Free resource

Build planning checklist.

Twelve questions to answer before you build a web product: scope, ownership, data, security and launch.

01
Fix the scope
What the first release must do, and what it can leave out.
02
Protect the business
Who owns the code and accounts, and what happens when something fails.
03
Plan the launch
How you will know it works, and who runs it afterwards.

The 12-point checklist.

01Can you name your first user and the one job they need done?
02Have you spoken to at least five people who have that problem?
03Is the first release small enough to ship in weeks rather than months?
04Have you written down what the first release will not include?
05Do you know how you will charge, and when?
06Will your company own the code, domains and hosting accounts?
07Do you know what personal or payment data you will hold, and where?
08Have you decided who can see what, including your own staff?
09Have you listed the outside services you depend on, and what happens if one fails?
10Do you have a backup and recovery plan you have actually tested?
11Have you chosen the one number that tells you the release is working?
12Do you know who will fix problems and ship changes after launch?

9 more items

Enter your email to reveal all 12. We'll also send you three short emails on this topic over the next ten days. Unsubscribe any time.

Planning a product?

Tell us what you are building. We will help you settle the scope and tell you what to leave out of the first release.