TikTok is the new Excel

Okay, so the title is a little clickbait-y, buuut it is kind of true. What we are talking about is the concept of unbundling. If you're looking for your next business idea in the past people have looked to unbundle a use case from spreadsheets. Well, there is a new unbundling kid on the block.

Many SaaS companies have popped up creating solutions that replace spreadsheets that only a specific industry would find value in. Further demonstrating the truth behind the idea that the riches are in the niches.

Source: https://foundationinc.co/lab/the-saas-opportunity-of-unbundling-excel/

This has been a common concept floating around the SaaS industry for years now, and it isn't even the first instance of this happening. People did the same with Craigslist.

What makes TikTok the next great unbundler?

Well, the first question to ask is, what are the key factors that made Craigslist and Excel a hotbed for isolating value that a product could be built on?

1. Mass adoption (aka lots of people used it)

2. Broad demographic (aka lots of different people used it)

3. Passionate communities (aka groups of people who really cared about a specific way to use the product)

When you think about these three factors it is really easy to see how a targeted product that is built only to service a single use case can provide a better user experience, more powerful features, or whatever your value prop is over the spreadsheets equivalent.

So, when you take a look at TikTok in light of those three factors it is clear that TikTok is ripe with opportunities to unbundle.

How do I identify a product to unbundle?

As with any time you're wanting to find the perfect product idea for you the answer is it depends. However, what I can do is share some tactics to start finding the opportunities on the Platform that you could use as a foundation for finding the right product to unbundle for you:

• What are you seeing all the time?

• What is trending?

• What are people searching?

• What has a passionate and engaged community?

Follow the threads that these questions pull and when you start getting an idea on where you might be able to unbundle value for a niche you will find what makes TikTok the best unbundling opportunity yet.

How do I validate a product to unbundle?

This. This is the greatest part of unbundling TikTok. Validating your if you product idea has legs is handed to you on a silver platter. The question is if you are willing to do it.

To validate your idea to unbundle from TikTok all you need to do is...make TikToks. If your goal is to identify a niche, a passionate community, then to validate your idea it is time to roll out the ring lights and turn that camera on yourself and start making TikTok content for that community.

Oh no, do I really have to film myself to validate an idea?

I think it is a valuable tool to be able to do that, but no. You do not have to ever show your face if you really do not want to, but what you will need to do instead is start sharing pieces of what you want to build to gauge interest from the niche you are targeting. This can be done any number of ways:

• Prototypes using tools like Framer, Figma, or Bubble

• Share tips and tricks

• Make #relatable content (aka "Isn't X the worst?!")

I am not a content expert, but hopefully this gives you enough of an idea to run with.

Don't sleep on TikTok

Even if you are not a fan of the platform or a user, do not sleep on something that captures the attention of so many people. There is something there that works and something people with a product/entrepreneur mindset can leverage to find your next idea.