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Ask HN: Should I gauge interest in my app or go straight to release?

7 pointsMegaLeon10y ago8 comments

Hi everyone,

I've been developing a small web app as a personal project and I got a fully functional prototype.

It got potential, and I've been thinking about releasing a fully polished version as a proper service. That would involve getting a decent hosting plan, run testing, implement a subscription model to monetize the project.

My dilemma is: should I instead lightheartedly deploy this first version to gather interest and receive feedback, and then progress to a more adult version of it and redirect users?

People who have shipped several web apps and potentially met modest usage in a few of them, what's your opinion?

8 comments

8 comments · 5 top-level

rcavezza10y ago· 3 in thread

You don't need to launch this to get feedback. I would cold email five people who you think will find it useful.

Ask them if they have this problem you're trying to solve. Ask if they currently use something to solve that problem. Ask them for their feedback and if they'd be willing to pay for this service.

You can find emails pretty easily by using any of the following tools: saleshacker, voilanorbert, toofr, curtact, or http://emailhunter.co

If you can't get people in your target market with this painpoint to answer your email, you will have a hard time finding your first customers.

drewrv10y ago

Do you really find cold emails effective? Personally, whenever I get a cold email I make a note of the company name and vow to never purchase a service from them.

fucsia10y ago

I found them very effective. But I don't ask people to pay, I ask for feedback. If the software is good, they'll want to use it anyway!

People are willing to help if you are equally open about what the software can and cannot do. I implemented several features straight out of what people said they wanted through email, and the product was noticeably better for it.

I've also had people not respond at all or react strangely.

SyneRyder10y ago

Someone on HN sent me a cold email recently asking me to help beta test their web app. They'd found me via a comment where I'd mentioned using a competitor's app, and wanted my opinion / feedback on their own app.

What they did right is that the first email wasn't a sales pitch, just asking for feedback / opinions / bug reports. What didn't go well is that they seemed rather defensive about my negative feedback. If you do get negative feedback, remember it might be specific to that person's situation - the same app might be perfect for someone else, and you can use the feedback to identify who is & isn't your target market.

siquick10y ago

This is an excellent read by Justin Mares (co-author of the excellent Traction book).

tldr;

Find out if people actually want your product before you build it.

`80/20 Validation: The Cheap and Fast Way to Prove a Business How to easily test a business idea in 2 weeks with less than $100`

https://sumome.com/stories/80-20-business-idea-validation

monknomo10y ago

You could start with a landing page to gauge the level of interest, and then change your deploy plans based on the interest level?

pavornyoh10y ago

Why not post it here and get feedback from here before proceeding to a fully polished version?

burkestar10y ago

The best book on this subject is Lean Startup. Build, test, iterate. Put something out there, gather feedback and adjust.

Also consider the "show HN" to get feedback from the hacker news community.

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