Introduction
I’m a frequent user of Google Chrome Extensions for productivity in my daily work and have always wanted to create one for the Chrome Web Store.
Background
Last week, I had some free time and decided to start this as a new and interesting side project.
(Just a little background: I’ve been working online for 6 years as an e-commerce entrepreneur and digital marketer.)
The Idea
I began by asking ChatGPT for ideas for simple, easy-to-create productivity extensions.
I already had a few ideas in mind, and when I saw one in ChatGPT’s list, I decided to go for it: a Chrome extension that allows users to play binaural music for focus (similar to BrainFM) and/or combine ambiance sounds (like a coffee shop, water stream, ocean, rain, etc.) to create a customizable “working mood” for each user.
ChatGPT also suggested including a timer for work sessions.
Development Process
I knew many people use these types of sounds to focus, but it usually involves opening a YouTube video in the background, which isn’t the best user experience.
The first step was creating a mock-up in Canvas to visualize the extension’s layout, colors, features, etc. I used only emojis and symbols so it would be universally understandable, regardless of language.
Next came the coding part. I understand and can write some basic HTML and CSS, but not enough to do it myself.
I thought ChatGPT might help if I provided instructions and my image mock-up, but it proved too complicated, and I quickly gave up.
Instead, I continued discussing with ChatGPT to craft a brief to send to a developer.We went back and forth; he asked about features, the logic of the extension, layout, colors, different sounds, and made some suggestions. In 2 hours, I had a perfect brief, written in markdown language.
It described the extension and its goals in detail, with a well-organized structure and everything a developer would need (how to organize variables, hex codes for colors, the ‘skeleton’ of the extension with different files and folders, etc.).
Hiring a Developer
I then needed to hire a freelance developer. Again, I used ChatGPT to write a job post based on the brief, and posted it on Upwork.
I received several applications and chose a Vietnamese developer with relevant experience and a reasonable fee of a few hundred dollars.
The rate was low because he only needed to follow the brief and translate it into code, without having to think about structure, variables, technologies, etc.
Launch and Reception
Once the contract started, he returned a few days later with a perfect extension!
There was no need for revisions or clarifications; there were no miscommunications or wasted time (and as we all know, time = money). I got exactly what I wanted. Even the developer was surprised by how comprehensive the brief was, asking if I was a developer myself.
I paid him and uploaded the extension to the Chrome Web Store. For the description, I used ChatGPT again to write it in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and German, based on the brief.
ProductHunt Feature
Next, I needed users. I knew about ProductHunt as a platform to discover products, but not as a maker. I created an account, submitted my product (description written by ChatGPT of course), and waited for it to launch.
With zero expectations, I was surprised to start receiving upvotes, comments, and installs from the Google Web Store. People liked it!
I ended up being featured by ProductHunt, reaching around position #30 of the day. Although not in the top 3 or even top 20, to me it was significant for a small side project that I launched from scratch in just 1 week. I found it especially cool considering the strong competition that day, including big players with substantial marketing budgets, advanced products, and large, experienced product teams.
Moving Forward
It’s been two days since, and I’m still getting upvotes on ProductHunt and daily installs. I’ve received feedback about bugs, which I’ve corrected, and I’m considering how to grow it organically (through TikTok, Twitter, SEO, etc.).
There are no expectations, deadlines, or pressure: I enjoy playing with this project when I have time. It’s also fun to share about it on Reddit.
And of course, I use the app daily, so it’s definitely useful for someone.
Monetization Strategy
The app is free, and I don’t plan on adding paid plans, as that would be too complicated.
For monetization, there’s a small 16:9 clickable image space currently displaying the app’s logo, but it could be used for affiliate offers or rented to advertisers (only for products related to productivity so it fits the users). It’s an easy code change, but I’ll wait until I have at least 1,000 - 2,000 users.
Another option is to sell the app and recoup the development costs plus make a profit.
Conclusion + link to the extension
That’s it! I hope you found this helpful and motivating for launching your projects!
If you’re curious about the extension, it’s called ABF (Audio Brain Focus) and is available here: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/abf-audio-brain-focus/ohlfpeiaekgemgbffdkahiljfemoifcl
If you have feedback, find bugs, or want new features added, please let me know! Maybe it will help you focus on building your next project. 🙂
P.S.: English isn’t my first language, so apologies for any mistakes or unclear parts.