About the Company

MiloTree was launched as an online tool aimed at helping creators and bloggers grow their social media presence and email subscriber lists. The Leslies recognized the need to attract traffic from platforms like Pinterest to support their first website, Catch My Party. With the success of Catch My Party, which became a popular party-planning resource, Jillian and David decided to create a complementary tool that could aid others in building a following on various platforms, particularly focusing on real, engaged audiences.

Expanding their offerings, the Leslies launched a second tool, MiloTree Easy Payments, in 2022. This tool simplifies the process of monetizing creative content by providing creators with an easy way to offer paid services, memberships, or workshops. Through this platform, they continue their mission to empower creators, especially female entrepreneurs, by simplifying the technical aspects of selling digital products.

As a creator-focused company, MiloTree supports content entrepreneurs with intuitive, easy-to-use tools. Its success draws heavily on customer feedback, which has helped shape features like social media integration and email compatibility across major platforms.

Idea Behind Company

Jillian and David Leslie’s business journey started with Catch My Party, a site originally intended for teens but which pivoted to a focus on moms and young children. While building Catch My Party, they noticed a consistent challenge in growing their Pinterest following, which became a critical part of their traffic and monetization strategy. This led to the idea for MiloTree, a pop-up tool to help other creators also struggling with audience growth on platforms like Pinterest.

The idea for their second product, MiloTree Easy Payments, grew out of the demand they observed among bloggers and creators looking for ways to monetize their communities directly. They wanted to offer creators an alternative to complex platforms, focusing on simplicity and affordability to help them sell their expertise and services.

Jillian’s experience as a writer and David’s background in tech (as the former Head of Product at MySpace) allowed them to understand both creative and technical aspects of online business. Their work with bloggers revealed the importance of streamlined tools, driving them to develop products specifically tailored for creators without extensive technical skills.

Creating the Company

To develop MiloTree, Jillian and David began by closely analyzing the problems faced by content creators, many of whom struggled with audience engagement and revenue generation. They launched MiloTree as a pop-up app designed for simplicity and immediate use. The initial design focused on growing social media followers and email subscribers, integrating with major email service providers for convenience.

For MiloTree Easy Payments, Jillian and David emphasized understanding the monetization challenges faced by creators. They started with in-depth interviews to gather insights on the needs of bloggers and creators. Unlike other platforms, which required considerable tech knowledge, MiloTree Easy Payments was crafted to be as intuitive as possible, with a 10-minute setup, a simple transaction-based fee model, and free hosted sales pages.

Testing and customer feedback were integral to both products. They worked with beta testers, using weekly feedback sessions to refine features, such as automated email integration and custom sales pages. David’s technical expertise allowed them to avoid external developers, keeping costs low and development efficient.

Launching the Business

MiloTree and MiloTree Easy Payments both launched with soft rollouts to test the market and build customer interest. Catch My Party’s email list provided a ready audience for the initial launch of MiloTree, which saw 1,000 customers in its early stages. MiloTree was initially free with a freemium model but later shifted to a subscription-based model, offering a free trial followed by a $9/month fee.

Jillian’s podcast, The Blogger Genius Podcast, which she started in 2018, became a significant marketing channel for both products. She shares insights and tips for entrepreneurs, drawing in listeners who might benefit from MiloTree and MiloTree Easy Payments. The couple has also utilized workshops, newsletters, and recently, Google search ads to expand MiloTree Easy Payments’ reach.

By focusing on grassroots marketing strategies and providing valuable free content, Jillian has successfully built a strong community around her products. These personal connections have helped increase customer loyalty, with ongoing engagement through newsletters, checklists, and tutorials.

Earnings

As of now, the combined monthly revenue from MiloTree and MiloTree Easy Payments stands at $12,000, with growth primarily from the pop-up app. MiloTree Easy Payments is expanding steadily, growing 30% month-over-month as the demand for monetization tools in the creator economy rises. The Leslies anticipate this new app will soon generate a significant share of their revenue.

While they rely mostly on organic growth, MiloTree’s low-cost model, high customer engagement, and community-building approach have ensured a robust customer base. With limited reliance on paid advertising, the Leslies leverage word-of-mouth and in-app referrals, resulting in a long customer lifecycle. As they refine MiloTree Easy Payments, Jillian and David project continued growth and predict the platform will soon become their primary revenue source.