Get Your Killer App Off the Ground

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Have an idea for the next great software application? Here are five steps to turn your technological dream into reality.

The Vancouver that I live in is buzzing with entrepreneurship and innovation. Working in marketing and technology, I hear a lot of great startup ideas – but most of them never get off the ground. So I thought I'd share a few essentials for succeeding in the web development process.

Knowledge transfer

Where I see most web ideas fall flat is when the founder fails to describe it to a potential developer or investor. If you can't communicate your idea clearly, in writing, to a non-technical person, then at best, your concept won't be exactly as you envisioned, and at worst you'll have flushed your time and money down the drain.

Find a technical cofounder

The most visionary startup idea will not succeed without a technically minded cofounder to keep you grounded in reality. This technical partner must translate your idea into specs, requirements, wireframes, and a development plan.

Choose a platform

You may not know the difference between PHP, Ruby on Rails or LOL, but your technical partner will, and choosing the right one from the outset is crucial. This decision will hinge on what type of technology your application is intended for: Blackberries? iPhones? iPads? The Web? If it was my money, I'd develop a Web-based app that works on all devices, as opposed to one that is device-specific.

Test your hypothesis

Make sure to test your application in the shallow end of the pool first, before you dive into the financial deep-end. In development circles, this is known as "proof of concept". Don't bother scaling it out until you've gone through a version or three. Prototyping and iteration is key to transforming a so-so idea into a game-changing product.

Bring your idea to market

You need some PR buzz and an awesome marketing website if you wan't to get your app out of the wilderness. But if your budget is more "micro" than Microsoft, then perhaps hiring an intern to do blogging and social media outreach is a good place to start. Just remember to budget for the time and effort it takes to market a product continuously - not just development.  You've got to be in it for the long haul.    

Most successful apps taken hundreds and hundreds of hours to develop, so don't kid yourself: you need to be prepared to make a substantial investment, both in terms of time and money. Still, entrepreneurship is all about taking risks. An idea is just an idea until you do something about it!

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