Making $156,000 From A Site Posting About Remote Jobs
How this non-technical founder transform a side project into a full-time venture
What is the business and who’s behind it?
Remotive.com is a thriving platform founded by Rodolphe Dutel, dedicated to assisting tech professionals in securing remote job opportunities.
Rodolphe, a non-technical founder based in Paris, France, transitioned Remotive from a side project to a full-time venture.
Despite not being a typical Indie Hacker coding a Software as a Service (SaaS), Rodolphe successfully transformed Remotive into a significant player in the remote work space.
According to GetLatka, Remotive is doing over $156k in revenue in 2023, with more than 1,000 customers.
How was the business started?
The journey of Remotive began in 2014 when Rodolphe, inspired by his experience working remotely at Buffer, decided to answer the questions of friends seeking advice on landing similar opportunities.
Recognizing the growing interest in remote work and the lack of dedicated resources to address this need, Rodolphe saw an opportunity to fill the gap and provide valuable information to those seeking remote job opportunities.
In 2014, Rodolphe decided to start Remotive as a newsletter dedicated to remote work. He opted for a simple yet effective approach to share curated articles and insights related to remote employment.
Despite facing the challenge of remotive.com already being registered, Rodolphe chose remotive.io as the domain for his project. This decision didn’t hinder his determination to grow the initiative.
In the initial stages, Rodolphe focused on curating articles on remote work. The primary medium for sharing this content was the weekly newsletter. The newsletter aimed to provide valuable information, tips, and resources to individuals interested in exploring remote work opportunities.
The growth of Remotive was a gradual process. Rodolphe emphasized consistency, sending out the newsletter weekly, even during times when it was challenging to do so.
Initially, Remotive started as a side project while Rodolphe worked full time. As the project gained traction and began making money, Rodolphe transitioned to working on Remotive full time.
Over the years, Remotive evolved from a part-time gig to a full-time venture. Additional features, such as a community, companies, and leadership discourse, were introduced to cater to the growing audience’s needs.
What are some of the marketing strategies used?
Rodolphe employed a combination of strategic marketing approaches to propel Remotive’s growth. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key marketing strategies that played a pivotal role in Remotive’s success:
Social Media and Product Hunt:
- Buffer Influence: Rodolphe’s prior experience working at Buffer equipped him with valuable insights into social media sharing. Buffer’s promotion and support significantly contributed to Remotive’s early visibility. Buffer and its employees actively promoted Remotive on social media platforms, establishing a credible presence.
Content Marketing:
- Newsletter and Curated Content: In its early stages, Remotive started as a newsletter focused on curating articles related to remote work. Rodolphe’s dedication to consistently sending out a curated newsletter provided value to the audience and established Remotive as a reliable source of information in the remote work niche.
- Spreadsheet Strategy: To cater to the audience’s desire for direct access to data, Rodolphe introduced spreadsheets on various topics related to remote work. These spreadsheets served as valuable resources, attracting and retaining users interested in practical data.
- Evolution to Blogs and Cartoons: Over time, the content strategy expanded to include blogs, cartoons, and social media posts. This diversified approach to content creation allowed Remotive to engage with a broader audience and cater to different preferences for consuming information.
Community Building:
- Slack Community: Rodolphe recognized the value of creating a community space for remote workers. The introduction of a Slack community provided a platform for remote professionals to connect, share experiences, and seek advice. This community became a virtual co-working space and a source of revenue for Remotive through memberships.
Word of Mouth and Goodwill:
- Community Support: Remotive benefitted from goodwill generated by being perceived as a side project run by an individual passionate about the remote work community. This goodwill translated into organic support, shares, and retweets from people working in tech, contributing to word-of-mouth marketing.
Data-Driven Marketing:
- Spreadsheets for Virality: Rodolphe created and shared spreadsheets, such as remote workers’ salaries and lists of remote-friendly startups, served a dual purpose. They provided valuable data to the audience and were designed to be shareable, potentially going viral and expanding Remotive’s reach.
Adaptation to Changing Trends
- Shift to Content Focus: As the project evolved, Remotive shifted its focus to content creation. Rodolphe started blogging, sharing cartoons, and actively using social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. This adaptability ensured that Remotive remained relevant in an ever-changing digital landscape.
How does the business make money?
With a high traffic website and a newsletter, Remotive has several monetisation options available:
- Newsletter Ads: Charging businesses $850 to advertise to Remotive’s 25,000 subscribers, with one ad per email and two newsletters per month.
- Community Memberships: Offering lifetime access or annual memberships to the Slack community for remote workers at $149 and $99, respectively.
- Remote Employer Branding: Providing services to promote remote startups, starting at $799 per month.
- Leadership Discourse: A private discourse for remote team leaders, with approved applicants paying $25 per month or $250 per year.
- Miscellaneous Revenue: On-and-off special deals, display deals, courses, partnerships, etc., contributing to additional income.
According to Rodolphe, expenses are limited to approximately $2,000 per month, helping Remotive to prioritize convenience over savings.
Where can we go to learn more about this business?
Here are some links you can learn more about Alex and his business:
