World of Card Games
About the Company
World of Card Games is a multiplayer card game website where users can play classic games like Hearts, Spades, and Gin Rummy. Players have the option to play against bots, other users, or invite friends to private tables. Holger acquired the site about six months ago and has been managing it single-handedly. The site generates around $4,000 in monthly revenue, primarily through advertisements, with a subscription option newly introduced.
The website runs on technologies such as Node.js, Redis, and SockJS, which provide a stable platform for concurrent connections. Holger emphasizes the importance of not making drastic changes to retain the loyal user base and focuses on gradual improvements and resolving technical debts.
Idea Behind Company
Holger's interest in online card games stems from his success with a previous project, Online Solitaire. His experience and the technical complexity of multiplayer game sites motivated him to acquire World of Card Games. The opportunity arose from a long-standing communication with the previous owner, during which they exchanged advice and discussed the potential sale of the website.
The acquisition was a calculated decision influenced by Holger's desire to expand his portfolio of card game websites. He saw potential in enhancing the existing platform and growing its user base, leveraging his expertise in online card games and SEO strategies.
Creating the Company
World of Card Games was originally created over a decade ago, but Holger's involvement began recently. The acquisition process involved negotiating a price with the previous owner, finalizing the deal with legal assistance, and transferring the assets. Holger faced challenges diving into the old codebase, which required understanding and updating outdated technologies.
Setting up the site on his local machine and implementing changes were time-consuming processes. Holger focused on learning the intricacies of the existing codebase while ensuring the site's stability. He aimed to maintain the site's performance for existing users while making necessary improvements.
Launching the Business
The transition of ownership was marked by a joint blog post with the former owner, explaining the sale and introducing Holger as the new owner. This approach helped maintain transparency and a positive attitude among the users. Holger prioritized retaining old users by minimizing unnecessary changes and focusing on improving the site's SEO to attract new users.
Implementing the SEO changes took longer than expected due to the old codebase and the learning curve associated with it. However, these efforts paid off as the site's traffic steadily increased. Holger continues to add new features and resolve existing issues while considering a potential redesign in the future.
Earnings
World of Card Games generates revenue primarily through advertisements, supplemented by a newly introduced subscription option. The site’s revenue doubled since Holger acquired it, reaching around $4,000 per month. Holger's focus on retaining users and improving SEO has contributed to this growth.
Holger plans to update the site's design to modernize its appearance while keeping loyal users satisfied. Future plans also include adding new games, though these projects are on hold due to the technical debts that need addressing. Holger emphasizes the importance of user feedback and balancing communication with productivity as a solo entrepreneur.
