Thanks for sharing. We've had a couple of additional web app ideas, and I think figuring out your user funnel is the most important part of deciding to move forward.
After a bit of discussion, we've decided to identify a few key pain areas and then brainstorm apps around those pain areas rather than taking the first idea that comes to mind. With the app market the way it is, a good idea isn't good enough. You need something that fits a market (that's preferably under-served or mis-served), has a good viral component and is novel. Engineering what app to approach is almost as hard, and less straight forward, as developing the app itself.
Agreed! I like to use "build for emotion" as the barometer of a good idea. If you can actually see someone become excited to discover your app, and the delight of the first 15 minutes of using it, you're on the road to a good product.
Your first point hit home way too quickly! I made similar mistakes in my first 'business' which really made me appreciate the difficulties in starting a community oriented website. I found that I didn't truthfully answer the question about what value it provided and whether there was truly demand or whether it was a build it and they will come approach. When I left Co-opRatings the adage every end is a new beginning really came true though, good luck on the new endeavor!
Comments
Thanks for sharing. We've had a couple of additional web app ideas, and I think figuring out your user funnel is the most important part of deciding to move forward.
After a bit of discussion, we've decided to identify a few key pain areas and then brainstorm apps around those pain areas rather than taking the first idea that comes to mind. With the app market the way it is, a good idea isn't good enough. You need something that fits a market (that's preferably under-served or mis-served), has a good viral component and is novel. Engineering what app to approach is almost as hard, and less straight forward, as developing the app itself.
Agreed! I like to use "build for emotion" as the barometer of a good idea. If you can actually see someone become excited to discover your app, and the delight of the first 15 minutes of using it, you're on the road to a good product.
Your first point hit home way too quickly! I made similar mistakes in my first 'business' which really made me appreciate the difficulties in starting a community oriented website. I found that I didn't truthfully answer the question about what value it provided and whether there was truly demand or whether it was a build it and they will come approach. When I left Co-opRatings the adage every end is a new beginning really came true though, good luck on the new endeavor!
"Consumer" is too broad of a word. This probably applies more to "entertainment" web startups, where "buzz" is more important.