Hajra Naz
Are you struggling to find that perfect SaaS idea?
You’re not alone! Many entrepreneurs hit a wall when it comes to innovation.
But what if the solution lies in simply improving existing tools?
Let’s dive into how Reddit can help you uncover untapped opportunities for building better alternatives.
You don’t need to innovate. Simply building an alternative to a tool users are unsatisfied with is a much more viable option in almost all cases.
But how do we find tools to build alternatives?
Enter: Reddit.
Let’s go to reddit.com and put “Alternative to” in the search bar, and then hit Enter.
You are going to see a long list of posts where people ask “Alternative to [tool]?”
Now, do the following:
- Open every item that is relevant in a new tab.
- For every item, go explore the website of the tool in question.
- Read the Reddit post and find the reason why the user is looking for an alternative.
For each of these posts, ask yourself the following questions:
- Is it viable for me to build an alternative?
(Be honest with yourself here. Don’t commit to something way out of your league).
- Can I address the complaints the user is having?
(Again, be honest with yourself here. Sometimes, the lack of features is there for a reason).
Now, filter all your open tabs based on the above questions.
Hopefully, you’re left with 1-2 tabs open still.
G2, Capterra, TrustPilot
For the sake of the example, let’s say you’ve narrowed in on Miro, and you’re considering if you should build a Miro alternative based on a comment made by a Reddit user.
Great.
But one unsatisfied user is only that: One data point.
You might find other comments on the Reddit post that agree with the author, but we can do even better.
Enter: G2, Capterra, and TrustPilot.
For this example, we’re gonna use G2, but you can use any (or all) of these.
Go to g2.com and search for “Miro”.
Scroll down to the reviews and sort by “Lowest Rated” – this will show all the bad reviews first.
Some reviews will be completely irrelevant. Some will be “hate” for no apparent reason.
But some will be very useful.
You should search for reviews like this.
Look for reviews that are:
- Recent: within the last 3 months.
- Specific: Addresses specific pain points.
- Actionable: Makes it clear what the user would have wanted.
Find 3-5 common pain points that multiple reviewers mention.
There you go! “A Miro alternative that allows the user to [a], [b], [c]” is now available.
It’s starting to sound like an idea.
ChatGPT
Next, let’s bring AI into the mix! This is where things get powerful.
Search and install a Chrome extension called “GoFullPage” – this will allow you to take full-page screenshots of any website.
Take at least 3 screenshots of 3 pages full of negative reviews on G2, Capterra, or Trustpilot.
Upload these screenshots to ChatGPT.
Now, use the below prompt as a template, and replace [x] with your tool (in this case, Miro).
Prompt template
I have provided [n] screenshots of negative reviews for the tool [x]. Please analyze these reviews carefully to identify common complaints, unmet needs, and recurring issues that users face. Summarize the primary pain points users mention, and based on this analysis, brainstorm ideas for a potential [x] alternative that could address these issues effectively. Structure the response as follows:
- Identified Common Complaints – List the main problems or limitations mentioned in the reviews.
- Key Traits for an Improved Alternative – Suggest essential features or improvements that could make a new tool more attractive based on user needs.
- Potential SaaS Idea – Propose a concise SaaS idea for an alternative that directly addresses these pain points, specifying any unique selling points that could set it apart from [x].
Hit enter, and watch the magic of AI play out.
This step shouldn’t replace step 2. AI might very well miss something, but in addition to manual research, it helps collect everything and distill it into a standalone idea.
Try it!
I recommend letting all new ideas sit for a bit before rushing forward with it.
Create a Notion doc. Note it down. Then let a week or two pass.
If you’re still excited about this idea after a bit of time, you can move on to the next step: Testing the idea on real people.
