Reading about niche businesses is useful. Watching one get built — mistakes and all — is better. The Niche Unboxing Series is our build-in-public show: we open the box and build real niche assets, one per asset model, on camera, using the same AI tools and workflows we teach on this site.
How the series works
Real assets
A niche content site, a print-on-demand store, a small domain portfolio and a no-code micro-SaaS tool. Real domains, real content, real decisions.
Honest results
We share what works and what flops. No hype, no income promises — just the process, the lessons and the numbers that are meaningful to show.
Follow along
Every episode links to the matching guide, tool and lesson so you can build your own version alongside us.
Why build in public?
Most “how I built it” content arrives after the fact, polished and tidy. The messy middle — the niche that looked great and wasn’t, the product that didn’t sell, the page that finally clicked — is where the real learning lives. Building in public keeps us honest, and it lets you see exactly how decisions get made in real time.
It also shows the tools in context. You’ll see how we prompt AI for research and drafts, where we step in to edit and fact-check, and which parts of the workflow we automate versus keep hands-on.
What you get with each episode
- The full video (added here as it’s published)
- A written outline so you can skim or follow along step by step
- Links to the matching guide, lesson and free tool
- The key AI prompts we used, ready to copy
- An honest “what we’d do differently” note
The episodes
Episode 1: Opening the Box — Picking Four Asset Models
We kick off by explaining the four asset models and why we’re building one of each. You’ll see how we set constraints for time, budget and tools so the experiment stays realistic for a side-hustler.
Episode outline
- The four models: niche site, POD store, domain portfolio, micro-SaaS
- Our ground rules: budget limits, weekly hours, no shortcuts that break policies
- How we’ll measure progress (and what we won’t claim)
- Resources: business models, start here
Episode 2: Finding and Scoring the Niches
We brainstorm dozens of niche ideas with AI, then narrow them down using real research. Watch us score each finalist with the Niche Scorer and make the final calls.
Episode outline
- AI brainstorming prompts that go beyond the obvious
- Checking demand on Google Trends, Reddit, Pinterest and marketplaces
- Scoring finalists with the Niche Scorer
- Why we rejected a few “hot” ideas
Episode 3: Domains, Names and Brand Basics
We name all four projects and register domains, then start the domain portfolio with a handful of carefully chosen names. Trademark checks are part of every decision.
Episode outline
- Generating names with the Domain Name Generator
- Trademark and cybersquatting checks before buying
- Choosing names for the portfolio and listing them on marketplaces
- Simple logos and brand colors in Canva
Episode 4: Building the Niche Site with WordPress and AI
We set up the content site from scratch: hosting, theme, essential plugins and site structure. Then we map the first topic cluster with AI help.
Episode outline
- WordPress setup and the plugins we actually use
- Site structure: pillar pages, categories, About and disclosure pages
- Topic cluster mapping with the Keyword Idea Box
- Our AI-assisted writing workflow and where humans stay in the loop
Episode 5: Launching the POD Store
We design the first product collection with AI-assisted concepts and original artwork, connect a POD provider, and list on a marketplace and our own store.
Episode outline
- Design concepts with AI, finished and checked by a human
- Mockups, product descriptions and pricing with the Margin Calculator
- Marketplace listing vs own-store setup
- Avoiding trademark trouble in designs
Episode 6: Building the Micro-SaaS Without Code
We validate a small tool idea, build a working version with no-code tools and AI, and ship it to a first handful of users for feedback.
Episode outline
- Validating with the SaaS Idea Validator and user conversations
- Choosing a no-code stack and wiring up automations
- Payments, onboarding and a simple landing page
- First user feedback and what we changed
Episode 7: The First 30 Days of Traffic
We put the traffic playbook to work: SEO basics, Pinterest pins, short videos and community participation. We show what moved and what didn’t.
Episode outline
- Picking a primary and support channel for each asset (traffic channels)
- Pinterest setup and first pins
- Short-video repurposing workflow
- Early Search Console and GA4 signals
Episode 8: Email, Lead Magnets and the Welcome Sequence
We add an email list to every project, build lead magnets, and write welcome sequences with AI help — then review them line by line.
Episode outline
- Choosing an email platform
- Creating a lead magnet for each asset
- Writing the 5-email welcome sequence from newsletters for niches
- Deliverability basics
Episode 9: Monetization Experiments
We test different revenue options across the assets: affiliate links, a small digital product, product pricing and a paid tier. We talk openly about what the early data does and doesn’t tell us.
Episode outline
- Affiliate program selection and disclosures
- Creating a small digital product
- Pricing tests on the store and tool
- Scenario planning with the Affiliate Calculator (scenarios, not forecasts)
Episode 10: Review, Automate and Decide What’s Next
We look back at every asset honestly: what to double down on, what to automate, and what to pause or sell. Then we decide which box to open next.
Episode outline
- Scorecard review for all four assets
- Automations with n8n, Make or Zapier
- Valuation basics with the Site Valuation Calculator
- Grow, hold, sell or start again — see buy and sell sites
Watch and build alongside us
- Follow the matching lessons in the course
- Use the free tools we use on camera
- Grab the prompts from the Prompt Library
- Read the companion posts on the blog
I'm following along with a build-in-public series. My asset model is [niche site / POD store / domain portfolio / micro-SaaS], my niche is [niche], and I have [hours] per week. Turn these 10 steps into a 10-week plan for me: pick models, score niches, name and domain, build, launch, traffic, email, monetization tests, review. For each week, list 3–5 tasks and one thing to measure.
Series FAQ
Do I need to build all four assets?
No. Pick the model that fits your skills and goals and follow those episodes most closely. The others are still useful for seeing how the same principles — niche choice, trust, traffic, ownership — apply across models.
Will you share revenue numbers?
We’ll share progress and lessons where it’s meaningful, but we won’t present any result as typical or as something you should expect. Every niche, market and builder is different.
What tools do I need to follow along?
A computer, a domain, an AI assistant and a willingness to learn. Everything else is covered in the AI niche stack and resources page.
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