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Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

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Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#1

Post by MattBearman »

I launched BugMuncher (http://bugmuncher.com) a couple of years ago when Google + launched. Some people on HN seemed more interested in G+'s feedback tool than G+ itself, they wanted this tool for their own website. BugMuncher was based on G+'s feedback tool.

I've put a lot of time into BugMuncher, going from MVP to full app, but I'm only making $200 / month. I fear people are impressed when they first see BugMuncher, but no one needs this tool. I dogfood BugMuncher with my own users, even they don't use it much.

I think it could have more use for reporting cross browser issues, but all screenshots are created with webkit, so it's pretty useless for that. I've looked into using VM's to create screenshots for different browsers, the only service that would work is crossbrowsertesting.com, but they're prohibitively expensive. I'd either have to put my prices up a lot, or cut the monthly report limit by 70%

Which brings me to my only competitor, Usersnap - https://usersnap.com. They launched after me, but got VC funding, and use VM's to take screenshots in the same browser/OS as the user. Based on their pricing and report limit, I think they use crossbrowsertesting.com for screenshots, and the last time they posted a show HN, people complained 50 reports is not enough for $19 / month.

I'm now wondering if BugMuncher will ever be my full time job, I've got other things I'd like to work on, and I'm doing well freelancing. I don't feel like I have time for BugMuncher unless it can bring the majority of my income.

- Would you use BugMuncher as it is now (webkit screenshots)? - If not, would you use it if I used VMs to take screenshots with the correct browser, if so, would you want higher prices or lower limits? - Should I consider funding? - Should I stop, and sell BugMuncher or open source it?

Re: Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#2

Post by phantom_oracle »

Have you even identified your target market yet?

It's not a bad idea, I just don't think you've gotten the other part of the startup right yet (sales and marketing).

I don't mind helping you with your idea (to guide you in a sense). I've given advice to a couple others before.

I think if you clearly identified your target market and then attacked them directly, you would find some success. Also, your landing page needs to become more "pretty".

Even though it doesn't look that bad, it kind of has the early 2000s Java web-tool look.

Re: Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#3

Post by vsergiu »

The app is not that bad,but don't get your hopes up just yet. You really need to work on your sales and marketing and measure everything from engagement to what each user does within your app. Also my feedback is that the prices are high compared to other competitors that offer more features.

Re: Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#4

Post by codegeek »

I looked at your site and then went to usersnap. Overall, both ideas are good but usersnap is beating you in terms of landing page/design and most likely sales/marketing efforts. For example, on your landing page, there is no clear way of knowing what bugmuncher is for. Sure, I want to "Fix bugs like a boss!" but how ? Then I realize you have a small text description "BugMuncher is the best way to receive feedback on your website. With BugMuncher annotated screenshots can easily be sent along with feedback reports, making it ideal for internal use, as well as getting feedback and bug reports from your users." Why not make this prominent ? Usersnap smartly says "Screenshot is worth a thousand words" and we know immediately what it is about.

I would not throw in the towel yet. Functionality wise, your demo video is pretty cool. Other than work on your landing page, you definitely need to go out and do sales/marketing. Stop working on the product and turn your sales/marketing hat on. Get help from someone who knows this better than you do if possible.

Re: Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#5

Post by MattBearman »

phantom_oracle wrote: post #2

Have you even identified your target market yet? It's not a bad idea, I just don't think you've gotten the other part of the startup right yet (sales and marketing). I don't mind helping you with your idea (to guide you in a sense). I've given advice to a couple others before. I think if you clearly identified your target market and then attacked them directly, you would find some success. Also, your landing page nee…

Thanks for the feedback, I'm pretty typical as a programmer, little to no marketing skills. I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer.

In terms of target market, I think I'm a step behind that, I'm not even sure what BugMuncher should be used for: bug reporting on live sites, team communication during development, are cross browser issues important?

Should it be a fully featured issue tracker (crowded market) or should it just integrate with existing tools?

I kind of feel like I'm throwing features at the wall to see what sticks :)

In terms of my current user base, it's mostly people using it for bug reports on live sites, but I feel in that use case, cross browser issues are important :s

I agree the website definitely needs redoing, I bought that on themeforest, gonna work with a designer to make something a lot better.

Re: Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#6

Post by MattBearman »

vsergiu wrote: post #3

The app is not that bad,but don't get your hopes up just yet. You really need to work on your sales and marketing and measure everything from engagement to what each user does within your app. Also my feedback is that the prices are high compared to other competitors that offer more features.

Thanks for the reply. I have wondered about my prices, yet I seem to get less signups now BugMuncher starts at $15 than when it only had one plan for $19 :s

Out of interest, how do you think it should be priced, and what do you consider my competitors?

Re: Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#7

Post by MattBearman »

codegeek wrote: post #4

I looked at your site and then went to usersnap. Overall, both ideas are good but usersnap is beating you in terms of landing page/design and most likely sales/marketing efforts. For example, on your landing page, there is no clear way of knowing what bugmuncher is for. Sure, I want to "Fix bugs like a boss!" but how ? Then I realize you have a small text description "BugMuncher is the best way to receive feedback on…

Totally agree that the home page needs to be redesigned. I've just started talking to a designer with a view to replace the current themeforest template with something custom and much better.

  Stop working on the product and turn your sales/marketing hat on.
You're so right, I've already been planning new features to work on, even though I know I should be marketing. I guess I'm using what I'm good at (development) to avoid doing what I'm bad at (marketing)

I've just cleared my trello to do list of everything but 'MARKETING'

Re: Ask HN: Should I continue with my bootstrapped startup?

#8

Post by phantom_oracle »

MattBearman wrote: post #5
phantom_oracle wrote: post #2

Have you even identified your target market yet? It's not a bad idea, I just don't think you've gotten the other part of the startup right yet (sales and marketing). I don't mind helping you with your idea (to guide you in a sense). I've given advice to a couple others before. I think if you clearly identified your target market and then attacked them directly, you would find some success. Also, your landing page nee…

Thanks for the feedback, I'm pretty typical as a programmer, little to no marketing skills. I'd really appreciate any advice you can offer. In terms of target market, I think I'm a step behind that, I'm not even sure what BugMuncher should be used for: bug reporting on live sites, team communication during development, are cross browser issues important? Should it be a fully featured issue tracker (crowded market) or…

Well any advice I give will be open for everyone to see (competitors included) and limited to the 2000 chars provided by HN.

If you'd like to discuss things privately, use http://boun.cr to hide your email and we can discuss things via email thereafter.

Otherwise, as you've mentioned about your current market, it seems like the market is pushing your tool towards the live-site part of it.

Maybe I should try evaluating your product also. I need to "play" with it to understand how I would interpret its use in the role of a customer.

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