Questions regarding all aspects of doing business and participating in all WWW services available.
19
votes
33answers
12k views
How to pick a platform for a startup web 2.0 app?
I am looking for recommendatins from the successfull entreprenurs on this forum to advise me on the best software technology platform to develop my web2 webapp on.
The web2 app will potentially be ...
9
votes
17answers
1k views
Obtaining the perfect domain name
I am currently finding myself in a situation where my startup is just getting off the ground and we have the perfect company name.
Unfortunately, the domain we want is taken.
Furthermore, while ...
8
votes
4answers
2k views
What are Advantages and Disadvantages of Pricing Monthly Subscriptions?
I've recently the post on the question: Subscription Pricing Starting Strategy: start high and lower, or start low and raise? , and I also read the articles and comments for:
QuickSprout: Customer ...
8
votes
10answers
813 views
Is hiring another software house to build my web-based app prototype a good idea?
I am starting up my web-based application business. I have an idea and already done some research on this idea. And now I want to realize it. There are two choices for me either to hire a soft ...
7
votes
11answers
858 views
One man startup looking for motivation
I've been working on a web application as a hobby for the past couple of years. It's been challenging and I've learned a lot. Now that I am done and actually have something up and running ...
7
votes
5answers
15k views
How many visitors per day does a site need to draw any significant ad revenue?
Lately, I've been considering different ideas for new sites, but the first and biggest question is how to make money with a site. When I can't think of an obvious way to make money with a site, I ...
7
votes
3answers
349 views
Offshoring development for web startup
I'm considering the option of employing a developer from oDesk to work on my web startup. My rough plan would be:
Write a detailed specification.
Produce the design (in terms of class diagrams, ...
7
votes
4answers
9k views
kickstarter alternatives for non US startups?
I've recently been looking into getting funding for my startup (we're building a web-based social platform). I've looked into www.kickstarter.com and it looks pretty cool however it is only open to US ...
6
votes
11answers
349 views
What are the implications of calling your product “beta”?
We have an excellent online application that we've launched. But because we're still fixing some issues it really is still "beta". What are the implications in terms of customer perception, ...
6
votes
4answers
273 views
How does a startup get a lot of Facebook fans?
I have a Facebook fan page for my startup and I'm looking to increase the numbers of fans. What are some techniques for acquiring real, legitimate fans?
6
votes
3answers
650 views
On launching new web application, build or campaign first?
I'm a software guy so the approach I tend towards is to build something which does at least some core functionality first before telling anyone about it, and refine it through usage.
But recently I ...
6
votes
4answers
281 views
Is the web startup overdone?
First of all, I was wondering if anybody else had the impression that as Internet-startup-people, most of our ideas are about things that are Internet-related and tend to follow the big trends such as ...
6
votes
6answers
264 views
When, and how should I think about getting money out of a free site/service?
How to (slightly) monetize a tiny niche website... when it's free to use?
I'm developing a small niche website to help an airline worker I know solve a problem she faces fairly regularly. It seems ...
6
votes
6answers
1k views
Best affiliate solution for freemium/free trial web apps? [closed]
Most affiliate solutions are not designed to work with freemium or free trial business models.
Have you seen an affiliate app that can:
Make it simple to manage affiliate relationships
Can ...
5
votes
3answers
236 views
Should I make my service free?
For the past year I have been developing a VERY niche based review/community site, in the healthcare field. I did as much h/w as possible in searching for competitors, and there were zero direct ...
5
votes
4answers
645 views
How do I fire a technical co-founder?
I came up with an idea for a business web application and teamed up with a coder to build it. He has a lot of strong points and built a good product (it's 90% done) but to cut a long story short, of ...
5
votes
4answers
250 views
Web 2.0 marketing strategy tips that is not about SEO
Every single website marketing strategy tips that I find on the Internet virtually all talk about some sort of SEO technique.
Yes, SEO is important, we know this already. Now, has anyone actually ...
5
votes
3answers
286 views
Do I need a tech co founder at this point?
Here's my situation. A year ago I outsourced a website to be built. Went into it blindly, failed miserably, lost tons of money. Moved on.
In the meantime, I've come up with a new concept for a ...
5
votes
6answers
301 views
global commercial website with a domain other than .com - can it ever succeed?
I'm considering launching a fairly niche website that has the potential developing into major commercial venture. But all the possible .com domains are already taken. I'm not exaggerating - absolutely ...
5
votes
3answers
280 views
People are saying its “really cool” but hard to convince them to signup - any suggestions?
We developed a social networking platform that connects people with other similar people by analyzing their dreams - everyone is saying its cool but its hard to convince people to signup - any help?
...
4
votes
18answers
1k views
Tools for web mockups, “wire-framing”
I'm looking for a tool that'll help me create sketches/mockups of web pages. I'm not talking about the "photo-realistic" sets of PSD's that break everything down into components. I'm not looking at ...
4
votes
3answers
147 views
Engagement vs. virality in web app
A web app of mine is the early stage of development. It has less than 100 users in total. On a daily basis there are new users coming in but relatively less returning users.
My question is about ...
4
votes
3answers
103 views
Prioritizing: more features for a web version or mobile app first?
We are in a pretty early stage. We have a beta of our web app ready, some user testing finished, and we're just about to do a launch. At this point we have two options:
Add more features to the web ...
4
votes
4answers
806 views
Basic legal requirements to set up web design business in UK
I am in the UK and I want to start designing web sites for people, through my own web design company, mainly because it is about the only thing I can do due to a disability. I have set up my own car ...
4
votes
3answers
322 views
4
votes
7answers
323 views
What are good products that enable a software startup to interface with customers online?
I'm working on a software app that I will sell online. I'm going to go with the "release-early, iterate quickly" plan, so rapid customer feedback is all-important.
I'm looking for a web app for my ...
4
votes
3answers
209 views
What are the particulars of registering a software patent?
Greetings all,
Situation
In the realm of software, much of what we do can be found elsewhere in other developers' softwares. I am concerned because while my web app is unique and novel in certain ...
4
votes
2answers
140 views
What are the best resources for learning about effective online advertising?
I know I can place ads on Google with Adwords, target ads to individuals' interests on Facebook, use an ad network that distributes my ad broadly, or even buy ads on specific individual sites.
...
4
votes
3answers
188 views
Should my web agency have different rates for design, programming, SEO, etc?
My small agency handles everything web-related for our clients, including domain registration, hosting, graphic design, back-end programming, ecommerce, search engine marketing, etc. Historically we ...
4
votes
1answer
110 views
How to determine the monetization sources of a startup web service
I am "Russian" by nature, and maybe due to that I am finding it hard to see what may seem obvious to a western person. I read a lot of investment stories on techcrunch.com about "what it seems ...
4
votes
3answers
5k views
Accessing MLS info from an API
Are there any applications out there that provide an API for accessing US property listing (MLS) information? Zillow has property information for most of the country but very little listing ...
3
votes
10answers
534 views
Marketing Advice for Solo Startups
I am a full-time web developer and in my spare time I work on a couple different projects. One of them being an ad driven website targeted at college students. iSearchNotes.com is the site and allows ...
3
votes
6answers
270 views
Struggling with the timing of our website
We have just completed our first prototype and are now considering the online introduction process. Of course we are united as a company in the belief that we have a buzz worthy and remarkable ...
3
votes
2answers
527 views
Why are code-signing (and SSL) certificates so expensive?
I was looking for cheap code-signing certificates, but all I saw were over $100/year. I think the same applies to SSL certificates.
I read some references to insurance coverage amounts, maybe to be ...
3
votes
4answers
304 views
Which business model is better for the new web startup?
I would like to ask you for your opinion on pros and cons of 2 different business models for a social networking+user advertising start up.
For a very vague description and comparison, imagine this ...
3
votes
2answers
156 views
Deciding between a web app and desktop software for an academic tool
I want to develop a tool which makes it easy for teachers and professors to write tests: multiple version, multiple choice, long answer, scantron, the whole works. The question is, would I be better ...
3
votes
4answers
146 views
Do legitmate businesses make money using spam?
Spam in email, Linkedin Groups, forums, etc is so prevalent. I see it as part of life on the internet but find it annoying and intrusive. Both legitimate and scam businesses spam. Is it because ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views
How to charge taxes for online services?
We are a Canadian-based incorporated business that is about to sell subscriptions to a SaaS, both yearly and monthly.
How do we handle adding taxes to the service? Since we are a Quebec-based ...
3
votes
6answers
578 views
Should I search for a web developer/code business partner?
I am in the process of building a B2C online to offline based web service. The service itself is built through contracts that are established offline which are sold to consumers online. I have the ...
3
votes
1answer
210 views
Web App: Subscriber Growth Modeling Help
I am looking for guidance on building models for subscriber growth to a B2C software app. We have existing channels of distribution (partners) that refer business to us and we provide an offline ...
3
votes
4answers
129 views
Projecting Sales for Web Dev Business Plan
I am putting together a business plan for my Web Development startup.
Cost of materials, marketing, etc. are the easy (fixed or one-time cost) parts - but I am trying to figure out how to create a ...
3
votes
1answer
110 views
Do I need traditional marketing for a web startup?
Is traditional marketing (newspapers, magazines, outdoors, tv, radio..and so on) necessary for a web startup in a tough niche (travel industry)?
3
votes
2answers
214 views
Registering a trademark for a web application
I have just build a web app called XYZ (the actual name is different).
It is going quite well. I am getting quite a lot of users worldwide.
I was getting worried I should register the name as a ...
3
votes
1answer
375 views
When would US based company need to open foreign subsidary?
I currently have an online based company LLC in the state of California. I sell products that customers place orders and I can ship world-wide. I do all my manufacturing in Spain then import into ...
3
votes
1answer
111 views
What is your favorite tool for A/B testing and optimization?
A/B testing is all the rage now. There are lots of choices: Google Website Optimizer, Mixpanel, KISSmetrics, a number of ones that live inside your application, and more. What is your A/B testing ...
2
votes
4answers
646 views
Google App Engine vs Amazon Web Services
If you were a one developer startup, which service would you pick and why? If the goal is to get to market really fast.
Would you go with GAE and build everything from scratch on Python, and one ...
2
votes
1answer
99 views
from hobby to the real thing
I started a few years ago a few blogs with the format of a directory with some business listed on it. It started by using all free stuff (free blog services, hosting, templates, images etc etc) today ...
2
votes
2answers
164 views
seeding content for a web 2.0 site
so you've built a great web 2.0 system....the system works great....but you need to seed it with content so that it reaches that critical mass....the question is how do you do it?
so...what are some ...
2
votes
2answers
195 views
Ads or no Ads for a web app?
I'm just about to release my first publicly available web app, and I'm wondering what type of revenue model to use.
Basically, the entire idea of the app is that it does not require log ins, so, ...
2
votes
3answers
552 views
What kind of equity should I be looking for? - Tech Startup
I am currently the Director of Engineering for a tech/website startup in NYC. I was hired in Nov 2010 after they obtained an angel investment of around 1 million dollars. I am the second tech hire.
I ...
