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- Jul 26, 2007
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Wow...well...I've come a long way. Like MJ said, the learning curve is steep. So much has happened over the past two years. As of today I have put the site down--I've not given up on it or the concept, I have just run out of steam and need to regroup. The site is now at a place where it is functional and has traffic, but it can be so much more.
Lessons learned:
1. Keep your concept simple. If your neighbor or mom can't figure it out it's too complicated.
2. Start with the barebones. Don't focus on the logo, or the colors, or advanced features or anything anything outside of bare minimum functionality. KISS.
3. Learn SEO/SEM. At a minimum understand google analytics, adwords, content writing, back linking, keyword mapping, friendly urls, what the search engines can and cannot read and why. ...When I started this site, I knew none of this. I read a few books on SEO and decided that I needed to know more. I called the only three places in town and offered to work for free if they taught me what they knew. One place called me back and I ended up doing an apprenticeship with her for several months. We really hit it off, and now I have a life-long friend as well as a life-long sounding board.
4. Learn the tech stuff. You will need to learn your way around cpanel, an FTP and html--there really isn't much getting around it (and it's really fun once you learn it!)
5. Learn to ask first develop second. Before you sink a dime into an idea, GO OUT AND ASK about 10 different people in the industry you are wanting to break into for their input. Ask them what problems they have and LISTEN AND APPLY what they say.
6. The job of an entrepreneur is that of an interpreter. Take out your own thoughts and ideas of how a solution should look and feel and keep running your thoughts and ideas past your target market. Basically, create something then ask, "Is this what you had in mind? ...How about now? Why or why not?" Then implement the feedback.
7. Sometimes a "hole in the market" is there for a reason. Sometimes a market doesn't want a solution. Just because you see an opportunity doesn't mean it is really there. ASK, ASK, ASK your target market and they will tell you.
8. Development wise everything will cost 3 times as much and take 5 times longer that you are told.
9. Most developers don't think, they code. When you ask for x,y,z you will get x,y,z --even if x,y,z will (unbeknownst to you) jack up your site . Find a developer that you can communicate with. --Start with the end in mind. Tell them, "I am trying to achieve this result. Here's how I think it needs to be done, what are the ramifications to doing it this way? Is there a better way?" ...Get everything in writing. Including what happens if they run past their deadline. Perhaps set something where there is a penalty of 3% per day that you'll deduct if they go over. (Andres and Lighthouse have both been wonderful in helping guide me--thanks guys.)
10. Spend time learning everyday. Most everyday I spend about 3-5 hours learning or reading. I have found that I absorb knowledge in waves. A concept that was Greek to me 6 weeks ago suddenly makes sense--just keep pressing forward.
11. Make every dime fight it's way out of your pocket. It's easy to blow $$$ on a new business. Keep asking yourself, do I need to spend money on this right now? Or, is this the highest and best use of my money right now?
12. Make it as easy as possible for the customer at every turn. Customers don't want to list on your site even though it's free? List for them. ...In addition, ask for their feedback. Ask them what you can do to make it easier/better for them next time--then do just that.
13. Realize that a business plan is just a starting point and not a roadmap that is set in stone. As you develop your site/business, you will come across situations, concepts, people and ideas that you never thought of before. You may need to add in some (or take out some) features.
14. Don't stick with a plan just for the sake of sticking with a plan. Stay flexible and adaptable. Your site/business should be a response to your customers wants and needs--if those wants and needs change (or were never there to begin with) and you don't, you are dead in the water.
15. Until you figure out what you market wants and the way they want it, stay small, stay lean and stay flexible. If you have $100s of $1000s of dollars into a project you can't easily adapt your course to what the market wants.
16. Wait until a concept is proven before you really sink money into it. Your market can tell you that they love an idea, that they would buy an idea, etc.--but unless they are coming to your site and using your services they lied. As soon as you see demand, then put money into the idea.
17. There are as many benefits to being small as there are to being big. Know what you have in your corner and use it to your fullest potential.
18. Grow relationships. When you find people in your target market who are willing to help, grow your relationship with them. Remember their name and some facts about them. See what you can do to help them out. A nice letter and a plate of oatmeal raisin cookies go a long way. Seriously.
19. Develop thick skin. Not everyone is going to like you or your idea. That's okay. Just prepare yourself for how you are going to handle rejection.
20. Keep with it. The important thing isn't the timeframe in which your site is developed (although sooner is always better ), the important thing is that you stick with it long enough to get it off the ground.
21. Celebrate small victories. In charting new waters, it's easy to get overwhelmed, depressed and frustrated. Take time to enjoy the process. Everytime you catch yourself figuring something out or making headway, stop and have a mini 3 minute party.
22. Take time for reflection/analysis. What went right, what went wrong--and why? What did you learn? What can you apply next time?
23. Focus on doing things right enough. Your site will be a work in progress for awhile. Don't focus on getting everything running smoothly or getting things 100% right. Odds are the site will continue to evolve, and the more systems you have in place the harder it will be to react and adapt. ...Wait until the big picture is hammered out to fill in with the details. ...There is a great series of articles written by 37 signals on this.
24. Find people who know more than you and treat them like gold. See if you can pick their brains and if you can offer to help them in some way. This forum is such an amazing place, full of some amazing people. Find the ones who know more than you and reach out to them. Be respectful and appreciative of their time, and offer to return the favor if you can.
...If I don't say it often enough, thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way over the past couple of years. I have learned so much and am so grateful that you guys are here to listen and give advice.
Lessons learned:
1. Keep your concept simple. If your neighbor or mom can't figure it out it's too complicated.
2. Start with the barebones. Don't focus on the logo, or the colors, or advanced features or anything anything outside of bare minimum functionality. KISS.
3. Learn SEO/SEM. At a minimum understand google analytics, adwords, content writing, back linking, keyword mapping, friendly urls, what the search engines can and cannot read and why. ...When I started this site, I knew none of this. I read a few books on SEO and decided that I needed to know more. I called the only three places in town and offered to work for free if they taught me what they knew. One place called me back and I ended up doing an apprenticeship with her for several months. We really hit it off, and now I have a life-long friend as well as a life-long sounding board.
4. Learn the tech stuff. You will need to learn your way around cpanel, an FTP and html--there really isn't much getting around it (and it's really fun once you learn it!)
5. Learn to ask first develop second. Before you sink a dime into an idea, GO OUT AND ASK about 10 different people in the industry you are wanting to break into for their input. Ask them what problems they have and LISTEN AND APPLY what they say.
6. The job of an entrepreneur is that of an interpreter. Take out your own thoughts and ideas of how a solution should look and feel and keep running your thoughts and ideas past your target market. Basically, create something then ask, "Is this what you had in mind? ...How about now? Why or why not?" Then implement the feedback.
7. Sometimes a "hole in the market" is there for a reason. Sometimes a market doesn't want a solution. Just because you see an opportunity doesn't mean it is really there. ASK, ASK, ASK your target market and they will tell you.
8. Development wise everything will cost 3 times as much and take 5 times longer that you are told.
9. Most developers don't think, they code. When you ask for x,y,z you will get x,y,z --even if x,y,z will (unbeknownst to you) jack up your site . Find a developer that you can communicate with. --Start with the end in mind. Tell them, "I am trying to achieve this result. Here's how I think it needs to be done, what are the ramifications to doing it this way? Is there a better way?" ...Get everything in writing. Including what happens if they run past their deadline. Perhaps set something where there is a penalty of 3% per day that you'll deduct if they go over. (Andres and Lighthouse have both been wonderful in helping guide me--thanks guys.)
10. Spend time learning everyday. Most everyday I spend about 3-5 hours learning or reading. I have found that I absorb knowledge in waves. A concept that was Greek to me 6 weeks ago suddenly makes sense--just keep pressing forward.
11. Make every dime fight it's way out of your pocket. It's easy to blow $$$ on a new business. Keep asking yourself, do I need to spend money on this right now? Or, is this the highest and best use of my money right now?
12. Make it as easy as possible for the customer at every turn. Customers don't want to list on your site even though it's free? List for them. ...In addition, ask for their feedback. Ask them what you can do to make it easier/better for them next time--then do just that.
13. Realize that a business plan is just a starting point and not a roadmap that is set in stone. As you develop your site/business, you will come across situations, concepts, people and ideas that you never thought of before. You may need to add in some (or take out some) features.
14. Don't stick with a plan just for the sake of sticking with a plan. Stay flexible and adaptable. Your site/business should be a response to your customers wants and needs--if those wants and needs change (or were never there to begin with) and you don't, you are dead in the water.
15. Until you figure out what you market wants and the way they want it, stay small, stay lean and stay flexible. If you have $100s of $1000s of dollars into a project you can't easily adapt your course to what the market wants.
16. Wait until a concept is proven before you really sink money into it. Your market can tell you that they love an idea, that they would buy an idea, etc.--but unless they are coming to your site and using your services they lied. As soon as you see demand, then put money into the idea.
17. There are as many benefits to being small as there are to being big. Know what you have in your corner and use it to your fullest potential.
18. Grow relationships. When you find people in your target market who are willing to help, grow your relationship with them. Remember their name and some facts about them. See what you can do to help them out. A nice letter and a plate of oatmeal raisin cookies go a long way. Seriously.
19. Develop thick skin. Not everyone is going to like you or your idea. That's okay. Just prepare yourself for how you are going to handle rejection.
20. Keep with it. The important thing isn't the timeframe in which your site is developed (although sooner is always better
), the important thing is that you stick with it long enough to get it off the ground.21. Celebrate small victories. In charting new waters, it's easy to get overwhelmed, depressed and frustrated. Take time to enjoy the process. Everytime you catch yourself figuring something out or making headway, stop and have a mini 3 minute party.
22. Take time for reflection/analysis. What went right, what went wrong--and why? What did you learn? What can you apply next time?
23. Focus on doing things right enough. Your site will be a work in progress for awhile. Don't focus on getting everything running smoothly or getting things 100% right. Odds are the site will continue to evolve, and the more systems you have in place the harder it will be to react and adapt. ...Wait until the big picture is hammered out to fill in with the details. ...There is a great series of articles written by 37 signals on this.
24. Find people who know more than you and treat them like gold. See if you can pick their brains and if you can offer to help them in some way. This forum is such an amazing place, full of some amazing people. Find the ones who know more than you and reach out to them. Be respectful and appreciative of their time, and offer to return the favor if you can.
...If I don't say it often enough, thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way over the past couple of years. I have learned so much and am so grateful that you guys are here to listen and give advice.
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