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Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

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Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#21

Post by jlees »

chime wrote: post #4

I'd say you posted in the right place because lots of people here have the opposite problem - too many ideas, not enough time. Here's my list of random ideas that I feel can make some money each month if executed well: http://bulletxt.zetabee.com/share?n=1548888784&h=SHdydmJ... I haven't updated it in a few months because I've been busy with an interesting project. Maybe something on the list will inspire you. You're…

That countdown app is exactly what my SO is building for a specific use case - a generic, good, customisable one would be great.

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#22

Post by SabrinaDent »

When you're looking at ideas, filter not just for how much a particular idea interests you but how much it will cost to market. A productivity app that addresses a specific issue, for example, has a much more defined, low cost route to market than a website where you need to work with multiple manufacturers and attract consumers to launch a crowd-sourced clothing line production website.

The simplest formula is: 1. Solve a specific problem; 2. Tell the people who have the problem that you've solved it; 3. Convert them; 4. Profit. If the number of people you need to reach with #2 is vast, it's less likely you will reach #4 with the kind of budget you're talking about.

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#23

Post by jlees »

DirtyAndy wrote: post #9

Numbers 1, 2 and 4 are very easy to satisfy. Several people have already posted lists of ideas that they and others maintain. I seem to recall Y-Combinator posting lists of the types of projects they wish to look at in the future too, so it would be worth searching for them. If you can't self host then .NET hosting is going to cost you around US$10 a month, although there are deals to be had - I think I pay $35 for 6…

I totally agree on the latter point. Before you code anything, as your primary goal here is making money, get an Adwords voucher and see if you can get traffic to your site from ads. If people are clicking, then there's probably something there. If nobody visits your site after a bit of promotion, what's to say customers will visit when there is actually a product there? You can go right as far as the credit card signup page, depending on how you morally view misleading potential customers.

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#24

Post by RealGeek »

Play with Google CSE and build niche search engine http://www.google.com/cse/

I built a nifty search engine using Google CSE API over a weekend. It got over 30,000 unique visitors per day and made $2,000 per month.

It was probably one of the most advanced search engine built on Google CSE.

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#25

Post by ashitvora »

Not sure if you are still a student or working full time.

I have few ideas but I guess only student would be interested to work on it.

These ideas wont make you millionaire but you will definitely make enough money to pay your rent and will help you learn how to do business in general.

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#26

Post by astartupaday1 »

neiled wrote: post #20

Here's a few links with ideas: http://www.entrepreneur.com/businessideas/ http://www.sixmonthmba.com/2009/02/999ideas.html http://www.ahbbo.com/ideas.html http://ycombinator.com/ideas.html http://astartupaday.wordpress.com/ http://www.coolbusinessideas.com/ I've taken all these from a list in the 'Start Small, Stay Small' book here: http://www.startupbook.net/ Good luck!

I'm the author of the 'A Startup A Day' blog listed above. There several hundred ideas on the blog, but feel free to email me and I'm happy to help you pick out a few that fit what you're looking for. Contact info is in my profile.

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#27

Post by scottkrager »

RealGeek wrote: post #24

Play with Google CSE and build niche search engine http://www.google.com/cse/ I built a nifty search engine using Google CSE API over a weekend. It got over 30,000 unique visitors per day and made $2,000 per month. It was probably one of the most advanced search engine built on Google CSE.

Made? What happened to it?

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#28

Post by RealGeek »

scottkrager wrote: post #27
RealGeek wrote: post #24

Play with Google CSE and build niche search engine http://www.google.com/cse/ I built a nifty search engine using Google CSE API over a weekend. It got over 30,000 unique visitors per day and made $2,000 per month. It was probably one of the most advanced search engine built on Google CSE.

Made? What happened to it?

After running for a year on Google CSE. I built my own search platform and was able to grow it to over 100,000 visitors per day.

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#29

Post by d2viant »

RealGeek wrote: post #28
scottkrager wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Made? What happened to it?

After running for a year on Google CSE. I built my own search platform and was able to grow it to over 100,000 visitors per day.

How much are you making now?

Re: Help HN: Want to build small web app for learning and side income.

#30

Post by RealGeek »

d2viant wrote: post #29
RealGeek wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After running for a year on Google CSE. I built my own search platform and was able to grow it to over 100,000 visitors per day.

How much are you making now?

At it's peak, I made $15,000 per month.

Then I pulled the plug, because most of the users were using it to search movies and music. I had no legal troubles, but I did not want to stay in the gray area.

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