This Founder Grew His Business to Over $500,000 In Less Than 2 Years

This Founder Grew His Business to Over $500,000 In Less Than 2 Years

Ruiyi Chin turned a passion for design into a $500,000 business selling Notion templates.

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Founder: Ruiyi Chin
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Company: Easlo

What's Easlo?

Easlo is a personal brand offering ready-to-use Notion templates designed for individuals, creators, and entrepreneurs looking to boost their productivity and organization. My templates address the issue of time-consuming Notion setup and the steep learning curve, allowing users to focus on achieving their goals.

Tell us about your background?

My background lies in my passion for minimal design, presentation, and productivity. I found myself fascinated with Notion as a versatile and powerful tool for organizing and managing various aspects of life.

However, as I delved deeper into the world of Notion, I realized that the learning curve and time required to set up efficient systems could be a significant barrier for many users.

Recognizing this gap in the market, I decided to leverage my passion for design and productivity to create pre-built, user-friendly Notion templates that streamline the process for users.

By providing them with ready-to-use solutions, I aimed to save users time and effort, allowing them to focus on their core tasks and priorities without getting bogged down by the complexities of setting up their own systems in Notion.

Tell us about the early stages of the business, how did you get your first customers?

The early stages of the business were primarily focused on building an online presence and connecting with potential users.

I began by engaging with a small audience on Twitter, where I shared valuable resources, tips, and insights on Notion and no-code tools. This approach helped me establish credibility and trust with my followers, who found value in the content I shared.

One of my tweets, which showcased a free Notion template, was reshared by the Notion community, resulting in increased visibility and traction for my offerings. This exposure led to a surge in interest in my templates and helped me acquire my first customers.

Another pivotal moment in the early stages of my business was launching my templates on Product Hunt, a platform that enabled me to showcase my creations to a larger audience.

The visibility and traffic generated by my Product Hunt launch contributed significantly to my initial customer base, helping to establish a solid foundation for the growth and success of my business.

How’s the business doing today?

The business has experienced significant growth over the past two years, with a total revenue generation of over $500K.

In 2022, the average monthly revenue was around $20K, and so far in 2023, it has increased to approximately $50K per month. The customer base continues to expand, and the business has maintained a profitable status throughout its growth.

What marketing channels are working well now to acquire customers?

Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter have been particularly effective in acquiring customers.

By sharing valuable Notion tips and best practices, I educate and engage with my audience, demonstrating the potential of Notion as a productivity tool. As they discover the benefits of using Notion, they become more likely to click on my bio links to access my free resources and templates.

@heyeaslo Add Time Tracking to Notion ⏱️ #notion #notiontips #notiontutorial #notionhacks #productivity ♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim

Once users access these free resources and experience their positive impact on productivity and organization, they become part of my marketing funnel. Through consistent communication, such as email newsletters and social media updates, I can build trust and loyalty among these users.

This relationship enables me to upsell related paid Notion templates that further enhance their experience and solve more specific problems.

Investing in visually appealing, SEO-optimized landing pages has also played a vital role in acquiring customers.

These landing pages not only improve the presentation of my digital products but also significantly boost their search engine visibility. As a result, I can attract a steady stream of organic traffic without the need for constant promotion on social media channels.

Combining social media marketing efforts with SEO-optimized landing pages has allowed me to create a comprehensive marketing strategy that targets potential customers at various touchpoints.

This approach ensures that I reach a wider audience while also nurturing existing users, ultimately leading to higher conversion rates and a growing customer base.

What’s been your biggest achievement?

My biggest achievement has been creating a thriving business focused on a niche like Notion, which helps individuals enhance their productivity and organization in their personal and professional lives.

Witnessing the growth in revenue and expanding customer base has been incredibly rewarding, but the most gratifying aspect of my journey has been the positive impact my templates have had on the lives of my users.

Receiving messages from customers who share how my Notion templates have made a tangible difference in their lives is truly heartwarming.

Hearing stories about individuals who have improved their digital organization, increased productivity, or even found support for managing ADHD through the use of my templates, is a testament to the power of well-designed digital tools and their potential to facilitate positive change.

These personal success stories not only validate the value of my offerings but also serve as a constant reminder of the larger purpose behind my business.

Beyond the financial success, my biggest achievement lies in the community I've built around my brand, the trust I've established with my audience, and the positive impact my templates have had on countless lives.

Knowing that I've played a role in empowering people to take control of their productivity, organization, and overall well-being is a source of immense pride and satisfaction, which fuels my passion for continued innovation and growth in the Notion templates space.

What’s been your biggest challenge?

One of the most significant challenges I have faced is differentiating my business in the saturated market for Notion templates, where numerous competitors offer similar solutions, often at lower prices or with bundled packages.

This competitive landscape is further complicated by creators who simply copy and paste existing templates, further diluting the market with lower-quality offerings.

To overcome this challenge, I focus on delivering exceptional value and highlighting my expertise in the field of digital productivity and organization. By offering high-quality, professionally designed templates tailored to address specific pain points, I can showcase the added value that my products bring to the table.

Moreover, by providing top-notch customer support and sharing valuable tips and resources on social media, I can foster a community of satisfied customers who trust my personal brand and are more likely to recommend it to others.

What’s something you know now that you wish you knew when you started?

Looking back, I wish I had understood the crucial role that visually appealing and SEO-optimized landing pages play in the success of an online business. Initially, using Gumroad product pages simplified the process and allowed me to quickly get my products out there, which is essential when starting.

However, once I gained traction, I realized the value of investing in a custom domain, a reliable website builder, and analytics tools to better understand my audience and optimize my offerings.

Focusing on creating aesthetically pleasing and search engine friendly landing pages, along with a memorable domain name, would have greatly improved the presentation of my digital products, increased visibility on search engines, and driven more organic traffic to my offerings from the very beginning.

Applying the 80/20 principle, I discovered that optimizing the top 20% of my best-selling products through these improvements significantly impacted my overall success and revenue. While it's important to simplify the process at the start, it's equally vital to recognize when it's time to invest in these aspects, as they can pay off quickly and contribute to the long-term success of your business.

Any advice for new entrepreneurs just starting out?

My advice for new entrepreneurs just starting out is to focus on building a loyal audience by consistently delivering value-adding, authentic content. In the early stages of your business, it's essential to establish trust and credibility with your target audience.

This can be achieved by sharing insightful, helpful, and engaging content that addresses their pain points and demonstrates your expertise in your niche. As you consistently provide value, your audience will begin to see you as a go-to resource and will be more likely to support your products or services.

In addition to creating valuable content, make sure to actively engage with your audience on social media channels and through other communication platforms. This will help you understand their needs, expectations, and feedback better, allowing you to tailor your offerings accordingly.

By fostering a strong connection with your audience and prioritizing their needs, you'll be well on your way to building a loyal customer base that will support your business as it grows. Remember, the key to long-term success is nurturing genuine relationships with your audience while continuously improving and adapting your products or services to meet their evolving needs.

How do you keep yourself motivated?

My motivation is fueled by the positive impact my templates have on users' productivity and organization. Seeing the tangible results and benefits they experience in their daily lives keeps me inspired.

Hearing their success stories and knowing that my work is making a real difference in their lives pushes me to continually evolve and refine my offerings, ensuring that I consistently provide high-quality solutions that truly help my users.

What are your plans for the next 6-12 months?

In the coming months, I plan to broaden my horizons by exploring collaboration opportunities with other creators. This will allow me to bring even more value-adding Notion templates to different niches and audiences, ensuring that a diverse range of users can benefit from the power of Notion.

My ultimate goal is to continue growing the business while providing even more value to my customers through Notion. By forging partnerships with like-minded creators and tapping into their unique expertise, I aim to expand my product offerings, making a greater positive impact on the productivity and organization of individuals around the world.

Where can people get in touch with you?

You can reach me through my website www.easlo.co or on social media:

Easlo - Notion templates and tutorials
I’m Easlo. I’m passionate about helping people become more organized and productive. Discover Notion templates for personal or business life.