How to Create a Landing Page for Your Side Project

You've been building something on the side. Maybe it's a productivity app, an open-source tool, a newsletter, a browser extension, or a quirky SaaS that solves a problem nobody else cares about (yet). Whatever it is, you've poured evenings and weekends into it — and now it's time to show the world.

But here's the thing: your side project doesn't need a full-blown website with twelve pages, a blog, a careers section, and an animated mascot. What it needs is a landing page — one focused page that explains what you've built, why it matters, and how people can try it.

In this guide, we'll walk through everything you need to create a landing page for your side project that actually converts visitors into users, subscribers, or customers. No fluff, no jargon overload — just practical, actionable steps.

Why Your Side Project Needs a Landing Page

Before we dive into the how, let's talk about the why. A lot of makers skip the landing page altogether. They'll tweet about their project, drop a link in a Reddit thread, or share it on Product Hunt with nothing more than a GitHub README to back it up.

That's leaving so much on the table.

A dedicated landing page gives your side project:

Credibility. A polished page signals that you're serious. It tells visitors, "This isn't just a weekend hack — it's a real thing."
A single URL to share. Instead of sending people to a GitHub repo, an App Store listing, and your Twitter profile, you have one link that does it all.
A way to collect interest. Even if your project isn't ready yet, a landing page with an email signup lets you build an audience before launch.
SEO discoverability. People search for solutions to their problems. If your side project solves one, a landing page helps Google connect the dots.
A conversion funnel. Whether you want downloads, signups, or purchases, a landing page is designed to drive one specific action.

Think of your landing page as the front door to your side project. It doesn't need to be fancy, but it needs to be intentional.

Step 1: Define Your Goal

Every effective landing page has exactly one goal. Not two, not five — one.

Before you write a single word or pick a color, decide what you want visitors to do:

Sign up for early access or a waitlist
Download the app or tool
Subscribe to a newsletter
Buy the product
Star the GitHub repo
Join a community (Discord, Slack, etc.)

Your entire page should funnel toward this one action. Everything on the page either supports this goal or doesn't belong there.

For pre-launch projects, the most common (and smartest) goal is collecting email addresses. You can validate interest, build anticipation, and have an audience ready when you ship.

Step 2: Write a Headline That Hooks

Your headline is the first thing visitors see, and you have roughly five seconds to convince them to keep reading. No pressure.

A great landing page headline does one of three things:

States the benefit clearly. What does your project do for the user? "Track your habits without the guilt" is better than "A habit tracking application."
Addresses a pain point. "Tired of bloated project management tools?" immediately resonates with anyone who's ever used one.
Creates curiosity. "The bookmark manager you didn't know you needed" makes people want to learn more.

Here's a simple formula that works:

[Action verb] + [desired outcome] + [without common pain point]

Examples:

"Build beautiful docs without touching code"
"Share files instantly without creating an account"
"Monitor your APIs without the enterprise price tag"

Keep it short — ideally under 10 words. You can elaborate in the subheadline.

Step 3: Write a Compelling Subheadline

Your subheadline supports the headline with a bit more detail. This is where you can explain the what and how in one or two sentences.

For example, if your headline is "Track your reading habit effortlessly," your subheadline might be: "A minimalist app that logs your daily reading in under 10 seconds. No accounts, no syncing headaches — just you and your books."

The subheadline should answer the question your headline creates. Together, they form the one-two punch that keeps visitors scrolling.

Step 4: Show, Don't Just Tell

Words are important, but visuals seal the deal. If your side project has any kind of interface — a web app, a mobile app, a CLI tool, a browser extension — show it.

Options for visual proof:

Screenshots — Clean, annotated screenshots of your product in action.
A short demo video or GIF — A 30-second screen recording can communicate more than 500 words of copy.
Mockups — If you're pre-launch, use mockup tools to show what the product will look like.
Before/after comparisons — Show the problem (messy, complicated) vs. your solution (clean, simple).

Place your primary visual right below or next to your headline. Visitors should see what your project looks like within the first scroll.

Pro tip: if your project is a developer tool or CLI, a styled terminal screenshot or code snippet can be just as compelling as a UI mockup.

Step 5: Highlight Key Features (But Keep It Focused)

You've hooked them with the headline and shown them the product. Now explain why it's worth their time.

List three to five key features — not twenty. Your landing page isn't documentation. It's a pitch.

For each feature:

Lead with the benefit, not the feature name
Keep descriptions to one or two sentences
Use icons or small illustrations to make the section scannable

Bad: "OAuth 2.0 integration" Good: "Log in with Google or GitHub — no new passwords to remember"

Bad: "Real-time WebSocket connections" Good: "See changes instantly, no refreshing required"

Translate technical features into human outcomes. Your visitors care about what your project does for them, not how it works under the hood.

Step 6: Add Social Proof

Social proof is the secret weapon of high-converting landing pages. Even for a side project, you can build trust with:

Testimonials or quotes from early users or beta testers
Usage stats — "Used by 500+ developers" or "2,000 bookmarks saved this week"
Logos of companies or communities where your project is used
GitHub stars or download counts — if the numbers look good, show them
Press mentions or blog features — even a single mention adds credibility
Your own story — "I built this because I was frustrated with..." humanizes the project and builds connection

Don't have social proof yet? That's okay. Launch without it and add it as you grow. But do include a brief "about the maker" section. People connect with people, not just products.

Step 7: Create a Clear Call to Action

Your CTA (call to action) is the most important element on the page. It's the button, form, or link that drives your one goal.

CTA best practices:

Make it visually prominent. Use a contrasting color that stands out from the rest of the page.
Use action-oriented text. "Get Early Access" beats "Submit." "Try It Free" beats "Sign Up." "Download for Mac" beats "Download."
Repeat it. Place your CTA at the top of the page and at the bottom. If the page is long, add it in the middle too.
Reduce friction. If you're collecting emails, just ask for the email. Don't ask for a name, company, phone number, blood type, and mother's maiden name.

For pre-launch pages, a simple email input with a "Join the Waitlist" button works beautifully. For launched products, a "Try It Free" or "Get Started" button that links to your app is ideal.

Step 8: Don't Forget the Basics

A few often-overlooked elements that make a real difference:

Favicon and Open Graph Image

When someone shares your link on Twitter, LinkedIn, or in a group chat, the preview image matters. Create a clean Open Graph image (1200×630px) with your project name and a one-liner. Set a favicon so your tab doesn't show the generic browser icon.

Mobile Responsiveness

More than half your visitors will see your page on a phone. If your landing page doesn't look good on mobile, you're losing them.

Page Speed

A landing page should load in under two seconds. Compress your images, minimize your code, and choose a fast hosting solution. Nobody waits around for a side project page to load.

Basic SEO

Write a descriptive <title> tag with your target keywords
Add a meta_description that summarizes your project in 150-160 characters
Use heading tags (h1, h2, h3) with relevant keywords
Include alt text on your images

These small details are the difference between a landing page that looks amateur and one that looks professional.

Step 9: Choose the Right Tool to Build It

You don't need to hand-code your landing page from scratch (unless you want to). Here are your options:

For Non-Technical Creators

curious.page — Perfect if you want a personal site with a built-in landing page feel. Set up your project page in minutes with no code, and it looks great on every device.
Carrd — Simple one-page sites, though customization is limited.
Notion + Super — Turn a Notion page into a website. Quick but not very polished.

For Developers

A simple HTML/CSS page — If you're a developer, a static page hosted on Vercel, Netlify, or GitHub Pages gives you full control.
Next.js or Astro — If you want something more dynamic or plan to add a blog later.
curious.page — Even as a developer, sometimes you just want to ship fast without maintaining another repo.

What to Avoid

WordPress for a single landing page (overkill)
Drag-and-drop builders with slow load times
Anything that puts the builder's branding above your project's

The best tool is the one that lets you launch today, not next month.

Step 10: Launch and Iterate

Your landing page doesn't need to be perfect on day one. In fact, it shouldn't be. Ship it, share it, and watch what happens.

Here's a simple launch checklist:

Page loads fast on mobile and desktop
CTA is visible without scrolling
Open Graph image shows correctly when sharing the link
Email signup or primary action works (test it yourself!)
Analytics are set up (even basic ones like Plausible or Umami)
You've shared the link in at least three places

After launch, pay attention to:

Bounce rate — Are people leaving immediately? Your headline might not be resonating.
Conversion rate — What percentage of visitors take the desired action? Aim for 5-10% on a waitlist page.
Traffic sources — Where are your visitors coming from? Double down on what works.

Iterate on your page based on real data. Change the headline, swap the CTA text, add a demo video — small tweaks can make a big difference.

Landing Page Examples That Work

Need inspiration? Here's what good side project landing pages have in common:

They're focused. One product, one goal, one page.
They load fast. No heavy animations or bloated frameworks.
They show the product early. Screenshot or demo above the fold.
They speak human. Conversational copy, not corporate jargon.
They make the next step obvious. The CTA is impossible to miss.

Browse Product Hunt, Indie Hackers, or Hacker News for real examples. Notice how the best ones follow these patterns consistently.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Before you hit publish, watch out for these landing page pitfalls:

Too many CTAs. "Sign up AND follow us on Twitter AND join our Discord AND subscribe to our newsletter" — pick one primary action.
Vague headlines. "The next generation platform for modern workflows" tells nobody anything.
No visual proof. If you don't show the product, visitors will assume it doesn't exist yet (or worse, that it looks bad).
Walls of text. Landing pages are scanned, not read. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and plenty of white space.
Ignoring mobile. Check your page on an actual phone before launching.
Perfectionism. A shipped landing page beats a perfect one that lives in your drafts folder forever.

Ready to Launch Your Side Project?

Your side project deserves more than a GitHub README and a prayer. A well-crafted landing page gives it a home, a voice, and a way to grow.

You don't need to spend weeks on it. With the right approach and the right tool, you can go from zero to a polished, conversion-ready landing page in an afternoon.

curious.page makes it ridiculously easy to create a beautiful landing page for your side project — no coding, no design skills, no hassle. Set up your page in minutes, share your link everywhere, and start turning visitors into fans.

Your project is ready. Now give it the landing page it deserves.