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Show HN: I launched my first solo side project

14 points by sdotsen ↗ HN
Sysadmin is my bread and butter, but I taught myself PHP and have been coding on and off for the past 6 years. I've worked on numerous freelance gigs, but mainly internal apps that I use for my real job. I worked on this project (on and off) for the past year and I'm happy to finally release it to the public.

Even if it doesn't succeed, I'm happy that I was able to "scratch an itch" I've had for the past couple of years. I wanted to make something and prove to myself that I can program. I'm not the greatest, but I'm proud of what I've achieved.

http://www.ikeepm.com

16 comments

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RoastBeats
While I realize it's not a "flashy" project in terms of "look how much fun you can have with this app" or "look how it can streamline your workflow," I like its utility. Every time I look around my condo, I can't help but think "I really need to do a better job of recording my assets in case something happens and I need to file a report with my insurance company. So in that sense, anything that makes it easier for me to do that would come in handy.

But I'm not sure you give that need enough emphasis in your CTA's. I don't really see anything on the homepage (which is where it's going to be most important) about needing to document this stuff for my insurance company. As far as I can tell, that's pretty much the number one reason, right? Perhaps you could even play off the same basic cautionary desires that make us buy insurance in the first place. For example, I know the chances of my condo burning down are incredibly slim, but I still spends hundreds of dollars insuring all my stuff as a "just in case." Why not play on that? Why not have messaging that reminds people that they're doing it for the "just in case"?

You mention you've got a full time job and this is a sort of side project, but you might also consider reaching out to some insurance companies to see if you could get some sort of "Seal of Approval." Right now, I don't know if your product would be an approved means of categorizing assets for my insurance company, but if I saw State Farm's logo (and All-State, or whoever) right there on the homepage, I, as your consumer, would get that immediate warm-fuzzy feeling of being extra secure (even if having those logos come with all sorts of caveats about not guaranteeing claims, necessary comprehensive documentation, etc, etc.)

sdotsen
Totally understand what you're saying and it's on my to-do list. I'm going to spend the next two months on getting the message across. Thanks for your input!
qxb
Congratulations. I think this is a neat little service. I could certainly see a market outside the domestic one, too. I've worked for small businesses and public sector organisations where maintaining an inventory of office equipment was necessary not just for insurance, but also for funding and auditing purposes.

Best of luck.

sdotsen
I'm debating whether I should focus more on businesses. At my current job, we're in the middle of inventorying everything from IT to furniture. We're using spreadsheets of all things but I can't push my product since it would be a conflict of interest.
qxb
Updating a spreadsheet with quantities of desk lamps and keyboards sounds painfully familiar.

I would target businesses. Here's something to consider. With a home user, you first have to convince the potential customer of the benefits of keeping an inventory. Then you have to persuade them to use your service over a competing one, or a spreadsheet, or pen and paper. Then you have to convince them to pay you for your service, presumably, at some point in the future.

Keeping an inventory is already an established practice for businesses, so that first home user hurdle is cleared. You just have the remaining two: explaining why iKeepm is better than struggling with a spreadsheet (photos and reports are two features that spring to mind for me straight away) and getting people to pay. My hunch is that businesses, already persuaded of the need to keep an inventory, would be more ready to pay than home users.

sdotsen
Thanks! I need to talk to some folks in finance that handle this stuff. What exactly do they look for, I assume the finance department are the ones who request such a list.
patternexon
Congratulations. It looks very polished.
[dead] patternexon
Congratulations. It looks very polished.
md1515
The problem I see is this: How can anyone prove anything? Will they be entering exact factory numbers etc? I ask because one could easily include a bunch of very expensive laptops with stock photos / photos taken from a friend and then get "robbed" and provide this evidence. This might be the only trouble with attacking the insurance providers (although I could be wrong if there is a way to insure they actually own it).

In any case I wish you the best of luck!

sdotsen
I got feedback from a couple of folks who had the unfortunate task of going through an insurance claim process. As long as they have receipts, they're fine. Obviously this could pose a problem for some of your items that you purchased years ago but he told me lots of photos that show your item inside the house goes a long way. e.g. This won't work ... Photo of your 47" LCD in a room that doesn't look like anything inside your home.

Generic photos won't work, I know many folks keep a video recording of their home.

aymeric
Genuine question: what are the benefits for an individual to track everything they own?
dan-g
Insurance purposes, most likely.
mapster
This is fine. As long as its possible to attach scans of warranties and receipts for insurance claims. Great layout, tho one nitpic: 'Getting started is hard' repelled me. Draw the user in with 'Getting started is easy' or some other attraction.

"A+++ hacker. would buy from again" :)

sdotsen
Thanks! I've modified it.
jamespcole
Great idea, kind of like home user asset management i guess. I'll definitely be signing up. It's looking pretty polished too.