I've been growing a few small side projects during quarantine and unfortunately have realized that the main limiting factor to their success (one is a physical niche DTC the other is software) is marketing / engagement. I've been mildly successful with growing a following on instagram, but it takes too much of my time and the few ads I've bought have all but fallen flat.
Looking for information or guides that delve deeper than surface level information, guru BS (scam "courses") or air-headed medium posts has been difficult. I would pay someone to do this, but I can't justify a spend of more than $2-3k per project. Interestingly, Indie Hackers is one of the worst offenders. I basically don't see Indie Hackers as worth my time anymore as a resource for early startup info.
Anyone else encounter this problem of failing to use marketing affectively with their side project / early startup?
I think the good way to get your first users is to go to the very specific niche communities where they usually talk, hang out, and somehow incentivize them to try your thing out. Then ask them what they think, why they stopped using it, what they liked about it, etc.
Guerilla marketing methods can be very effective as well, but requires some creativity and sometimes luck.