Building a marketplace for designers
Read how Iulian is creating UiBoat, a marketplace for selling UI Designs, Design Systems, Ebooks, etc.
Iulian is a web designer that wants to help others improve their knowledge and productivity with free handbooks and UI kits.
What are you working on lately?
Right now I am building @UiBoat as a portfolio project. I don't know if I can make it in an actual business. Perhaps I can develop it as much as I can and then sell it on Ideaado.
I am juggling different ideas right now because I want to build an actual business that'll allow me to quit my job eventually.
So you are making a UI Design portfolio?
Yup. I'm a full-time web designer, but I've signed NDAs and can't use the projects at work for my portfolio. That's why I began working on UIBoat. I wanted to have a real-life project.
At first, I approached people on Twitter and other places. I asked if they need help with anything related to design. I DMed a few developers and offered my services for free. They left me on seen, which was very disappointing.
So I began to create my own stuff
What exactly is UIBoat? Could you tell me a bit more about it?
A marketplace for designers to sell their products (UI designs, design systems, ebooks, etc)
This is the prototype. I still have to make some changes, but overall it is ok.
How do you plan to actually build this marketplace?
I am good with HTML and CSS, so I can build the interface, then add each product from each designer manually, but that'll be a lot of work.
I'll try with no code. That might help me do it in a better, easier way, but I need time to check no-code tools and see how they work, see if they fit my needs.
Worst case scenario I'll just do it with HTML and CSS. That'll be my backup.
The plan at the moment is to use affiliate links from Gumroad, add them to the marketplace, and go heavy on the marketing. If anyone buys with my affiliate link both I and the original creator will be paid (via the Gumroad platform).
Do you have any plan on how to market UIBoat?
NoCode is probably the fastest and most productive option, provided we find the platform that fits our needs.
I have plan-ish. Super basic:
be as active as possible on Twitter. Use custom posts (with the brand color and font)
a few posts on Behance and dribble (about the branding and design of the marketplace)
maybe get on LinkedIn later
a blog where I'll write about UIBoat, design, and all the designers that will sell on the marketplace
definitely a newsletter at some point, but I need the website up and running first
I have been really busy at my day job lately, so I haven't had much time to work on UIBoat, but the first chance I get I'll spend some time playing around with Webflow.
Are there any challenges you might face so far?
I think the biggest challenge will be getting people to trust the project. Both the designers that will sell through the marketplace and the designers that will buy through it. I hope that I'll be able to build trust by being constantly active on social media + the blog.
Are there any resources you would like to recommend to other makers?
I don't have any resources to recommend other than Twitter and Gumroad. Twitter threads are a gold mine when it comes to learning. Many are packed with great information. As for Gumroad, it's great for non-devs that need a platform to sell. They handle processing payments + collect emails for you.
You can find Iulian on his Twitter @pistol_iulian. You can also find me on @PavlosTsa.
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Thank you for the opportunity to do this. I had a lot of fun!