This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
Hey there, thanks for tuning in to Side Hustle School. My name's Chris Guillebeau. This is a podcast that comes out every single day, all about ways of making extra money without quitting your job or perhaps pursuing some creative project, otherwise using a skill you have to do something that's interesting and important to you. So today we've got a listener question. Well, I should say first, long ago, we featured the dating app for dog lovers.
And that led me to some research in which I discovered all kinds of specialized dating apps. You probably heard of the bigger ones, but there are also several apps based on religion or background, like JDate or Christian Cafe. There's also apps or platforms for single parents. There's even an app called Farmers Only, which asks, are you single in the country? Sign up for free to find a farmer, rancher, cowboy, cowgirl, or animal lover.
All of these are in fact real options, if you're looking for love in the country or wherever it is, whoever you happen to be. So this brings us to our question, of course. Today's caller has an idea to start her own app for people who identify as asexual. And if you haven't heard of that before, she'll explain it a little bit. What is the best path forward?
Detailed question and my answer coming right up. [Music]
Hi, this is Catherine, and I've been following you for as long as I can remember. I identify as asexual, which is an orientation where you just don't feel much sexual attraction to anyone. It's a common myth that this type of person doesn't exist. And thankfully, now there are communities like Reddit where I've been able to learn more about myself.
It's important to note that just because someone is asexual doesn't mean they don't wanna have a relationship. Many of us still experience a longing for romantic or platonic relationships. We just don't necessarily want the other parts. I know this is an ambitious goal, but what do you think about a dating app for people on this spectrum? I've done some coding classes and have some time on my hands since I work remotely for a job that doesn't require a lot of effort.
Or if an app seems too complicated, what else would you suggest? Thanks in advance for any ideas you might have. [Music]
Hey Catherine, thanks so much for the question. I just wanna say first, I love our community. We've got so many interesting people out there.
I myself have learned so much just in making the show over the past few years about all sorts of different topics. So thanks for raising this question. I tend to wonder a little bit less about making a dedicated app just 'cause so much goes into that, not just on the technology side, but how do you get like a critical user mass? I mean, that's what usually requires like startup dollars just because you're gonna need to have lots and lots of people from all sorts of different geographical areas. It's not just about finding people who align with the demographic or the psychographic, let's say, it's how do you connect people who live in all kinds of different cities?
So that's why I think a little bit less about the app and more about other resources. And the cool thing about something like this, a project where you're trying to bring people together who have this shared value, it's that as more awareness takes place, as more people are familiar with the concept and understand it, or at least have some experience with it, or maybe know someone who identifies this way, it just gets easier. And you have to explain a lot less over time. So even on the existing apps, like the bigger apps, I don't mean like the farm dating, but the match.com, the OKCupid, the Bumble, Tinder, et cetera, there are people who identify this way already or with another non-traditional orientation. And so depending on who you are and what you're looking for, you might actually find it there since the user base is so much more than any specialized app could be.
So that's why I think maybe instead of the app, what other resources could you make? Either as an active service or to become an authority/influencer in this field, perhaps eventually make a profit if you so choose. Obviously not everybody wants that, not everybody wants to become an authority or an influencer in something that's so personal, but there's definitely room for it because there's a lot of curiosity and people are identifying different ways. So that's a thought there. And of course, also, Catherine, it might be good to just kind of post this kind of question up in one of those communities on Reddit because that is where a lot of people are organizing around topics like this.
So good luck and listeners, thanks for tuning in. If you've got a question, sidehustleschool.com/questions, new episode every single day, working on some cool stuff for next year as well. I hope you'll continue to subscribe, follow wherever you get your podcasts. My name is Chris Guillebeau, this is "Side Hustle School." [Music]
From the "Onward Project."
