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37 Comments

How I launched a side-project in one weekend

I worked for the last 6 months on a new project that I just recently launched.

Soon I started getting feedback and comments around my project and idea.

But.. 100% of that was based on the landing page that I created in two hours.

So I thought that for my next project, I would start from the landing page.

So I did this last weekend.

I had some rules:

  • It had to be an idea that excited me.
  • Only for the weekend, after that, I needed to return to my main project.
  • It needs to have some business model around and a button to pay.

Some people asked me how I did it so fast, and this is how:

  • I used Tailwindcss and TailwindUI, which meant, I only had to change the images and the text.
  • I used Gumroad to add the payment button. It was my first time using it and I was amazed, so easy!
  • That's pretty much it. No database. Just HTML.

The hardest part was to write the copy. That took almost most of the time. Also, while I was writing it I was refining the idea.

I shared it on Reddit and got a lot of feedback that I can use when and if I end up making the project.

If you are curious you can check the project here: https://nomadnest.org

I recommend this strategy to everyone that starts something. Share a sales page as soon as you can to start gathering some feedback, or even before you start.

  1. 3
    • I absolutely love the design (and I know you used Tailwind, but I don't care, it looks fucking awesome)
    • I love that this looks like a solid product. It doesn't "feel" like a "bs landing page" even though, it pretty much is just a landing page.
    • I personally am not a big traveler, but I the copy and the aesthetic makes me want to learn more

    Awesome work.

    1. 1

      It is amazing how easy it is to make a landing page that looks great using Tailwind.

      Thanks for your kind words!

  2. 1

    What do u mean by sales page? i didnt quite get that

    1. 1

      Well, just a landing page where you offer something in exchange for money :)

  3. 1

    I love this, and I love hearing real-talk from "doers" like yourself. Well done and best of luck!

  4. 1

    A small but important thing. Run a spellcheck on your copy. In your hero text, you have:

    Could Couchsufring disappear?

    1. 1

      Super important! I did several times! Thanks a lot for noticing! I'll fix it!

  5. 1

    "No database. Just HTML."

    Thats great, I think its super common to build a project on your own before showing it to customers because you are "perfecting" it.

    1. 1

      Communicating the idea it is probably by far the most important task as a maker!

  6. 1
    • Love the design and product idea
    • Felt there is a bit too much text and information
    • Generally great work, love the gumroad validation! @sahil should be proud!
    1. 1

      Thank you for your feedback Kirill, happy that you like the idea!

      I tried to clarify everything as well as I possibly could so I ended up writing a very long landing page. Thanks for your honesty! I hope at least the information helps to make all clear!

      I appreciate that you took time of your day to write this nice comment!

  7. 1

    Bad (or maybe good?) timing. Couchsurfing is going out of business due to covid: https://blog.couchsurfing.com/couchsurfing-needs-your-help/

    1. 1

      I think that they have been struggling for a while. They have a lot of traffic and no clear business model. Thanks for commenting!

  8. 1

    Congrats for your launch !
    It's an interesting way of launching, do you have any insights of how much did it worked or not ? Like how many people visited / payed / etc ?

    Beautiful landing btw, thanks for making me discover tailwind css

    1. 1

      I will share some data tomorrow on my twitter! But... No one was brave enough to pay so far! :)

      Enjoy tailwindcss, and thanks for your time!

      1. 1

        how does tail wind work.

        basically build it from scratch, no wordpress template?

  9. 1

    Congrats on the launch!
    Great design, looks like a robust product even though it's still just a landing page. As a user, the design makes me trust this product.

    See you around Sin Oficina :)

    1. 1

      Thank you for taking the time to come to this article and share your opinion. It means a lot!

  10. 1

    Great work. I've been thinking about this a lot for my next side-project. However, I was thinking of building a very simple MVP but I like your version a lot. Thanks for sharing. Using Gumroad this way is very smart.

    1. 1

      Thanks Antonio! Share it when you have it! I will love to check it out!

  11. 1

    That's great, congrats! Where on reddit did you post?

    1. 1

      I posted on the Couchsurfing subreddit. You can find it here: https://bit.ly/3gsuTtq

      The feedback was completely different than the one in here!

      Take care and thanks for your comment!

  12. 1
    • This website looks and reads great. I've been experimenting with TailwindCSS over the past week to create a wireframe for an app and it's working out really well. I think you've just tipped me over the edge to buy TailwindUI!
    • It looks like a completed product but it's actually just a fundraiser - BUT it doesn't feel needy or begging like so many others.

    How do you intend to promote it?

    1. 2

      Hello Paul!

      Thanks a lot for your kind words! About TailwindUI, I wouldn't even think about it... it helps a lot! It saved me hours.

      About promoting it, I wish I knew how. I am trying to figure it out, I think at the end is just a sum of small actions and repetition.

      Have a great day!

  13. 1

    Great Job !
    One question, wouldn't it be easier and quicker to have built your landing page with a simple wordpress/Elementor ?
    Again your page is nice !

    1. 1

      Thanks, Digger!

      If you are familiar with WP and Elementor, of course! I think the best Is just to use whatever that you are comfortable with. It doesn't really matter the technology if it looks great and works.

      In my case, I feel "more in control" using Tailwind, but just because I've used it for the last months. But any other framework or technology is equally valid.

  14. 1

    This looks great @jrleonr. Congrats on a swift launch. The website looks great. It has a professional feel and one would think it has been active for a while. First impressions are fantastic. Keep up the great work and thanks for sharing your insights!

    1. 2

      So happy that you like it! Thanks a lot for taking the time to comment! Have a great day!

  15. 1

    Looks very promising. Good luck and keep us updated.

    1. 1

      Thank you Stan! Appreciate it!

  16. 1

    This is a great idea! I will start doing more of this for all of my ideas. This will fuel the interest if it takes off.

    1. 1

      Great! To me it was a bit depressing that after six months of hard work everyone was just paying attention to a landing page that I did in two hours!

      So from now on, the sales page comes first!

      1. 1

        Was this a template? or was this coded by hand?

      2. 1

        I can completely understand your frustration. This will probably be my strategy moving fwd.

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