n_coats

What services are freelance developers using to manage time logging, expense tracking, invoice generation, and reporting for multiple clients?

Preferably a service that offers both a web and native app.

Every now and then, I'll come across a site/app with a UI that completely pulls me in. It seems flawless. Most of them have a healthy blend of imagery complimented perfectly with other front-end components.

Are there any UI's that you find incredible, either from an artistic or technological perspective, and what is it about them that captures your attention?

I recently identified a market opportunity for a startup that I am interested in pursuing. Having made the mistake in previous ventures of building first and then realizing that no one wanted to pay for what I built, I promised myself to always validate new ideas to be sure someone would actually buy when it's finished.

Slightly thrown off at first, I had to think about how to validate. In the past I designed a few mock-ups or landers and counted the amount of users that stayed on the check out page for more than X minutes. I would post it on boards or forums where my target market conversed and see what happened.

Knowing how much it sucks when you realize no one will buy what you've spent the last 6 months bringing to life, I decided against my previous methods and spent the last two days going from business to business selling my software prior to writing one line of code. I was honest and told all potential clients that the software is not built but will be in a month (enough time for me to build it). I offered businesses a 50% lifetime discount if they enroll in the presale today.

It started out rough, but I quickly dialed my pitch and was able to sell what I haven't yet built. I learned more about my market and some of the problems and needs my customers have. I've decided the sale I made and the overall response and interest is enough to go for it and build the software. Once it's done I've already got one customer and multiple leads who admitted they would like to try the service out once built.

Have you waisted a lot time and effort building for no one before?

How have you validated ideas prior to bringing them to market? What seemed to work and what didn't?

When did people start paying for your SaaS?

How many times did it take before you got it right? I don't suspect most people get it right on their first go, so what have you taken from your failures and what have been the biggest factors in your success in terms of gaining traction with your SaaS?

In particular, what marketing/promo tactics have served you best?

What makes you decide start a project/start-up/etc?

From idea to implementation...

Do you go for something based on a technical analysis, market research, monetary potential, the start-up "ride", or just because it's fun to build something regardless of the outcome? Do you ever commit to a project knowing that even if you "fail miserably", you will still gain from the experience?

Obviously most people weigh multiple factors, but which carries the most weight in your decision?