Ultimately, a product or service exists to solve a problem, or it addresses a need or goal of the customer or user. Without that fundamental piece, a platform or app is doomed to failure. Understanding this is an important part of validating your idea. This article looks at what to consider, and why it’s important to understand the problem your … Read More
What is a Wireframe?
A wireframe is a drawing of a screen as it might appear on a website, an online platform or a mobile app. Wireframes are very powerful tools for describing what you want to build, and for illustrating your idea. In this article, I’ll explain the different types of wireframes and how you can use them to create your platform or … Read More
Why you shouldn’t always rely on a recommendation
Getting a recommendation from a friend or an acquaintance is a great way to find people or things – a plumber, a builder, a lawyer, a restaurant, a product, etc. Whatever you need, someone out there has a recommendation for you. In a previous article, I talked about using referrals to find a developer, and in today’s article, I’m going … Read More
Idea validation isn’t much fun, but you should still do it
As you may know, I’m a big advocate of idea validation – the activities around deciding whether you should pursue your idea. In a previous article, I talked about why it was important, and some ways that you can get an initial view of whether your idea is a good one. With alarming stats on small business and new product … Read More
How do you plan for your platform or app project?
Following on from last week’s “Idea to Launch checklist” announcement, I thought I’d share one of the areas covered in the checklist and talk about some of the tasks in it. Today, I’m going to look at tasks in the “Plan your Project” list. Once you’ve decided that you want to turn your idea into a product and you’ve decided what … Read More
Get from “idea to launch” with my new checklist!
If you’ve got a great idea for an online platform or mobile app, but you’re not sure where to start – you’re not alone. Tech can be intimidating for those that have never had any experience with it before. Sometimes you want someone to guide you through the process – but you just can’t afford to hire someone to help … Read More
How do you manage issues with your platform or app?
Issues are raised when something doesn’t work as expected – a user can’t log in, a picture or information doesn’t display, a number on a report hasn’t been calculated correctly, a link is broken, etc. For those of you that have launched a platform or app already, today’s blog post will certainly resonate with you. Getting to launch is often … Read More
What’s in your platform or app? (Product Definition)
Taking your idea and making it into a product involves a very important step around defining what you want your product to do. This product definition (or product requirements) form the foundation for what happens next, so you need to take some time to understand what you need to look at. Previously, I showed you how to write high-level and … Read More
Looking for an idea for an online platform or mobile app?
Ideas come easily to some – but for others, it’s seems like every idea they come up with has been done already. So, if you’re looking for a platform or app idea, or even if you want to create a product or service of any sort – but you’re not sure what to do, then this article will give you … Read More
What are your options for hiring a developer?
You’ve got an idea for a web platform or mobile app that you’ve decided to turn into a real product. You’ve documented what you want the product to do and you may have even drawn up some screens. So, now you need someone to make your idea into a living, breathing product. Along with figuring out how to brief a developer, … Read More