Growth Loops, Events & Offline

Referral Loop (build this week)

Mechanic. Both sides earn usage credits, not cash. Referrer earns 50 credits per activated referee; referee earns 30 bonus credits on top of the free window. "Activated" = referee completes their first product search or photo-upload and views at least 2 supplier results — not just signup. This definition is the whole game: pay for value, not for emails.

Trigger placement (5 in-product spots, with copy):

1. Post-first-search results page (strongest slot — value just happened). Banner: Found your suppliers? Get 50 free credits for every seller you bring. → Share
2. Saved-list / shortlist screen. Building your 9.9 lineup? Invite a co-seller, split the work, both get 50 credits.
3. Credit-low toast. Running low? Grab 50 credits instantly when a friend runs their first search.
4. Results "download quote sheet" modal. Send this supplier list to a partner — and earn 50 credits when they sign up.
5. Account / profile menu. Permanent entry: Refer & earn credits with a live counter (3 joined · 150 credits earned).

Share message variants (native-feeling, pre-filled):

• WhatsApp (generic): "This site finds the 1688 factory behind a product from a photo. I searched my [product] and got prices + MOQ in seconds. Free till 9.9 → [link]"
• Telegram (channel-style): "Sourcing tool worth bookmarking. Upload a product pic → get matching suppliers with price, MOQ and demand signals. Use my link for 30 bonus credits: [link]"
• Facebook group (comment-style, non-spammy): "been testing this for 9.9 stocking — the photo search actually found the same bag I was reselling for 40% more. free until sep 9, link in replies."
• Localized ID example (WhatsApp, Bahasa): "Bro, upload foto barang aja, langsung ketemu supplier 1688-nya lengkap sama harga & MOQ. Gratis sampai 9.9 → [link]"

Anti-abuse rules. - No self-referral: block when referee email domain/handle matches referrer, or same device fingerprint. - Disposable email: reject tempmail, 10minutemail, guerrillamail and any email whose MX is a known throwaway provider. - Credit cap: max 300 referral credits / user / week; a referee must phone-verify (OTP) before its credit unlocks. - Delayed grant: referrer credits release only after referee passes the 72-hour activation gate.

72-hour activation goal. ≥ 40% of referred signups should run a first search within 72h. If it's lower, the referral link is dead weight and the fix is onboarding, not more incentives. Referral only works if first-search value happens fast — so wire every invite link to a pre-filled demo search (e.g. a trending 9.9 item) so the referee lands on results, not an empty box.

Tracker fields. ref_id, referrer_user_id, referee_user_id, referee_email_domain, channel (wa/tg/fb), created_at, signup_at, first_search_at, results_viewed_count, activated (bool), activation_within_72h (bool), credits_granted_referrer, credits_granted_referee, flagged_reason.

Affiliate / KOC Program (v1)

12 target partner types + their pitch:

Model. Commission-free at launch (product is free till 9.9). Pay in credits + cash post-monetization. v1 rate: partner gets 80 credits per activated referee, plus a 15% revenue-share on credits/subscription spend from their code once paid plans open.

3-tier ladder: Bronze (1–9 activations) = credits only. Silver (10–49) = 12% rev-share + featured on our partner page. Gold (50+) = 15% rev-share + co-marketing + early API access.

KOC brief template: - Deliverables: 1 short video/reel OR 1 group post + 1 story, showing a real photo-search on a live product. - Hooks they may use: "I found the factory behind this exact product", "stop overpaying your supplier", "how I stock 9.9 in one search". - Disclosure line (required): "Sponsored / partnered — I earn credits when you sign up via my link." - We forbid: claiming guaranteed profit, faking savings numbers, scraping/leaking supplier lists, saying "official 1688 partner" (we are not).

Outreach DM (short, non-cringe): "hey — saw your [video/post] on sourcing for Shopee sellers. we built a free tool that finds 1688 suppliers from a product photo (free till 9.9). want early access + credits for your followers via your own link? no pitch, just send you a login."

Outreach email subject: "free tool for your audience — 9.9 sourcing search". Body: 3 lines, one link, offer a login, ask for a yes/no.

Tracking without affiliate software. Assign each partner a unique code (KOC-RINA-ID). Link format ?ref=KOC-RINA-ID, stored in the tracker from §1. Weekly payout on every Monday from the spreadsheet, credits auto-applied, cash via bank/PayPal once thresholds clear.

Scope line. Start with 5, not 50. Five partners you actually onboard, brief and pay weekly beats fifty signups that churn silently.

Free Tools as Acquisition (PLG hooks)

Design intent: (a) and (d) are share-first, no gate — they cast the widest net and are the most forwardable. (b) and (c) gate on email because the output is a document the user wants to keep. Every tool's result page must carry one prominent CTA into the core search.

UGC Contest: "My 9.9 Lineup"

Mechanic. Sellers post the product lineup they're stocking for 9.9, sourced with our tool (screenshot of supplier results + their planned selling prices). Best lineups get featured and win credits.

Timeline (Sep 4–10): - Sep 4 — announcement + rules live. - Sep 4–8 — entries accepted (post in FB group / tag us on TikTok+IG with #My99Lineup). - Sep 9 — public voting window on our page (live 9.9 day = max traffic). - Sep 10 — winners announced, prizes delivered.

Entry rules. 1) Public post with #My99Lineup + tag our handle. 2) Must include at least one screenshot from our search results. 3) One entry per seller. 4) Real product, real intent to sell (no hypotheticals).

Prize (realistic). 1st: 2,000 credits + featured on homepage for a week. 2nd–3rd: 1,000 credits + social feature. 5 runners-up: 300 credits. Feature placement is worth more than the credits to serious sellers — lean on it.

Announcement post (written out): CONTEST — Show us your 9.9 lineup 🏆 What are you stocking for 9.9? Source it with [site], screenshot your supplier results, and post your lineup with #My99Lineup + tag us. Winners get up to 2,000 free credits AND a featured spot on our homepage. Entries close Sep 8. Public vote Sep 9. Winners Sep 10. One entry per seller. Link to rules in comments.

Judging criteria. Realism of margin math (30%), creativity of lineup/category fit (25%), proof of tool usage (25%), post quality/shareability (20%).

Reuse rights ask. "By entering, you grant us permission to repost your lineup (with credit/handle) for promotion." Non-exclusive, name-attributed, opt-out honored.

Live AMA Run-of-Show (Sept 8 evening)

Run 60 min, 8:00–9:00 PM (Jakarta/Manila/KL friendly), on Facebook Live + YouTube simulcast.

Promotion across 4 touchpoints (with copy): 1. FB groups (Sep 5): "Free AMA Sep 8, 8PM — we'll live-source 9.9 products from photos and do the margin math on camera. Bring your toughest supplier question." 2. Email/in-app (Sep 6): "Wednesday 8PM: watch us find your 9.9 suppliers live. Ask anything about MOQ and factory pricing." 3. WhatsApp/Telegram broadcast (Sep 7): "AMA tomorrow 8pm — live sourcing demo + we answer your MOQ questions. Reply REMIND and I'll ping you." 4. Story/pinned reminder (Sep 8, 3h before): "We go LIVE in 3 hours 👉 sourcing your 9.9 products from a single photo."

3 seeded questions (for silence): "How do I know a 1688 supplier isn't a middleman?" / "What MOQ is actually reasonable for a first 9.9 order?" / "Can I trust the price I see vs what they charge after?"

Tech checklist: backup internet (mobile hotspot), OBS + native FB both armed, mic tested ( lav), demo product photos pre-loaded, one person moderating chat, one on lights, screen-share resolution 1080p, promo link + ?ref= codes pinned.

Recording/clip plan — 6 clips: (1) 45-sec photo-search magic moment, (2) "is this supplier a scam?" answer, (3) margin math reveal, (4) MOQ negotiation tip, (5) shipping/landed-cost explainer, (6) bootcamp offer CTA. Post across TikTok/Reels/Shorts + FB group over Sep 9–12.

Live offer: "Everyone watching: 100 bonus credits if you complete your first search in the next 24h. And the 7-day Sourcing Sprint bootcamp is free — first 60 seats."

Follow-up (within 2 hours): "Thanks for tonight! Here's the replay + the 3 supplier red-flags we covered. Your 100-credit bonus is waiting — finish your first search: [link]. Bootcamp seats open: [link]."

7-Day 9.9 Sourcing Sprint Bootcamp

Enrollment landing copy: Headline: "In 7 days, source your 9.9 lineup like a pro — free." 5 bullets: - Find real 1688 factories from a single product photo. - Know the true landed cost and margin before you buy. - Learn the MOQ negotiation script that actually works. - Vet suppliers so you don't get burned before a mega-sale. - Leave with a stocked 9.9 plan and a finished lineup. CTA: Join the free Sprint — 60 seats only →

Daily facilitation scripts: - Morning prompt: "Day 3 · Today: don't get scammed. 15-min lesson drops at 9AM. Homework: vet your top supplier against the red-flag list. Post your verdict 🧵" - Evening nudge: "Sprint check — only 8/12 of you posted homework today. 15 min on the negotiation script now saves you a bad 9.9 order tonight. Link 👇" - Winner shout-out: "Shoutout to @Rina — she found the same bag at 42% below her current supplier and negotiated MOQ to 30. That's exactly the play. Replay of her method tomorrow."

Moderation rules: no supplier link-dropping that competes with us, no spam, keep it on-topic, one homework thread per day, warnings then removal.

Conversion moment & how to offer without killing trust. Day 7, after the value is delivered, not before. Frame: "The free window ends after 9.9. If the Sprint helped, plan stays unlimited with a Starter plan at [price] — no rush, you keep the templates either way." Trust comes from giving days 1–6 fully; the offer is a natural next step, not a bait.

Cohort size cap: 60. Small enough that facilitators personally answer every homework post — the whole retention mechanic is "someone notices me." Beyond ~60 it becomes another empty group chat.

Feeds W4 case studies. Day-5/6 homework and Day-7 shout-outs are pre-screened case-study candidates; harvest 3 (one per country) for the Sep 15–21 retro and 11.11 pre-heat.

Offline Seller Channel (currently zero — fix with 4 moves)

Who to Target

• Indonesia: Jakarta — Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua, Tanah Abang (textiles), ITC Roxy Mas (phones); verify before visiting.
• Thailand: Bangkok — Platinum Fashion Mall, Bobae Tower, Pratunam wholesale district; verify before visiting.
• Vietnam: HCMC — Chợ Lớn / Binh Tây Market (Cholon wholesale), An Đông Market; verify before visiting.
• Philippines: Manila — Divisoria, Baclaran, Quiapo; verify before visiting.
• Malaysia: KL — Pudu/Chow Kit, Klang; Penang — Gurney/wholesale rows; verify before visiting.
• Singapore: Sim Lim Tower (electronics), Chinese Merchant complex; verify before visiting. Segments: market stalls, wholesale-district sellers, phone/computer mall vendors, modest-wear/boutique owners, distributor/import agents.

The Offline Offer

Non-digital sellers won't type English queries. Offer must be assisted and photo-first: - QR-code one-pager (A5, stands on a counter) linking straight to a pre-filled photo-search onboarding. - "Search one product for you right now" demo: seller hands you any item on their stall, you photograph it, you show factory + price + MOQ in under 30 seconds. The demo IS the sale. - Assisted signup flow: you create the account on their phone for them (local number + OTP), pin the tool, run their first search before you leave. - Low-friction first value step: photo search only — no text box, no English. One tap → results in their local language labels.

BD Outreach Kit

• Walk-in opener: "Sorry to bother you — quick question, where do you get [item on stall] from?"
• 30-second pitch: "I have a free tool. Give me any product, I photograph it, and in 20 seconds it shows me the actual factory in China, their wholesale price, and the minimum order. Free until 9 September. Want to try with this one?"
• Objection lines: "I already have a supplier" → "Great — compare. This tells you if you're overpaying." / "No English" → "No typing needed, just a photo. I'll set it up in Bahasa/Thai." / "Too busy" → "I'll do the first search myself, 20 seconds, you watch."
• One-pager copy (print-ready layout):
• Header band: logo + "Find the factory behind any product — just photograph it."
• Left column: 3-step photo (1 snap the product · 2 see suppliers/prices/MOQ · 3 compare & order), each with an icon.
• Right column: big QR code → "Scan and I'll show you." Caption: "Free until 9 Sep."
• Bottom strip: 3 tiny before/after screenshots; local-language tagline; hotline WhatsApp number; "made for [country] sellers".
• WhatsApp follow-up template: "Hi [name], this is [you] from [market]. Here's the free sourcing tool we tried on your [product] — your first search is already set up. Tap to see the factory prices: [link]. Free till 9 Sep. Any question, message me anytime."

Local-language pitch (with back-translation): - Bahasa Indonesia: "Coba foto barang ini, saya carikan pabrik aslinya di 1688 lengkap dengan harga dan minimum order. Gratis sampai 9 September." (Back-translation: "Try photographing this item, I'll find the real factory on 1688 with price and minimum order. Free until September 9.") - Thai: "ถ่ายรูปสินค้านี้ แล้วให้ระบบหาโรงงานผลิตจริงบน 1688 พร้อมราคาและยอดสั่งขั้นต่ำ ใช้ได้ฟรีถึง 9 กันยา" (Back-translation: "Photograph this product, and the system will find the real factory on 1688 with price and MOQ. Free to use until Sep 9.")

Partner-Into-Offline

• Seller associations & chambers of commerce (per-country SME/trade bodies) — offer a free sourcing workshop.
• Wholesale market management / estate office — permission to demo at common areas, poster on noticeboards.
• Logistics counters & freight-forwarder desks in-mall — co-brand a landed-cost QR sheet.
• Payment/POS resellers — bundle our QR one-pager with their terminal installs.
• Events to run/sponsor Sep–Nov (mark dates "to confirm"): recurring SEA e-commerce expos & seller-summit roadshows — e.g. Shopee/Lazada seller roadshows, Regional E-Commerce Expo (Jakarta), eComm/retail-tech trade weeks in BKK and KL, Vietnam E-Commerce Expo (HCMC). Dates to confirm — check official calendars per city.
• Booth-scan mechanic: at any booth/stand, one big QR → "Scan → we scan YOUR product → you leave with a factory price sheet on your phone." Each scan = a tracked lead with the seller's category.
• 20-visit-per-week target list template — exact columns: business_name, market/district, city, country, segment (stall/wholesale/mall/boutique/distributor), product_category, contact_name, phone_whatsapp, visit_date, demo_done (Y/N), signed_up (Y/N), first_search_done (Y/N), notes, follow_up_date, status.

Sequencing & Owner

If the team is only 1.5 people, cut these 3: (1) Free tool (c) category-demand snapshot — heaviest build, slowest payback for a cold start; (2) Affiliate/KOC beyond 5 partners — treat as a maintenance list, no new outreach until post-9.9; (3) UGC contest — nice for volume but it can't be run well alongside the AMA + bootcamp by 1.5 heads. Keep referral (cheapest loop), the AMA + bootcamp (highest-trust conversion containers), and a scaled-down offline pilot (one market, one city) — those three directly touch untouched segments and convert.

Do-Not Lines

1. No paid fake reviews — never buy or write fabricated testimonials/supplier ratings.
2. No incentivized signups without disclosure — every referral/affiliate credit relationship must be visible to the referee.
3. No unverified commission or savings claims — never state "save X%" or "cheapest guaranteed" without showing the actual comparison behind it.
4. No scraping competitor seller lists for cold SMS — do not harvest lists to blast SMS.
5. No bulk unsolicited WhatsApp blasts — WhatsApp only after a real opt-in or an in-person demo; never mass-send to scraped numbers.