What did you do before launch?

[zulufox]

I am just getting started on a new big site project. This will be the biggest, funniest, and most risky topic I have tried to make a site about (I am very passionate about the niche, but it is certainly a harder niche to monetize than travel or ipods).

My plan is to work hard on my old site over the summer, hopefully getting it to around $80-$100 a day before I launch my new site. This way I will have atleast one successful done which I can use to fund my new site.

This gives me about 100 days to brainstorm and make a plan for my new site before I actually put pen to paper.

When you guys are just starting work on a new site idea, what kind of work do you do? Reading books on the topic? Check out the competition? Find affiliates?

Any help would be great!

[visca]

Good question. For myself, it depends on the type of project. Frequently its a matter of feeling 'inspired' more than anything. And then it is that 'inspiration' that will take care of the rest. So, yes of course all the typical stuff like analyzing the competition; reading related books and reference materials; getting forecasting reports on the related industry; and doing your general homework are good. But I also believe it is about your mind set when you're planning and creating this new project, and creating the positive mind set that establishes a clear path to success.

* I find reading magazines like Business 2.0 or Fortune a good way of seeing how other people have succeeded, and have gone from an idea to a successful business. Not only is it great inspiration, but there may be a piece of information you can walk away with and adapt to your own project.

* Pen and paper... Usually I am not a big fan of writing anything down, but sometimes it really helps to extract yourself from the monitor, go grab a coffee at the local coffee shop, grab a seat there and just plow out some ideas on a pad of paper. Its amazing what you'll come up with.

* Music. If Im sitting on a deadline and really need to start getting creative, or inspired or simply need a mood change - I find the right music, and neighbor unfriendly volume levels do wonders. I think sometimes music opens up design and business creativity that I believe simply wouldn't be on tap without it.

* Talking with others. It is easy as a freelancer for example just to keep internalizing everything and depending on yourself for all the answers. But I believe it is important to get out there and discuss ideas with others, even if they are not nessisarily in the same industry. Just by talking about it you may possibly gain a better grasp of what you're trying to acheieve by hearing yourself pitch it to someone.

* Extract yourself from your usual environment. Sitting in the same office or home office day after day isn't exactly 'stimulating' for creating something new. Put yourself in new and unfamiliar surroundings, and then work on putting designs or strategies or content or whatever.