My novelty map app accidentally became an ad channel, so I'm pivoting to that. Current numbers inside.

Quick timeline: built tile.today, the world divided into 50x50m squares you can only claim by physically standing in one. First claim free daily, €1 after. Got 200+ users and 250+ squares claimed across 26 countries, mostly from Reddit posts.

Zero paid claims so far, which taught me the extra-claim upsell is dead. But then users started putting links to their own businesses in their claim notes without being asked (print shop, a couple of apps, a soundcloud), so I built a live feed on the map showing every claim + note, and now I'm building proper paid ad slots on squares instead. Sharing because "your users show you the business model" turned out to be literal in my case. Happy to share anything else about the numbers.

reddit.com
▲ 12 r/saasinvestors+9 crossposts

People started using my map app's claim notes to advertise their projects, so I built them a live feed

I run tile.today, you claim real 50x50m squares of Earth by physically standing in them (first claim each day is free). I gave claims an optional note field expecting little diary entries. Instead people immediately started dropping links to their print shops, apps, soundclouds and portfolios. So I leaned in and there's now a live activity feed on the main map showing every claim as it happens, note and all, to everyone browsing. If you want your project on it, it costs a walk outside. Screenshot of what it looks like right now attached.

u/Different-Zombie8154 — 13 hours ago

I'll give you a real square of Earth for free, but only if you physically go stand on it first

Built TileToday as a side project and now I genuinely can't tell if it's a brilliant idea or an elaborate way to get people to go outside for no reason.

Your first claim each day is free; €1 after that claims a real 50x50m square of land, permanently, but only if your GPS proves you're standing in it. You decide which category this falls into.

Global stats at https://www.tile.today/stats

u/Different-Zombie8154 — 3 days ago

I'll give you a real square of Earth for free, but only if you physically go stand on it first

Built TileToday as a side project and now I genuinely can't tell if it's a brilliant idea or an elaborate way to get people to go outside for no reason.

Your first claim each day is free; €1 after that claims a real 50x50m square of land, permanently, but only if your GPS proves you're standing in it. You decide which category this falls into.

Global stats at https://www.tile.today/stats

u/Different-Zombie8154 — 3 days ago

I'll give you a real square of Earth for free, but only if you physically go stand on it first

Built this as a side project and now I genuinely can't tell if it's a brilliant idea or an elaborate way to get people to go outside for no reason.

Your first claim each day is free and claims a real 50x50m square of land, permanently, but only if your GPS proves you're standing in it. You decide which category this falls into.

Global stats at https://www.tile.today/stats

u/Different-Zombie8154 — 3 days ago

TileToday: real-world territory game. Walk to claim 50m tiles, form crews, race to carve up your neighbourhood (free, browser-based)

Game Title: TileToday

Playable Link: https://www.tile.today/

Platform: Web

Description: The world is divided into 50x50m squares, and you claim one by physically standing in it. Claimed squares are permanent and show your colour on a shared world map; crews let you and your friends mark territory in a shared colour and watch your group's footprint spread. There's no install, it runs in the browser, and it works anywhere on Earth, so testers from any city are genuinely useful, the map's mostly unclaimed outside a few hotspots.

How to play:

  1. Open tile.today on your phone and sign in
  2. Walk into any unclaimed square and tap claim (first one each day is free)
  3. Form or join a crew to color territory with friends

Feedback I'd most value: the crews feature just launched — does the crew flow make sense, and what would make you actually want to compete with another crew?

Free to Play Status:

  • Free to play

Involvement: Made the entire thing.

u/Different-Zombie8154 — 3 days ago

I'll give you a real square of Earth for free, but only if you physically go stand on it first

Built this as a side project and now I genuinely can't tell if it's a brilliant idea or an elaborate way to get people to go outside for no reason.

Your first claim each day is free; €1 after that claims a real 50x50m square of land, permanently, but only if your GPS proves you're standing in it. You decide which category this falls into.

Edit: Global stats at https://www.tile.today/stats

u/Different-Zombie8154 — 3 days ago
▲ 0 r/walking+1 crossposts

My walks got more interesting when every 50m square I passed through became claimable

https://www.tile.today/

Side project I built: the world's divided into 50x50m squares, and you can claim one whenever you're physically standing in it, first one each day is free.

It's quietly turned my daily walks into small missions, picking a direction based on what's unclaimed. Recently added crews, so friends' squares all carry a shared crew color and you can watch your group's map fill in together. Sharing here since walkers might get the same odd satisfaction out of it that I do.

u/Different-Zombie8154 — 3 days ago
▲ 10 r/TravelMaps+12 crossposts

I'll give you a real square of Earth for free, but only if you physically go stand on it first

https://www.tile.today/

Built this as a side project and now I genuinely can't tell if it's a brilliant idea or an elaborate way to get people to go outside for no reason.

Your first claim each day is free; €1 after that claims a real 50x50m square of land, permanently, but only if your GPS proves you're standing in it. You decide which category this falls into.

Edit: Global stats at https://www.tile.today/stats !

A hyperlocal ad channel where the "impression" requires someone to physically be near your business, thoughts on this as a channel?

Built a platform where businesses can claim a real 50x50m square of land (GPS-verified) and put their name/link there permanently. The ad also surfaces to other app users specifically when they're physically nearby, so it's tied to real foot traffic rather than screen impressions.

Curious how marketers here would value something like this versus typical local ad channels, feels novel, but I'm genuinely unsure how to price hyperlocal physical impressions.

reddit.com
u/Different-Zombie8154 — 13 days ago

Looking for early testers for a real-world location claiming experiment

I’m testing a system where users can claim 50m squares by physically visiting real-world locations.

Each user has limited daily claims, and some locations require multiple contributions over time.

Looking for early users who want to try it in a single city first and give feedback.

reddit.com
u/Different-Zombie8154 — 14 days ago

What’s ONE dish in Amsterdam you keep thinking about?

I’ve realized I usually go back to restaurants for one specific dish, not the restaurant itself.

So I’m curious:

What’s ONE dish in Amsterdam you keep thinking about?

(Not the best restaurant overall, literally one specific dish)

reddit.com
u/Different-Zombie8154 — 1 month ago