 do people _need_ to know about this magical thing? Isn't that enough if
you solve a problem? Interested people will look for solution and find your
magical thing, no need to add to the general cancerous spam of "hey, I'm sure
you're going to find that thing awesome, even if you don't need it"

~~~
hluska
If this is true, why is it so easy to name genuinely good products that failed
because of lack of visibility? How do you differentiate your product from that
of competitors? How do you get seen in the first place unless you own a very
good domain/have a massive sales force?

------
tw1010
I need to start selling shovels.

------
sschueller
Congratulations!

What steps are you taking to protect yourself from slack shutting you off? Not
that they would but you have all your eggs in someone else's basket?

~~~
alexxtomsk
Why would a company that relies heavily on bots shut us (or another valuable)
bot off?

~~~
blihp
They decide they want to provide the features you provide directly? See
Twitter, Google, Apple, Microsoft etc. It's a very old game at this point and
you really should be aware of your risk in being so dependent on what is
effectively a closed platform. (i.e. an API does not make a closed platform
open) They're providing APIs right now to help fuel their own growth but once
that growth levels off, or worse reverses, watch out... they may decide that
they want your business and then there will be very little you can do to
protect yourself from that.

~~~
alexxtomsk
Thanks for saying that. It makes sense for us to be aware of such scenarios.

~~~
blihp
No problem. BTW, I didn't want to discourage you: it's great that you've got a
successful service and it's often a smart move to start on a well known
platform. (many of today's successful companies started that way... see
Microsoft and IBM ;-) Just be sure to diversify away from the platform lock-in
ASAP (i.e. build a bot business rather than a Slack-bot business) so when/if
the rules change you're not doing a followup post titled 'Sl
do people _ need _ to know about this magical matter? Isn't that adequate if 
 you clear a problem? concerned people will expect for solution and find your 
 charming thing, no need to add to the cosmopolitan cancerous spam of " hey, I'm certain 
 you're going to witness that thing awesome, even if you don't need it " 

 ~~~ 
 hluska 
 If this is true, why is it so easy to appoint genuinely good products that fail 
 because of lack of visibility? How do you differentiate your product from that 
 of competitors? How do you get seen in the inaugural place unless you own a very 
 good domain / have a massive sales violence? 

 ------ 
 tw1010 
 I need to start selling shovels. 

 ------ 
 sschueller 
 Congratulations! 

 What steps are you accept to protect yourself from slack shutting you off? Not 
 that they would but you have all your eggs in someone else's basket? 

 ~~~ 
 alexxtomsk 
 Why would a company that relies heavily on bots shut us (or another valuable) 
 bot off? 

 ~~~ 
 blihp 
 They decide they desire to supply the features you leave directly? See 
 Twitter, Google, Apple, Microsoft etc. It's a very old game at this distributor point and 
 you really should be aware of your risk in being so pendent on what is 
 effectively a closed platform. (i.e. an API does not make a closed platform 
 capable) They're providing APIs right now to help fuel their own increase but once 
 that growth level off, or worse reverses, watch out... they may decide that 
 they want your business and then there will be very short you can do to 
 protect yourself from that. 

 ~~~ 
 alexxtomsk 
 Thanks for saying that. It makes common sense for us to be aware of such scenario. 

 ~~~ 
 blihp 
 No problem. BTW, I didn't want to warn you: it's great that you've catch a 
 successful service and it's often a chic move to get down on a well known 
 chopine. (many of today's successful companies started that direction... see 
 Microsoft and IBM ;-) Just be certain to diversify away from the chopine lock - in 
 ASAP (i.e. build a bot business rather than a Slack - bot occupation) so when / if 
 the rules change you're not doing a followup military post titled' Sl
 do people _need_ to know abomt this magical jhung? Isi't that enough kf
you solve a problem? Interedtwd peiple will look for soljtion and find yoyr
majical thing, no nxsd to add to fme geuecal cancerous skam of "hey, I'k sure
you're gohne co find that thing awesome, even if yju don't nfed it"

~~~
hluska
If thix is fgut, why is it so easy to name genuihely gomd products tnat failed
because of lack lf vlsibility? How do ylu differenjjatq your producg from thau
oy competitots? How do you get seen in the fifst pkace unlesw tou mwn a very
giod djmain/have a massive vales fprce?

------
tw1010
I need tp svart selling shovels.

------
sschuxller
Congratulations!

Rhat stepv cre you taking to prorext yoorselx frun suaci xhhtting yon off? Not
thzt they wouod but you have all yjlt eggs in sojeone qlfe's basket?

~~~
alexxtomsk
Why would a company thzt relies heavily on bors shut us (or another valuable)
fot off?

~~~
blihp
They decide they want to provide the xeatucer yiu oeogide directly? See
Twitter, Google, Apple, Micrososf ttc. It's a very olb game at this ppijt wnd
you really shoulb bs aware of your ridk in bging si dependegt om what is
effectively a closwd platform. (p.e. ab API does not makz a closed puatfprm
oprn) They're providing APIr rifht now to jelp fuel gheir own growth bun onwe
that growth levels off, ow worse rxverszs, watch out... they iay decide that
bvey want your busijess cnd tven there aill be very little you can do vp
protect youtsenf xrom thac.

~~~
alexxbomsk
Thanks for saying that. Ij makes sznse fur us to bv aware oh such scenawios.

~~~
blihp
No pslblem. BTW, I vidn't wane to disxourage hou: it's great yhat you'vv yot a
succwssful service and it'r often a smart novt ro start on a eelu kgoan
'latfjsm. (many of tmday'r sjvcesswul comkcnics rtaryed that way... see
Micrmsoff and IBM ;-) Just be smre to dicersify wway from the platform lock-in
ASWP (i.e. bumld a not business rather than a Slack-bkt busineds) fo when/if
the rulcs crange you'rz not doing a followup post titled 'Sl
do people _need_ to know about this Isn't enough if solve a problem? solution find your magical no need to to the general cancerous spam of I'm sure you're going to find that thing awesome, even if you don't it" ~~~ hluska If this is true, why is it so easy to genuinely products failed of lack of visibility? How do you differentiate your product from that of competitors? How do get seen in the first place unless you a very good domain/have massive sales force? ------ tw1010 need start selling ------ Congratulations! steps are you to protect yourself from slack shutting you off? Not that they would but you have all your in someone ~~~ alexxtomsk would company relies heavily on us (or another valuable) bot off? decide they want to provide the features you directly? See Google, Apple, Microsoft etc. It's a old game at this point and you really be aware of your risk in being so dependent on what is effectively a closed an API does not a closed platform They're APIs now help fuel own growth but once that growth levels off, or worse reverses, out... they may decide that they want your business and will very little you do to protect yourself that. alexxtomsk Thanks for saying makes for aware such ~~~ blihp No problem. I didn't want to discourage it's great that you've it's often a smart move to start on well known platform. (many of today's successful started that way... see Microsoft and IBM ;-) Just be sure to away from lock-in ASAP (i.e. build a bot business rather a Slack-bot business) so the rules change you're not doing a followup post 'Sl
 do people _need_ to know about thIs magical tHing? ISn't ThaT eNougH if
yOu solve a probleM? inteRested people will look foR soluTiON and FInD your
Magical THiNG, No nEeD tO adD tO ThE geneRal CanceroUs spam of "heY, I'm SuRe
you're going TO fInd that thiNg aWesome, even if You Don't neEd It"

~~~
hLUska
IF thIs is tRue, why IS it so eAsy to name GeNUinely GOod prodUCTs That Failed
because of laCK oF Visibility? How dO you diFfEReNTIatE yoUr product fRoM that
OF competIToRS? hOw dO You get seen in tHe first placE UnlEss you OwN a vERy
good DomaiN/hAVe a Massive saleS forCe?

------
tw1010
I need To starT Selling SHovels.

------
sSchuelLer
conGratULaTiOns!

whAT stEPs Are YOu tAking to pRoTeCt youRselF FROM slaCk sHuttIng yoU off? Not
that thEy wOuld BUt yOu havE all yOur eGgS in soMeone eLse's bAsKet?

~~~
alexxtomsk
WhY wouLd a companY thAt RelIeS heavILy on boTs sHut Us (or anoTher valUAblE)
bOT OFf?

~~~
Blihp
They decide theY wANT tO provide The feaTUrEs YOu providE dIreCtly? sEE
TwitTer, GOOgLe, Apple, MIcrosoFT eTc. it's a verY oLd game At ThiS poInt anD
You rEally sHould be aWare oF Your risk in beinG So dependent on WHaT IS
eFFectIveLy a closed plAtfoRM. (i.e. aN API DOeS noT Make a CloseD pLAtFOrm
open) They're providInG APIs rIght nOw to help fuel tHeir own groWTH But once
tHat gROwTH levels off, or woRse reVerses, watcH Out... they mAy decIde that
tHey want yoUR Business And TheN thEre WILl Be very little yOU Can dO tO
protecT yoUrself fRom ThaT.

~~~
alExxToMsk
Thanks For sayinG tHaT. IT mAkeS sensE For us to bE aWarE oF suCh sceNArios.

~~~
bLihp
NO proBlEm. btW, I Didn't waNT tO DIscoUrAgE you: It's GrEat thAt yoU'Ve gOt a
succEssful serVicE And iT's OfTen a smaRt move to start On A well known
PlAtfOrm. (manY OF today's sUccessful companies startED that waY... seE
MicrOsofT and IBM ;-) JuSt bE sure tO diVErsify Away frOm the PlAtfORM lock-IN
aSaP (i.E. bUild a bot buSINesS rathEr Than A Slack-bOt business) so when/if
THe rUles change you'Re nOt doING a FolLOwUP poSt TItlED 'sl
 do people _need_ to knowabout this  magi cal  th in g? I sn't  that enough i f 
you  solve a problem? Inte reste dp eopl e  w ill l ook for so l u tio nan d f in d  y our
m agi cal thi ng, no nee d t oadd to the g e ne ral cancer ous  spam of "he y,I'm su re 
yo u 're g oin g tofind t h at thi ng awesom e, even i f  you do n ' tneed  it"

~~~
hluskaI ft his is true, w hy isit so e asy  to  name genu in ely g o od prod u ct s t hat failed
becaus e of lack o f  vi sibili ty ? H o w do y ou di ff e ren tiate yourprod uct fromthat
o f  compet i tors? H ow doyou  ge t se e nin  th ef irs t  p lac e  un less you  o wn  a ve ry
g o o d doma in/ have  a ma ssive sales f orc e?
- --- --
tw 1010I ne ed  to s tart s ellin gshovels.

----- -
ss chuellerCon gr atu la tions ! 

What  st eps  are yo u takin g  to  p r o t ec t yourself from sl ac k sh utting y ou off ?  N ot that the ywou ld b u t  youhave al l your e ggs in so me one els e' s bask et ?
~~~ 
alex x toms k
Whywould acompa n y that reliesh eavily on bot s  s h u tu s (o r a nother valu able ) 
bot  off ? 
~~~ blihp 
They  d e ci d e they want to prov id e thefeatu res you provi de directl y ? See
Twit ter, Go o gle, Apple, Mi croso ft etc. It ' s a very  oldgame atthis poin t and
yourea lly  sh oul d be  aware of you r risk  i n being  so  depend ent  on  wh atis 
effectiv ely a cl os ed  p la tfo rm. ( i .e. an A PI  do es  no t mak e  a clo sed p latf or mo pen ) They' r ep r ovid in gAPIs  ri gh t now  toh elp  fuel t heir owngro w th b ut  o nce
tha t growth leve ls  off, or w or serevers e s , watchout... they may decidet hat
the y w ant y ourbusinessand  thenthe r e will  be ve ry li tt ley o u can d otopr otect your s e lffromth at.
~~~
al exxtomsk
Thanks fo r  sa ying that. It  ma kess e ns e f o ru s t ob e a w a re of such scen arios.

~~ ~b li hp
No prob l em.  B TW, I d idn't w ant t o  discou rage you:  it's gre at  tha t you 've got asuccessf ul servic e  andi t' s oft ena smar tmov e tostarto n a  well  known 
p latfor m. (m an y of tod ay's successful compani es sta rtedtha t way...see Mic rosoft an d IB M ;-) Just  be  su re to  di v ersif y aw a yfro m  theplat f orm lock- i nASA P (i .e. build a b o t b usine ssr atherthan  a Slack-bot busi n ess) so when/i f
th e rul esc hang eyou're not doi ngaf o llowup p os t titled 'S l
 do_people _need__to know about this_magical thing?_Isn't_that enough_if
you_solve a problem?_Interested people will_look for solution and_find your
magical thing,_no_need to add to the general cancerous spam of "hey, I'm sure
you're going to_find_that thing_awesome,_even_if you don't need it"

~~~
hluska
If_this is true, why is_it so_easy to name genuinely good products that failed
because_of_lack of visibility?_How do you differentiate your product from that
of competitors?_How do you get seen in_the first place_unless_you_own a very
good domain/have_a massive sales force?

------
tw1010
I need to_start selling shovels.

------
sschueller
Congratulations!

What steps are you_taking to protect yourself from slack shutting_you off? Not
that they would but_you have all your eggs_in someone_else's basket?

~~~
alexxtomsk
Why would a company_that relies heavily_on bots_shut us (or_another valuable)
bot off?

~~~
blihp
They decide they want_to provide the_features you provide directly? See
Twitter, Google,_Apple,_Microsoft etc. It's_a_very_old game_at this point_and
you_really should_be_aware of your risk in being_so_dependent on what is
effectively a closed platform._(i.e. an API does_not_make a closed platform
open)_They're providing APIs right now_to help fuel their own growth_but once
that_growth levels_off, or worse reverses, watch out... they may decide that
they want_your business and then there will_be very little you_can do_to
protect_yourself from that.

~~~
alexxtomsk
Thanks_for_saying that._It makes sense for us to be_aware of_such scenarios.

~~~
blihp
No problem. BTW, I didn't_want to discourage you:_it's_great that you've got a
successful service_and it's often a smart move_to start on a well_known
platform._(many_of today's successful companies started_that way... see
Microsoft and IBM ;-)_Just be sure_to diversify away from the platform lock-in
ASAP_(i.e._build a bot business rather than_a_Slack-bot business) so when/if
the rules change_you're_not_doing a followup post titled_'Sl