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I just launched my bootstrapped startup. Pray for me.

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Re: I just launched my bootstrapped startup. Pray for me.

#101

What's so scary? The worst that can happen is nobody uses it. Even in that case, you'll probably still learn something about programming, and might learn a bit about product development. If you put effort into it, it will be a good experience even if it doesn't take off. And if it does, so much the better.

The worst case scenario I keep imagining is getting a lot of bad press with key social media folks (blogs, twitterers, etc) and then having my chances for good press be dried up even after I fix the bugs.

You're psyching yourself out. Early adopters (especially people who write about these sorts of things) are pretty understanding about that stuff. Trust me, I've been there. If you have no bugs at all you waited too long.

Very few of the early adopters will dive deep enough to even find a bug before writing up their thoughts, and unless you do something like reveal credit card info to strangers getting a review that's actually damaging to your long-term potential is extremely rare. (And even then it's the internet, just get a new domain name and design and start over).

Much more likely is that you'll find some people who like it, maybe some who love it, and some who have yet to be convinced. If you're really lucky, they'll tell you how to convince them.

I meant the first comment to be encouraging btw, perhaps it didn't come off that way since it got downvoted.

Re: I just launched my bootstrapped startup. Pray for me.

#103
post #68

bug: Current plan: Family/$69.99 (up to 10 varieties). Upgrade to Small Garden/$39.99 to get 3 more. also make the logo take the person to the home page also make the background image wider(at least 1400px wide)...anyone on a wide screen monitor sees the bad blue color.

Ah, good catch. I hadn't seen that bug yet. The background image is an interesting point. I don't know if I want to have people download a 1400px wide image. I'll maybe make the gradients fade out to blue so there's a smooth transition.

Give the art a transparent sky, then make the sky gradient a repeating background image.

Re: I just launched my bootstrapped startup. Pray for me.

#104
First off... Congratulations on getting it out the door. For me that is by far the hardest part.

Second, please forgive me if someone else mentioned this but I did find a bug. I first entered a zip code for a place in Arizona. I then was telling a guest how interesting the site was and what a great idea you have. I went back and tried to enter their ZIP (Idaho). Unfortunately it was a pretty new one so it wasn't in your DB. They told me to try another one that is near their location and a bit older. It acts like it finds it by taking me to the sales page instead of an error but when I click on "preview your calendar" link it takes me to a calendar for the previously entered AZ ZIP.

This isn't a super big deal and again I apologize if someone else mentioned it already.

Great Work

Re: I just launched my bootstrapped startup. Pray for me.

#107

You make some political sensitive comments on your personal blog linked directly from your product site (affirmative action). I personally would not buy from you having read those as I disagree with your position. It seems like putting out stuff like that while your trying to build a brand is risky, while some/many of your target may agree, I can see some not e.g. Libertarian types who believe in self reliance i.e. y…

Did you even read his blog post? Or just see "affirmative action" and kneejerk it? And what do his political leanings have to do with buying plant seeds?

1st Point Yeah I read the blog post, he stated a position in support of it and articulated his reasons.

2nd Point What does if a presidential candidate is bald or not have to do with his/her capacity to run the country? What does Whole Food's CEO"s John Mackey position on health care have to do with buying groceries?

Your question implies a lack of understanding of the motivations and impulses that drive consumers to take actions such as voting and purchasing products.

My questioning of the value of putting and linking such rhetoric with a product or company represents an understanding of impact of the overall messaging around a product/brand that can very far removed from the core value/solution a product/brand/person is delivering.

Re: I just launched my bootstrapped startup. Pray for me.

#110

Hey Erik, Congratulations on the launch! It is a very aesthetically pleasing web design. Seeing the product kind of gives me an itch to start gardening :) Here's some general feedback I had: 1. Instead of "SproutRobot tells you when to plant & sends you seeds," how about an even more general statement, like "We'll give you everything you need (to grow your own groceries)!" I feel as if the current statement limits yo…

You should try having approximate location based on IP address already filled in. Something like, "We can get you started in New York, New York. Or give us your zip code:"
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