{"id":4157,"date":"2014-11-26T10:01:33","date_gmt":"2014-11-26T16:01:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/blog\/?p=4157"},"modified":"2017-08-30T17:42:44","modified_gmt":"2017-08-30T17:42:44","slug":"build-web-app-from-scratch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.growthtools.com\/?p=4157","title":{"rendered":"How a Blogger Can Build a Web App in Four Weeks"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It’s been two weeks.<\/p>\n

That’s when you last got an update on the status of List Goal<\/a>, the new email list-building\u00a0app that we’re creating\u00a0together live on this blog.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0app is coming along really well. It looks sexier than the last time we talked and it actually works now. (Woot!)<\/p>\n

Today you will get…<\/p>\n

1) Full rundown of the entire development process<\/p>\n

2) Sneak peak at\u00a0the app (!!)<\/p>\n

3) Chance to give your feedback on one really important feature<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Let’s get going.<\/p>\n

How\u00a0a writer can build a web app from scratch<\/h2>\n

Several of you have asked how you can build an application like List Goal for your business.<\/p>\n

Teaching software development isn’t the focus of this blog. However, using lightweight apps as a lead generation mechanism is an incredibly effective marketing strategy. So we are going to approach the subject\u00a0from that angle.<\/p>\n

To build an application like List Goal there is a seven step process<\/em> that you need to follow.<\/p>\n

Step 1: Determine the exact\u00a0problem you are solving.<\/h3>\n

Building software can easily evolve from a 10-hour weekend project to a 300-hour, multi-thousand-dollar time suck.<\/p>\n

Before you hire a programmer, design a user interface or think about touching any code, you first have to answer these two\u00a0questions:<\/p>\n

Question #1: “What is the exact problem I am solving?”<\/em><\/p>\n

AND<\/p>\n

Question #2: “What is the simplest way to solve that problem?”<\/em><\/p>\n

For example:<\/p>\n

The problem I wanted to solve was staying focused on my most important business objective, building my email list.<\/p>\n

I determined that the simplest way to solve this problem was to constantly keep my goal in front of me.<\/p>\n

We\u00a0open hundreds of new browser tabs per day. By putting a\u00a0reminder of my\u00a0goal in\u00a0the new tab window, it would be incredibly hard to lose focus on that goal.<\/p>\n

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