My presentation given at the Emerge Conference. January 16th 2012.

1. Launching a
product

2. Rachel Andrew

3. http://grabaperch.com

4. from service
provider to
software company

5. Where we were in
2009

6. http://edgeofmyseat.com

7. The problem with
service
businesses

8. Time is a finite
resource

10. We need a
“really little CMS”

11. we built Perch to
scratch our own
itch

12. We already knew
a lot about
Content
Management

13. other people might
need this too...

14. Congratulations!
You’re now an
Independent
Software Vendor

15. We had no money.

16. code
came free

17. what can
you
build for free?

18. You have to pay for
some stuff.

19. Scary Legal Stuff

20. Hosting

21. UI Design

22. Our costs were paid
back from sales in
24 hours
after launch

23. We had a great
product
Everything else
was bare minimum

28. http://moo.com

29. “
”

30. “
”

31. Competing in a
crowded market

32. do something
different

33. do something
better

34. do both.

35. “
”

36. What about
free
competition?

37. Better
features

38. Support

39. Time-
saving

40. Pricing

41. FREE!!!

42. “
”

43. FREE!!!
for a cut down
version - £££ for
the full version

44. FREE!!!
for the core - £££
for add-ons

45. FREE!!!
but if you want
support - you pay

46. £35 (+VAT) and
FREE support,
addons & updates

47. A license fee means
we can put the
product and our
users first.

48. support

49. Don’t
underestimate the
time
support will take

50. Don’t
underestimate how
important
support is

52. You need a
system

53. Helpspot

55. have a
no FAQ
policy

56. design support out
of your product

59. a better experience
for your users
=
less work for you

60. listen
to your users

61. constantly
ask their
opinion

62. act
on it, quickly

63. What will make the
most difference to
the most people?

64. “
”

65. Don’t waste time on
non-customers

66. Care. A lot.

68. “
”

69. Thank you
http://rachelandrew.co.uk/presentations/emerge
Photo credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindenbaum/345980717/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ell-r-brown/4039347263/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulholloway/3538542041/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bike/2933759620/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/streamishmc/5075066661/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/markhillary/1347412899/