I think I've built my muse

[Peter Bowen]

Greetings,

Sept 2006 I burned out and refused to go back to my business - sold everything and moved country and retired!

I recently read "the book" and realized what my retirement was actually all about.

I'd been toying with an idea for some time - something that helps business owners extricate themselves by building their businesses on systems rather than based on their own labour.

I turned this into a web based application which is just about to launch.

I'd value your opinions. It's to be found at http://www.NoMore247.com

Cheers

Pete

[JSimpson]

Hey Pete,

On your checkout page the "Lab Rats" quote really turned me off. It really made me wonder why I should bother investing a full hundred dollars to something that isn't proven to work.

Also from your first page, I don't know what your selling. I get that you improved your business but until I click on the link to learn how where you mention it. If your service is a web app maybe a few screenshots. Also there are some grammatical errors.

One would be the comma in the checkout page pricing of your customer

Lifetime access to our web-based business process development tool. Our competition charges $219,99

Overall your product sounds interesting. Have you done any dry testing with PPC advertising or similar?

[Peter Bowen]

Hi,

Thanks for your comment - I'll definitely make the changes you suggest during the middle of next week once I've had the chance to assimilate all the responses.

I've not done any dry run testing - I actually got started building this muse before I knew about muses, four hour work week etc. Had I known about all of these good things I'd probably have done dry testing first before spending a whole lot of time and energy on the project.

I decided to carry on and finish it because I was enjoying the work. Right now I don't actually have to work for a living so even if it doesn't do too well I'll look on it as learning time rather than wasted time.

I just started PPC advertising yesterday and from the results so far I'll need to learn a whole lot more about writing good adverts! Not one click after 79 impressions!

I am however very excited in that I just made the first sale (via a link from another forum.)

Cheers

Pete

[Peter Bowen]

Hi

I just wanted to report back. I've slashed the copy and did a whole lot of work on the site and sold $400 in the last 3 days.

But.. my developer ran off and won't make the changes I need so I've got a 70% built product - I'll just pretend I'm Bill Gates and send out patches every day.

Advice: Don't build a software product as a muse - it's adding work instead of reducing it. Last night I worked till 3am for the first time in almost a year.

But it's all fun

Cheers

Pete

[JSimpson]

I clicked on your link again... and it looks A TON better. I haven't read or looked at anything but the landing page. Major plus, I'm always concerned about being overly negative about sites, but that's how I make a living and your first site was pretty bad. In that it instill any trust in me that your product was working. Much improvement!


---

Now that I've viewed your site, your copy and organization is a ton better. I love the fact you added screenshots and an instructional videos. I bet this will work out well for you!! Good luck finding a replacement programmer. Don't forget there are college students that are twice as good as some seasoned programmers if you can find them.

[cjm]

Looks good. It's got a clean and direct presentation which is to the point.

[Peter Bowen]

Thanks guys for the comments.

I sold $600 so far. While I was doing other things!

I'm so incredibly excited that I had to share it with someone and you guys can probably understand the concept better than most.

Cheers

Pete

[jazzdrive3]

@Peter

What is the software written in? What is it's basic functionality that still needs to be done?

I might be able to help.

[Peter Bowen]

It's written in php/mysql

I need to make the output section more user friendly. Add the features to change fonts, margins etc to the printing.

I've posted the project on elance so I'll see who gets back to me.

Cheers

Pete

[Peter Bowen]

Hi guys,

I had a lot of feedback from other people (not as nice as you) telling me I wrote too much and took too long to get to the point.

I've slashed the copy and used some illustrations to make the point. I'd appreciate your comments on it - http://www.NoMore247.com

Just an update - the muse is running on $24 a month and needs about 3 hours per month running work - rest is in marketing it at the moment. Made $1100 this month. Not a huge amount but it is the first month so I'm hoping for more.

I'm still putting time into the marketing and will do so for the rest of the year - but I'm focussing on "fire and forget" marketing rather than on stuff that requires ongoing effort.

Cheers

Pete

[wildsoul]

Wow, Peter. Your page copy TOTALLY speaks to me.

One of the selling points that stands out is the bit about how one might try to create systems on their own (I have been) but there isn't enough time to really finish it, and it's a pain to make changes once the first round is done.

I'm totally sick of hiring people w/o seeing any financial benefit. I'm working harder than ever, and like you said, feel like I'm just working so the people I hire get paid.

So you did a fantastic job of communicating in a way to get a "me too!" response from the reader.

I'm still not sure I understand "what do I get?" after reading this though. Perhaps some screen shots would help? Just a thought.

Though the guarantee does inspire confidence.

PS: I like the photo on your blog. It brings a personal touch, and ups the friendliness.

[Aquarius]

Peter,

I'm a new member here. I really like your website. I have to say that what I find most endearing about it are those photos. The photos of the workers on the treadmill and finally of the man relaxing while the robot dreams of him on vacation in a hammock - that is pricelesst! Its hilarious, and yet gets the whole point of your system across perfectly. Did you draw them yourself or did someone else make them for you? I'm just curious - they really are endearing!

[Peter Bowen]

Thanks for your kind comments - now get your wallet out:)

I got the pictures on Elance for $50 each. I struggled to explain the concepts in words - ended up with 17 pages of copy! I thought pictures might make it easier so I wrote a brief outline of what i was trying to show and posted it on elance.

I'm very pleased with the results

Cheers

Pete

[mannglobal]

Awesome site, and a great product idea. I have a few questions for you Peter, I've PMed you.

[mannglobal]

Hi Peter,

I've had some ideas for web applications, and I have programmed all sorts of things myself in the past, but my project is going to require someone who knows a bit more about what they're doing, so I'll have to hire a programmer. How much did it cost you to have the app built? How did you avoid having your idea stolen from under you? Did you just have a single programmer or a bigger development company? Did you find them on eLance? I am completely new to the whole software-development world, though I've worked in IT for years.

Thanks in advance for any insight you can provide!,
-Garrett

[Peter Bowen]

Hi Garret,

My first app - a web based version written in php/mysql cost about $3000. I used 2 coders - the first did the basic stuff but took more than twice the allowed time so she got fired. The second was much better and finished up the project. I found them on Elance and would be happy to give you the names of the people who have done good work for me.

I think you could probably have an NDA to try and protect your idea but how are you going to enforce it in Russia or India or wherever your coder is from? In reality it's pretty easy to reverse engineer an idea or to refine it and sell it as something else. I think you just have to get it done and hope that you can stay ahead of the curve.

I have now learned to code php/mysql and filemaker so that I can prototype ideas far faster than by outsourcing them. As an example I'm in beta testing with this: www.businessguerillas.com/uglymike/ at the moment. It took about a week to build. (It's so raw that I haven't even built a real website for it yet). If the idea really takes off I'll give it to a developer to build from scratch but with the feedback from the early users added.

[chris.wright.martell]

I loved the site. The robot cartoons are spot on.

[dvdwlsh]

Seems your software's process is influenced by E-Myth principles, yes?

[Peter Bowen]

I agree with the e-myth way of building a business. I built 2 successful "hands off" businesses - a retail plant nursery and a student housing business. I've also owned 2 very much hands on work-yourself-to-death businesses. I prefer the hands off type:)

The nomore247 software has a fatal flaw - it's pitched at one level too high for the average business owner - let me explain.

The e-myth books are great at describing the theory, but seem to stop short of the practical implementation. The nomore247 software and pre-built systems go one step towards the implementation in that they provide a pile of ready-built systems and the tool for building/changing these.

After some experience with this I realize that my attempt to bridge the gap between the e-myth theory and reality did not go far enough. Building the systems is too hard - it's better just to plug into someone else's system.

An example: I wrote up an ebook on debt collecting - complete with the forms, template letters etc and it was downloaded by several hundred people. Less than 5% of them actually implemented it in their business. Those that did benefited, but for the rest - they're no better off than they were before.

In reality we don't want a debt collecting system in our business - we just want the money. My next project is an attempt to bridge that gap a little better. I've taken the theory of the debt collecting system and turned it into software. Now all you need to do is to enter a few basic details of the invoice when you issue it and the system does the rest - it even "pushes" decisions you need to make to you by email.

I intend to encapsulate years of experience and best practice from experts in their fields into web based small business systems. It's a fun and rewarding thing to do.

Cheers

Pete