How to turn a side project into 15K per month

TL;DR

Ben turned a side project into a full time business after being laid off, reaching 15K monthly recurring revenue with Tech Lockdown. The key steps were choosing a problem you are passionate about, validating with a simple version, building an audience first, and focusing on a reliable customer acquisition channel like content marketing. He emphasizes starting early and staying focused on meaningful work.

Transcript

My name is Ben and I turned my side project into a full-time job. This is Ben, a regular dude in a regular 9 to-5 who always wanted to start his own business. He was always starting different side projects, but nothing really worked until one day he changed his entire approach. Don't go full-time on your project until you do this. Once he made this... Read More

Key Insights

• Tech Lockdown is a SaaS platform that blocks websites and apps via a VPN connection.
• The core tactic is a simple, complete product version to validate quickly and avoid overcomplication.
• Audience-first approach helps validate demand before building a complex product.
• Customer acquisition should be solved before leaving a day job, with a reliable channel identified.
• Early mornings and focused work blocks maximize productivity when time is limited.
• Content marketing can be a reliable growth channel that aligns with the founder’s strengths.
• Failing side projects often stem from overemphasis on branding or business model rather than customer value.
• Having paying customers early provides motivation and proof of product-market fit.
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Questions & Answers

Q: What is Tech Lockdown and who is it for?

Tech Lockdown is a platform that helps adults block websites and apps and be more intentional with internet use. It works by using a content policy to schedule blocks and a VPN to enforce a filtered connection. The typical user is an adult trying to curb unwanted online habits and compulsive behaviors.

Q: How did Ben start monetizing his side project?

Ben started by building free content and an audience around managing internet use. He monetized about a year after starting, leveraging demand from people who messaged him for consultations. The platform later moved to a SaaS subscription with a 14 day free trial, offering $15 per month or $10 per month with annual payment.

Q: What happened that pushed Ben to go full time on Tech Lockdown?

Ben was laid off in 2023 and faced the choice between taking another job or focusing on Tech Lockdown. He calculated that $3,000 in income from Tech Lockdown would not cover expenses, but chose to double down. Since then the business grew fivefold while he worked on it full time.

Q: What made Tech Lockdown different from Ben's previous side projects?

The difference was a genuine passion for solving a real problem and a focus on the core value rather than branding details. He avoided overcomplicating the logo and marketing and prioritized a product that could quickly serve paying customers. Having an audience also helped ensure there would be users once launched.

Q: How did Ben manage time while holding a full-time job?

Ben established an early morning routine, focusing on development tasks from around 5:30 to 8:30. In the evenings, he tackled marketing tasks that didn’t require intense focus. He also chose a marketing channel that energized him, such as content marketing, to ensure consistent output without burnout.

Q: What is the core marketing guidance Ben offers for side projects?

Start with a simple, complete version that can be released quickly to validate the idea. Build an audience around the topic before launching the product, focusing on a pre-qualified group of potential customers who will use it. Ensure passion for the project so mornings and evenings feel meaningful rather than draining.

Q: What numbers define Tech Lockdown’s scale so far?

Over two million people found the site organically in the last two years. There are about 1,300 customers currently using the product. The business operates on a SaaS model with a 14-day trial and monthly or annual pricing, illustrating a scalable customer base.

Q: What practical playbook does Ben share for finding ideas?

Choose ideas that can be simplified into a complete, launchable version to validate quickly. Build an audience around the topic before releasing a product, ensuring there is a pre-qualified group of potential users. If time is limited, work on tasks that require higher focus in the morning and reserve lighter marketing tasks for evenings.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ben transitioned from a regular job to full time by leveraging a successful side project that earned 15K per month. He highlights the importance of an audience and a simple, complete product to validate market demand.

• Tech Lockdown blocks distracting websites and apps through a content policy and VPN setup, targeting adults seeking to regulate internet use. The business uses a SaaS subscription model with a 14-day free trial.

• Key to growth was disciplined time management and consistent marketing effort, choosing a channel that suits the founder, and avoiding overcomplication in branding or product design.