Why I’m Launching My Side Project in a Crowded Space

In a few days I'll be launching my first project on Product Hunt, Coloring Maker, an app for creating coloring pages. The thing is, at the time of writing this post, there are 49 AIs listed on "There's an AI for That" that do precisely this (so, more like “there are 49 AIs for that”). So, why did I create Coloring Maker? Let me explain my point of view.

Learn by Doing

One of my main motivations for creating Coloring Maker was to learn about the different AI models available and explore their practical applications. My approach was to learn by doing. I knew that by building something real, I would encounter unexpected problems and challenges, which would help me gain deeper knowledge of AI models. Even if you don't have an original idea, working on a concrete project (especially in an unfamiliar field) can be the best way to come up with new ideas for future projects. While creating coloring pages isn’t particularly groundbreaking, it was interesting enough to learn and experiment with.

I wanted to experiment with building in public. The main argument against using this approach is usually the fear of attracting competition or others copying your idea. However, in a saturated space, this fear seems especially irrational, so I don’t mind launching the 50th coloring page generator.

Exploring New Distribution Methods: My Social Media Experience

Here comes the big surprise: I'm not the most social guy out there, so I’m not exactly a social media expert. In today’s world, that’s a bit of a problem for an indie developer. Developing software has never been easier (and it will continue to get easier), which brings us to a reality that’s more apparent than ever: distribution is key (more on that later).

That’s why I wanted to develop a project that would allow me to create fun and engaging content to experiment with on social media and, hopefully, build a small audience. Coloring Maker seemed like a good project to achieve this. It's, however, proving to be easier said than done, so wish me luck!

Getting Your Product Out There Might Matter More Than the Product Itself

This is a technically simple app, and that’s probably why there are dozens of similar apps out there. And that’s fine, your ideas are almost never unique. I like the analogy of multiple fishermen on a lake: there’s a lake full of fish (the entire market). There are many different fishermen: on the shore, docks, and in boats, all fishing (catching customers). Some use the same methods, while others use different approaches.

What will determine whether my app succeeds or fails is my ability to get it in front of the right people who might be interested in using it, putting the bait in front of the fish. Many developers tend to underestimate how much work it takes to do this, and that will definitely be my biggest challenge.

And really, what’s the competition anyway? Consumers usually pick one or more options that are presented to solve their problem or satisfy a desire. In the case of Coloring Maker, the most accessible options for consumers aren’t necessarily other coloring page apps but rather different consumption habits, like going to the store and buying a coloring book or downloading one of the millions of free coloring pages available online. The real competition may, in fact, be a consumption habit that my product improves or replaces.

In any case, I’m happy with the path I’ve taken so far and excited about what’s ahead. If you’ve read this far, I hope this post made sense to you. Thanks for your attention, and if you’d like to join me on this journey, follow along!