Why Custom Make Modules Beat Everything Else
When you create workflows using existing Make modules, anyone can replicate them. But when you build custom modules that call your own backend services, this would make your service stand out and hard to replicate.
This creates three distinct ways to make money:
- Complete Workflow Sales: Sell the entire setup as a one-time purchase with unlimited usage rights.
- Service Delivery: You run everything on your end and deliver results via email or reports.
- API Access Model: Clients pay monthly to use your custom module in their workflow.
The key is finding workflows that are hard to replicate and solve specific problems. The higher the demand and perceived value, the more you can charge.
Building Your Custom Backend
To simplify the idea, I’ll show you how to build a simple YouTube video transcript fetcher and turn it into a custom Make module. We’re using this example because there isn’t a Make module with such functionality, making it valuable and harder to replicate.
This functionality is incredibly valuable for:
- Content creators analyzing competitors
- Marketers extracting insights from videos
- Educators creating study materials
- Businesses monitoring brand mentions in videos
Creating Your Backend Service
In this case, the backend needs to:
- Receive a video ID: Takes a YouTube video ID as input.
- Process the request: Extracts the complete transcript from YouTube.
- Return structured data: Sends back the transcript text.
- Validate access: Only works with the valid API keys you provide.
You can build this backend using whatever you’re comfortable with, whether it is using traditional coding, no-code tools, cloud functions, etc. Choose what works for your skills and budget.
The important thing is creating functionality that solves a real problem and can’t be easily replicated.
Deployment: Making It Accessible
Once your backend is ready, you need to deploy it so Make (or any client) can call it via a public URL.
I deploy most of my apps, websites, and databases using Coolify on a self-hosted server. It costs me almost nothing and gives me full control. If you want to learn more, check out my complete guide on SelfHostSchool.