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For our first product, we used eBay, starting an auction at $0.01/free shipping and letting it go for a week to see where it ended up. We got lots of bidders a

For our first product, we used eBay, starting an auction at $0.01/free shipping and letting it go for a week to see where it ended up. We got lots of bidders and a better price than we expected, and most importantly lots of interest. After that, we did several more eBay runs to test different copy / pricing, and then with that information, launched our own web store (normal fixed-price checkout, non-eBay) about 8 weeks after that first auction. Now with 2nd product, we've already got an established reputation and traffic in our niche, and developed the 2nd product specifically around the feedback we were getting from customers. This is for a consumer product, hybrid of physical parts + content. Not sure that you can apply the eBay concept to a SaaS, but depending on what you're doing, it may actually be possible (i.e. if people would be naturally searching on eBay for software to fill that need, then put up a 12-month subscription as an auction!).

hajrice 17y ago
Interesting. With all due respect, I think you should redesign your site www.nerdkits.com
- compumike 17y ago
  Very tactful -- I'd be very happy to hear specific thoughts on this from you or the rest of the HN community! Send me an e-mail, or post it here.
  - hajrice 17y ago
    Here are two points that I've realized. I think that the ThinkGeek website is pretty well-done, I mean they're in a relevant market as you guys, so you should definitely look into their website at: http://www.thinkgeek.com/ http://www.thinkgeek.com/ The elements are really aligned in a logical fashion. It's pretty aggressive on the eyes when you see huge yellow boxes with the prices on the right. The stuff that's supposed to grab my attention, doesn't. "Invest in yourself: learn by doing. Read on to learn how the NerdKits philosophy is implemented in our kits, and why other electronics kits will leave you intellectually unsatisfied." is DISTRACTED by the "Updated Thursday, December 17th, 2009:" div.
    - pmorici 17y ago
      sparkfun.com is more in line with what they do, also a very good site.
  - chrischen 17y ago
    I think your first step would be to get a designer to make it more visually pleasing, and then maybe consult with him or her about the layout of content.
  - harisenbon 17y ago
    Your page seems very 1990s or early 2000s in its design. Either that or a manufacturer's B2B website, not a B2C like you seem to be marketing at. I would highly recommend outsourcing your design to some place (even some place that could do it on the cheap). The product looks amazing though!

hajrice 17y ago

Interesting. With all due respect, I think you should redesign your site www.nerdkits.com

compumike 17y ago
Very tactful -- I'd be very happy to hear specific thoughts on this from you or the rest of the HN community! Send me an e-mail, or post it here.
- hajrice 17y ago
  Here are two points that I've realized. I think that the ThinkGeek website is pretty well-done, I mean they're in a relevant market as you guys, so you should definitely look into their website at: http://www.thinkgeek.com/ http://www.thinkgeek.com/ The elements are really aligned in a logical fashion. It's pretty aggressive on the eyes when you see huge yellow boxes with the prices on the right. The stuff that's supposed to grab my attention, doesn't. "Invest in yourself: learn by doing. Read on to learn how the NerdKits philosophy is implemented in our kits, and why other electronics kits will leave you intellectually unsatisfied." is DISTRACTED by the "Updated Thursday, December 17th, 2009:" div.
  - pmorici 17y ago
    sparkfun.com is more in line with what they do, also a very good site.
- chrischen 17y ago
  I think your first step would be to get a designer to make it more visually pleasing, and then maybe consult with him or her about the layout of content.
- harisenbon 17y ago
  Your page seems very 1990s or early 2000s in its design. Either that or a manufacturer's B2B website, not a B2C like you seem to be marketing at. I would highly recommend outsourcing your design to some place (even some place that could do it on the cheap). The product looks amazing though!