Today I learned an interesting lesson I thought I'd write about. I signed up for Ballpark, the terrific new app from Metalab Designs in Victoria, right in my backyard, and was duly impressed. I, like many of you I'm sure, have thought about creating a new invoicing app but didn't for whatever reason. I figured, the market is too saturated - and with competitors like Freshbooks, Blinksale, Invoice Machine, and others, who's got room to make any money there?
Room For a New View
For many of us, cyberspace feels a lot smaller than it actually is I think. Every morning I roll over groggily to the sound of my iPhone's alarm, check my email, and then check my Twitter feed; I marvel at the new apps, designs, and blog posts that enter the world fresh that day. Then once I'm up I chat with the long time friends and co-workers I have on my IM lists, and the internet is a comfortable, familiar place. I have my own view of it.
The problem with this view is that it's a bit small. The internet is bigger than the little room I've carved into it. There are more viewers out there, more target markets, more people joining every day, and it's not slowing down any time soon.
Somehow I've had it in my mind that I can't build another invoicing app, because someone's already done it. I can't blog about that, someone's already said it. While I'm all for original content, fresh ideas, and innovation online, here's a valuable lesson for all of us out there with a killer app idea: Just because somebody has already done it, doesn't mean there's not room for you to do it again with your own unique flavor.
Ballpark isn't that different than Blinksale. It has it's own flavor and some additional features: Estimates and client interaction. Suddenly it's new, suddenly there's room in the market for another invoicing app. Not everyone is going to flock over there from Blinksale, and not everyone using Freshbooks is going to feel a little less fresh - there's room in the market for more, and that's the beautiful nature of the ever evolving internet we call home.
Just Do It
So, what's stopping you from bootstrapping your next web idea? My excuse it that I'm always busy with client work. I keep hoping some day I'll have a month of "free time" laying around waiting for me to rock out the next killer app. Looking back over the years, I've had the time, I just didn't take advantage of it. Sure, I designed a bunch of great client work, and I have a fantastic network of clients who constantly refer more work to me, but I'm sure they'll understand if I squeeze a bit of time in now and again for one of my own ideas. Heck, I bet some of them would even want in on the action.
Just do it - make the time, get your app out there, even if somebody's already done it. Metalab Design just proved it's possible, as have hundreds of other little agencies all over the world, probably in areas I've never heard of. What's happening in your back yard that could be happening in your basement?
