Business hackathon update #1: setting up the MVP

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Hi! I'm not the person organizing the biz hackathon, but I'm one of the participants. I wrote up what I did on the first day.

Context: I'm selling a basic software usability assessment for $35 a pop -- we'll see how it goes. I just finished setting up the MVP. Here are the steps I took...

• Spent $21.74 on [url redacted to avoid obnoxious self-promotion] and one other variation -- I shouldn't have bought both, but so it goes. I own a ridiculous number of domain names already. They're one of the only things I hoard.

• Set up the hosting and email, using A Small Orange and FastMail respectively. I was already paying for both of those, so no new expenses involved.

• Checked out a few different CMS options and then decided on plain ol' WordPress, once again, in semi-exasperation. (It's dumb to install a whole blogging platform for a two-page website, but I'm already familiar with WordPress.)

• Wrote and edited the copy for the homepage. This was easy since I decided to go with a straightforward and slightly flippant tone. Installed five or six different WordPress themes and fiddled with their settings. Settled on Automattic's Argent.

• Made some graphics in Pixelmator using images from Open Clipart, the MarkMaker logo generator, and Emoji One.

• Configured a PayPal buy button and took forever to figure out how to find a PayPal buy link. Thankfully it existed, so I could implement a checkout flow without using their hacky embeddable. I decided to go with PayPal instead of Stripe or what-have-you because I wanted setup to be super quick and easy. I also didn't want to install WooCommerce.

• Planned for tomorrow based on feedback in the Slack group:

1) Create and post an example video. 2) Create and post an example report. 3) Iterate on the CTA -- it should be irresistible!

So far I will only need one buyer to break even -- actually, if one person buys I'll come out ahead by $12.21. (Of course, I haven't factored in my time, but that can come later.)

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