Chapter 1: The Genesis of Tiny Projects

Ben Stokes is a relatable figure; like many of us, he once harbored a list of business ideas waiting for the right moment to be explored. That moment arrived 18 months ago when his first project came to fruition. Since then, he has successfully launched six more ventures, generating substantial revenue along the way. What’s his secret?

Fascination with Ben’s approach to Tiny Projects resonated with me, as he embodies the spirit of juggling multiple projects simultaneously. However, there appeared to be something distinctive about his method. Observing from a distance, it seemed he was skillfully managing each endeavor, each gaining traction. My curiosity led me to learn more.

ABOUT BEN

Ben, a 26-year-old independent entrepreneur from Bristol, England, embarked on his journey of launching numerous small projects a year and a half ago. His collection of ideas grew increasingly extensive, yet it lacked one crucial component: execution. A familiar place for many of us.

To tackle this challenge, Ben created Tiny Projects, a blog dedicated to documenting his project-building process. So far, he has developed seven initiatives—ranging from an 8-bit battle royale game to a service that provides emoji email addresses.

How does Ben maintain focus across various projects, and what has been the key to his success? We interviewed him to uncover his insights.

ON THE THOUGHT PROCESS BEHIND IDEAS

"Typically, each project begins with a simple core idea that can evolve into a small business in just a few weeks. My ideas are usually sparked by curiosity or stem from previous projects. Each concept should possess:

• A touch of novelty
• A deep passion from my side to see it through
• Minimal ongoing maintenance, allowing me to explore numerous ideas.

For instance, my sixth project emerged after I purchased the domain name netflix.soy, leading me to discover the existence of emoji domain names. My curiosity prompted me to investigate whether these could be utilized in emails— and they could! After acquiring 300 emoji domain names from Kazakhstan, I developed the concept into a small business named Mailoji, where I provide emoji email addresses like 👋@🚀.kz for $10/year. The idea was appealing, novel, and carried a hint of cheesiness that contributed to its potential virality. To date, I have sold over 1500 emoji email addresses!"

Do you conduct market validation before launching a project?

"I'm not particularly good at market validation. I prefer to rapidly code something and launch it on platforms like Reddit and Hacker News to gauge the response. If people sign up or make a purchase, I take that as a strong indication that the idea has potential. If not, I quickly move on to the next concept."

ON SINGLE FOCUS VS A PORTFOLIO OF SMALL BETS

"This strategy works for me because I enjoy learning new skills and switching between projects. Investing countless hours into a project that no longer interests me feels like a personal nightmare. Having multiple small projects that intrigue me is much more enjoyable. If I lose interest in one, I can pivot to another.

Building tiny projects is inherently low risk. I develop them as minimum viable products within weeks or months, launch them swiftly, and get a sense of their viability. If I find I don't enjoy managing a particular project, I can either shut it down or sell it—each option is an engaging process in itself. Consequently, I usually run only a couple of projects simultaneously, allowing me to experiment with many ideas in a short span."

ON SUCCESSFUL PRODUCT LAUNCHES

"The most effective marketing and launch strategy I’ve found is simply sharing my story. The narrative of how I create each project—from the initial idea to building, launching, and reporting on revenue—is unbeatable.

Product launches are an area I’m continually improving. Recently, I’ve found that creating engaging, trailer-like launch videos that are easy to share has been beneficial. However, I still struggle with the post-launch phase of sustained marketing—terms like cold emailing, funnels, and drip marketing don’t excite me personally, but I hope to master these techniques in the future."

ON HIS LATEST PROJECT, PAPER WEBSITE

"Paper Website allows anyone to create a website using only a pen and paper. You write your website content by hand (without a laptop), take a picture, and Paper Website transforms it into a live website. It’s an ideal solution for starting a small site or blog. Personally, I maintain a daily blog documenting my Tiny Projects, writing directly from my notebook each morning while sipping coffee.

I developed Paper Website because I wanted to start a daily blog, yet I prefer writing with pen and paper and spend too much time in front of screens. Handwriting blog posts leads to more thoughtful, focused writing, and I find I produce much more without distractions.

This project distinguishes itself from my others due to its physical aspect. I even created custom notebooks for our users, enhancing their website-building experience. If successful, it holds great potential. Many people find websites and technology daunting; enabling them to create a site using just pen and paper could unleash a wave of unique ideas that we’ve never encountered before. The internet is often dominated by tech-savvy millennials like myself."

ON THE FUTURE OF TINY PROJECTS

"I intend to maintain my current approach, as I'm eager to see what unfolds by continuously launching and developing multiple ideas. While the average person might start one or two businesses in their lifetime, I’m curious to explore what happens when you exceed that number.

Think of it as training for a marathon: the more you run, the fitter and faster you become. My hope is that the more projects I initiate, the better and more profitable they will be. I want to put in the effort to build my entrepreneurial skills, allowing me to identify promising ideas and execute them quickly.

Of course, I could be completely mistaken, but it will undoubtedly be an enjoyable journey!"

Engaging in multiple project launches significantly enhances a founder's learning experience. What is the one crucial piece of advice you would share with other entrepreneurs?

"The best ideas often come to me while I’m working on a project. Encountering an unexpected problem can lead to the realization that it could evolve into an entirely new business opportunity.

The only way to uncover these ideas is to start building something—anything. It may not be perfect, but it will open doors to exciting discoveries. If you dedicate a few weeks to creating something that interests you and document the journey, you may find valuable opportunities arise (job offers, acquisitions, or customers). Even if only a handful of people read it, that’s a great start. Next time, it might be ten!

Keep developing projects that engage your curiosity, share your experiences, and remarkable things will begin to happen."

HOW TO CONNECT WITH BEN:

WEBSITE: TINY PROJECTS

LATEST: PAPER WEBSITE

TWITTER: BEN STOKES

The first video titled "5 Steps to Turn an Idea into a Business" provides a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their concepts into viable businesses. This guide breaks down the essential steps to take, ensuring a clear path from idea to execution.

The second video, "17 Small Business Ideas YOU Can Start Under $100 + Products to Start Selling Online," showcases affordable business opportunities and product suggestions for anyone looking to embark on their entrepreneurial journey.