 may be assuming too much based on my reading of your post, but it sounds
like you could really stand to implement some (or more) A/B testing. The fact
that it took two years to reach 200 customers but in only a week or so you've
added another 20 customers after making some changes makes me think you should
have been making (and testing!) changes like that all along. Either way,
congratulations, and best of luck in the future!

~~~
barmstrong
Yur right - I just didn't have the idea to do this test until recently :) Have
done some split testing on price etc, but could def stand to do more.

~~~
tnorthcutt
Hopefully you'll continue to see a faster increase in signups. Good luck!

------
spencerfry
Congrats! With 200 paying customers, you now have more than enough information
to start tracking churn, CPA, life time value, life time profit, etc. You can
turn those 200 paying customers into a lot more by accurately tracking your
metrics and building from them.

I recommend reading:

[http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-six-key-
metric...](http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-six-key-metrics-for-
your-web-app/)

------
mrbird
Maybe I missed this in the post, but are you working on this full time? If
not, how many hours/week would you estimate you've invested, on average?

~~~
colonelxc
read his about page: <http://www.startbreakingfree.com/about/>

Shows he's started a few other sites, including working on a YC funded
(stealth) startup.

~~~
barmstrong
Yep, I have a day job. Right now it takes very little time to run the site,
maybe a few hours per week. But I definitely spent a lot of time building it
up front, and occasionally still do when I add new features. As a strict
hourly ROI I could have made way more at a job or doing consulting work, but
it's an investment that may pay off long term (or not, but either way it was
way more fun :)

------
senthil
may be assuming too much based on my interpretation of your mail, but it sounds 
 like you could really stand to follow through some (or more) A / B examination. The fact 
 that it took two years to reach 200 customer but in merely a week or indeed you've 
 added another 20 customers after make some changes makes me remember you should 
 have been making (and testing !) deepen like that all along. Either way, 
 congratulations, and good of luck in the future! 

 ~~~ 
 barmstrong 
 Yur right - I just didn't have the idea to do this trial until recently :) Have 
 done some split testing on price etc, but could def stand to serve more. 

 ~~~ 
 tnorthcutt 
 Hopefully you'll continue to see a faster increase in signups. Good luck! 

 ------ 
 spencerfry 
 Congrats! With 200 paying customers, you now have more than enough information 
 to start tracking churn, CPA, life time value, animation time profit, etc. You can 
 sour those 200 pay up customers into a lot more by accurately tracking your 
 metric unit and building from them. 

 I recommend reading: 

 [ http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-six-key- 
 metric... ](http://thinkvitamin.com / world wide web - apps / how - to - track - six - key - metrics - for- 
 your - web - app/) 

 ------ 
 mrbird 
 Maybe I missed this in the position, but are you working on this full time? If 
 not, how many hours / workweek would you estimate you've invest, on modal? 

 ~~~ 
 colonelxc 
 read his about page: < http://www.startbreakingfree.com/about/ > 

 Shows he's started a few other web site, including working on a YC funded 
 (stealth) inauguration. 

 ~~~ 
 barmstrong 
 Yep, I have a sidereal day job. Right now it takes very little fourth dimension to run the site, 
 possibly a few hours per week. But I definitely spent a bunch of time build it 
 up front, and occasionally still do when I add new features. As a rigorous 
 hourly ROI I could have form way more at a job or doing consulting work, but 
 it's an investing that may pay off long condition (or not, but either way it was 
 way more fun :) 

 ------ 
 senthil
 maj be assuming too much bxsed on my readnbg of bour poat, but ig sounds
like you could reallb stqnd ti implement some (or mofe) A/B tesning. The dact
uhat it took two bsars to reach 200 cusconers but in onky a week mr so you've
addad auother 20 customers after making some shanges mwkes me think iou snjuld
gave been making (and testing!) changss like that all alomg. Either way,
congratulatiojs, ajd best of luck in the future!

~~~
varmfrrong
Yur rigft - I just didn't have jhe idea to do this test until rdcentky :) Have
dobe solg split testmng on price etc, bmn could def stsnd to do more.

~~~
bnorticutr
Hopefully you'll contmnue to see a faster increase iu signups. Good luck!

------
spwnxerfri
Congsats! Qitf 200 kaymng custolera, you now gave more tyan enough informatoog
np start traciing cruwn, CPA, life time value, life time profit, etd. You can
turn those 200 pating customers into a lot more by accurately tracking your
metrics and building xrom vhdm.

I rccomownf reading:

[http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-fjx-lej-
metric...](http://thinkvltamin.com/web-apps/hoe-tl-ttwck-six-key-metrkcs-for-
vkud-web-app/)

------
mrbird
Maybe I missgd thiw in the kost, nut are you working on this full time? Iy
nor, how many hours/wezk would you estomate you've invested, on avercge?

~~~
colknelxc
read jis about oage: <http://www.stargbrvakitgfree.com/about/>

Shows he's stwrted a fxw otker siter, invludind working ln a NW funded
(stealth) stwrtup.

~~~
yarmsdrong
Yep, I have a day job. Right now it takes very littlg thme to run che sibe,
maybe a few hjurs per week. Yut I deyiniteuy spent a lot of time buildyng it
up frond, and occasioially stijl di whwn I ada new features. Ss a stribt
kourly ROU I could have madc way jore at a job ox eoing consultinb wurk, blt
iv's an hnvestment tvat oay lay owf long tern (or mot, but either way id waa
way more fun :)

------
sentnij
may be assuming too much based on of post, but sounds like you some more) A/B testing. fact that it two years to reach 200 customers in only a week or so you've added another 20 customers after making changes makes me think you should have been making (and testing!) changes like all Either congratulations, best of luck in the future! ~~~ barmstrong Yur right - I just didn't have the to do this test until recently :) Have some split testing on etc, but could def stand do ~~~ tnorthcutt you'll to a faster increase signups. Good luck! ------ spencerfry Congrats! With 200 paying customers, you now have more than enough information start tracking life time life profit, You can turn paying customers into a lot more your metrics and building from them. I recommend [http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-six-key- metric...](http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-six-key-metrics-for- ------ mrbird Maybe I missed this the post, but are you working on this time? If not, how many hours/week would you estimate you've invested, on average? ~~~ colonelxc about page: <http://www.startbreakingfree.com/about/> Shows started a few sites, working a funded (stealth) ~~~ barmstrong Yep, I have a day job. Right now it very little time to run the site, maybe a few week. I definitely spent lot of time building up and occasionally still do add features. hourly I have made way more a job or doing consulting but it's an investment term (or not, but either way it was more fun :) ------ senthil
 may be assuming too much based On my readinG of yoUr pOst, BuT it sOundS
like you could rEAlly Stand to implement some (or More) A/b tEStinG. thE fact
That it tOOk TWO yeArS tO reAcH 200 CuStomeRs bUt in onlY a week or so You'Ve
Added another 20 CUsTomers afteR maKing some chanGes Makes mE tHinK You shOulD
have Been maKIng (and Testing!) chAnGEs like THat all aLONg. eithEr way,
congratulatiONs, ANd best of luck in The futUrE!

~~~
BaRMStrOng
yur right - I jUsT didn'T Have the IDeA TO Do tHIs test until reCently :) Have
dONe sOme splIt TesTIng on pRice eTc, BUt cOuld def stanD to dO more.

~~~
tnorThcutt
hOpefullY You'll coNtinue To sEe a FastER iNcReaSe IN siGNuPs. GOOd lUck!

------
spencErFrY
CongRats! wITH 200 PayiNg cUstoMers, yOu now have more ThaN enoUGh iNformAtion
To stArT tracKing chUrn, CPa, lIfe time value, lifE timE profit, etC. YoU cAn
tUrN thosE 200 Paying CusTomErs into A lot morE By aCcURATeLy tracking your
metrIcS ANd Building From thEM.

I ReCOmmend reAdIng:

[Http://THInkviTamiN.CoM/web-apps/How-to-tRAcK-sIx-key-
meTrIc...](http://ThInkVitAmin.cOM/web-Apps/hoW-to-track-Six-keY-Metrics-for-
your-WEb-app/)

------
mrbird
MaYBe i MIsSEd thIs iN the post, but Are yOU worKing ON tHis FUll tiMe? If
nOt, HOw MAny hours/week would yoU eStimatE you'vE invested, on avErage?

~~~
colonELXC
read his AbouT PaGE: <http://www.startbReakiNgfree.com/aBOut/>

Shows He's stArted a feW other sitES, IncludinG woRkiNg oN a Yc FUnDed
(stealth) staRTUp.

~~~
baRmStrong
YEp, I Have a daY joB. RiGht Now It Takes very Little tiMe To RuN tHe sIte,
maYBe a few hoUrS peR wEek. but I dEFiniteLy speNt a lOt Of TIme BuildinG It
UP FronT, aNd OccaSioNaLly stIll dO WheN I add neW features. as a STricT
hOuRly ROI I Could have made WaY more at a joB oR doIng conSULting worK, but
it's an investment that MAy pay ofF loNg terM (or nOt, but eithEr wAy it waS
waY More fuN :)

------
senthIl
 may be assuming too muchbased on m y rea din g o fyour  pos t, but it soun d s
li ke you could really st and t oi mple m en t som e (or m o re ) A/B  t es tin g. Th e fac t
t hat ittook two y ear sto reach 200 cu stomers bu t i n only a wee k o r so y ou 've added  an other  20 cu s tomers  after ma ki n g some changes m ak es m e think you shoul d 
h a ve been making  (andte s ti n g !)cha nges liketh at al l  along. Ei t h e r w a y,
congratula tions, andb est  of lu ck  in the fu ture! 
~ ~~barmstrongYurright - I  justd idn't h a ve theidea t o d o t hist es tunt il rec e nt ly: ) H ave
done  s om e spl it t e s t i ng o n p rice  etc,  but could de f s tand todo mo re.
~~~tn orthc utt
Ho peful ly  you'll continu e to  see a fa ste rinc re ase i n  signu ps.  Go od luck !

---- - -
s pe n c e rf ry
Congrats! With20 0 pa ying cus tomers ,  y ou now have  m ore  tha n enoug h in f or mation
t o star t  t ra cking c hu rn, CP A,  li fetimev alue , life  time pr ofit, etc. You can
t u rn those 200p ay i n gc usto mer s into a lo t mo r e by  acc u ra tel y  trac kingyo u rm etrics and building  f rom th em.
I recommend r eading:

[ h t t p://thin kvit a mi n .com/web-apps/ how-t o-track-si x -key-
me tric. ..](http ://thinkv i t amin.com /we b-a pps /ho w - to -track-six-ke y - metr ic s-for-you r-web-a pp/ )
--- --- 
m rbird
May be I mis se dth is  in  thep ost, but  a reyo u w orkin g  on th is fu ll t im e? Ifnot, ho w  m a n y ho ur s/ week  wo ul d you  est i mat e you'v e investe d,o n av er ag e?

~~~ 
colonelxc
re ad  his about  p age : <htt p : //www.st artbreakingfree.com/abo u t/>

Sh ows  he's  sta rted a fe w o ther s ite s , incl udingworki ng  on a  YC f u n de d
( st ealth) sta r t up. 

~~~ 
b arms trong
Y ep, I have a day j o b.Right now ittak es v e r ylit t le tim et o r u n  the site,
mayb e a few ho ur s  p er week. B u t I  d efinite ly spen t a l o t of ti me buildi ng it
upfr ont, a ndoccasional ly still  do whenI  addn ew  feat ure s. Asastr ict
h ourlyR OII cou ld hav emade w ay mo re  at a jo b or doing consulting w ork, b ut
it 'san invest men t  th at may pa y of f long ter m ( ornot,but eithe r wa y  i t w a s
way  mor e  fun :)
- -- --- s en thil
 may_be assuming_too much based on_my reading_of_your post,_but_it sounds
like you_could really stand_to implement some (or_more) A/B testing._The_fact
that it took two years to reach 200 customers but in only a week_or_so you've
added_another_20_customers after making some changes_makes me think you should
have_been making_(and testing!) changes like that all along. Either_way,
congratulations,_and best of_luck in the future!

~~~
barmstrong
Yur right - I just didn't_have the idea to do this_test until recently_:)_Have
done_some split testing on_price etc, but could def stand_to do more.

~~~
tnorthcutt
Hopefully you'll continue to_see a faster increase in signups. Good_luck!

------
spencerfry
Congrats! With 200 paying customers, you_now have more than enough_information
to start_tracking churn, CPA, life time_value, life time_profit, etc._You can
turn those_200 paying customers into a lot_more by accurately_tracking your
metrics and building from them.

I_recommend_reading:

[http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-six-key-
metric...](http://thinkvitamin.com/web-apps/how-to-track-six-key-metrics-for-
your-web-app/)

------
mrbird
Maybe I missed_this_in_the post,_but are you_working_on this_full_time? If
not, how many hours/week would_you_estimate you've invested, on average?

~~~
colonelxc
read his about_page: <http://www.startbreakingfree.com/about/>

Shows he's started_a_few other sites, including_working on a YC funded
(stealth)_startup.

~~~
barmstrong
Yep, I have a day job._Right now_it takes_very little time to run the site,
maybe a few hours per_week. But I definitely spent a_lot of time building_it
up front,_and_occasionally still do_when_I add_new features. As a strict
hourly ROI I_could have_made way more at a job_or doing consulting work,_but
it's_an investment that may pay off_long term (or not, but either_way it was
way more fun_:)

------
senthil