Is 12 startups in 12 months the best option for a beginner?
If I'm new to launching products, does it make sense to try to do 12 startups in 12 months? Or is this a method that only really works if you're already quite good at launching quickly?
Thanks for your thoughts!
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Yes, the only way to learn to make apps is to actually make apps. I learned to code less than a year ago, got my first success recently, and would never have been able to have it if I didn't make 8 apps in 4 months.
Most of them failed, but one took off, it's a number game. And you learn A LOT
100% this. The way to learn is to do.
Do as many reps as possible to get good at it.
Hi Cindy!
I would 100% recommend doing 12 in 12 for one main reason.
You will get good at actually launching.
Most people never launch anything. They read, plan, code, listen to podcasts, code, add new features, code more, then get nervous it isn't good enough, switch projects and start all over again.
If you try to launch 12 startups in 12 months you will work on the skill of actually working.
Maybe none of the startups actually change your life. But you will get that critical skill to actually launch.
I would however, give some advice.
If you have never launched a Saas before, don't say you are going to launch 12 Saas products.
Instead start with a service, then an info product then do 10 Saas. Build up to it.
Good luck!
This is wonderful advice for another newbie to 12 in 12! Thanks Josh.
Launch one before you (or it) is ready and try to get it to cashflow positive in 90 days or less. Then at day 91 take a weekend and evaluate how you'd like to proceed. My 02.
The only advantage is being used to get tasks done in a short period of time, but 1 month is a short time to build and grow a Startup
Most people never launch any startup. So if you launch one in 1 month and it is ok, at least you launched.
I think so it will depend on the idea
I'm also following this. But all my products are one-week builds. So, for me, it is easy to distribute and get the traction needed for the product in that month.
You're right. Every idea has a different time span. It's great that you're working, and your product's build time span is one week. I would love to hear what steps you are taking to bring traffic, paying customers, and brand building.
Right now these are our top traffic sources
I launched 3 products on PH and we got good traffic from those launches. And I try to share my update once in 2/3 days on Indiehackers and Twitter.
Hi Cindy!
I’m new and doing 12 in 12, so I hope so 😅
Part of the philosophy of 12 in 12 is to practice shipping. If you don’t know how to ship yet, the best thing is probably practice 😊
It’s a few months out, so what did you decide?
I think you have to fail so many times to succeed. Whilst I may love a certain project, it is important to know when to quit or when to try something different. Personally, I love working on new projects but working on projects as a solo is difficult. You need to stay accountable and sometimes working with someone else in a joint venture helps with this. Trusting you find a good partner...
I had the same plan, but realized, that starting a start-up does not mean handing over something and then being done with it. 50% development and 50% continuous marketing. so what do you do with your first 10 startups, when you are at your 11th month? I Decided you stay with my videogrammer (https://www.grammer.video) for at least 1 year.
Not an good idea. You can't concentrate on all. Keep limited. I only build one startup in one year https://codermails.in
I disagree. Sure you can't concentrate on all of them. So sell or kill the ones that don't work and keep shipping.
You are an exception, you actually shipped a real valuable service. Most won't ship. So trying to ship a bunch helps people get good at that.
I'd rather work on a single project and work on it until it's perfect.
The risk of that is, the project is never perfect, so you never launch.
I think 12 in 12 is worth it just to get in the habit of launching things.
Product launching looks great, and every founder wishes to see their product successful. But on the other hand, reality is different. People start and then leave because every product needs proper time for development, marketing, and other work.
It depends on your experience and resources. You can start a small idea and execute it, but for better success, you need proper time to market the product. Launching the product is not hard if you are good at coding or have a strong development team, but the major success lies in marketing your product.
Our product, Churnfree.com, is a customer retention tool that helps membership businesses retain their customers and increase their revenue. It took more than 12 hours to develop the product, and we succeeded. Now we are trying to get more businesses to try this amazing product for their business growth.
I believe in quality over quantity. What if I made 10 products in 10 months, and I am the only user of my own products?
Did you mean 12 months rather than 12 hours?
I would say that it could be great to validate 12 ideas in 12 months, but launching 12 products takes a longer time. If you give up too early you will only learn the same early steps in growing a business. I would validate an idea and afterwards give it some more time to work on while continuously talking to users.
I think it is a balance. Marc ships a lot of successful projects and he says the ones that get traction get traction fast.
https://twitter.com/marckohlbrugge/status/1623392412004683776
12 in 12 helps you actually ship.
First clearly write down your goal. Then think if this strategy is of any use to achieve the goal
Theoretically, it is possible if you have a high level of self-discipline, if you think through all your products in advance, schedule a plan and stick to deadlines. The question is, why torture yourself like this? In my opinion, it will lead to nothing but burnout. I'm planning 3 products this year. And still very skeptical about it.
Avoid at every possible cost. Spend time in learning what people need. You will end up creating 12 junks in 12 months and then you will realize that you wasted an entire year!
My Advice - Never take everything posted here seriously - Be Smart!
Alternate take, you don't know what will be successful, so shipping a bunch of small bets is better than wasting an entire year 'researching, listening podcasts, and searching for a perfect idea'? :)
I have also been thinking about doing 12 in 12. I'm worried that I'll just produce 12 bad products, though. Has anyone experimented with a middle ground, maybe 4 in 12 or something?
12 bad projects is better than 0 good tho
Yeah, atleast you will learn how to build
12 bad products that you actually launched is better than thinking about 1 great product that never ships.
What do you do better, cook one dish in an hour or twelve.
Respectfully this is not good advice.
What most indie hackers do is cook a dish for 12 hours, decide it is not good enough, then cook it for 12 more hours, then get shiny object syndrome and never finish the dish so no one can taste it.
Instead the 12 in 12 means you will spend 12 hours making cookies 12 times. Each time hopefully getting better.
Will the 9th batch be amazing? Maybe, but at least you finished it!
The pace will depend on your ability to handel the project efficiently.The blind Game does not work in any area there is no fixed Markup.Just try to give the best Code,test it , give it to your friends to test, Share it with community. Hunt for Gold