Comments on: Where to start? http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/ Made in New Zealand from local and imported ingredients Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:19:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU hourly 1 By: Ed Corkery http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7954 Ed Corkery Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:00:32 +0000 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7954 Guess I missed the boat on this thread, but we did #3 and it helped us tremendously in terms of ruling out early feature ideas which were a bit daft. Daft in hindsight, that is, after some early test user pointed out a key failure point which made the feature largely irrelevant. Of course we're still at the early phase now, and yes the lack of (what I consider) key features is embarrassing, but at least we are gaining strong momentum in the direction of success and building a stable platform to add features on top of. Also in terms of #3, if something goes wrong with Koordinates for a user and we can identify them, I always call them up in person, apologise for the bad experience, and try to fix the situation that day. Takes them from being an anonymous user of an unfamiliar website to a possibly strong supporter of 'people doing cool stuff'. "it really does require a lot of fortitude and faith" I'd argue that doing it any other way requires a lot of faith in your own ability to determine what the market wants without receiving any direct market feedback. It might work if you're cloning an existing success and adding a few missing features, e.g. the numerous YouTube clones. But unless those features are especially exciting, or you have some special content deal (e.g. Hulu), you're going to find it very hard to pickup hardcore early adopters who will stick with you and push you towards success with their suggestions, contact networks and general buy-in to the idea. Guess I missed the boat on this thread, but we did #3 and it helped us tremendously in terms of ruling out early feature ideas which were a bit daft. Daft in hindsight, that is, after some early test user pointed out a key failure point which made the feature largely irrelevant. Of course we’re still at the early phase now, and yes the lack of (what I consider) key features is embarrassing, but at least we are gaining strong momentum in the direction of success and building a stable platform to add features on top of.

Also in terms of #3, if something goes wrong with Koordinates for a user and we can identify them, I always call them up in person, apologise for the bad experience, and try to fix the situation that day. Takes them from being an anonymous user of an unfamiliar website to a possibly strong supporter of ‘people doing cool stuff’.

“it really does require a lot of fortitude and faith”

I’d argue that doing it any other way requires a lot of faith in your own ability to determine what the market wants without receiving any direct market feedback. It might work if you’re cloning an existing success and adding a few missing features, e.g. the numerous YouTube clones. But unless those features are especially exciting, or you have some special content deal (e.g. Hulu), you’re going to find it very hard to pickup hardcore early adopters who will stick with you and push you towards success with their suggestions, contact networks and general buy-in to the idea.

]]> By: Features, Ease Of Use & Anti-gravity Machines « Rowan Simpson http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7953 Features, Ease Of Use & Anti-gravity Machines « Rowan Simpson Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:39:03 +0000 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7953 [...] When you start you almost certainly don’t have enough features (and if you do, you probably launched too late) [...] [...] When you start you almost certainly don’t have enough features (and if you do, you probably launched too late) [...]

]]> By: Chad http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7304 Chad Fri, 18 Jan 2008 20:52:54 +0000 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7304 Hard to argue with #3 but it really does require a lot of fortitude and faith. If I had to describe a forth option it would be #3 with a moderate dose of online marketing. Just enough to still “get big slow”, but with a little bit more momentum and a little bit less worry. Hard to argue with #3 but it really does require a lot of fortitude and faith.

If I had to describe a forth option it would be #3 with a moderate dose of online marketing. Just enough to still “get big slow”, but with a little bit more momentum and a little bit less worry.

]]> By: En Avant » Blog Archive » Product development - don't be trapped by perfection http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7269 En Avant » Blog Archive » Product development - don't be trapped by perfection Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:43:56 +0000 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7269 [...] Rowan Simpson, successful web business product strategy guy (Trade Me and Xero), has written about the development choices for web businesses: [...] [...] Rowan Simpson, successful web business product strategy guy (Trade Me and Xero), has written about the development choices for web businesses: [...]

]]> By: Jonny’s Play Lunch » Blog Archive » Play Lunch - Jan 15, 2008 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7267 Jonny’s Play Lunch » Blog Archive » Play Lunch - Jan 15, 2008 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 23:35:08 +0000 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7267 [...] NZ) where he talks about the options you have when launching a new site. Check out what Rowan has to [...] [...] NZ) where he talks about the options you have when launching a new site. Check out what Rowan has to [...]

]]> By: Mike Riversdale http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7250 Mike Riversdale Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:37:30 +0000 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7250 I don't know if it's a 4th option but giving yourself a fighting chance with the first release would be to copy the "big boys and girls" (Google, Yahoo, Facebook, You Tube, Amazon, eBay, My Space, etc, etc.) and don't try and reinvent the wheel. If websites were cars we wouldn't suddenly put the steering wheel in the back just because it seemed cool and was our own bright idea. We follow conventions as it allows people to feel comfortable and get using the site as quickly as possible. As I say, not a 4th option but I obviously felt the need to tell everyone ;-) I don’t know if it’s a 4th option but giving yourself a fighting chance with the first release would be to copy the “big boys and girls” (Google, Yahoo, Facebook, You Tube, Amazon, eBay, My Space, etc, etc.) and don’t try and reinvent the wheel.

If websites were cars we wouldn’t suddenly put the steering wheel in the back just because it seemed cool and was our own bright idea. We follow conventions as it allows people to feel comfortable and get using the site as quickly as possible.

As I say, not a 4th option but I obviously felt the need to tell everyone ;-)

]]> By: Mark http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7249 Mark Sun, 13 Jan 2008 20:37:18 +0000 http://rowansimpson.com/2008/01/14/where-to-start/#comment-7249 I would go with 1.) but develop as quickly as possible... Maybe a tiny bit of number 2.) And with a lot of number 3.) You are better off making sure your site is well functioning before launching, or no one will come back! I would go with 1.) but develop as quickly as possible… Maybe a tiny bit of number 2.) And with a lot of number 3.)

You are better off making sure your site is well functioning before launching, or no one will come back!

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