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Ask HN: Idea feedback on cheaper website/API uptime alerting

3 points by start123 7y ago

I am currently researching the idea to build a simple uptime monitoring tool to monitors websites and APIs. Features: Up to 10 monitors. Sms(50 per month) Alerts, Email, Callback URLs. 1 min interval Easy configuration Pricing: Looking to price it around 2.99$ or less per month to undercut the competition. Though the larger players have great(and more) features, I think there is a good enough market for a lighter and more cheaper alternative. Target Audience: Startups, Single owner websites.

adamlangsner 7y ago
I might use something like this, I have a few small sites. The cheapest pingdom plan is $15/mo which seems like too much for what I'd need. How did you determine that there's a market for this? I ask because I'm trying to learn how to validate demand.
- start123 7y ago
  I used Google docs heavily. I started with a list of 10 uptime monitoring competitors with features, pricing, and weaknesses. I figured out that all of them were charging ludicrous amounts of money to do a simple task like alerts via SMS or email. While they do offer much more features - I realized, after having built a couple of websites that I don't really need fancy features. I also did a SWOT analysis of the idea and where my app would lie in the spectrum, and the amount I could charge to a customer.
  - adamlangsner 7y ago
    Cool. Have you thought about acquisition channels? Maybe Heroku elements would be a good place to distribute this
    - start123 7y ago
      Not yet, the acquisition strategy would be my next logical step I think. I am not aware of Heroku elements, will check it out. Thanks.
mtmail 7y ago
Follow https://twitter.com/sinequanonh https://twitter.com/sinequanonh He sometimes posts revenue numbers of his https://hyperping.io/ https://hyperping.io/ service. With the low price point you'd attract users who bail at any price increase. It leaves little money for customer acquisition and support cost. Spending 10 minutes on a customer email ("do you plan to add feature X?") or dealing with failed credit card transaction (month 6 fine, month 7 "insuffient funds" error) already wipes any earnings the customer might have brought. I'd try doing only yearly payment like https://servercheck.in/pricing https://servercheck.in/pricing
- start123 7y ago
  I agree so, the plan is to roll out slowly, and give it to a handful of customers initially, and then see how the usage and adoption goes from there.
- start123 7y ago
  Also, I have been thinking to launch with a basic plan and then, any new additional feature will go into a new pro-plan. So, people that had signed up will not witness a price rise but will have enough incentive to upgrade.

3 points by start123 7y ago

adamlangsner 7y ago

I might use something like this, I have a few small sites. The cheapest pingdom plan is $15/mo which seems like too much for what I'd need. How did you determine that there's a market for this? I ask because I'm trying to learn how to validate demand.

start123 7y ago
I used Google docs heavily. I started with a list of 10 uptime monitoring competitors with features, pricing, and weaknesses. I figured out that all of them were charging ludicrous amounts of money to do a simple task like alerts via SMS or email. While they do offer much more features - I realized, after having built a couple of websites that I don't really need fancy features. I also did a SWOT analysis of the idea and where my app would lie in the spectrum, and the amount I could charge to a customer.
- adamlangsner 7y ago
  Cool. Have you thought about acquisition channels? Maybe Heroku elements would be a good place to distribute this
  - start123 7y ago
    Not yet, the acquisition strategy would be my next logical step I think. I am not aware of Heroku elements, will check it out. Thanks.

mtmail 7y ago

Follow https://twitter.com/sinequanonh https://twitter.com/sinequanonh He sometimes posts revenue numbers of his https://hyperping.io/ https://hyperping.io/ service. With the low price point you'd attract users who bail at any price increase. It leaves little money for customer acquisition and support cost. Spending 10 minutes on a customer email ("do you plan to add feature X?") or dealing with failed credit card transaction (month 6 fine, month 7 "insuffient funds" error) already wipes any earnings the customer might have brought. I'd try doing only yearly payment like https://servercheck.in/pricing https://servercheck.in/pricing

start123 7y ago
I agree so, the plan is to roll out slowly, and give it to a handful of customers initially, and then see how the usage and adoption goes from there.
start123 7y ago
Also, I have been thinking to launch with a basic plan and then, any new additional feature will go into a new pro-plan. So, people that had signed up will not witness a price rise but will have enough incentive to upgrade.