Comments on: My First Micro-ISV Product Ideas http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/ Being Self-Employed, Technology, Raising Kids, Life's Journey Sat, 06 Mar 2010 09:47:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Finally! I Know the Product I Am Going To Develop « A Life of Constant Flux http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Finally! I Know the Product I Am Going To Develop « A Life of Constant Flux Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:18:37 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-86 [...] a while ago, I put a list of ideas out into the wild that I was choosing between as my first micro-ISV project. I haven’t really [...] [...] a while ago, I put a list of ideas out into the wild that I was choosing between as my first micro-ISV project. I haven’t really [...]

]]> By: Reconsidering My Micro-ISV Ideas « A Life of Constant Flux http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-85 Reconsidering My Micro-ISV Ideas « A Life of Constant Flux Wed, 30 Jan 2008 05:19:12 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-85 [...] has been a 1.5 months since I posted my ideas to start my Micro-ISV. After moving across the country, continuing on my consulting efforts, and [...] [...] has been a 1.5 months since I posted my ideas to start my Micro-ISV. After moving across the country, continuing on my consulting efforts, and [...]

]]> By: Joel Marcey http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Joel Marcey Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:10:43 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-84 Hi sdfjh, Thanks for your replies. I know that such products exist. I did at least do a cursory search :-). However, just because a product exists, doesn't mean you shouldn't develop it, especially if (1) you have a different marketing idea (a bundle of tools, for example) (2) you have different/more goals than just making money. Btw, sdjfh is an interesting name -- it is created via characters really close to each other on a QWERTY keyboard ;-) Hi sdfjh,

Thanks for your replies.

I know that such products exist. I did at least do a cursory search :-) . However, just because a product exists, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t develop it, especially if (1) you have a different marketing idea (a bundle of tools, for example) (2) you have different/more goals than just making money.

Btw, sdjfh is an interesting name — it is created via characters really close to each other on a QWERTY keyboard ;-)

]]> By: sdfjh http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-83 sdfjh Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:05:30 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-83 I take that back: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=outlook+attachment+check I take that back:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=outlook+attachment+check

]]> By: sdfjh http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-82 sdfjh Fri, 14 Dec 2007 16:03:01 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-82 I think your Outlook add-on is the most realistic and unique idea, but you shouldn't give it away for free. I think your Outlook add-on is the most realistic and unique idea, but you shouldn’t give it away for free.

]]> By: Joel Marcey http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-81 Joel Marcey Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:45:38 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-81 Hi Chris, That is great advice. Thank you very much. All your points are well taken -- and I may consider your idea about company wide licenses for my tool grab back, if it makes sense. As far as monetary goals, if I can make enough to cover my expenses for the first year -- which shouldn't be a lot, that would be a positive for me. Then I would expect to move up from there. It is going to be interesting to see how that plays out -- and do I count my contracting work towards my monetary goals too? That is another question I need to answer as well. Hi Chris,

That is great advice. Thank you very much. All your points are well taken — and I may consider your idea about company wide licenses for my tool grab back, if it makes sense.

As far as monetary goals, if I can make enough to cover my expenses for the first year — which shouldn’t be a lot, that would be a positive for me. Then I would expect to move up from there. It is going to be interesting to see how that plays out — and do I count my contracting work towards my monetary goals too? That is another question I need to answer as well.

]]> By: Chris http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Chris Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:01:52 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-80 Hi Joel, Great post. I'm glad I was able to convince you to let the cats out of the bag. I think your approach (treating this as a learning experience) will be help you through the process. At the same time, I would try to set some monetary goals to help drive you. Even if they are small goals. If you go back and read Patrick McKenzie's blog from the beginning, he was hoping to just break even each month. Then it was $100 a month, then $250, and last update he posted was over $1000 profit in a month. For a product that makes Bingo Cards. For the Fantasy Football site, I would use number of visitors and amount of advertisement $. I've done a ad revenue product before, and there is still a little boost to see that you made $3 for the week when you are just starting out. Also (from personal experience) release your site early and update it often. Don't be to afraid of scaring off users because the site isn't finished yet. Just convey that it is a work in progress and that you are looking for feedback to make it better. The sooner you can start building your user base, the better. Good luck. And let me know when the outlook attachment add on is done. I know some people who could really use that one. You might consider selling it, perhaps a company wide license for $100 or something. You could make it free for individuals but offer a commercial license for companies. Just a thought. Hi Joel,
Great post. I’m glad I was able to convince you to let the cats out of the bag. I think your approach (treating this as a learning experience) will be help you through the process. At the same time, I would try to set some monetary goals to help drive you. Even if they are small goals. If you go back and read Patrick McKenzie’s blog from the beginning, he was hoping to just break even each month. Then it was $100 a month, then $250, and last update he posted was over $1000 profit in a month. For a product that makes Bingo Cards.

For the Fantasy Football site, I would use number of visitors and amount of advertisement $. I’ve done a ad revenue product before, and there is still a little boost to see that you made $3 for the week when you are just starting out.

Also (from personal experience) release your site early and update it often. Don’t be to afraid of scaring off users because the site isn’t finished yet. Just convey that it is a work in progress and that you are looking for feedback to make it better. The sooner you can start building your user base, the better.

Good luck. And let me know when the outlook attachment add on is done. I know some people who could really use that one. You might consider selling it, perhaps a company wide license for $100 or something. You could make it free for individuals but offer a commercial license for companies. Just a thought.

]]> By: Joel Marcey http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Joel Marcey Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:02:01 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-78 Hi Andy, That is a good and important point. I am not totally doing this to make a living -- yet. Money would be great, yes, but I am using this first year or so as a big learning exercise to try to find some focus. I think these products will help guide me there, from many perspectives. Hi Andy,

That is a good and important point. I am not totally doing this to make a living — yet. Money would be great, yes, but I am using this first year or so as a big learning exercise to try to find some focus. I think these products will help guide me there, from many perspectives.

]]> By: Andy Brice http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-77 Andy Brice Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:20:19 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-77 Joel, Would some of these be useful products - yes. Would people be prepared to *pay* for them - I am not so sure. Assuming you are in this to make a living, I would try to find out if any of your competitors are profitable. Joel,

Would some of these be useful products – yes. Would people be prepared to *pay* for them – I am not so sure. Assuming you are in this to make a living, I would try to find out if any of your competitors are profitable.

]]> By: Joel Marcey http://joelmarcey.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Joel Marcey Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:07:23 +0000 http://joelmarcey.wordpress.com/2007/12/10/my-first-micro-isv-product-ideas/#comment-76 Hi Neville, Thank you very much for the best of luck wishes. Yeah, I knew going into writing this post that some people responses would be "Ho-Hum", "Sigh" or something on those lines. But, I agree with you, it's all about execution and implementation. As far as an RSS reader is concerned, yeah I know the market is saturated with free, pay, web, desktop and everything. But my thinking is developing such a thing will, at the very least, keep me sharp as far as programming is concerned and allow me to just get something off the ground --- even if it fails. Hi Neville,
Thank you very much for the best of luck wishes. Yeah, I knew going into writing this post that some people responses would be “Ho-Hum”, “Sigh” or something on those lines. But, I agree with you, it’s all about execution and implementation.

As far as an RSS reader is concerned, yeah I know the market is saturated with free, pay, web, desktop and everything. But my thinking is developing such a thing will, at the very least, keep me sharp as far as programming is concerned and allow me to just get something off the ground — even if it fails.

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