Ask HN: Should I build a directory product?
3 comments
If it is stuck in your head yo should do it, it is not too much work to start but it is to make it good. If you give up at least it won't be stuck in your head anymore and you might learn from the experience and not have ideas stuck in your head anymore after understanding the work it takes to make a thing that looks simple (a directory) be worth any good amount of money.
I had a directory of local farm shares/CSAs for about a decade. That one wasn't super easy to monetize, so I'd pick your niche carefully. It also was a ton of work right around the holidays. It helped a lot of people though.
I'd avoid building software--you can find Wordpress plugins that give you everything you need. That will get you up and running quickly from the tech side.
If you follow my advice you'll spend most of your time doing marketing and sales to try to get both free and paid listings.
If that excites you and you love the space that you're cataloging, go for it! Otherwise I'd avoid.
I'd avoid building software--you can find Wordpress plugins that give you everything you need. That will get you up and running quickly from the tech side.
If you follow my advice you'll spend most of your time doing marketing and sales to try to get both free and paid listings.
If that excites you and you love the space that you're cataloging, go for it! Otherwise I'd avoid.
thanks for sharing - that’s super helpful
the idea i have in mind is to build something like a product hunt killer not just another list, but a real product that feels fresh and useful
i’ve been doing all the marketing for my other product (thumblifyai.com), and i actually enjoy that part a lot
also, i know how to code - and with tools like cursorai - i’m confident i can build MVP in a month
appreciate advice though, means a lot
the idea i have in mind is to build something like a product hunt killer not just another list, but a real product that feels fresh and useful
i’ve been doing all the marketing for my other product (thumblifyai.com), and i actually enjoy that part a lot
also, i know how to code - and with tools like cursorai - i’m confident i can build MVP in a month
appreciate advice though, means a lot
but there are already hundreds of those most of them feel the same
if i ever build one it won’t be another uneed or tinylaunch clone it’ll have taste, soul, and real utility
that’s the same mindset behind thumblifyai.com not just another ai thumbnail tool
it’s a content machine for creators built to help them get real clicks, real reach
this “build a directory” idea’s been stuck in my head for a month
i don’t know… should i actually build it?