Today we delve into the captivating (for the good or the bad) world of AppSumo. While AppSumo presents tantalizing offers and deals, it also conceals potential pitfalls for unwary business owners. Let’s embark on a journey through the highs and lows of this platform, exploring how it intersects with the diverse landscape of neurodiverse entrepreneurs and delving into strategies for judicious decision-making.

Shiny Object Syndrome

Alright, let’s talk shiny object syndrome because we’re sure we’ve all been there. Tell me if you’ve been there before… You hear about this new thing and it sounds awesome, it has features you never even thought existed and you are just so excited to have it you can’t wait to hand over your credit card. And two months later you don’t even remember it exists, because you didn’t NEED it. Yep, we hear you! 

And let me tell you, AppSumo is THE place for that. The thing is AppSumo is great at what it does, the way the platform is set up, the emails, the followups… Everything is designed to get you to find (and buy) new programs. And that is what makes it so great, it can help you find, compare and choose solutions in a very effective way, however, it can also be a trap. If you let yourself get distracted by all the shiny objects.

For those of us over in the neurodiverse crowd, this can be particularly challenging as some of our brains are hardwired in a way that makes us prone to getting very excited and making impulsive decisions about every new thing we come across (cof cof shoutout to our ADHD folks out there). So let us go through some of the considerations we use here at Geeky Girl to make sure we keep our AppSumo purchases relevant and that we are not wasting our time and money just because something sounds way too cool not to hyperfocus on it for 3 days straight…

Assessing Value for Money

While AppSumo undeniably offers cost-effective deals and lifetime subscriptions that seem irresistibly lucrative, we gotta take a step back and evaluate things before making any decisions. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before you buy any new piece of SAAS. Do you really NEED that? Will it solve a problem? Do I already have some other software that could do this for me? In your current business setup is it a must-have, a nice-to-have, or a completely new thing you will just start doing because you found some app that can?

Now the answers to these questions alone will not give you a final verdict. Because context matters. Sometimes it is okay to buy something just because it is fun, or to start a new thing because you found a new app. But you need to evaluate how much money you are putting in and how much value you’ll be getting out of it. It is all a question of balance. At the end of the day, your business needs to be lucrative and for that, you also need to make smart decisions about your software. 

We have created a worksheet to help you with this process as well as a step-by-step guide on how to make decisions about new software. So if you haven’t yet go check it out and make sure you have it handy next time you go over to AppSumo. 

Navigating Setup and Learning Curves

Okay, let’s take the money conversation one step ahead. Pay very close attetion to these words now: the price tag you see on AppSumo doesn’t necessarily reflect how much you will spend on a piece of software. Yes, you read it right, even if it is a lifetime subscription, even if it is super cheap, there are other things you need to consider. Why? Because apps don’t always come ready to use!

When you buy a new SAAS there is some setup that needs to be done and there is learning and training that needs to happen. Of course, sometimes it might require minimum setup and be very easy to use. But in other cases, it might take a long time or you might need to hire some specialized help to get things up and running. It might even be someone already on your team dedicating their time to it. Time, regardless of whether it is yours, of a team member or a consultant, is money. 

So when you are asking yourself those questions we talked about earlier, when you are putting on the scale how much value you’ll get out of this and how much money you are putting in, don’t forget to consider the setting up process, the training, the learning curse. Make sure you do a little research and that you know what you are getting yourself into ahead of time, so you don’t have an unpleasant surprise. 

Managing Software Overload

Another problem that comes from purchasing excessive software is software overload. So think about it this way, you have to complete a task, but in order to get it done you need to access 5 different software. You will lose time switching windows transferring things, and making sure every step is followed in each platform. Sure sometimes it might be a necessary evil if there is no other way to achieve it. But frequently enough we might be able to get the same thing done with only 3 or 2 or maybe even 1 of the SAAS you already have available. 

Now, if you are lucky enough perhaps one of your team members might come to you and say “Hey we are doing this thing this way but actually we have this piece of software that would do all of it much easier”. And that is absolutely great if that happens. But a much better way to manage software overload is by keeping track of the resources you have and what they can do for you. And checking against them before you go buying some new thing. That brings us back to our software stack freebie which was designed to help you keep track of all your SAAS in one place. 

It is also vital that you keep that list up to date and that you check your programs for updates. ClickUp for example didn’t have AI when we first started using it years ago, but now it does and there are many cool things we can do with it that we don’t need to buy some extra software for. In fact, we have even let go of some things we used to use before because now we no longer need it. So keeping that stack up to date is really important for you to make sure your software and the subscriptions you are paying for stay relevant.

Aligning with Business Goals

Last, but definitely not least is to make sure that your software decisions align with your business goals. Now this might not always seem too obvious, but a wrong software purchase can side-track you and send you off in a way that leads to the opposite direction as your business goals. 

Have a solid plan that you can check your decisions against is crucial for strategic planning and smart decision-making. We have talked about this many times and it comes to play when we are talking about SAAS too. You have to understand your budget, both financial and timewise. You have to see where can you best invest what you have in order to get to your goals.

With all the cool new software out there, it’s important to stay focused on your main business goals. Don’t get too distracted by all the new shiny things – stick to your strategic plan and keep moving forward toward your key milestones. Make sure your decisions are in line with what really matters to your organization so you don’t lose momentum.

As we wrap up our look at all the cool stuff AppSumo has to offer, it’s clear that you need to be smart and careful when checking out what they have. By having a good plan and knowing your own strengths as well as knowing how to do business, you can make the most of what AppSumo offers while keeping risks low. Whether it’s carefully looking at what deals are worth it, managing your software tools wisely, or staying focused on your main goals, reaching success is all about balancing big dreams with practical decisions. So, to all you pioneers out there about to dive into the world of AppSumo, use these tips to help you navigate through all the opportunities and potential traps that come your way.