Avatoon
About the Company
Avatoon is a graphic design service focused on providing personalized, hand-drawn avatars to individuals and businesses. The company operates through a simple website where customers can place orders for avatars, which are then drawn by professional illustrators. The business was started by three friends who have a background in graphic design, and their primary market consists of both individuals and companies looking for unique, professional avatars. The founders aimed to fill a gap in the market for custom avatars, a concept that was not widely discussed or available at the time. Despite modest beginnings, Avatoon has grown into a steady business, making $4,700 in revenue per month on average.
Idea Behind Company
The idea for Avatoon emerged from a casual conversation among the three co-founders. One of them, Gergő, became intrigued by a cartoon avatar used by a YouTuber, which sparked the curiosity of the group. As they researched, they realized there was little information or services available for custom avatars. Seeing this gap in the market, they decided to create a business that would offer professional, hand-drawn avatars at a reasonable price. As graphic designers, they had the skill set to build the website themselves, and they decided to hire freelance artists to create the avatars. This strategic approach allowed them to offer a high-quality product without the need for significant upfront investment.
Creating the Company
After conceiving the idea, the team faced a significant challenge: raising enough capital to get started. For several months, they lived on a minimal budget, even surviving on a cheap Romanian snack called Pufulet. Once they had saved enough, they hired the best freelance artists they could find to create the avatars. To build the website, they secluded themselves in a village away from distractions, focusing solely on developing the platform. They dedicated their efforts to creating a user-friendly website with a clear UI/UX design, ensuring it was both functional and optimized for search engines. During this period, they built the site, refined its content, and developed a marketing strategy to prepare for the launch.
Launching the Business
Avatoon’s official launch involved a focused marketing campaign. They sent 30,000 emails to potential customers, leveraging their existing network from their careers as graphic designers. They also used ProductHunt to gain exposure, which led to a significant surge in traffic. However, the launch day was initially disappointing, with only a few orders. But the following day, their website exploded with orders, largely due to being featured on ProductHunt, which drove massive traffic and sales. Despite technical difficulties, including a server crash, the team managed to handle the influx of orders. This rapid success helped establish Avatoon in the custom avatar market, and the founders learned important lessons about managing a high-volume business.
Earnings
Since its launch, Avatoon has earned an average of $4,700 per month, mainly from custom avatar orders. The company has around 100 clients per month, with the majority being businesses that return for bulk orders. While their initial attempts with Google Ads didn’t generate the expected results, they found success through organic search traffic, which now accounts for 80-90% of their client base. The team invested in SEO experts to optimize their website, allowing them to rank higher for relevant keywords. Although the company is small, with only three employees, it has managed to grow steadily by focusing on organic marketing, offering discounts for returning customers, and continuously improving their service.
Avatoon plans to continue expanding its reach by focusing on SEO to attract the right audience. They also plan to introduce new art styles at different price points to cater to a wider range of clients. Additionally, they recognize the potential of social media and hope to invest more in that area in the future, though their limited resources have kept them from fully leveraging these platforms. The founders also learned valuable lessons from their early challenges, such as the importance of technical preparedness and clearly defining their target audience. Moving forward, they plan to refine their business model, enhance customer service, and explore opportunities for growth by improving their website and expanding their product offerings.
