25 Steps to Build Your Own Micro ISV

Turning an amateur software project into a professional project is a straight forward process -- but it involves a lot of steps.

We're putting together articles on each of the steps we've identified, as a way to help other developers turning their fledgling idea into a working MicroISV.

1. Register That Domain

2. Reliable Hosting

3. Website Design

4. Basic Website Content

5. Install Traffic Monitoring on your site

6. Create forums, Encourage Feedback

7. Maintain a FAQ

8. Get The Best Screenshots You Can

9. Configure Email For Your Domain

10. Establish Payment Account

11. Allow Payment from your website

12. Create a PAD file (portable application description)

13. Register at Download Sites

14. Strategy: Separate "Free" From "Professional" product

15. Write Your Own EULA (end user license agreement) -- infact write two!

16. Auto Update Strategy

17. License Activation Webservice/Website

18. Get a License Management Database

19. Build a Proper Installer

20. Obfuscate Your Assemblies

21. Automate Your Build+Release Strategy

22. Free up enough time/resources for Dealing With Support

23. Shiny, Usable, Helpful

24. Plan and enact your Promotional Strategy

25. Do It All Again

I'd also like to reorganise this story into a more flowing piece, which will have different steps, in a more logical order. Below is a work-in-progress of that order.

Pre-Compilation

• What's your idea(s)?
• How To Fail Fast
• Plan your Promotional Strategy
• Strategy: Separate "Free" From "Professional" product
• Register That Domain (aka, Choose a Name)

Code

• Write your software...
  • Even a one-person company needs source control
  • Shiny, Usable, Helpful
  • To Obfuscate or not?
  • Automate Your Build+Release Strategy
  • Auto Update Strategy
  • Testing
  • Beta users
  • Write Your Own EULA (end user license agreement)
  • Installer, or stand alone
• One page website
  • Reliable Hosting
  • Get The Best Screenshots You Can
• Release the free edition
  • Create a PAD file (portable application description)
  • Register at Download Sites

Going Pro

• Advanced Website
  • Website Design
  • Basic Website Content
  • Create forums, Encourage Feedback
  • Choose a price range
  • Establish Payment Account
  • Allow Payment from your website
  • Build/Buy a License Management Database
  • License Activation Webservice/Website

Coda

• Do It All Again
• Configure Email For Your Domain

Extra Credit

• • Traffic Monitoring
  • Experimentation
  • Build a Proper Installer
• Free up enough time/resources for Dealing With Support
  • Maintain a FAQ

Highlights

In each section, there would be 'pull-quotes'/highlights around:

• Tough Decisions
• Pitfalls
• Industry Quotes