Startup Weekend Orange County 2015 #SWOC15 In this presentation, Marcus Nelson gives some no-nonsense advice for building a great software product. Ever notice how successful Internet entrepreneurs keep saying that you should build your site by listening to your users -- But no one ever explains how to get user feedback and how to integrate their ideas into your business. Here are edited excerpts: 1. Build your team Having a team has everything to do with having more ears to listen to your audience. My personality is that I’m a social butterfly. And I’m constantly looking for the next flower to pollinate, so to speak. Not everybody is going to do that. 2. Build for speed You start with the core that people can see and say, “Yeah, that’s good. But what would make it better is putting the layers on.” As those little requests came in, we added features. 3. start with crap Don’t be afraid to start with a less than perfect product. Don’t be afraid of having it be too simple. The idea is just to get people using the product. Customers are going to tell you how to make it better. 4. See the site with strangers Your friends are going to try to make you feel good. They’re not going to say the hard things. So work with strangers. 5. Offer an easy way to listen to feedback You can’t just put a feedback button on your site and hope people will come. You have to promote it. You have to tell people you’re listening. 6. Release your beta There’s value in letting people know that it’s not a finished product that we’re stumbling through this a little bit. 7. Have everyone on the team sell You need to start making money. And whether you’re doing it as a bootstrapped company or you’re going after venture funding, you still need cash flow. 8. Get marquee accounts You need to be able to show recognizable companies are using our company, creates credibility. 9. Stay lean and hungry Do whatever you have to do to save money. Make it last. 10. Be capital efficient Keep your day job. Don’t put yourself in a pressure situation where you have to make money right off the bat. 11. Sell, sell, sell photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk

1. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
buildingacompany
11 steps for creating a great product
startupweekendorangecounty2015

2. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
mynameismarcus
addvocate — founder
salesforce — head of social
uservoice — co-founder
taskpick — co-founder
superstarch — founder
rockwater — cofounder

3. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
buildyourteam*
*creative, engineer, devil’s advocate

4. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
buildforspeed*
*go with what you know

5. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
startwithcrap*
*ship fast, ship shitty

6. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
seesitewithstrangers*
*friends lie

7. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
offereasywaytogivefeedback*
*insert uservoice plug here

8. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
releasebeforeready*
*it’s called ‘beta’ for a reason

9. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
everyonesells*
*really

10. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
getmarqueeaccounts*
*credibility starts with following the herd

11. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
stayleanandhungry*
*trader joe’s burritos are $3

12. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
becapitalefficient*
*keep your day job

13. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
sell,sell,sell*
*did i mention this already?

14. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
summary
buildyourteam
buildforspeed
startwith crap
seesitewith strangers
offereasywaytogivefeedback
releasebeforeready
everyone sells
getmarqueeaccounts
stayleanand hungry
becapital efficient
sell,sell,sell

15. @marcusnelson #SWOC15
thankyou
marcusnelson@yahoo.com
@marcusnelson
photo credits: https://www.flickr.com/photos/thomashawk