How to not suck! is a keynote presentation held at the Startupcamp SK #9 in Bratislava by Wolf Becvar on personal lessons learned from running a web startup. This talk delivers 10 DOs and DONTs when entering the webapp business. Please be aware of the fact that this slides are a supplement to the life presentation and therefore by no means complete or self explaining.

1. HOW TO NOT SUCK!
(Lessons Learned from running a Web Startup)
Source: http://bit.ly/lZQCeq

2. That’s me
Wolf Becvar
wolf@hotgloo.com
@wdbecvar
www.wolfbecvar.com
The Future of Wireframing
Source: Scott Beale /Laughing Squid, laughingsquid.com

3. “Something is rotten ...
in the app business.

4. •Identify a niche
•Ask a designer or developer to help out
•Tweet about beta (invite only)
•Listen to feedback and tweak
•Launch
•Get TechCrunched
•Live the good life!
(Source: Ryan Carson)

5. Source: banksy.co.uk/

6. • Introduction
• 10 DO’s and DONT’s
• Q&A’s

7. The Online Wireframe App

8. “We support webworkers to
visualize their creative ideas.
- HotGloo claim

11. Timeline
Dec 2008 Mar 2009 Aug 2009 Feb 2010
Apr 2009
> Hannes > Wolf > Beta Launch LAUNCH
Development superReal
> Go HotGloo!

12. Stats
Customer Growth (total)
800
Metrics
600
~ 3,9 % overall conversion rate
~ revenue per customer 11$
LTV 93$ 400
200
Feb10
Mar10Apr10
May10Jun10 Jul10 Aug10
Sep10 Oct10
Nov10 0
Dec10
Jan11
Feb11
Mar11

13. Show-off Stuff

14. #1
Think about this for a
second ...
“Everything is
marketing. - Jason Fried, 37Signals

19. #2
Define your Companys
Vision and Values

20. Where do you fit in?

21. Who the f**k are you?
What makes you
special?
Why should I care?

22. #3
Choose your business model
and pricing strategy carfully
• free vs. paid
• what would you pay?
• charge in $ USD
• charge from day 1 (beta?)
• don‘t be innovative - be really boring
• run A/B tests
• re-jig over time

25. #4
Don’t join the feature war!
Does this look like
the killer feature?
Source: http://foolishgadgets.com/files/2009/03/shoot-yourself-gun_tfxnt_6648.jpg

26. “The best software has a vision.
The best software takes sides.
When someone uses software,
they’re not just looking for features,
they’re looking for an approach.
They’re looking for a vision.
- Jason Fried, 37Signals

27. “Listen to your customers,
but then ignore them.
Remember your vision.
- Jason from Mint.com

28. #5
Don’t underestimate Support

29. “This sucks!
- Anonymus

31. If you screw up, tell!
Source: banksy.co.uk/

32. #6
Engage from day
-100
Research Identify Listen
Learn Act React

33. Pre Launch Growth Maturity
Word of mouth & viral, Blogosphere referral, A-List
customers
Direct Mail Internet Advertising
PR
- opt-in email list - Ad-Words
- betatesters - Buzz marketing - Banner ads
- Company blog
- Xing, LinkedIn ...
- Conferences
- Magazines
- Blogposts
SEO
- optimized page markup
- organic search

34. [App]itecture

35. • Compiled List
http://hubpages.com/hub/Promote_your_Webapp
• TechCrunch
http://www.crunchbase.com/
• WebAppers
http://www.webappers.com/

36. Sponsor
Booths/Events

37. #7
Know your metrics
• Use Google Analytics or Piwik
• Build a customized backend to
track your traffic
• Track, track, track & improve

38. http://bit.ly/assq3Y
• CPA Cost Per Acquisition
• ARPU Average Revenue Per User
• Churn Churn %
• LVT Lifetime Value Per Customer

39. #8
Worship your UX
• provide an experience for your visitors
• make signing-up really simple
• do wireframing
• run usability tests

42. #9
Don’t hustle for
VC

43. #10
Get passionate!
Source: banksy.co.uk/

44. “Be so good they
can’t ignore you.
- Steve Martin

45. Booklist

46. Blogroll
• Venture Hacks - http://venturehacks.com/
• A Smart Bear - http://blog.asmartbear.com/
• WebAppers - http://www.webappers.com/
• TechCrunch - http://techcrunch.com/
• Smashing Magazine - http://www.smashingmagazine.com/
• Inspired Magazine - http://www.inspiredm.com/
• UX Booth - http://www.uxbooth.com/
• Signal Vs. Noise - http://37signals.com/svn
• Mashable - http://mashable.com/
• Think Vitamin - http://thinkvitamin.com/

47. Thank You
Wolf Becvar
@wdbecvar
www.wolfbecvar.com
www.hotgloo.com
@hotgloo