[tomgallard]

At Pwinty- we collect emails (conversion rate 5-10%), and then try and guide users through the process.

Firstly- its a great way to engage with users where you might not offer exactly what they want (do you print canvases, how about xyz). We get most of our feature ideas from our users wanting something that we don't yet offer.

I also try and schedule in a Skype call with all of our users to understand exactly what they want from us, and how we can help them (I think this also convinces them that there's a real person there they can do business with).

Once we've got their emails, we probably convert about 20% into 'making API calls'. However, I'm expecting that to increase over time (lots of people sign up, but are just working out how they're going to build their app, rather than actually doing it).

It's also worth following up non-active users after 1,3 and 6 months. You can often get useful info that you'd otherwise miss 'we decided not to use you because x,y,z; we canned the project but are keen to use you in the future etc)

[patio11]

I very much regret that I have only one upvote to give for this comment, because every API company should be doing that. (Most of the very successful ones do already, but since many API companies start with two hackers and a couple of boxes of ramen, you can greatly increase your chance of success by taking this comment and executing on it.)