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UNICORN PLATFORM 🦄

Simple landing page builder for makers.

Under 10 Employees
Founders Code
Solo Founder
Advertising
B2B
Communication
Design
Growth
Mailing Lists
Marketing
SaaS
Writing

The quality gap between a custom agency-crafted landing page and a generated is
too huge. I want to make a high-end design affordable for bootstrapped startups,
for makers, indie hackers and literally any startup.

Alexander Isora 🦄 Founder
Unicorn Platform 🦄 Simple landing page builder for makers.
Updates
19
Followers
140
Revenue
$11K / mo
Website Twitter Facebook
Follow

November 3, 2020 This update took 4 months and $8,000. I regret it.

4 months ago we started a new big and the most wanted product update: blogs. We
were literally overwhelmed with the requests. Often live chat inquires were
ending up with "btw, when blogs? :)"

The waitlist for this feature contained over 150 users. People were dying to
have the ability to run a blog under one roof with their landing page.

So we decided to make this update. But there were some unobvious issues:

 1. Good UX requires good effort. It is easy to blame WP for unfriendly UI/UX
    but it is hard to make your own simple and scalable blogging platform. It
    took weeks to prepare a reliable codebase and interface for the blogs.

 2. Lots of details. We wanted your blog to be forged well with your landing
    page created with Unicorn Platform. This includes the inheritance of styles,
    fonts, navigation, footer, form integrations. It took much time to do the
    fundamental changes to make both worlds paired well.

 3. The content editor. The biggest pain in the ass. We tried all top WYSIWYG
    and decided to go with SlateJS. It a very powerful and flexible framework to
    create your own content editor. it works pretty well out of the box, except
    for images. Images are bad: they are jumpy, not focusing, duplicating, and
    missing. We tried to create ad-hoc solutions for those bugs but the problem
    is way too complex and deeper than it turned out. We are waiting for
    official updates. Meanwhile, a page refresh cures all the image-related
    problems.

It took 4 months of a front-end developer (thanks for the job well done, Artem!)
to solve all the issues. The cost of the work is $6,000. I also had work full
time for about 2 months to help Artem (which is +$2,000 to the costs of the
feature).

We have many crucial features to add: multi-user access, new integrations,
favorite components, pre-designed templates. All those I planned to finish by
2021 because I thought blogs will take at most 2 months. But it took 4 whole
months.

Even though blogs are a must, in the long run, the features listed above are
more important for the business. So I regret I initiated the blog feature
building process. It led to the freezing of the Unicorn Platform main product
development for a whole quarter and blocked getting new audiences.

Anyway, all I feel now is happy because I can finally blog again! Yeaaah!
I just love writing, but - with all respect - I hate WordPress.
It just sucks. You know what I mean.
We were never friends with the big clumsy old man.

So now I can create articles again! Cool!

Our plans for the nearest future:

 1. Have some rest and celebrate the milestone.
 2. Plan the next updates: multi-user access, more form integrations, and
    pre-designed templates.
 3. Make some blog posts aww yeah! 🤠

You can see live blog examples here:


https://twitter.com/unicornplatform/status/1323607352633937921


twitter.com


Alexander Isora 🦄

31 Likes

6 Comments


October 6, 2020 The first sale via the affiliates network!

Our affiliate network partner made a sale recently. This is the very first sale
among all affiliates.

The partner will be getting $2.34 each month as long as their user continues the
subscription.

I believe a strong affiliate network is a key to steady growth.

We constantly work on improving the Unicorn Platform brand awareness and trust.
For example, we ask our users to leave feedback on listing websites such as
Trustpilot and G2. We also plan to start buying Instagram ads to make people
aware of our brand. This will boost the conversion and the revenue of our
partners.
It is a win-win in the long run.




https://twitter.com/alexanderisora/status/1313375597477990400


twitter.com


Alexander Isora 🦄

2 Likes

4 Comments


September 29, 2020 Accidentally erased user data for the first time.

I did this. I deleted a user website. Permanently and irreversibly. It was
published and accessible for visitors from the Internet and I killed it.

The story begins in the morning. I woke up and noticed that server was getting
too many requests in the past few hours. I checked the database and discovered a
population of fake users and websites. Someone passed our protection and was
able to programmatically create hundreds of new records.
I spent some time improving the filter and clearing the database from bots.

Even though I was as focused as a SpaceX Dragon pilot while deleting those rows,
I did a mistake and accidentally erased a real website made by a real user.

The reaction from the owner came a little later:



Me:



Thank goodness, we make daily and weekly backups and regularly test the
restoring functionality. So I was able to get the website back in a few minutes
after we got the message.



Lesson learned: the less manual action you do, the fewer risks you have. We
constantly add improvements in our processes to do as little manual operations
as possible.

What is up

We are working hard to ship the most wanted update ever: the blogs.
You can become the first user by joining this waitlist
https://unicornplatform.com/create-blog/.
Or by following our company Telegram https://t.me/unicornplatform or Twitter
https://twitter.com/unicornplatform/

Alexander Isora 🦄

40 Likes

32 Comments


July 1, 2020 Hired the first developer 💪

Entrepreneurs are constantly fighting against their fears, doubts, and mental
conflicts.

My biggest fear had always been delegating: for years, I had been scared to
start investing $ in programmers.

I was afraid of these particular things:

 1. The hiring process will take much time and $.
 2. The hired coder will burn my budget without any significant benefit for the
    project.
 3. The code will be unmaintainable.
 4. I will f**k up with managing the employee.
 5. The coder will take all my free time and instead of having more time I will
    eventually get less of it.
 6. The coder will not provide a brilliant result.
 7. etc etc.

A month ago I finally got over myself and hired a talented developer on a
full-time basis.

Meet Artem.
Artem is an Indie Hacker and an experienced frontend developer. We met at a
local IH meetup which I used to organize before the pandemic.

He has already shown great results by making the Google Sheet form integration
from scratch (Google API is a mess).

My new colleague (oh boy, I finally have got a real colleague! 😭 after all the
years of working solo!) has a great design taste and is very pro-active.
I understand that this is just a beginning and we still need to see how good he
is in the long-term, but I'm very optimistic.

Latest Unicorn Platform updates:

 1. Google Sheet integration.
    Your Unicorn Platform form now can send visitors' emails and other data
    straight into your Google Sheet spreadsheet. Works like a charm!


https://twitter.com/unicornplatform/status/1278268937478733832


 2. Alts for images.
    You can now set ALT attributes for images. Good for SEO.

 3. Cache.
    From now on, we cache each page for 5 minutes. It allows us to serve
    websites faster.

Read the update on Broadwise.org:
https://broadwise.org/t/unicorn-platform-landing-page-builder-for-startups/126/6

Coming next:

 1. BLOGS!
    We are actively working on the blogging functionality. It will be a simple
    and lightweight solution for both personal and corporate blogs. Join the
    waitlist to try it first:
    https://unicornplatform.com/create-blog/

 2. Modern image formats (WebP, Jpeg200) for even faster loading speed.

Blogs by Unicorn Platform

Join the wait list to try Blogs by Unicorn Platform first.

unicornplatform.com

Alexander Isora 🦄

31 Likes

27 Comments


June 3, 2020 Will I be sued for 📱💻🖥️?

Hey guys.

I'm excited to announce one of the most wanted updates ever: realistic devices
mockups.
Now you can put your screenshots inside one of 13 desktop devices and 19 mobile
phones (including colors)! iPhones 8, 11 Pro Max, XR, SE 2020, Google Pixel 4,
iMac, MacBook, and many more.




https://twitter.com/unicornplatform/status/1268082634795692032


Even though I have erased all logos and trademarked words, I'm still uncertain
whether I'm allowed to use the pictures of the corporations' devices. I have
seen hundreds of websites that use Apple's devices' pictures to present their
interfaces. Some even kept the logos.

Personally I believe it will be fine: all the devices are flippin’ rectangles
nowadays. Should I tweak a phone's border-radius from 3% to 5% to make it look
less like a trademarked iPhone?
I doubt so. It will still look iPhonish. They all look iPhonish.

What do you think about it?



Some other sweet Unicorn Platform updates:

Lazy load:
We added native lazy load for all images and iframes by default. What is lazy
loading and what does the word 'native' mean?

Lazy images loading means downloading the assets on-demand. We do not load all
website pages' images when a user opens your website. Instead, we load images
gradually as user scrolls the page. This trick reduces the amount of data
transferred and therefore increases your website loading speed.

~A year ago the Chrome team announced the native lazy loading feature. Now
images and embeds can be lazy-loaded without JS hacks and 'data-src' magic. You
can learn more here: https://addyosmani.com/blog/lazy-loading

This feature works on 64% of web browsers. Safari already has this but under a
flag, so in the future, the % will be even bigger.

twitter.com


Alexander Isora 🦄

25 Likes

16 Comments


May 20, 2020 Got hacked. Hired the hacker!

Sup!

My SaaS was hacked by a Russian hacker. He figured out how to trick the websites
limit and was able to create 2 websites on a free plan.
The case actually ended good and it turns out he will work with me on Unicorn
Platform.

But how did it happen? Let me tell you the whole story.

It was the first day when I started to come out of my 2 months long isolation.
The first thing I did is moved to coworking.
I can live without a GYM, without a barbershop, without a night club, without a
food market, but I can not live without a separate place to work. All those "set
up a context", "make a schedule" things just do not work because I rent the
smallest possible room to live and re-invest all the revenue back to my project.

So I moved to coworking. And I worked for 6 whole hours.
Man, that was awesome! Doing your work productively is the best feeling in the
world. It makes me feel alive.

After the working day, I left my laptop in the coworking because I use a heavy
Macbook Pro 2012 and do not want my back hurt. Besides, leaving a laptop at work
(https://t.me/serene_startup/37) helps me to get more quality rest at home.

I skateboarded at home and when I fell on my sofa I saw this:
It means: "look at what I can do))".

I pushed the panic button!
Dozens of ideas instantly came up. What can possibly go wrong and how to prevent
it.
The first thing I decided to do is to just talk to him. After all, if a hacker
wrote first, he wants to talk. It gives me a chance to make him stop his games.

So we talked. He turned out to be a friendly and cool man. He hacks startups for
fun, not for cash or glory.
I asked him to tell more about himself. The hacker is actually interested in the
startup community and wants to build a product too, but he knows too little
about marketing. I promised to teach him how to promote products in exchange for
a security consultancy.

He already gave a couple of valuable security and performance insights.
I hope we will continue working together to make each other happier!

🤓

Unicorn Platform got some pretty updates:

301 redirects:
Now you can set up redirects.
It is very useful if you moved to Unicorn Platform from another website builder.

Here is how it works: open our Notion-based changelog:
https://unicornplatform.com/changelog



Bye Google!
I decided to quit Google Analytics. It has many disadvantages: Google does not
respect data privacy, GA has a steep learning curve, GA is blocked by
adblockers. So I'm now a happy user of Fathom.
Check out our sweet public analytics page:
https://app.usefathom.com/share/svwhbfnj/unicornplatform.com

View this update on Broadwise.org
https://broadwise.org/t/unicorn-platform-landing-page-builder-for-startups/126/10]

or on Twitter https://twitter.com/unicornplatform/status/1263053305527361536

Serene Startup 💭

Leave your laptop at work You work with your MacBook all day long (if you are a
startup founder you work much more than an average worker). Then at home, you
talk with friends on Twitter, watch Netflix, play video games, scroll memes,
watch porn or (the worst) work even more. Your brain and eyes are constantly
tired. Here is a simple solution: leave your laptop in an office or co-working
space. Make yourself a gift and start taking some real rest. The main profit is
that you will not work at home anymore. Even if there is a super important thing
which must be 'fixed right now'. It can wait, you are not a firefighter. Thus
nothing can pull you out of your relaxing context. What are the other benefits?
1) This will increase your productivity the next day. Image a husky doggo which
is locked up in a house all day long. When you are back home and take your
friend for a walk, the doggo will run like a wind. 2) You will get real
relaxation. Spend time with your family. Do something tog…

t.me

Alexander Isora 🦄

50 Likes

34 Comments


April 29, 2020 Indie Hackers Interview!

We got the chance to talk to Indie Hackers about our road so far. It’s been a
long journey with a lot of ups and downs, but we’re proud of how far we’ve come.
Check out the interview to learn more about how we got started and what
challenges we’ve faced.

How I Bucked Tradition and Found Success in a Crowded Market - Indie Hackers

Hey! My name is Alex. I'm the founder of *yet another* landing page builder —
Unicorn Platform. My baby is generating $2,678 in MRR. Soon I will be cele...

indiehackers.com

Alexander Isora 🦄

1 Like

1 Comment


April 27, 2020 3,500 websites! \ (•◡•) /

Hey guys, I hope you feel good.

I want to complain a little. I do not feel good.
At the end of each winter I feel like a zombie because Russian winters mean no
sun, no walks, no fruits/vegs, and freezing for 3-6 months in a row.
And now this winter ends with 2+ months of isolation which is a challenge to me.
I have as little as 2-4 enormously caffeinated hours to work and ship the most
wanted updates and give support. And then my productivity, emotions, and
actually the day ends.
Fun fact: it took a whole week to compose this post.

OK, enough of crying. Pardon me.

I want to celebrate something special today. Unicorn Platform hit 3,500
websites.
Well, I do not feel anything special about it (because I do not feel anything).
But I think this is a solid signal that the project I'm fully dedicating myself
to is needed. I'm curious to see what impact will Unicorn Platform do in 3-5
years from now.

The MRR of the project today is $2,664.
This means what every website brings me $2,664/3,500 = $0.76. Does this mean the
more websites I have the MRR is? I think yes.
That is why I decided to encourage new visitors to sign up. I give each new user
a free pack of illustrations made by Craftwork (https://craftwork.design/). This
epic team crafts amazing premium illustrations, icons, and UI assets.
Thanks, guys for your awesomeness and for the partnership!

(づ￣ ³￣)づ🏆

Some of the coolest product updates of April:

1) HTML editor
You can now edit text like a boss: make it bold, add links, lists and headers,
and emoji.



2) CDN
We have the mighty Amazon Cloudfront on our side now.
Let the assets fly!

Thanks for your attention.


https://twitter.com/unicornplatform/status/1254792130943430656


🦄 on Twitter

“Woohoo! The rich text editor is here! 😙 Text fields now allow adding links,
lists, headers, and format the content. The new editor will appear on all
components added from today. Enjoy the update and stay safe!
https://t.co/uB2J1ZeXOr”

twitter.com


Alexander Isora 🦄

32 Likes

36 Comments


March 19, 2020 First employee! ~(˘▾˘~)

Finally, I'm not alone! The most exciting milestone ever!

I'm so happy to introduce Asad. This young man will help me with customer
support from now. I would never accent a random guy for this position because
customer support is a huge part of my product.
But Asad is not a random guy. He has an outstanding experience in Craftwork -
the best design crew in the world. Asad also has a unique set of skills that
will help him in providing top-notch support: frontend development experience,
patience, curiosity and a natural desire to help others.

I feel a huge potential in Asad. This makes me believe he will cover more and
more parts of Unicorn Platform in the future including marketing and product
development.

I've taken a short interview with Asad and posted it on my product's thread on
Broadwise.org:
https://broadwise.org/t/unicorn-platform-landing-page-builder-for-startups/126/6

🦄

Also, there is something new and cool added to Unicorn Platform product: custom
colors and fonts!
I've been asked for these features for so many times and it is finally here.

I've already seen people using this. The results are fantastic!
I will get the best websites' owners permission to showcase their works and how
you the best of them later.

Thanks for your attention! Have a great day!

🦄 on Twitter

“Update! Now you can pick among ~200 Google Fonts and apply custom colors to
your website. Available on all plans. Enjoy! 😎”

twitter.com


Alexander Isora 🦄

26 Likes

20 Comments


February 28, 2020 Features can wait! Added BG images 6 months later.

Another evidence that proves the thesis "features can wait".
If you still believe particular features are crucial for a launch success, let
me prove you wrong.

Here is an example from my own experience: a landing page builder which doesn't
have background images.
Sounds terrific, does not it? But it is so. Unicorn Platform did not have
background image support until today.

However, there was a ~dozen of users who wanted background images badly. I
offered them manual support by providing a tiny piece of custom code.

Was that dozen of folks satisfied? Yes, absolutely.

Was it the right idea to set such an important feature aside and launch? Well,
at the end of the day - yes. But the lesson learned here is what all the things
from the list "super-important-but-not-today" should be shipped eventually.

So when you plan your development roadmap allocate some resources for that list.
I failed at planning and therefore shipped background images a couple of months
later than it was possible.

🙌

Alexander Isora 🦄

15 Likes

10 Comments


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ABOUT

The quality gap between a custom agency-crafted landing page and a generated is
too huge. I want to make a high-end design affordable for bootstrapped startups,
for makers, indie hackers and literally any startup.


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Alexander Isora 🦄 Founder

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