All of the skill, but none of the connections or marketing experience. How to proceed?

Hey everyone!

I'm a web and software developer by day, and for a while I've curated a few ideas to start my own business on the side and grow it into something more. Ideally, I'd like to create a software suite or SaaS app that I could sell to businesses (around my area at first, and then expand outward if it does well). The downside though, is that I feel to even gain a minute amount of traction, I'd have to have connections to or some type of 'in' already with the businesses I want to target in the community.

Since I don't feel like hiding behind a vail of secrecy, here's my ideas for you to pick apart:

1. Software to create/manage digital signage (menus, displays, ad boards, etc)
2. SaaS app to add an online ordering suite to a restaurant's website
3. Scheduling/notification software for automotive repair shops, cleaning companies, or photographers

If I were to give up on doing anything locally, I also have a back-up plan for creating a niche e-commerce shop. Although I really would like to do something where I could have a potential physical presence with my customers.

If anyone has broken out in any of the fields above, or has any suggestions for next steps moving forward, it would be a huge help. My goal for 2019 is to create a legitimate side business and start working toward something that I can build up and grow to (hopefully) become successful.

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