SideProjectors Platform Help

Helps the user with SideProjectors platform questions — from listing a side project for sale and finding co-founders through buying projects, showcasing work, and maximizing directory backlink value.

Step 1 — Gather context

If references/learnings.md exists, read it first for accumulated knowledge.

Ask the user:

1. What do you need help with?

   • A) Selling a project — listing, pricing, description
   • B) Buying a project — finding, evaluating, due diligence
   • C) Finding a co-founder — matching, pitching, structuring equity
   • D) Showcasing a project — visibility, feedback, community engagement
   • E) SEO backlinks — getting listed for the DR69 backlink
   • F) Something else — describe it

2. What's your project?

   • A) SaaS / web app
   • B) Mobile app
   • C) E-commerce / marketplace
   • D) Developer tool / API
   • E) Content site / blog
   • F) Other — describe it

3. What stage is the project?

   • A) Working product with users/revenue
   • B) Working product, no users yet
   • C) MVP / prototype
   • D) Idea stage
   • E) Abandoned — want to sell or find someone to take over

If the user's request already provides most of this context, skip directly to the relevant step. Lead with your best-effort answer using reasonable assumptions (stated explicitly), then ask only the most critical 1-2 clarifying questions at the end.

Step 2 — Route or answer directly

If the request maps to a specialized skill, route:

• Product launch strategy across multiple platforms → /sales-funnel
• Startup directory listing (not buy/sell) → /sales-launchingnext or /sales-microlaunch
• Email marketing to subscribers → /sales-email-marketing
• Landing page / checkout optimization → /sales-checkout
• Audience growth → /sales-audience-growth

Otherwise, answer directly from platform knowledge below.

Step 3 — SideProjectors platform reference

Read references/platform-guide.md for detailed module documentation, pricing, integrations, and data model.

You no longer need the platform guide details — focus on the user's specific situation.

Step 4 — Actionable guidance

Provide guidance based on the user's goal (selling, buying, co-founder search, showcase/backlink). Use the platform guide for reference data, then focus on actionable next steps tailored to their situation.

Gotchas

Best-effort from research — review these, especially items about plan-gated features and integration gotchas that may be outdated.

• No escrow or payment handling. SideProjectors only connects buyers and sellers. All transactions happen peer-to-peer. Use a third-party escrow service for any significant purchase.

• No buyer verification. Unlike Acquire.com (verified buyers with $2B+ in funds), anyone can express interest on SideProjectors. Vet buyers yourself before sharing sensitive project details.

• Traffic is very low. ~723 monthly visitors across the entire site. Don't expect a flood of buyer inquiries — this is a long-tail marketplace. The primary value for many users is the DR69 backlink.

• Must have a working product. Unlike some directories that accept ideas or pre-launch products, SideProjectors requires a live website or app. MVP is fine, but vaporware will be rejected.

• Premium features exist but pricing is opaque. Enhanced visibility, priority support, and advanced analytics are available as premium features, but pricing isn't publicly listed. Contact [email protected] for current rates before assuming it's entirely free.

• Editorial review has no guaranteed timeline. Submissions are reviewed by the team, but there's no documented SLA. Could be hours, could be days.

• Free means no support infrastructure. No dispute resolution, no refund mechanism, no transaction guarantees. You're on your own for the transaction itself.

• Self-improving: If you discover something not covered here, append it to references/learnings.md with today's date.

Related skills

• /sales-side-project-valuation — Side project valuation strategy — pricing, revenue multiples, deal structuring, and comparing SideProjectors against Acquire.com, Flippa, 1Kprojects, Microns, Empire Flippers
• /sales-launch-directory — Launch strategy across multiple startup directories
• /sales-ctrlaltcc — CtrlAlt.cc platform help (curated tool directory)
• /sales-microlaunch — MicroLaunch platform help (30-day leaderboard, deals marketplace)
• /sales-launchingnext — LaunchingNext platform help (curated startup directory)
• /sales-openlaunch — Open Launch platform help (open-source PH alternative, DR65 backlinks)
• /sales-productburst — ProductBurst platform help (daily/weekly rankings, badges)
• /sales-solopush — SoloPush platform help (indie maker community)
• /sales-huzzler — Huzzler platform help (founder community, weekly Launch Arena competition)
• /sales-firsto — Firsto platform help (fair launch platform, sustained SEO discovery)
• /sales-funnel — Build and optimize sales funnels for conversion
• /sales-digital-products — Sell digital products (ebooks, templates, SaaS)
• /sales-checkout — Optimize landing pages and checkout for conversion
• /sales-do — Not sure which skill to use? The router matches any sales objective to the right skill. Install: npx skills add sales-skills/sales --skill sales-do

Examples

Example 1: Sell an abandoned SaaS project

User says: "I built a SaaS tool 2 years ago but stopped working on it. It has 50 users and $200/mo MRR. How do I sell it on SideProjectors?" Skill does:

1. Walks through the selling checklist: clean code, gather metrics, write description
2. Helps price the project: $200 MRR × 12 = $2,400 ARR, suggest asking $2,400-$7,200 (1-3x)
3. Recommends preparing transfer documentation (domain, hosting, Stripe, API keys)
4. Warns about no escrow — suggests using Escrow.com for the transaction
5. Suggests also listing on Acquire.com for higher-value buyer pool Result: Listing optimized with realistic pricing and safe transaction plan

Example 2: Find a co-founder for a side project

User says: "I have a working MVP but I'm a solo developer and need a business co-founder to help with marketing and sales" Skill does:

1. Recommends creating a co-founder listing (not "for sale")
2. Suggests what to include: product demo, tech stack, traction so far, what skills you need
3. Advises on equity split considerations for side projects
4. Recommends also posting on Indie Hackers and Y Combinator co-founder matching
5. Warns to vet co-founder candidates carefully — meet on video, check references Result: Co-founder listing that attracts the right collaborator

Example 3: Get a DR69 backlink from SideProjectors

User says: "I just want the backlink from SideProjectors for SEO. What's the fastest way?" Skill does:

1. Recommends a showcase listing (not "for sale") to get the do-follow backlink
2. Notes the requirement: must have a working product with a live URL
3. Walks through minimal submission: description, screenshots, category tags
4. Suggests optimizing the listing description for target keywords
5. Recommends pairing with other high-DR directories: MicroLaunch (DR59), LaunchingNext (DR51) Result: Backlink secured as part of a multi-directory SEO strategy

Troubleshooting

Listed a project for sale but no buyers

Symptom: Project has been listed for weeks/months with no inquiries Cause: SideProjectors has ~723 monthly visitors across all 24,600+ listings. Individual listings get a tiny fraction of that traffic. The platform is a long-tail marketplace — most projects sit without activity. Solution: Don't rely on SideProjectors as your only sales channel. Cross-list on Acquire.com (higher-value buyers, built-in escrow), 1Kprojects (if under $1K), and Flippa (auction model, broader audience). Share your SideProjectors listing on Twitter, Indie Hackers, and relevant subreddits. Lower your price if it's been sitting — the market is telling you something.

Worried about getting scammed as a buyer

Symptom: Found an interesting project but concerned about legitimacy Cause: SideProjectors has no buyer protection, no escrow, and no verification. Scams are possible on any peer-to-peer marketplace without safeguards. Solution: Never send payment without verifying: (1) request a live demo over video call, (2) ask for analytics access (Google Analytics, Stripe dashboard), (3) check the seller's online presence and history, (4) use a third-party escrow service like Escrow.com for transactions over $500, (5) get a written agreement listing exactly what's included in the sale and any post-sale support.

Submission rejected or stuck in review

Symptom: Submitted a project but it wasn't approved or there's been no response Cause: SideProjectors requires a working product with a live URL. Idea-stage or pre-launch projects will be rejected. The editorial review timeline is not guaranteed. Solution: Ensure you have a live, working product at the submitted URL. Add quality screenshots and a clear description. If it's been more than a week, email [email protected] to check status. If your project is pre-launch, use a showcase-friendly directory like LaunchingNext or MicroLaunch instead.