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Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

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Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#161

Post by skdotdan »

Instead of building an MVP and then trying to sell it, there are people who suggest: 1-Think of an idea. 2-Make a simple landing page with a mockup or something. 3-Try to sell the product. And by selling the product I mean actually selling it (so people actually transferring you money). If you can achieve a given amount of sells in a given amount of time (important: set concrete goals with concrete timing), then you have validated your product. 4-Build a first version of your product. 5-Iterate.

Very simple to say, very difficult to do (I've never tried, but I would probably fail). But I think there would be ways to systematically apply steps 1-3 until you find the right product to work on.

Any thoughts?

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#162

Post by simonbarker87 »

danielsamuels wrote: post #157
simonbarker87 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, once we've got Europe sorted we'll branch out to the last remaining countries that use steel panel radiators (turns out most countries don't pump hot water around their houses!).

> (turns out most countries don't pump hot water around their houses!) At the risk of sounding ignorant, what's the alternative that other countries use? Simply electricity?

Basically, yep. Straight up electric heaters are very popular in some places (eg: Scandinavia, New Zealand), some kind of forced air heating or ventilation either on a room by room basis or from a central heat source (essentially air con that can heat and cool) or under floor heating (either electric or water based).

New technologies such as Passivhaus, ground source and air source heat pumps are also changing the heat landscape quite a bit (if on a small scale at the moment).

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#163

Post by dpark »

skdotdan wrote: post #161

Instead of building an MVP and then trying to sell it, there are people who suggest: 1-Think of an idea. 2-Make a simple landing page with a mockup or something. 3-Try to sell the product. And by selling the product I mean actually selling it (so people actually transferring you money). If you can achieve a given amount of sells in a given amount of time (important: set concrete goals with concrete timing), then you…

I think what you're describing would be referred to in court as fraud.

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#164

Post by simonbarker87 »

danielsamuels wrote: post #155
simonbarker87 wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks to the person who highlighted a typo on taptimer.com and sent in the contact form about it - no email address supplied so I'm thanking them here.

Not sure if it was the "Beautifull", but it doesn't need two 'L's

Sadly it was another, I've fixed that one as well now though thanks

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#165

Post by huebnerob »

dpark wrote: post #163
skdotdan wrote: post #161

Instead of building an MVP and then trying to sell it, there are people who suggest: 1-Think of an idea. 2-Make a simple landing page with a mockup or something. 3-Try to sell the product. And by selling the product I mean actually selling it (so people actually transferring you money). If you can achieve a given amount of sells in a given amount of time (important: set concrete goals with concrete timing), then you…

I think what you're describing would be referred to in court as fraud.

I read this more as a Kickstarter-style setup where you are pre-ordering the product, not that you actually promise them something you can't yet immediately deliver.

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#166

Post by aantix »

dpark wrote: post #163
skdotdan wrote: post #161

Instead of building an MVP and then trying to sell it, there are people who suggest: 1-Think of an idea. 2-Make a simple landing page with a mockup or something. 3-Try to sell the product. And by selling the product I mean actually selling it (so people actually transferring you money). If you can achieve a given amount of sells in a given amount of time (important: set concrete goals with concrete timing), then you…

I think what you're describing would be referred to in court as fraud.

That isn't fraud; contracts are drawn up all of the time (with X amount needed up front) promising future work.

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#167

Post by danielsamuels »

simonbarker87 wrote: post #162
danielsamuels wrote: post #157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> (turns out most countries don't pump hot water around their houses!) At the risk of sounding ignorant, what's the alternative that other countries use? Simply electricity?

Basically, yep. Straight up electric heaters are very popular in some places (eg: Scandinavia, New Zealand), some kind of forced air heating or ventilation either on a room by room basis or from a central heat source (essentially air con that can heat and cool) or under floor heating (either electric or water based). New technologies such as Passivhaus, ground source and air source heat pumps are also changing the he…

Very interesting, thank you for sharing your knowledge!

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#168

Post by sjburt »

danielsamuels wrote: post #157
simonbarker87 wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks, once we've got Europe sorted we'll branch out to the last remaining countries that use steel panel radiators (turns out most countries don't pump hot water around their houses!).

> (turns out most countries don't pump hot water around their houses!) At the risk of sounding ignorant, what's the alternative that other countries use? Simply electricity?

Most buildings in the US use warm air. This means the same ducts can be used for both heating and cooling. There will be a central gas (or less frequently, oil) furnace or a heat pump. I think that switch occurred in the 1950s. Older homes might have steam heat, or sometimes electric baseboard heaters.

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#169

Post by danielsamuels »

simonbarker87 wrote: post #164
danielsamuels wrote: post #155

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure if it was the "Beautifull", but it doesn't need two 'L's

Sadly it was another, I've fixed that one as well now though thanks

No problem!

Re: Ask HN: Building a side project that makes money. Where to start?

#170

Post by skdotdan »

dpark wrote: post #163
skdotdan wrote: post #161

Instead of building an MVP and then trying to sell it, there are people who suggest: 1-Think of an idea. 2-Make a simple landing page with a mockup or something. 3-Try to sell the product. And by selling the product I mean actually selling it (so people actually transferring you money). If you can achieve a given amount of sells in a given amount of time (important: set concrete goals with concrete timing), then you…

I think what you're describing would be referred to in court as fraud.

Really? Maybe the way I didn't write it didn't imply it, but I actually meant that you always had to make very clear that the product doesn't exist yet. You are selling the concept of something you are or you will be working on. If after a week you have managed to do only 1 sell, then return the money, say your product didn't receive enough interest, and try something else. However, if you manage to do 1 sell, you will probably manage to do more than 1. The first one is the difficult one.

If you achieve a decent amount of sales in a week, then build quickly the first version of your product.

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