elevates your mission.
Exclusivity is part of the deal: I allocate my expertise to only one client at a time, with up to 10 hours of dedicated weekly availability. This ensures you get my full focus and the benefit of a true partnership.
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.