32 y/o Software Engineer Intro and Execution Journal

[Guestjgf41103]

Hello all,

I've been lurking the forum for some time and joined today. I'm here for one reason; to hold myself accountable by documenting my journey publicly.

I am a 32 year old software engineer. For years I've let many ideas swim around my mind, pondering "what-ifs" and talking myself out of taking a risk on one of them. All my skepticism has accomplished is denying myself a chance at real freedom. So tonight I will begin work on one of my ideas, despite the familiar negative energy telling me I'll fail. The only way to prove that thought-pattern wrong is to invalidate it through action. I'm committed to becoming successful if it means I have to fail (learn) many times. I'd rather fail pursuing my ideal reality than succeed in living a lie.

My high level plan is this:

1) Minimal effort landing page designed to convey the UVP
2) Drive some traffic to the page to gauge demand
3) If demand -> proceed to build MVP, else -> move on to the next idea

I will follow this routine until demand presents itself, and go from there. I'm open to feedback on this approach from more seasoned folks.

Cheers!

 

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[Guestjgf41103]

Plan for landing page creation:

Deadline for live production page: 2/8

High-level outline of steps:
1. Acquire domain (done)
2. Acquire hosting (done)
3. Design copy to frame the problem and solution
4. Create page with copy and an email notifier form that hits an account database
5. Setup the page to run on wordpress behind a CDN to prevent malicious site usage

Deadline for demand testing: 2/15

High-level outline of steps:
1. Determine what are the metrics that will signify demand exists
2. Use Google ads to drive traffic to the page
3. Monitor the metrics of page hits / email form submissions
4. Make a decision about whether real demand is present

 

[Jon822]

Setup the page to run on wordpress behind a CDN to prevent malicious site usage

What do you mean by this?

 

[Guestjgf41103]

What do you mean by this?

If you run a wordpress site without a CDN intermediary that leaves it susceptible to a lot of different types of attacks.

 

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[Tau Ceti]

High-level outline of steps:
1. Determine what are the metrics that will signify demand exists
2. Use Google ads to drive traffic to the page
3. Monitor the metrics of page hits / email form submissions
4. Make a decision about whether real demand is present

None of these things can tell you that demand exist.

What you need are pre-orders. Get people to buy your product. Add a stripe link to your website. When people buy, then you ll know you have something worthwhile.

Your metrics, no offense, but they are bullsh*t.
Forms submissions, pages visited, links clicked, email signups, those are useless to make you money.

Also why do you need wordpress? This is way too much for simple landing page.
Go with framer, create your landing page, publish it and refine it. That's all you need.

Once you have proven demand, then you can invest in better tech.

I am also not sure why you need a db at this stage.

You should apply the KISS and YAGNIY principles here.

 

[maverick]

And don't define yourself by your vocation