I Built 200+ Free Online Tools. Now Comes the Scary Part. 🚀
I can build websites. I can fix bugs. I can write code for hours. But can I actually build a business? That's the question that's been keeping me up at night. So I decided to find out. I built UsefulGo.com — a website with 200+ free online tools and games. And now comes the part that scares me more than any production bug: Getting real people to use something I built. Why I Started UsefulGo I'm a…
A developer who thrives on creating things found himself pondering the challenge of building a business. His solution was UsefulGo.com, a website housing 200+ free online tools and games to address common digital problems. Rather than another GitHub repository, UsefulGo aimed to be a real product with real users. Starting as a small experiment, the site now offers PDF compression, image resizing, everyday utilities, and browser games, with more features in the pipeline.
The developer discovered that the most challenging aspect of building the website was not the website itself, but rather understanding SEO, marketing, user acquisition, and analytics. Coding proved relatively easy, while mastering these new skills felt daunting. Despite occasional frustration when nobody uses the features they've built, the developer remains motivated by the prospect of creating something useful—something a student might bookmark, an office worker might utilize daily, and something that saves others from digital frustration.
The developer's goal isn't to build the next Google, but rather to craft a tool that genuinely serves people. As he continues learning and making mistakes, the developer invites readers to explore UsefulGo.com and provide feedback. If someone finds a broken feature, confusing interface, or unnecessary element, the developer would greatly appreciate hearing about it.
Additionally, developers working on their own side projects are encouraged to share them in the comments, fostering a supportive community of like-minded individuals. With no clear timeline in sight, the developer acknowledges the uncertainty of whether UsefulGo will become a sustainable business, but the prospect of building something meaningful has never felt so exhilarating.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
