I have a side project with almost 1M users and I don't like it!
Hello All!
This is a real problem I have, please be kind ๐
In 2015, I created a simple side project that's solve one annoying problem that I don't even have myself but I faced it once and I decided to fix it as a SAAS project. Shared its link on one single online community, and that's was it. Never did advertisements of any kind, never care about SEO, I didn't even mention it on my only social account on twitter, it's a free side project after all.
Few weeks later after launch, users start coming, people share its link on social media almost every week or so, it's number 1 or 2 on google in My language (Arabic) most of the time.
Users constantly ask for paid features like (premium templates, custom url, more customizations .. etc)
Now I have almost 910,000 users and they created almost 1 million umm (let's call it a page ๐ )
Constantly average daily users are 800 to 1500 new users, some times goes up to 14000 new users per single day,
I'm sure if I just add a paid plans I'll get easily 12K to 30K monthly profit or more.
Now my monthly bills are : $80 servers (DO) + $15 Email service (Sendgrid) and $8 for storage (AWS S3)
My problem.
The problem is simple, I HATE the industry this project is serving.
I tried to just do it and get money who cares, but I couldn't, I get excited for few days or weeks and build a new version of it and pushed it and people are happy but I don't implement paid plans because I know the moment I add paid subscriptions I'll have to focus on it and do the support and deal with all customers issues and keep improving the project and add more features.
In the other hand I'm so in love with other side project that I'm building right now, I kind of like the industry, I see the big potential there, I like the idea that it serves way more people than the current one.
I thought of selling it and just get rid of it and focus on my new project, but in Arabic world people think it's an easy project and they just can go and find a freelancer to copy/paste it so they won't offer the fair price for it.
The project though can be in multiple languages and almost ready to be English/Arabic + but the market in English language is already taken by competitors.
Keeping the project without converting it to a profitable business is a stupid idea and costing me money and what more important than money is lack of focus on other important things. I'm not a multi-tasker and I don't like to open two project in one time, specially as I full time employee loses 8 hours on a day job I need every single minute to be focused on my new project.
What do you think the best thing to do in such a situation ?
Any tips or suggestions would be really appreciated.
If I may put my two cents in, when you say that nobody would buy your project because it is easy to replicate, I think you are wrong. People would not buy the technical aspects of your website, they would buy the userbase. And I am pretty sure that a million users is a lot, so it is very very valuable ๐
Why donโt you try to post it on websites such as https://indiemaker.co/ or https://www.sideprojectors.com and see what happens?
Exactly and that's what people can't understand, I mean the ones approached me before to buy it. Thanks a lot for the links, I'll check them out ๐
here's what I can tell from experience. Usually when something becomes totally money-driven and that money isn't a big enough motivation, it's better to leave the project.
Now, the question is how to leave it? How to move on?
The best two options if the project isn't a "bad thing" from your perspective:
2a. if it makes good money, hire people to continue the project for you
2b. if doesn't make good money but still makes money: sell it
If it's a "bad project": stop it, destroy it.
What I mean by bad depends of you.
For example, I don't like the tabaco industry, I find it harmful, so I would stop any kind of project I know would cause harm like that industry.
This line of "harmful" is up to you.
In any case, would love to know/buy/continue the project if I find it interesting.
DM me on twitter or by mail: helloworld {at} maisonfutari {dot} com
Good advice. I was in a similar situation and I can only agree with maisonfutari. Try to get rid of the project one way or another, or it will chase you for a long time.
that's a tough one, but a good problem to have. assuming it is a respectable industry, you should really consider seeing it through by adding those paid features. it sounds like it will take work you might dislike, but let's be honest... 1,000,000 users is insane! That's 50 stadiums full of people. and what a good opportunity if they are asking to pay you for more features. you'll probably learn a lot on the way and if you are successful with adding the paid features you should find yourself in an ever better spot with more experience, more financial freedom, and a more valuable product.
I totally agree that If I added paid features I'll see it from a different perspective and I may change my mind to keep it and that's what I'm afraid to happen, coz my mind is in a different world right now with the new project I'm falling in love with!
Adding to the comment that was already made: do yourself a massive favor and focus on your calling, i.e., what you are passionate about.
Money only has the value we attribute to it; time is priceless and fleeting. Don't go through life wishing you would have done________. You owe it to yourself to make the most of your time and that isn't likely to happen if you aren't passionate about what you're spending most of your time on.
Hi. This is my first comment on IH. I see that a lot of guys are trying to profit from this. I would personally work on the paid features and once it generates enough money, I would hire. Imagine how $12-30k would help you grow your other project
ุญุท ูุงูู ูุงุจุดุง ุนุดุงู ูุณุงุนุฏู :)
If itโs clean (no politics/religion/porn) - I might be able to connect you with a few folks, and you can take it from there.
You probably can sell it yourself though, itโs a process like any other.
ุญุทููุง ูุงููุ ุฒุจูุทูุง ุจูู ๐ธ
It's super clean, it's even desirable and has really big potential to be 2x or 3x of its current state.
You should make it paid and then hire some people to help you with those things. If it can become profitable then use that money to start your other project. Most people don't find product market fit. Yes it's annoying you don't like it etc etc but it's really short term pain for a longer term gain/strategy.
Also just cause you make it paid doesn't mean most of these people will stick around. Free users are not the same as paid ones so to really find out you would have to actually do the work. Good luck.
That is something! I sent you DM to Twitter with 2 possible solutions the way I see it - please, give it a thought and let's discuss it further!
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This is the same problem you see from high paid engineers who hate the work they are doing or the company they are working for. There is no amount of money that can overcome that feeling, so maybe a sale is the best route. I think you have more options for selling than you think. Give MicroAcquire a look.
I can talk from my personal experience. I was also in a similar situation, having a project that could make me a lot of $$$, which I eventually quit and focused on what I currently do & love (ZeroToUsers). I spend 3x as much time, enjoy it, and definitely don't regret it.
Google: "product-founder" it. It's something not many people talk about but pretty important if you want to stick to something in the long run.
Sell it Ahmad!
Oh crap, I realized I answered a month old post. @onemoreahmad did you make a decision after all?
If is shortlink related or anything like that, I may be interested.
I am interested in buying this if you're up for it!
I think you should add the paid features and then work towards getting it self-sustaining. After that, you can invest your time into the project you like.
Interested to work for you on this
What is this startup? I would be interested in.
Hello, I can program and I'm looking to join someone or some team and work on something that makes an impact on people. Can I join you? My email is kapton@abv.bg
Why not slap some ads on the site and just keep it as is? As long as it's cash flow positive, you can just pretend it doesn't exist and do your other thing that excites you.
Do you want to sell it?
This comment was deleted 6 years ago
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