When to Begin Advertising on Your Startup: Gummy Bear Theory
Web 2.0 Startups are constantly in “beta-mode” with each day bringing new advancements to the product, and the service never fully matures. This is great for the users, as they will always be presented with a better and better service, but on the startup-side it’s a difficult cycle to fall into.
While your product is constantly evolving and getting better, you have the decision to make of whether or not you want to add advertising to the site, possibly messing up the user experience or wait “until it’s better”.
I like to call this the “Gummy Bear Theory”. I like to snack on gummy bears all the time, and sometimes I eat right through an entire bag, and sometimes I actually use self-control and don’t scarf down the same bag. For startups, you have to use self-control and cut yourself off. You need to set a stopping point of “core features” that must be installed, and after which you can begin experimenting with ads.
If you don’t set this “core feature” set, you will constantly be waiting and waiting for “just the right time” and you’ll never get in gear to get advertising up on the site.
We’ve put together an article detailing how to craft your startup advertising plan, so be sure to give that a read and start assembling that “core feature set” and PUT THE GUMMY BEARS DOWN!
Do you have any similar theories you want to share with us in the comments?
