Most people guess what to sell. I’d rather not go that route. I find complaints, create a tiny fix, and ask to get paid.
If that sounds cold, it isn’t. Complaints are just unmet needs with a pulse. And Reddit is the cheapest focus group on the internet: real humans describing what’s broken, what they’ve already tried, and how much it’s costing them—in their own words. That’s everything you need to craft a clear offer.
You don’t need a niche manifesto, a logo, or 10k followers. You need one person saying “yes.” The fastest path there is simple: find a repeated pain, build the smallest possible solution (often a one-page digital product), and pitch it with a friendly DM. Price modestly, deliver quickly, learn, and iterate. Two or three of these micro-wins can outpace months of “building in silence.”
This playbook is what I use when I want results this week—not someday. Below, you’ll get the exact search strings I use, the demand signals I look for, a one-sentence offer formula, copy-paste DM scripts, starter pricing, and a 48-hour test plan. No hyperbole, no theory. Just a practical way to turn internet noise into your first dollar.
The 10-Minute Workflow (Zoomed Out)
Think of this as your map. We’ll zoom into each step next, but at a glance this is the loop you’ll run every time you want to validate a micro-offer fast.
- Search for pain. Use targeted operators (below).
- Spot patterns. Repeated complaints + urgency + money talk.
- Write a one-sentence offer. Clear, fast, specific.
- DM 5 people + post once. Friendly, no-hype scripts.
- Deliver 1 free preview → ask for a paid try. Tight loop, fast proof.
Do this once and you’ll never “brainstorm a niche” the same way again.
Step 1: Find Live Pain (Copy/Paste Searches)
We don’t invent demand—we intercept it. These searches surface real complaints from real people, today.
Drop these into Google:
site:reddit.com "I hate" "[task]"
site:reddit.com "[niche] problem"
site:reddit.com "stuck with [task]"
site:reddit.com "spent [time] on [task]"
site:reddit.com "how do I [task] without [pain]"
site:reddit.com "[tool] is killing me"
site:reddit.com rant "[niche]"
site:reddit.com template "[niche]"
Good places to scout: r/Entrepreneur, r/smallbusiness, r/SideProject, r/IndieHackers, r/freelance, r/Podcasting, r/EtsySellers, r/Blogging, r/YouTubers, r/SEO, r/Notion, r/Wordpress, r/Design, r/VideoEditing, r/productivity, r/ChatGPT.
Tip: Read the sub rules. Lead with value in public; move links to DMs or weekly promo threads if required.
Step 2: What to Look For (Signals of Demand)
Not every complaint is a buyer. These signals separate idle venting from problems people will pay you to remove.
- Repeated pain: Multiple posts, same complaint.
- Money mentions: “Paid $X,” “losing sales,” “canceling clients.”
- Urgency: Deadlines, launches, interviews, upcoming events.
- DIY regret: “Tried everything, nothing works.”
- Workflow bottlenecks: Boring, manual, time-sucking steps.
- Tool gaps: “This is too complex,” “wish there was a simple template.”
If you see two or more of these in one thread, you’re close to a sellable micro-service.
Step 3: Compress the Value (One-Sentence Offer)
If a stranger can’t “get it” in one line, they won’t buy it. This formula forces clarity and speed.
Formula:
I help [audience] solve [pain] by delivering [tiny solution] in [timeframe].
Examples:
- “I help podcast hosts save hours by delivering a one-page guest research brief in 24 hours.”
- “I help Etsy sellers boost conversions by rewriting 3 product descriptions in 48 hours.”
- “I help fitness coaches stay consistent by building a 7-day content calendar in 24 hours.”
- “I help job seekers stand out by polishing resume + LinkedIn in 3 days.”
Clarity beats cleverness. If a stranger can’t get it in one line, they won’t buy it.
Step 4: Outreach That Gets Replies (DM Scripts)
People ignore pitches; they answer help. Keep it human, short, and focused on the fix.
Friendly script:
“Hey — saw your post about [pain]. I have a simple fix: [tiny solution]. I can deliver it in [timeframe] for $[price]. Want me to send a quick preview?”
Direct script:
“I help [audience] with [pain] by doing [solution] in [timeframe]. I’ll do 1–2 free previews—if it helps, it’s $[price] to keep going. Interested?”
Follow-up (24–48h):
“Quick nudge on the [solution] offer—still happy to send a preview. If not, no worries. Anything specific you’re stuck on?”
Step 5: Pricing Anchors (Start Low, Prove Fast)
At the beginning, price is a lever for speed, not profit. Your first yes funds the next one.
- Template/Swipe: $9–$19
- One-pager service: $29–$79
- “Sprint” (3 deliverables): $99–$149
- Ongoing: $25–$50/week
Don’t try to maximize; try to get one paid yes. Proof first, price second.
Step 6: A 48-Hour Test Plan
Testing beats theorizing. Two short sessions are enough to learn if your offer lands.
Day 1 (60–90 min)
- Find 3–5 complaint threads and save quotes.
- Write your one-sentence offer.
- Build a tiny sample (one page, one template, one mockup).
Day 2 (60–90 min)
- DM the posters + 2 similar users.
- Post one public offer (if allowed) in a relevant sub or on Threads/LinkedIn.
- Deliver 1 free preview, then ask for a paid try:
“If this helps, I charge $49 to do [deliverable] for [X more items] this week.”
One yes = green light. Five polite no’s = clarity (and better next offer).
A Quick Example (Etsy Product Descriptions)
Here’s the exact shape of a micro-service that sells: defined niche, obvious pain, small deliverable, fast turnaround.
Complaint: “My views are fine, but zero sales. My descriptions feel blah.”
Offer: “I help Etsy sellers turn views into sales by rewriting 3 product descriptions in 48 hours.”
Preview: One before/after rewrite in a clean Google Doc.
Ask: “If this helps, I charge $59 to redo three listings this week (with keywords + bullets).”
Upsell: “Want 10 listings + shop headline? $149.”
GPT Shortcuts (Paste & Go)
AI won’t pick your niche, but it will shorten the distance between signal and offer. Use it for speed, not judgment.
Extract pain:
“Extract the 5 core pains from this Reddit complaint and rank by urgency. Use the poster’s words:[paste quote]”
Turn pain into offers:
“Turn this pain into 3 tiny offers with scope, 48-hour delivery, and suggested prices:[paste pain]”
Write outreach:
“Write 2 DMs and 1 public post pitching this one-sentence offer in a friendly, no-hype tone:[your one-liner]”
Keep Score (Mini Tracker)
A five-column tracker prevents ghosting and keeps momentum. If it’s not tracked, it’s not real.
Columns: Name • Thread URL • Offer sent (Y/N) • Status (Yes/No/Maybe) • Next step • Due date
This takes five minutes and prevents you from forgetting who said what.
Common Pitfalls (And How to Avoid Them)
Most failures come from social habits, not bad offers. Dodge these and your hit rate jumps.
- Spamming links in public threads. Share value publicly, move links to DMs or weekly promo posts.
- Vague, clever offers. Use the one-line formula. Specific > clever.
- Overbuilding before selling. Build a preview, not a product.
- Charging high without proof. Start low, get testimonials, raise price.
- Ghosting after interest. Set a clear next step and a due date.
Why This Works
You’re not trying to be a visionary—you’re being useful. Repeated pain + tiny fix + fast delivery = yes.
You’re not “finding a niche.” You’re intercepting pain and offering the smallest possible fix. You don’t need a brand, a funnel, or a following—you need proof. One yes buys you the right to build the rest.
Steal This (Copy Bank)
If writing posts slows you down, borrow mine and ship the test today.
Hook (Threads/LinkedIn):
“Reddit is the cheapest focus group. I search complaints, ship a one-page fix, and ask for $49. Here’s the workflow.”
Public post (value-first):
“3 search strings that surface buy-ready problems:site:reddit.com "I hate" "[task]"site:reddit.com "[niche] problem"site:reddit.com "spent [time] on [task]"
I look for repeated pain + urgency + money talk. If it helps, I wrote a one-page cheatsheet with scripts + a 48-hour plan. Happy to DM it.”
Your Turn (Today)
Momentum lives in tiny actions. Spend 30–45 minutes and get to a clear yes/no.
- Run the searches for 15 minutes.
- Write one sentence using the offer formula.
- DM five people and post one public offer.
- Deliver a preview.
- Ask for $29–$79 to continue.
That’s it. One page. One pitch. One yes.
Want the copy-and-paste version?
I bundled the search strings, DM scripts, GPT prompts, pricing anchors, mini tracker, and 48-hour test plan into a one-page Reddit → Offer Cheatsheet. It’s tiny, practical, and built to get you unstuck fast. It’s also only $1.