After 8 years, 2 startup flops, several years paying a debt, having a break down going through YC, and countless half-baked side projects I've finally made something (nocodery.com) that entered the $1k club.
The main source of revenue has been advertisement. We had little paid job posts but we've had a good amount of course sales.
Most of the users come from my posts on twitter, job posts on nocodery's twitter, the two PH launches, and other no-code communities such as nocodedevs.com
The job board was useful since day one (with few people) because we aggregate no-code job posts from other sources, so the users don't have to go through several platforms and that is valuable to our users.
Congrats man! I've been following you on Twitter for a while now and love how you're pioneering the no-code space. Inspired me to build my mvp off of Bubble 🔥
@Gonelf What are your key learning points after "8 years, 2 startup flops, several years paying a debt, having a break down going through YC, and countless half-baked side projects"?
Congrats!! Did you take any steps before launching the job board to validate that it's needed? For example, did you look at any google search trends and other such signals?
Thanks :)
Yes, I did search for no-code job offers in other platforms to see if there was a big volume, and for which no-code tolls. I've also looked for people looking for no-code help in social media like Twitter and Reddit.
Argh! I love no-code, it's the perfect way to validate your idea before pouring money into something. You should spread the word around women in tech and SaaS founders communities, there's a lot of talking about no-code and visual programming these days :)
Thanks.
I had my ups and downs. I always liked to build new stuff and solve problems. Sometimes I build stuff for fun other times I tried to build a business, so I get motivated when something gets good feedback and something goes bad I don't get any motivation.
In the bad cases, I just take some time, relax, remember that not everything in life is bad, and give grace for the good things I have in my life. Sometimes this takes a few hours other take months.
The worst time was when I got the debt to pay from an investment I got for my 2nd startup. I really went down and thought I'd never try anything again, but then life turned around, and here we are.
Also, I have an amazing girlfriend that has been with me since the beginning that helped me a lot during the dark times.
What a journey! Glad you found the silver lining after being persistent for 8 years. You deserve the success! Btw, marry to your girlfriend, don't let her wait too long 😜
Thanks :)
The only special method I used is the one I still use, connect to people, and don't be greedy.
As for the stack we use PHP + MySql and automate.io to post the job offers on twitter and FB.
It does feel awesome I'm not going to lie :D
Yes, we have some plans for version 3.0 and the value proposition is changing a bit to be more aligned with what our customers look for.
We have 2 types of customers. The experts and the rookies.
The experts want to show their work and get more work.
The rookies want to learn and become an expert.
Thanks :)
The project was impraise.com I was the iOS developer for the team there, not a founder. On the good side, I learned is that you really need to know why you're making something and that a good supporting community is key for success. On the bad side, it was a way super intense journey of 18h of work per day for 3 months that led to burnout and me quitting the project.
Congrats! Any stories to share about ideas you thought would generate revenue but did not? Also curious to hear if there was a time where you failed a customer/potential customer interaction?
When google canceled its RSS reader I developed an alternative that never got any reactions and Feedly came along. I tried to launch some products on product hunt that also go no traction like this https://www.producthunt.com/posts/filmer. I was an advisor of this project that went through the Web Summit and failed right after https://www.producthunt.com/posts/thoughts-2. just to mention a few.
When I started nocodery I begin to pitch a premium tool profile version to no-code tools and failed miserably with the first tools, the price and the value was completely wrong. Fortunately, I adjusted it and got some of my first customers that way.
After 8 years, congrats! I'm on 2nd startup and 2 years in so can't imagine how you feel right now. For questions:
Thanks.
This comment was deleted 4 years ago.
Congrats Gonçalo! If you can make $1k, you can make $10k and $100k. Don't give up.
Thank for the support 💪
Congrats man! I've been following you on Twitter for a while now and love how you're pioneering the no-code space. Inspired me to build my mvp off of Bubble 🔥
That is so cool 🤗 don't be a stranger and send a DM on twitter if you need any help.
@Gonelf What are your key learning points after "8 years, 2 startup flops, several years paying a debt, having a break down going through YC, and countless half-baked side projects"?
Congrats on the milestone. Keep it going.
Thanks :)
The main takeaways are
nice thanks @Gonelf
Congrats Gonçalo!
What made things click with this project vs your previous attempts?
Thanks :)
I guess it was
How did you find the clients? In other words, what were your strategies for reaching clients?
Twitter, be a person a reachable person on Twitter (and in life I guess).
Also, I made a post explaining how I got the first customers https://www.indiehackers.com/product/nocodery/first-paying-customer-for-nocodery--Ly6BHTOZhkW8yqojCUP
I hope it helps :)
Thanks! I will take that advice 😄
It works for me It might not work for you, it's only my experience :D
no questions-- just great to see you and your story here!
congrats!
Thank you 🤗
Congrats!! Did you take any steps before launching the job board to validate that it's needed? For example, did you look at any google search trends and other such signals?
Thanks :)
Yes, I did search for no-code job offers in other platforms to see if there was a big volume, and for which no-code tolls. I've also looked for people looking for no-code help in social media like Twitter and Reddit.
Argh! I love no-code, it's the perfect way to validate your idea before pouring money into something. You should spread the word around women in tech and SaaS founders communities, there's a lot of talking about no-code and visual programming these days :)
Thank you for the tips :) I'll check those communities. Are you In any of those that you could invite me in?
I can email you some links. Would that work?
That would be perfect, thanks 🙏
Congrats @Gonelf 👍Would you mind sharing what keeps you being motivated in the past 8 years with so many failed projects and having debts?
Thanks.
I had my ups and downs. I always liked to build new stuff and solve problems. Sometimes I build stuff for fun other times I tried to build a business, so I get motivated when something gets good feedback and something goes bad I don't get any motivation.
In the bad cases, I just take some time, relax, remember that not everything in life is bad, and give grace for the good things I have in my life. Sometimes this takes a few hours other take months.
The worst time was when I got the debt to pay from an investment I got for my 2nd startup. I really went down and thought I'd never try anything again, but then life turned around, and here we are.
Also, I have an amazing girlfriend that has been with me since the beginning that helped me a lot during the dark times.
What a journey! Glad you found the silver lining after being persistent for 8 years. You deserve the success! Btw, marry to your girlfriend, don't let her wait too long 😜
These are happy days for sure :D.
We both want to marry each other so, there's no rush in that :D
Congratulations @Gonelf
It's inspirational for other people that are going through this as well
How did you find your first customer?
Thanks :) I'm glad that it helps you out in some way <3
Regarding the first customer, I have a post explaining it in detail https://www.indiehackers.com/product/nocodery/first-paying-customer-for-nocodery--Ly6BHTOZhkW8yqojCUP
I hope it helps :D
Great article!
Thanks.
Nice niche job board! Any special methods you took to grow this , and what was your stack?
Thanks :)
The only special method I used is the one I still use, connect to people, and don't be greedy.
As for the stack we use PHP + MySql and automate.io to post the job offers on twitter and FB.
How does it feel?! 😛 Will you stick with this idea?
It does feel awesome I'm not going to lie :D
Yes, we have some plans for version 3.0 and the value proposition is changing a bit to be more aligned with what our customers look for.
Do you mind sharing what the customers look for?
We have 2 types of customers. The experts and the rookies.
The experts want to show their work and get more work.
The rookies want to learn and become an expert.
Congratulations, what was the YC project? What is the most important thing that you learned in YC?
Thanks :)
The project was impraise.com I was the iOS developer for the team there, not a founder. On the good side, I learned is that you really need to know why you're making something and that a good supporting community is key for success. On the bad side, it was a way super intense journey of 18h of work per day for 3 months that led to burnout and me quitting the project.
Congrats! Any stories to share about ideas you thought would generate revenue but did not? Also curious to hear if there was a time where you failed a customer/potential customer interaction?
Thanks :)
Great questions :D
When google canceled its RSS reader I developed an alternative that never got any reactions and Feedly came along. I tried to launch some products on product hunt that also go no traction like this https://www.producthunt.com/posts/filmer. I was an advisor of this project that went through the Web Summit and failed right after https://www.producthunt.com/posts/thoughts-2. just to mention a few.
When I started nocodery I begin to pitch a premium tool profile version to no-code tools and failed miserably with the first tools, the price and the value was completely wrong. Fortunately, I adjusted it and got some of my first customers that way.
Many congrats! What are you using to develop your web app? Bubble?
Thanks. We're using code PHP + MySQL. We have some automation for the social post where we use automate.io.
Congrats!
Thanks.
Congrats on reaching $1k and Nocodery is a great idea.
Thanks.
This comment was deleted a year ago.
Thanks :)
This comment was deleted 4 years ago.
This comment was deleted 4 years ago.