|
The advice on polish applies mostly to venture-funded startups trying to get users to move from existing $SOCIAL_APP to new $SOCIAL_APP; in this instance, sure, polish what you can at the top of the funnel. For B2B products it's a little different. When you're holding an MVP in your hands, it's really hard to tell whether you're grasping a rusty old anchor that will drag you to your death, or whether you're looking at lightning in a bottle. One quick way to tell is if businesses sign up and user it even though it's as fugly as can be. If, when pitching the product to a potential sale, the subject indicates that they need particular cosmetic changes before higher-ups would approve it, then you're likely pitching a dud product. If, otoh, they interrupt you during the pitch of that fugly product, and offer to trial it immediately, or buy the prototype, or call in a higher up, then you have the proverbial lightning in a bottle. Cosmetics is, I think, a good indicator for B2B products - if people want it even though it's ugly, you're selling painkillers. If people want it only when it's pretty, you're selling vitamins. |