AppMakr Launch: The Craziest Week Ever + Paul Graham's Famous Graph
As many of you know, PointAbout launched AppMakr this past week.
And it has been the craziest launch I have ever participated in.
I don't have a lot of time to write now, since we're still working until 4am to handle the rush. I'll write some updated blog posts later dissecting the launch and what we as a team have learned from it.
But suffice it to say that the amazing launch press we've gotten sums it up, including TechCrunch, Mashable, Guy Kawasaki, Seth Godin, Robert Scoble, Geoff Livingston, and many others. Complete press list below.
These are the points I'll be delving into in more detail later:
Outsourcing finally pays off for small businesses, including the following ones, which saved us:
- posterous
- cotweet
- zendesk
More on the value of Twitter:
- cotweet
- speed of support
Lessons on going with your gut
How to be fast & efficient in your work, including:
- taking screenshots
- keyboard shortcuts
- cinch
- textexpander
- quicksilver
Press Mentions:
TechCrunch: http://www.crunchgear.com/2010/01/06/appmakr-make-your-own-iphone-apps-for-just-two-bills/
Mashable: http://mashable.com/2010/01/04/appmakr/
MobileCrunch: http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/01/03/appmakr-transforms-app-store-landscape-enables-anyone-to-make-their-own-iphone-app/
Seth Godin: http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2010/01/now-available-on-an-iphone-app.html
Robert Scoble: http://scobleizer.com/2010/01/04/part-i-hot-startups-to-watch-in-2010-2/
Guy Kawasaki: http://blog.guykawasaki.com/2010/01/how-to-make-an-iphone-app.html#axzz0bfyLOMYD
Geoff Livingston: http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2010/01/04/appmakr-makes-iphone-apps-accessible/
TechMeme: http://www.techmeme.com/100104/p72#a100104p72 (2/3 down the page)
MediaPost: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=119935&nid=109352
KillerStartups.com: http://www.killerstartups.com/Mobile/appmakr-com-create-mobile-apps-without-being-a-pro
AppModo: http://appmodo.com/9308/make-your-own-iphone-app-with-appmakr/
TECH Cocktail: http://techcocktail.com/home/2010/01/06/appmakr-launches-easy-mobile-app-creator/
The Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/06/AR2010010603681.html
Mobile Marketing Watch: http://www.mobilemarketingwatch.com/appmakr-aims-to-make-everyone-an-app-maker-4861/
BizReport: http://www.bizreport.com/2010/01/apps_for_everyone_with_pointabouts_appmakr.html
Geek.com: http://www.geek.com/articles/mobile/make-your-own-iphone-app-for-199-2010015/
iFun.de (German): http://www.iphone-ticker.de/2010/01/05/appmakr-verspricht-schnelle-iphone-apps-fur-jedermann/#more-9205
One last thought is the phase we're entering now, which was referred to by Paul Graham as the "Trough of Sorrow". A business has a large initial spike in traffic, then it takes awhile to really work the kinks out and get traction. Here's a screenshot of the graph he drew on a whiteboard, and our traffic below: