Ask HN: Launching niche service soon, how should I prepare?

2•thedangler•1mo ago

Hello, I've been working on a niche product MVP for little over a month and I believe its ready for beta testing.

What are some steps to help with a solid beta launch?

Here is my list before launching:

1. Web page demonstrates features and what problem it solves. 2. Join a beta wait list that adds to a community, for support, videos, feature requests. 3. Posting messages on specific communities on social sites like Reddit, discord. 4. Offer lifetime pass for decent price that will give the users a boosted plan.

Current issues: I have no idea how to price it out. It will be broken down into 3 plans for most people, then special cases will have 2 additional plans.

Some features have real measurable costs for example bots, SMS, etc. Not sure how to mark those up. Make them A-la-cart?

I still need to build iOS and Android applications but won't do that without real feedback and an API built.

Any thoughts, feedback, how to figure out price, how to market without making it feel like marketing? Different Prep ideas?

Appreciate your feedback.

Comments

realityfactchex•1mo ago

You probably built enough to start finding out from others. Try to find one person who wants it (or why they don't). Then another, and another.

Some ideas, distilled from [0]:

  1. Find subreddits who would find it helpful to solve their real problems
  2. Build karma there for a week or more, be helpful without advertising
  3. Only if the sub allows self-promo, offer it for free for first 500 people (or however many)
  4. Collect their feedback, build on wahat they demand, always be shipping and listenign (have easy way to receive feedback
  5. Take the top requests on the public issue-lists/ideaboards for your compeitors; nail those
  6. On socials (YouTube, TikToik, post in 2 or 3 consistent formats, don't just copy stuff)
  7. When you find places with people you suspect would be receptive (on social media), suggest "Hi, I made this ____" in a helpful way, don't be overly self promotional, but be modest and share what you have to help

So,

  a) Keep it free long enough for users to know what product is and you to learn what they need
  b) Constantly be listening and improving.
  c) Always be launching

[0] https://www.reddit.com/r/MobileAppDevelopers/comments/1pzchh...

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