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Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

paraschopra.com

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Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#71

Post by MicahWedemeyer »

jdietrich wrote: post #58
MicahWedemeyer wrote: post #32

Beware the fatigue that sets in with these "boring" money makers. It can be very difficult to keep your motivation high when working on something like this, especially in the beginning where you're not making money and no one takes you seriously. With a funky web app, at least your friends and family might understand it and think it's cool. Doing a startup already takes a lot of motivation. It's significantly harder…

The single most important anecdote I've ever heard about software is this: In the early days of VisiCalc, Dan Bricklin travelled with his Apple II, demonstrating his software to potential customers. The response from 'computer people' was generally fairly muted - they didn't see what spreadsheets did that they couldn't already do in BASIC. People with no experience of computers assumed that computers could do damned…

I'm talking about the days, weeks, and months that precede these eureka moments. The customer who hugs you tearfully, thanking your for changing their life may show up tomorrow, but today all you can see is an app that nobody seems to be using.

Those can be rough times. If it's an app that you use (ie. eat your own dog food), that can help you through this stage. Otherwise, motivation can deplete quickly and you walk away before meeting the person whose life you would have changed.

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#72

Post by jmatt »

Simon1979 wrote: post #63
MicahWedemeyer wrote: post #32

Beware the fatigue that sets in with these "boring" money makers. It can be very difficult to keep your motivation high when working on something like this, especially in the beginning where you're not making money and no one takes you seriously. With a funky web app, at least your friends and family might understand it and think it's cool. Doing a startup already takes a lot of motivation. It's significantly harder…

This rings true with me. I started my own startup in 2009 in what could be considered a relatively boring but proven industry. I focused on price and SEO and it is currently making decent money and growing 30% month on month. I am still very excited and motivated by it all, but I can't help feeling just a little jealous when I see some of the 'cool' webapps that spring up on here.

Off topic but ... Welcome to HN!

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#73

Post by jacquesm »

Simon1979 wrote: post #63
MicahWedemeyer wrote: post #32

Beware the fatigue that sets in with these "boring" money makers. It can be very difficult to keep your motivation high when working on something like this, especially in the beginning where you're not making money and no one takes you seriously. With a funky web app, at least your friends and family might understand it and think it's cool. Doing a startup already takes a lot of motivation. It's significantly harder…

This rings true with me. I started my own startup in 2009 in what could be considered a relatively boring but proven industry. I focused on price and SEO and it is currently making decent money and growing 30% month on month. I am still very excited and motivated by it all, but I can't help feeling just a little jealous when I see some of the 'cool' webapps that spring up on here.

Don't be too jealous, 'cool' does not pay the bills.

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#74

Post by ABrandt »

jdietrich wrote: post #58
MicahWedemeyer wrote: post #32

Beware the fatigue that sets in with these "boring" money makers. It can be very difficult to keep your motivation high when working on something like this, especially in the beginning where you're not making money and no one takes you seriously. With a funky web app, at least your friends and family might understand it and think it's cool. Doing a startup already takes a lot of motivation. It's significantly harder…

The single most important anecdote I've ever heard about software is this: In the early days of VisiCalc, Dan Bricklin travelled with his Apple II, demonstrating his software to potential customers. The response from 'computer people' was generally fairly muted - they didn't see what spreadsheets did that they couldn't already do in BASIC. People with no experience of computers assumed that computers could do damned…

I don't mean to detract from the message of this story, but source? I'm hoping you can point me in the direction of similar stories of software lore.

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#75

Post by jpcx01 »

jasonlotito wrote: post #70
jpcx01 wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am expecting to make money. And I am calling what I do a startup. And the my goal of the startup is to build new and interesting things. I guess thats not OK

You're being obtuse on purpose. But I'll bite: > I am expecting to make money. Merely expecting to make money doesn't make money. You have to have a plan to make money. You can expect things all you want, but they won't happen. > And I am calling what I do a startup. You can call what you do a startup. Calling it a startup doesn't make it so. A rose by any other name and all that jazz. > And the my goal of the startu…

You're right, I'm not really happy with my input in the thread. Obtuse is a good word for it.

I doubt we have that different of an outlook. My passionate disagreement with the original author however is the belief you have to put making money above all else. I've seen too many startups end in failure (many of them clients) because they tried to monetize too early, or put nickle and diming customers above user satisfaction.

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#76

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

Maro wrote: post #23

The article's market-first approach: * Find an industry (ideally, an old fashioned one) where people are making money * Find the single differentiator which will put your app apart in the already established industry (read or research what pain points are still not addressed by top 3 solutions) * Make a web app, market it, refine it based on feedback, monetize the app * Slowly incorporate all standard features expect…

Think of it this way: there are gas stations all over the place. But new ones open up all the time. Why? Do the owners know something everyone else doesn't?

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#77

Post by chc »

jacquesm wrote: post #66
trotsky wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The internet has changed the piracy game completely Eh, were you actually around then? Copying floppy disks was generally just as easy as anything else, and the skill level of the average computer user was much, much higher. Based on my experience I'd say piracy per capita was nearly 100% in the 80's. These days there are large swaths of computer users who simply don't install anything that isn't pushed at them, let…

I actually made pretty good money in the early 80's from programming games and later selling licensed software on the net. Yes, large numbers of BBS's were dedicated to piracy but large numbers of meters of shelf space in retail stores were dedicated to 'boxed' software too.

I think trotsky is referring to sneakernet piracy, not the odd BBS. I was very young in the '80s, but I remember all the computer users I knew were extremely liberal in their sharing of programs, the same way that people were with music cassettes. "Oh, I bought this cool game. I think you'll like it. Here, let me make you a copy."

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#78

Post by chc »

HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #76
Maro wrote: post #23

The article's market-first approach: * Find an industry (ideally, an old fashioned one) where people are making money * Find the single differentiator which will put your app apart in the already established industry (read or research what pain points are still not addressed by top 3 solutions) * Make a web app, market it, refine it based on feedback, monetize the app * Slowly incorporate all standard features expect…

Think of it this way: there are gas stations all over the place. But new ones open up all the time. Why? Do the owners know something everyone else doesn't?

I don't understand your point at all. What does opening a gas station on a busy street have to do with producing a useful tool for an industry about which you have no personal experience? Pretty much everybody understands what a gas station's customers need — they need gas.

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#79

Post by chc »

alexro wrote: post #59
paraschopra wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Well there has got to be at least one "hard" part in making money, otherwise wouldn't everyone be doing the same? There is no easy way to make money or successful but it isn't impossible either. I will give you my example. When I was starting out with Wingify (Visual Website Optimizer), I had absolutely no idea or industry connections in online marketing industry. But I started reading blogs, used existing solutions,…

And since you personally advocate for that route have you achieved a financial success already (even in small)?

From the links at the bottom of the OP, it would appear so: http://paraschopra.com/blog/personal/how-making-money-change...

Re: Sorry, your “cool” webapp is probably not going to make money

#80

Post by HeyLaughingBoy »

chc wrote: post #78
HeyLaughingBoy wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Think of it this way: there are gas stations all over the place. But new ones open up all the time. Why? Do the owners know something everyone else doesn't?

I don't understand your point at all. What does opening a gas station on a busy street have to do with producing a useful tool for an industry about which you have no personal experience? Pretty much everybody understands what a gas station's customers need — they need gas .

How much gas per day? Where's the best place to open a station? Is it better to build one or look for one that's shut down and re-open? How often do you schedule tank refills? What regulations do you have to comply with?

And you'll go broke quite quickly if gas is all you can sell!

The point I was making (poorly, I admit) is that just about everyone who starts a business has to learn how the industry works one way or another. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems. "Producing a useful tool for an industry about which you have no personal experience" really isn't a larger obstacle than most entrepreneurs have to get past.

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