How to Avoid Destroying Your Startup?

When a successful software developer decides to launch their own startup, it doesn’t mean that this person will automatically be a great business owner. Being a knowledgeable and efficient professional is one thing. Becoming a renowned entrepreneur is a completely different kettle of fish. What might have worked when you were a mere employee most probably won’t be useful in this new role you’ve taken.

In order to protect developers who are planning to start their own business from some potentially fatal mistakes, we’ve put together this guide. It should help you dodge some common problems in this field in order to run your venture with the instinct of a vulture.

Don't guess,test

In one of our previous posts, we explained why we support the ‘release early, release often’ philosophy. It definitely helps developers reduce the potential number of misunderstandings with their clients.

When talking about bad habits in startup management, we can say that presenting the results of your work only at the end of the project is a dangerous thing to do. No matter how experienced you are as a developer, it’s not up to you make decisions instead of your clients. In line with that, don’t predict and don’t guess, but present and test.

The sooner you show the client your progress, the sooner they’ll be able to give you feedback. It will either confirm your concept or force you to make the necessary changes on time. Hence, it will be invaluable for your future work on that very project.

Don't bite off more then you can chew

Running a software development startup opens loads of business opportunities. Still, you should under no circumstances spread yourself too thin

Many startup owners have been there: you form a diligent team of committed professionals thinking that you can finish a large project. So, you take that big job and make a promise to the client. However, since your workforce and your finances are limited, you miss the agreed deadline. As a result, you lose that client, which leads to further financial difficulties.

What’s more, you could also get a bad reputation, especially if you focus on your local community.

For all these reasons, don’t overestimate your current abilities. Rome wasn’t built in a day; neither was Apple. You have time to gradually develop your business but it takes patience and some rational thinking.

Analyze the audience and the market demand

Software developers who launch a particular software product could make an erroneous estimate about the audience for that very solution. You invest your time, energy and creativity believing that the audience you have in mind will be using that solution and then reality paints a completely different picture.

Because of that, you should conduct research even before you start working on your product. Some might even say that this analysis should be done prior to launching the startup.

You can start with a simple online survey that will help you find out more about the market need for your potential software solution. Social Media Examiner provides some practical tips for conducting market research via social media.

Furthermore, SEMrush and other research tools will help you identify and segment your target audience at the drop of a hat.

Find an experienced UX team

Your software tool can be the best thing since bread came sliced, but it’s crucial that its UX elements live up to users’ expectations. And user experience doesn’t only refer to the images and the font you use for your solution, as some may think. The overview of some interesting UX stats on the UserZoom website shows that allegedly 65% of Internet users won’t register a website form if it requires too much personal information.

Moreover, many mobile users find enlarging a screen to open a link a frustrating feature, while as much as 97% of mobile users say that the ease of use is the key element of user-friendly apps.

As you can see, making a software product smooth and practical for your audience is impossible without professional UX designers. They’ll know how to polish the bits that might be rough around the edges and improve the overall design and functionality of that solution.

Focus on substance, not the form

Many business professionals invest a lot of assets in marketing and PR. Indeed, publishing posts on social media on a regular basis and adding new completed projects to your portfolio is a must.

However, turning into a narcissist business owner who neglects substance on account of form is strictly forbidden.

First of all, you shouldn’t waste your already limited budget on excessive marketing campaigns. As a small software startup, you should concentrate on work, further education, and your clients. If you release some features of your product early and the client likes what they see, this is already a great promotional tactic.

In addition to that, if the completed project is a bug-free and user-friendly solution that makes a difference on the market, you won’t have to spend too much time on promotion. Such products speak for themselves. Their practical features is what sells them best.

Contrary to that, if you just splurge your money on marketing without committed work, you’ll bring your business to its demise.

The final word

Needless to say, you need to have some experience in business management before you launch a software startup. In other words, an ordinary employee in a large software company who has a brilliant idea should think twice before embarking on a startup business journey. However, a head of a certain department in that same company has better references to fork off and start their own venture. You need both knowledge and experience to give your very own software startup and its products the right shape.

Apart from the tips in this piece, our developers can always provide some other valuable information regarding software startups and their proper growth. Therefore, feel free to contact us in case you need any advice.