Launched https://planscope.io late February. Netting about $1100/mo profit after server costs.
What language was this built with?
Rails on the backend, Backbone on the front
Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
101–110 of 201 posts
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#102Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, I'm kind of amazed at it myself. I rank fairly well for some of the most relevant keywords now, and that's where almost all the traffic comes from. What I think I'm doing right: * Simple to start. As soon as you enter the page you see the table, you just need to press Deal and you've started. No "enter your name", no choosing options before starting, no nag ads. * Single page sites. The rules for the games are o…
Why do you have different second-level domains for each game? Why not use one domain with a bunch of subdomains for each game? That way you'd build brand recognition at the same time, and avoid people running out and registering things like "cribbage-cardgame.com"...
Started by accident. First game I made was Idiot, and got the domain idiot-cardgame.com for it, since I had no plans to create more at that time. When I made Crazy Eights I couldn't really use idiot-cardgame.com for it, so I gave that its own domain. After that it was just a kind of pattern I guess. I also had some vague ideas that maybe I'd get more google juice out of having links from different domains to each other.
I have thought about changing it all to one domain, and setting up some 301 redirects, but I'm just afraid to mess up my google rankings. For the solitaire game I re-use a domain, e.g I have http://www.solitaire-cardgame.com for Klondike solitaire (or classic solitaire), and then I have http://www.solitaire-cardgame.com/freecell for Free Cell solitaire.
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#103I created a few javascript card games, most of them in late 2011, but they really started earning this year. So far have made Spades, Hearts, Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Shithead and a couple of solitaires. Revenue has been steadily rising, and is a nice little side income now. http://www.spades-cardgame.com is one, the rest are linked from there.
I didn't see any ads after I paused Adblock or any other call to action.
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#104I created a few javascript card games, most of them in late 2011, but they really started earning this year. So far have made Spades, Hearts, Go Fish, Crazy Eights, Shithead and a couple of solitaires. Revenue has been steadily rising, and is a nice little side income now. http://www.spades-cardgame.com is one, the rest are linked from there.
I didn't see any ads after I paused Adblock or any other call to action.
Well that's weird. There are two AdSense skyscrapers, one on each side of the table. How wide is your screen?
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#105I started a temporary email service called Air Mail which has processed over 2 million emails in the last 3 months and is already profitable. http://getairmail.com wish I had a cent for every email it processed ;-)
Your site generates me @7tags.com email addresses, but http://7tags.com says it's run by a domain reseller and that it's for sale. How come?
not a domain re seller myself, but I do have a few short domains I use for Air Mail, as Air Mail is a disposable temporary address it doesn't really matter , if I sell any of these I will make sure they are dropped from Air Mail in an orderly fashion.
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#106Earlier quoted context omitted.
How'd you register the .ng domain? Is it possible to get a straight .ng domain with out the '.com'? All the sites that offer .ng seem very sketchy and I'm skeptical of trying.
101domain.com offers it (along with practically every TLD): http://www.101domain.com/ng.htm
Actually it's this: http://www.101domain.com/com_ng.htm
Like KingOfB, I wonder why "domain.ng" costs $50,000/year!
Edit: Apparently, they're banking on the extension being attractive for things like "im.facebooki.ng". Hmmm.
http://www.loyokezie.com/2011/01/05/at-50000-will-the-ng-cct...
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#107I started a business text-messaging service, and succeeded in my first two sales calls with local businesses. It was instantly profitable and is growing. Currently I am not ready to sell it nationally, as I am refining and adding some new features for a new client, or I would link it.
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#108Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes just with ads, but trying to keep the UX good and not fill it with lots of ads.
I really like your service and have used it a few times. I doubt the UX will be affected that much if you were to include a few passive ads. So I would say, go for it, make some money, you deserve to.
What are passive ads ? do you mean more GoogleAds ? I'm not in it for the quick dollar, I want to get this service to as many people as possible and be in it for the long run.
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#109Earlier quoted context omitted.
Really awesome, i couldn't think you can make money with a no-sponsorship model on games. So your revenue comes completely from ads?
Yes, I'm kind of amazed at it myself. I rank fairly well for some of the most relevant keywords now, and that's where almost all the traffic comes from. What I think I'm doing right: * Simple to start. As soon as you enter the page you see the table, you just need to press Deal and you've started. No "enter your name", no choosing options before starting, no nag ads. * Single page sites. The rules for the games are o…
Just played Spades for 1/2 hour. Fantastic work! You did the right thing in allowing the player to jump straight into the game upon landing on the homepage. The games itself are so simple that the process of starting a game should be simple, and you've done that here. Job well done!
Re: Ask HN: who started something in 2012 which is already profitable?
#110I started http://boxysign.com 2 months ago. It is a way to share and sign documents with just a link! It's been profitable from the start - ableit still on a very small scale.