Getting started for lean launch pad web projects rev4
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The document outlines the Lean LaunchPad process for web projects, which involves 8 steps: 1) setting up team logistics, 2) crafting hypotheses, 3) setting up website logistics, 4) building a low-fidelity website, 5) getting customer feedback, 6) adding backend functionality, 7) testing problems with customer data, and 8) testing solutions by improving the website. Each step provides guidance on tasks like setting goals, registering domains, prototyping designs, driving traffic, and collecting analytics. The overall goal is to use customer development and feedback to iteratively test and validate hypotheses.
Getting started for lean launch pad web projects rev4
- 1. Getting Started: Lean LaunchPad for Web Projects Goal: Use the Lean LaunchPad process (Business Model Design + Customer Development) to test the hypotheses of your web startup Use the Startup Tools Page as a resource for more tool choices 1. Set up the logistics to manage your team 2. Craft company hypotheses 3. Set up the Website Logistics 4. Build a “low-fidelity web site 5. Get customers to the site 6. Add the backend code to make the site work 7. Test the “problem” with customer data 8. Test the “solution” by building the High-Fidelity website Step 1: Set Up Team Logistics • Read Business Model Generation pages 1-72, and The Four Steps to the Epiphany Chapter 3 • Set up the Lean LaunchLab to document your Customer Development progress • Use Skype or Google+ Hangouts for team conversations Step 2. Craft Your Company Hypotheses (use the Lean LaunchLab) • Write down your 9-business model canvas hypothesis • List key features/MVP plan • Size market opportunity • Pick market type (existing, new, resegmented) • Prepare weekly 7-minute class progress summary: business model canvas update + weekly Customer Development summary (see the appendix for format.) Step 3: Website Logistics • Get a domain name for your company. To find an available domain quickly, try Domize • Then use godaddy or namecheap to register the name. (RetailMeNot usually has ~ $8/year discount coupons for Godaddy You may want to register many different domains (different possible brand names, or different misspellings and variations of a brand name.) • Once you have a domain, set up Google Apps on that domain (for free!) to host your company name, email, calendar, etc For coders: set up a web host • use virtual private servers (VPS) like Slicehost or Linode (cheapest plans Steve Blank Getting Started: Lean LaunchPad for Web Projects page 1 of 1 rev 4
- 2. ~$20/month, and you can run multiple apps and websites) • You can install Apache or Nginx with virtual hosting, and run several sites plus other various tools of your choice (assuming you have the technical skills of course) like a MySQL database • If you are actually coding a real app, (rather than for class) use a "Platform As A Service" (PAAS) like Heroku, DotCloud or Amazon Web Services if your app development stack fits their offerings BTW: You can see the hosting choices of YCombinator startups here Step 4: Build a Low-Fidelity Web Site For non-coders: • Make a quick prototype in PowerPoint, or • Use Unbounce, Google Sites, Weebly, Godaddy or Yola For coders: build the U/I • Pick a website wireframe prototyping tool, (JustinMind, Balsamiq, etc.) • 99 Designs is great to get "good enough" graphic design and web design work for very cheap using a contest format. Themeforest has great designs • Create wireframes and simulate your “Low Fidelity” website • Create a "viral" landing page, with LaunchRock or KickoffLabs • Embed a slideshow on your site with Slideshare or embed a video/tour using Youtube or Vimeo Step 5: Customer Engagement (drive traffic to your preliminary website) • Start showing the site to potential customers, testing customer segment and value proposition • Use Ads, textlinks or Google AdWords, Facebook ads and natural search to drive people to your MVP web site • Use Mailchimp,Postmark or Google Groups to send out emails and create groups • Create online surveys with Wufoo or Zoomerang • Get feedback on your MVP features and U/I Step 6: Build a more complete solution (Connect the U/I to code) • Connect the UI to a web application framework (Node.js, Rubyon Rails, Django, SproutCore, Jquery, Symfony, Sencha, etc.) Step 7: Track your progress in driving traffic - Test the “Customer Problem” by collecting Customer Data • Use Analytics (Kissmetrics, Google Analytics, Mixpanel, etc.) to track hits, time on site, source • Create account to collect user satisfaction (GetSatisfaction, UserVoice, etc.) from your product and get feedback and suggestions on new features - Steve Blank Getting Started: Lean LaunchPad for Web Projects page 2 of 2 rev 4
- 3. • analyze the behavior of your user in your website Step 8: Test the “Customer Solution” by building a full featured High Fidelity version of your website • Update the Website with information learned in Step 4 --------- If youʼre Building a Company Rather Than a Class Project • Search the US Patent Office (for free) for similar trademarks to yours • When you confirmed your product and identity, and obtained a good domain name, and a trademark you think you can own, register your company on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, CrunchBase, and AngelList pages • Incorporate the company --------- Monitor and record changes week by week using the Lean LaunchLab 7-minute class progress summary • Start by putting up your business model canvas • Changes from the prior week should be highlighted in red • Lessons Learned. This informs the group of what you learned and changed week by week - Slides should describe: o Hereʼs what we thought (going into the week) o Hereʼs what we found (Customer Discovery during the week) o Hereʼs what weʼre going to do (for next week) • Emphasis should be on the discovery done for that weeks assigned canvas component (channel, customer, revenue model) but include other things you learned about the business model. Steve Blank Getting Started: Lean LaunchPad for Web Projects page 3 of 3 rev 4