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You don't really need those features... yet.

It’s tempting to look at any dot com success and assume that all the features they have today are what made them take off. It’s almost never the case.

In fact, most of the success stories launched with what seems to be an impossibly small set of features. For example, when Basecamp launched in 2004, it didn’t support file uploads. Their solution was to let you upload a file to your own server, and then hotlink it. Sounds ridiculous now, doesn’t it? Nor for that matter could you receive notifications by email, edit a comment that has been posted, reply by email, or assign a date to a to-do item. Put simply, they didn’t start out the way you see them today. They were just getting started.

Similarly Amazon launched in 1994, but only added book reviews in 1996; they focused on getting users first. They didn’t add CDs until 1998, and it was 2001 before they even posted a profit. It’s easy to ignore this, and look at their success from this point onwards, but you’re not starting out where they are today. You’re just getting started.

via contrast.ie

I need to remind myself of this sometimes. We are just getting started. There are must-haves and there are nice-to-haves. And the things that are burning in your heart to get into the product may not always fall into must-have.

That being said -- keep rolling.

Posted over 3 years ago

21 responses

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Scott Magdalein said
Is it fair to say that the web landscape has changed and that users DO expect more mature web apps at the beginning? That launching a too-simple app is more of a disappointment nowadays than it was ten or five years ago?

Just curious about how the "simple" model lines up with a much more mature web. Thoughts?

Brett Houle said
Amen. I struggle with it all the time.

I was just reading something, if you haven't read yet, thought you might enjoy. So far, I am loving it...

It's called "Don't just roll the dice". @dharmesh mentioned it over on his On-Startups blog. Really good find. It's great to keep learning from others. Thanks for making posterous - we're actually moving our company blog over to it today!

http://onstartups.com/tabid/3339/bid/11097/How-To-Price-Software-Without-Just-Rolling-The-Dice.aspx

Alex Schleber said
Well, mostly true, however there is the idea that you want to 80/20 all potential features, and find those that will have the most impact.

If I had to place a bet, I'd say you must have "curation", because once you do, it will act as a massive differentiator, and launch you into the stratosphere :)

Happy Thanksgiving, Garry!

Kishyr Ramdial said
Steve Jobs once said "Real artists ship." and it's really important to remember that when planning a roadmap for features. You guys seem to be on top of that.
Ryan Scott said
I know the feeling, Gary. I find it useful to talk to others, developers or otherwise, and have a quick discussion from time to time to decide what features get precedence over others. Feature creep is my arch-nemesis.
Garry Tan said
So many features, so little time!
Ben McGaughey said
Don't kid yourself.

Amazon launched when there was virtually no competition online. 37s had a following of users willing to try anything.

It's easy to find these justification-cases for not finishing your product first, but unless you have the following or complete lack of competition, you have to be a player to get any serious users.

If you launched a project management app today that didn't have a file upload feature, you wouldn't keep 1 user. If you just go out and try to sell books online - face it - you'd better be selling them ON Amazon - it doesn't matter if you have reviews or not.

Garry Tan said
Benmc -- fair enough. Those examples were of people doing totally new things.

I think the spirit of the blog post on contrast.ie really was more about not boiling the ocean on your first shot.

In YC we have a saying: If you're doing something new, focus on being simple. If you're doing something old, focus on what is new.

Alex said
@Garry
So, reverting your saying, you can count on being simple only when doing something really new.
keller said
There needs to be a really good foundation. However if your not ahead of the curve your behind it. Anticipating the needs of a member before they ask for it is a business model that has been implemented by some of the most successful companies in the world.
I was using Basecamp before the file upload implementation and I can say that it really didn't make too much of a difference because it was really good for the time and very cheep. I feel that budget is the main reason for the lack of great features in the beginning almost every company is looking to start generating revenue to get the next round of capital. After all if this doesn't happen the ship sinks right?
Bobby said
Its very true. so many start-ups attempt to put every feature on the site on launch. good reminder
Deborah said
this is an important thing to keep in mind in many situations. i am trying to get a non profit off the ground and i want to have everything perfectly decided upon before i even begin, when i should be using the few tools i do have to get my butt out the door and start raising money for my cause.

anyway. glad to be on your site. i just joined and it is so super cool. a little over my head, but super cool, nonetheless!

Денис said
but time is really very little