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Poll results from “How would you launch a new product?”

I had previously posted a poll for the folks reading this blog to vote on a poll for how they’d launch a new product, and here were the results (as of this afternoon), ranked in order:


How do you launch a new product or service?


  1. Start with a site, then add app(s) later 56% (102 votes)
  2. Start with app(s), then add a site later 21% (38 votes)
  3. Destination site only 10% (19 votes)
  4. Social network app(s) only 8% (14 votes)

There were also a couple votes for “Other” which, from the comments and emails, seemed to be people who launched with both at the same time, or people looking at iPhone development, etc.


Frankly, I’m surprised by the results!


I really expected that there would be more folks to be emphasizing app and widget development rather than destination sites. Another way to look at this is that 66% of the votes had you starting with a destination site first, with apps being an afterthought.


Perhaps with all the Facebook and OpenSocial excitement that I’m exposed to in the Bay Area, it’s easy to perceive that *everyone* is working on apps when in fact there are many more traditional approaches out there.

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Written by Andrew Chen
July 8th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
  • Devan

    Good poll Andrew – I think the results bear a good lesson. It would be cool to do another survey on the technology stack that people plan to use to develop their apps, e.g. RoR, PHP, BEA etc.

  • http://blog.craz8.com Tom

    We’ve worked out its easier to actually build social network apps that people will pay for and pay our bills that anything else. Our financing plans are on hold as we count the incoming cash!

    I think the TechCrunch generation thinks its all about self promotion to get financing for their big idea. Guess what? It’s all about engaging and entertaining/providing a service to the users.

    I’d finance the 8% any day of the week (they don’t need a lot!)

  • Andrew H

    We ran through the same calculus and realized that, while we are taking advantage of social networks, purely attaching ourself to an app was not a viable long term strategy and the ultimate answer was a hybrid approach (site–>apps). There’s too many uncertainties and restrictions within the current SNS dictatorships to build a viable, long-term business that provides value. The case may be different for pure “entertainment” apps, but for utility apps it is hard to get around having some sort of a website. Although ultimately any of these (websites, mobile, SMS, email, IM, SNS) are simply interfaces and good applications should use the strengths of all as appropriate.

  • mike

    >I really expected that there would be more folks to be emphasizing app and widget development rather than destination sites.

    Andrew, those are not businesses. All these, mostly useless, widgets should fall under marketing column in your ledger. They’re not businesses and never will be. Just look how Slide realized this and how RockYou has started seeking proper monetization. Their investors will pay for this illusion.

    If you’re not a destination site, you’re a sharecropper. It’s very simple but silicon valley kool aid is strong and distorts your vision.

    I’m happy to see that 56% of readers know that too.

  • http://programmerjoe.com Joe Ludwig

    I’m one of the site->app respondents, but that doesn’t mean that the apps are an afterthought. As I see it, it’s better to build the site then build apps for several networks to drive traffic to adapted versions of that site. Of course you have to have the apps in mind as you build the site so you can hook them all together smoothly.

    Of course I haven’t actually DONE this yet, it’s just the way I’m thinking about it.

  • http://profile.typekey.com/seanomalone/ Sean Malone

    Who’s making money on apps? At least there’s a business to be had around a stand along destination site. Yeah?

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