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Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

petekeen.net

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Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#41

Post by bluedevil2k »

chris-allnutt wrote: post #40
bluedevil2k wrote: post #6

This was the biggest take-away from this article, one I've learned after wasting much time building my own SaaS "products". Launching without an audience means nobody shows up. It's a very true statement. One of my favorite sayings now, from Jason Cohen, is to get 30 people to fully commit to pay for your product before you even start coding it.

I disagree with this statement on the basis that this assumes all products are made with monetary profit in mind. I'm working on a product right now that is for myself and my spouse to solve a money management issue we have, it is something I will use even if nobody else does. I will be adding the ability to purchase it as a subscription so that if others want to use the product they can too, but ultimately I'm build…

I think all SaaS products (which this article is about) have monetary profit in mind.

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#42

Post by AznHisoka »

jenius wrote: post #29
bluedevil2k wrote: post #6

This was the biggest take-away from this article, one I've learned after wasting much time building my own SaaS "products". Launching without an audience means nobody shows up. It's a very true statement. One of my favorite sayings now, from Jason Cohen, is to get 30 people to fully commit to pay for your product before you even start coding it.

Just this weekend, I started coding up a tiny "saas product" that I thought about last week. Nobody knows about it, and that certainly has no launch page or audience. I got most of it done over the weekend, and really enjoyed putting it together in my favorite stack (sinatra, roots, marionette) and doing some design work, which I don't often get a chance to do. I'll probably launch it late this week or next week. I h…

Because we don't want to be stuck in a cubicle until we're 70 years old. That's why.

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#43

Post by mcherm »

jenius wrote: post #29
bluedevil2k wrote: post #6

This was the biggest take-away from this article, one I've learned after wasting much time building my own SaaS "products". Launching without an audience means nobody shows up. It's a very true statement. One of my favorite sayings now, from Jason Cohen, is to get 30 people to fully commit to pay for your product before you even start coding it.

Just this weekend, I started coding up a tiny "saas product" that I thought about last week. Nobody knows about it, and that certainly has no launch page or audience. I got most of it done over the weekend, and really enjoyed putting it together in my favorite stack (sinatra, roots, marionette) and doing some design work, which I don't often get a chance to do. I'll probably launch it late this week or next week. I h…

So..... what did you make?

(The fact that you didn't say shows that you REALLY aren't concerned about marketing! But I'm still curious.)

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#44

Post by jenius »

bluedevil2k wrote: post #38
jenius wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just this weekend, I started coding up a tiny "saas product" that I thought about last week. Nobody knows about it, and that certainly has no launch page or audience. I got most of it done over the weekend, and really enjoyed putting it together in my favorite stack (sinatra, roots, marionette) and doing some design work, which I don't often get a chance to do. I'll probably launch it late this week or next week. I h…

What you've made is just a hobby then, not a business. (Not that there's anything wrong with programming being a hobby - it's more about managing expectations)

I don't agree with that either. It starts as a hobby, sure. But if it's doing well, I could definitely keep working and expanding it out. Start small and ship fast.

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#45

Post by amouat »

bluedevil2k wrote: post #38
jenius wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just this weekend, I started coding up a tiny "saas product" that I thought about last week. Nobody knows about it, and that certainly has no launch page or audience. I got most of it done over the weekend, and really enjoyed putting it together in my favorite stack (sinatra, roots, marionette) and doing some design work, which I don't often get a chance to do. I'll probably launch it late this week or next week. I h…

What you've made is just a hobby then, not a business. (Not that there's anything wrong with programming being a hobby - it's more about managing expectations)

Don't be so dismissive. This could very easily transition into a business.

The only real difference is that the author won't feel too much pain if it doesn't make a lot of money.

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#46

Post by jenius »

mcherm wrote: post #43
jenius wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just this weekend, I started coding up a tiny "saas product" that I thought about last week. Nobody knows about it, and that certainly has no launch page or audience. I got most of it done over the weekend, and really enjoyed putting it together in my favorite stack (sinatra, roots, marionette) and doing some design work, which I don't often get a chance to do. I'll probably launch it late this week or next week. I h…

So..... what did you make? (The fact that you didn't say shows that you REALLY aren't concerned about marketing! But I'm still curious.)

haha fair question. I'll post in on HN as soon as it's done (maybe it will make it to the front page, who knows!), and I'll reply to this comment and let you know - promise : )

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#48

Post by jenius »

sejje wrote: post #36
jenius wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just this weekend, I started coding up a tiny "saas product" that I thought about last week. Nobody knows about it, and that certainly has no launch page or audience. I got most of it done over the weekend, and really enjoyed putting it together in my favorite stack (sinatra, roots, marionette) and doing some design work, which I don't often get a chance to do. I'll probably launch it late this week or next week. I h…

Because so many developers want to build a business. You've aimed your sights at making $5/month.

You can move your sights after they are aimed. Let's start at $5/month then see how it goes : )

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#49

Post by pjmlp »

chris-allnutt wrote: post #40
bluedevil2k wrote: post #6

This was the biggest take-away from this article, one I've learned after wasting much time building my own SaaS "products". Launching without an audience means nobody shows up. It's a very true statement. One of my favorite sayings now, from Jason Cohen, is to get 30 people to fully commit to pay for your product before you even start coding it.

I disagree with this statement on the basis that this assumes all products are made with monetary profit in mind. I'm working on a product right now that is for myself and my spouse to solve a money management issue we have, it is something I will use even if nobody else does. I will be adding the ability to purchase it as a subscription so that if others want to use the product they can too, but ultimately I'm build…

> Jason Cohen's statement is based on the idea that all software is written with profit in mind, and there are a good number of years in Open Source that prove that to not be true.

Usually in most cases the code is not the direct source of income for the developers.

Re: Post-mortem of a Dead-on-Arrival SaaS Product

#50

Post by nmcfarl »

bluedevil2k wrote: post #38
jenius wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just this weekend, I started coding up a tiny "saas product" that I thought about last week. Nobody knows about it, and that certainly has no launch page or audience. I got most of it done over the weekend, and really enjoyed putting it together in my favorite stack (sinatra, roots, marionette) and doing some design work, which I don't often get a chance to do. I'll probably launch it late this week or next week. I h…

What you've made is just a hobby then, not a business. (Not that there's anything wrong with programming being a hobby - it's more about managing expectations)

I’m not sure - I’ve coded several "micro-businesses". They make small amounts of money, and cost small amounts of money to run, and take almost no time.

One for example makes about $500 revenue with $200 expenses and 2 hours a year. It’s profitable, I’m not doing it because I like spending time on it - or I’d spend more time on it.

These aren’t traditional businesses, but they sure aren’t hobbies. They are services I think need to exist, and that I can create, without "wasting my time".

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