Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

tbbuck.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

91–100 of 119 posts

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#91

Post by mootothemax »

ahoyhere wrote: post #90
myearwood wrote: post #62

The fact that this article is so popular is sort of sad.That shows that a lot of people on HN are not making $500 a month from their web apps .We should have higher goals than this.

I agree, kinda. I'm glad for the author's success so far (and, as another HNer said, that the word "lifestyle" has not yet reared its head in discussion). On the other hand,back in October, about how my products had brought in $216,000 in revenue in 2010 to date (from $0 in 2008), and I got maybe 30 votes on HN, barely made it onto the front page: http://unicornfree.com/2010/i-made-216668-from-products/ Which leads t…

I've observed that HN seems most interested in rags-to-minimum-wage stories, and rags-to-riches stories, but not much in between

If anyone has any ideas/pointers, I'd love to hear them.

Hi, original post author here! :) I think the main difference between our two posts is that mine goes into more detail about how I created the app and bought in revenue, whereas your posts lists only that you're already making serious dough (incidentally, congratulations! :)), and how your revenues have grown - not a lot about how to get there in the first place.

Why is this $500/mo (after 1.5 yrs) essay so popular

I'd like to take issue with this point, although please do correct me if I'm seeing criticism where none was intended :) This is obviously not a full-on startup - I don't work eight hours every evening on it; in fact I barely put in that many hours on it per month. Maybe I need to clarify this in my next blog post. Either way, I don't understand why you're knocking it for being 1.5 years old.

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#92

Post by ahoyhere »

mootothemax wrote: post #91
ahoyhere wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree, kinda. I'm glad for the author's success so far (and, as another HNer said, that the word "lifestyle" has not yet reared its head in discussion). On the other hand,back in October, about how my products had brought in $216,000 in revenue in 2010 to date (from $0 in 2008), and I got maybe 30 votes on HN, barely made it onto the front page: http://unicornfree.com/2010/i-made-216668-from-products/ Which leads t…

I've observed that HN seems most interested in rags-to-minimum-wage stories, and rags-to-riches stories, but not much in between If anyone has any ideas/pointers, I'd love to hear them. Hi, original post author here! :) I think the main difference between our two posts is that mine goes into more detail about how I created the app and bought in revenue, whereas your posts lists only that you're already making serious…

Hey, mootothemax, I wasn't knocking you! Sorry if it came across that way. I only added the time frame because our time frames were the same.

If we look at stories like ours PURELY as inspiration fodder (vs personal sagas), wouldn't you prefer to read about somebody who ended up with a hundred thousand instead of a hundred? :) That's not to downplay your success at all, because you've gotten what you've wanted in the way you wanted. That's what success is about, IMO.

Thanks for the tip about the specificity, I bet you're right & will try that approach next time.

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#93

Post by jasoon »

pepsi_can wrote: post #70
jamespacileo wrote: post #68

Hey guys, not sure if anyone has realized, but for SaaS projects the Extended version of the theme is required. So $1000 is what he should have paid for the admin panel... I hope no one involved with ThemeForest finds out :)

Can anyone elaborate on this? From the regular license description: The main thing you cannot do is offer the item up for resale either on its own or as part of a project. So you can use the item in a free game, but not in a game that is on sale. You can use the item in a website, but not in a web template that you sell. Here are the full legal terms: http://themeforest.net/wiki/support/legal-terms/licensing-te... Sp…

Taken from http://wiki.envato.com/buying/licenses-buying/themeforest-re...

Regular License Examples - The Regular License could be used for any of the following: Single website (commercial, personal, or non-profit). Single website for a client (commercial, personal, or non-profit). Single intranet site project.

Extended License Examples - The Extended License could be used for any of the following: Template for a web service such as WPMU. Part of a software package for sale.

To me that reads like in this case, the Regular license would be fine. The extended license seems more about situations where your customers will be creating their own unique and publicly accessible content using the template (You start up a blogging service www.omgblogs.com and someone could create their blog at mahblog.omgblogs.com then pick from a template you got from ThemeForest)

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#94

Post by [deleted] »

rsoto wrote: post #17
mootothemax wrote: post #2

Hi everyone, blog post author here. Over the last 18 months I've learned an incredible amount from the users here on Hacker News, and I figured that it's about time I started giving something back. None of my web apps make serious money, but they bring in enough to make a difference to life, and I'm hoping that my articles will help others get on the same path - if not somewhat more successfully! ;) Please feel free…

please don't split your articles. however, it was a good read. thanks.

[deleted]

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#95

Post by chopsueyar »

ahoyhere wrote: post #92
mootothemax wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've observed that HN seems most interested in rags-to-minimum-wage stories, and rags-to-riches stories, but not much in between If anyone has any ideas/pointers, I'd love to hear them. Hi, original post author here! :) I think the main difference between our two posts is that mine goes into more detail about how I created the app and bought in revenue, whereas your posts lists only that you're already making serious…

Hey, mootothemax, I wasn't knocking you! Sorry if it came across that way. I only added the time frame because our time frames were the same. If we look at stories like ours PURELY as inspiration fodder (vs personal sagas), wouldn't you prefer to read about somebody who ended up with a hundred thousand instead of a hundred? :) That's not to downplay your success at all, because you've gotten what you've wanted in the…

Get over yourself.

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#96

Post by chopsueyar »

eggbrain wrote: post #20
mootothemax wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks! The reason why I've separated is time - I thought it would be better to release them as I write them, rather than make everyone wait several weeks :)

I can definitely see it from your perspective: not only does it take less time to write one article rather than three [and probably less pressure as well!], it gives you content for your website (not to mention a steady stream of visitors wanting to see your content, rather than just one big group of visitors then nothing). From my perspective though, it is unfortunate: I'm interested in the story, but I don't know i…

That was how I felt about Robocop 2 and 3.

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#97

Post by guynamedloren »

bane wrote: post #72

Thanks for writing this up! We're currently going through a similar experience. The good news is that we went from 1 signup a month to quite a few per day (with a few days at over 100 new signups) -- mostly by following things that we've learned here on HN. A few weeks ago, my co-founder was getting pretty bummed out and was starting to look like throwing in the towel...then we managed to get covered in a few places…

Sounds like your hard work paid off indeed! Care to elaborate on how you gained users? Did you only email editors, or did you have other strategies as well? What were your pitches like? I'd love to hear!

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#98

Post by ahoyhere »

chopsueyar wrote: post #95
ahoyhere wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey, mootothemax, I wasn't knocking you! Sorry if it came across that way. I only added the time frame because our time frames were the same. If we look at stories like ours PURELY as inspiration fodder (vs personal sagas), wouldn't you prefer to read about somebody who ended up with a hundred thousand instead of a hundred? :) That's not to downplay your success at all, because you've gotten what you've wanted in the…

Get over yourself.

You mean like admit that my communication style might be part of the problem and ask for pointers? Oh wait - did that. Hmm!

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#99

Post by nateberkopec »

goatforce5 wrote: post #56
mootothemax wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Me? Drama ? Never! ;) Seriously, thanks for the initial advice, it helped me hugely! :-D

Make sure you buy the guy who recommended themeforest a beer. He sounds very wise and probably is totally awesome.

Same. Why haven't I thought of that?

Re: Building a Web Application that makes $500 a Month – Part I

#100

Post by android2 »

ahoyhere wrote: post #92
mootothemax wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've observed that HN seems most interested in rags-to-minimum-wage stories, and rags-to-riches stories, but not much in between If anyone has any ideas/pointers, I'd love to hear them. Hi, original post author here! :) I think the main difference between our two posts is that mine goes into more detail about how I created the app and bought in revenue, whereas your posts lists only that you're already making serious…

Hey, mootothemax, I wasn't knocking you! Sorry if it came across that way. I only added the time frame because our time frames were the same. If we look at stories like ours PURELY as inspiration fodder (vs personal sagas), wouldn't you prefer to read about somebody who ended up with a hundred thousand instead of a hundred? :) That's not to downplay your success at all, because you've gotten what you've wanted in the…

If you actually read his article instead of lamenting your lack of upvotes, you'd know that what he wanted WAS a rags to riches story.
Post reply on HN