From Side Project to $50K MRR: A Directory Success Story

The Beginning

What started as a weekend project to solve a personal problem turned into a six-figure business. This is the story of how one entrepreneur built a niche directory from zero to $50,000 in monthly recurring revenue.

Finding the Niche

The founder noticed that finding specialized contractors in their industry was frustrating. Generic directories didn't have the specific information buyers needed. That gap became the opportunity.

The MVP Launch

Instead of building perfect technology, the founder launched with a simple WordPress site and 100 manually-researched listings. The focus was on quality data and user experience, not fancy features.

Growth Strategies That Worked

SEO was the primary growth driver. By creating comprehensive category pages and optimizing for long-tail keywords, organic traffic grew steadily. Paid acquisition was tested but proved less efficient than SEO.

Lessons Learned

The founder's biggest lessons: start smaller than you think, focus on a specific niche, prioritize SEO from day one, and don't underestimate the power of quality over quantity.