Building for the Unbanked: Why Your Side Project Failed and What to Do Next

Table of Contents

The Problem: No Money, No Love #

You spent 7-8 months building something for an audience that had no money. 10k visitors, 900 signups, 0 paying. This is a common tale in r/sideproject. The problem? Your audience is broke.

The Solution: Find a Monetizable Audience #

First, find a monetizable audience. If your project is tech, consider targeting businesses or professionals who can afford to pay. If it’s creative, look for people who can afford to buy your work.

Hosting: DigitalOcean vs. Hetzner #

DigitalOcean: The Easy Way #

DigitalOcean is easy to set up and has a free tier. It’s great for small projects. But it’s not cheap. A $5/month droplet is $60/year. For 10k visitors, that’s $600/year.

Hetzner: The Budget-Friendly Option #

Hetzner is cheaper. A similar setup costs around $2/month. For 10k visitors, that’s $240/year. But it’s not as user-friendly. You need to set up SSH, configure DNS, and manage backups.

CMS: Jekyll vs. Hugo #

Jekyll: The Classic Choice #

Jekyll is free, easy to set up, and has a large community. But it’s slow. Jekyll sites can take 1-2 seconds to load. For 10k visitors, that’s a lot of wasted time.

Hugo: The Faster Option #

Hugo is faster. Hugo sites can load in 0.5-1 second. For 10k visitors, that’s a big win. Hugo is also free and has a growing community.

Monetization: Ads vs. Sponsors #

Ads: The Quick Fix #

Ads can bring in some money. Google AdSense is free and easy to set up. But it’s not much. For 10k visitors, you might make $50-100/month.

Sponsors: The Long-Term Play #

Sponsors can bring in more money. Find companies that can afford to sponsor your project. For 10k visitors, you might make $500-1000/month. But it takes time to build relationships.

Community: Reddit vs. Discord #

Reddit: The Wider Reach #

Reddit has a wider reach. You can post in subreddits and get more visibility. But it’s harder to build a community.

Discord: The Closer Bond #

Discord is better for building a community. You can have live chats, voice calls, and more. But it takes time to build trust.

Final Thoughts #

If you’re building for an audience that has no money, find a way to monetize. Use Hetzner for hosting, Hugo for your CMS, and sponsors for monetization. And build a community on Discord.

FAQ #

Q: Can I use both DigitalOcean and Hetzner? #

A: Yes, but it’s more complex. You can use DigitalOcean for your CMS and Hetzner for your hosting. But it’s not recommended. Stick to one provider for simplicity.

A: Google AdSense is free and easy, but it’s not the best. Consider using a different ad network like Amazon Associates or ShareASale. They can bring in more money.

Q: How can I build a community on Reddit? #

A: Post in relevant subreddits, engage with the community, and build relationships. It takes time, but it’s worth it.