That was fun, let’s do it all over again (but bigger)

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I am the creator of CommentLuv and site owner and administrator of ComLuv.com

Andy Bailey has written 276 articles for ComLuv.com
I normally write at http://comluv.com

Twitter: @commentluv | Facebook | Google Profile
Become a guest blogger on ComLuv just like Andy Bailey


After 8 days, hundreds of emails, tens of support tickets and literally tens of thousands of dollars it finished. The great big 7 8.5 day sale of CommentLuv Premium is over.

Things Learned

This was my first ever paid plugin launch and I learned an awful lot of things. Some things that I’d thought were obvious were not and other things I really worried about just didn’t happen.

here’s a small list

  • No matter how many times you say it is a WordPress plugin, people will ask if it works on blogger.
  • People would rather ask than search
  • The willingness of some people to help others makes you believe in the human race again
  • People just want it to work, always.
  • Sometimes you just have to slide the keyboard away and release it
  • You can’t please all of the people all of the time
  • For some people it is easier to reply to an email with the word ‘unsubscribe’ than click the unsubscribe link :)
  • Feedback is good. It makes things better
  • Detailed feedback is great. It makes things awesome
  • Even questions you as the programmer think are lame can help.
    (if lots of questions come about why isn’t X in there and it actually is already in there then you need to make X a LOT more obvious!)
  • Downsells actually work!
  • You should write your emails a lot sooner than 1 minute before you send them
  • Don’t argue. If someone wants a refund, just refund them and get on with the day
  • Communicate with affiliates and make them feel special, even if that means offering up prizes and other incentives
  • There is no better feeling than waking up and seeing you’re thousands of dollars richer than when you went to sleep. seriously, it’s better than the feeling you’d get if you took the Red Bull version of crystal meth (I imagine)
  • Making money with something you wrote for fun makes it feel like you’re dreaming
  • Andy Jenkins, Jeff Walker, David Bass and Jon Benson are worth listening to
  • there’s more but my fingers hurt!
  • What next?

    Well, I already did my accounts. For some serendipitous reason, I had just got an accountant and registered for a free trial of an online accountancy software called Kashflow which talks to Paypal and gets updates every half an hour so all those transactions which I’d normally have to laboriously enter into a spreadsheet or other accountancy program were done for me. sweet.

    Fix small issues with the plugin. There’s a small discrepancy in reported comment numbers in the top commentluvver widget and some extra code I want to put in to the feed generation functions so the rare cases of xml errors can be fixed.

    Plan the next launch!! I have deliberately set aside 2 whole days to do nothing other than mind map the next launch. Everything to how many emails, what I’ll offer up as affiliate prizes, how many videos, what they’ll be and even what I’ll say when I win my Oscar, oh wait, different dream :)

    Join the fun!

    I’ll be releasing a free video course on how to get noticed on the internet by doing some really easy, free and fun things as part of the pre launch content. If you want to be part of it, head on over to http://www.commentluv.com and add your email to the list and you’ll get notified as soon as it’s ready.

    Comments

    1. rogercarr
      Twitter:
      says:

      Andy,
      I am glad the product launch was successful. It also makes me feel good that one of the things learned in the process was that people in general want to help each other. I am still learning bout using CommentLuv Premium to its full benefit, but I am happy with the capability it is already showing. Thanks for the long hours you and your team put into this. I am better for it and it sounds like you are too!
      rogercarr recently posted..Free Android Apps for HikingMy Profile

    2. Mohamed Osam
      Twitter:
      says:

      Great list of lessons learned Andy, some are funny too.. Let me just add to it, “People prefer NOT to read the instructions”.. (myslef included :) ..

      I once installed a piece of software and the end of the installation, the installer just prompt the usual question “Open the README.txt file?”, and I did say yes to find (paraphrasing) ..

      “Oh, I am surprised you opened the file! People usually don’t read this file. Well, nothing to say for now, you would be one of the first users to read this file. Drop me an email at …@… if you have a question, I am interested on why you are interested in the README.txt ..”
      Mohamed Osam recently posted..MySQL vs. MS-SQLMy Profile

    3. Thomas
      Twitter:
      says:

      Totally anxious. I came on board with my CommentLuv-enabled website and guest posting here too late for the last – in it to win it on the next one!
      Thomas recently posted..Blog Contest, Our Free WordPress Theme Giveaway!My Profile

    4. Marty
      Twitter:
      says:

      Working with people is always a hard job. Even when it’s by email you’ll always get unhappy people thinking you’re trying to take their money with a mediocre product. It’s just how things work.
      Marty recently posted..Best Free Animation SoftwareMy Profile

    5. satrap says:

      Hey Andy,

      I just want to congratulate you from the bottom of my heart. I think we all knew it was going to be a big success any way. You really worked hard for it and more importantly you created something of an immense value. So you deserve the success.

      And thank you again for making the plugin available for such low price.

      By the way, the list you posted above is really interesting. It can be a really nice guide for anyone wanting to release a new product.
      satrap recently posted..How Does Facebook Make Money?My Profile

    6. Mitz Pantic
      Twitter:
      says:

      Excellent plugin Andy! I am more than happy with it! What a bargain! :)
      Mitz Pantic recently posted..Beginners’ Guide To SEOMy Profile

    7. annelg
      Twitter:
      says:

      Congratulations to you, Andy. Best of luck for your future endeavours.
      annelg recently posted..What Is LoveMy Profile

    8. Adeline
      Twitter:
      says:

      Congratulations on a job well done, Andy. I’m really glad I managed to get this on such a great price. Definitely worth the investment. Thanks so much.
      Adeline recently posted..Winning Moments of Mabuhay Germany 2011My Profile

    9. Jennifer Rai says:

      Plugins are installed to make life easy for users but the hard work behind the innovation is commendable. Thank you!

    10. Karen
      Twitter:
      says:

      Hey there Andy, this was a brilliant launch for CommentLuv Premium, I had so many hits coming in to the blog and loads of questions on my contact form, most of them “Does it work on blogger?”, some people eh!

      Looking forward to the next launch ;)
      Karen recently posted..Easy Retweet – Gaining More ReTweets, Followers and MoreMy Profile

    11. ashley says:

      I am still learning bout using CommentLuv Premium to its full benefit, but I am happy with the capability it is already showing. Congrats you hard work well done..

    12. Nancy says:

      I am also new at CommentLuv but have found it more than useful, really appreciate it!
      Nancy recently posted..Sachi For Stylish Hairdressing PerthMy Profile

    13. Britta says:

      I just installed the free version of your plugin, but I am already considering buying the full version.
      Britta recently posted..TandpastaMy Profile

    14. jorge says:

      you call that a short list huh? haha.I’ll be waiting on that coming video then.

    15. I am very excited about the premium version, Andy….even though there were a couple of missteps in the beginning when the JS & CSS plugin was conflicting with it. Glad it’s resolved and I am really enjoying the product. Great work!
      aviewtoathrill recently posted..Be your own heroMy Profile

    16. DiTesco
      Twitter:
      says:

      That’s a great deal of stuff you learned on this launch Andy, and I am really glad you took the time to share it with us. This is the best way to understand and learn things, from real people who actually had real experience. The first two on the list was a blast, lol – go figure
      DiTesco recently posted..6 Reasons Why Your Blog Should Be CommentLuv Premium EnabledMy Profile

    17. Alaine says:

      Hi Andy…I was really sad that I haven’t availed of the sale for Comluv Premium…This is because I was busy these days and I am not aware of this news…

    18. Hesham
      Twitter:
      says:

      Here is another proud winner, and student of the commentluv+ school :)

      You’ve done wonderful launch Andy, and I join my voice to many people who think the same!

      Good job my friend, and looking forward to the next big launch!
      Hesham recently posted..$2550 in Cash Prizes for Bloggers and Internet MarketersMy Profile

    19. terry says:

      I think you’ve had quite an experience judging by the stuff you have learned and it’s such learning on reading on yours.. thanks for sharing your experience.

    20. Ileane
      Twitter:
      says:

      Andy, it was really fun to watch you and all your promo videos and your trials and tribulations :) Let’s do it again.
      Oh yeah, that’s right. We ARE going to do it again!

      And when I say WE I mean – you do all the coding and the making hilarious videos and the rest of us sit back and laugh at everyone who isn’t using the plugin yet. :)
      Except we aren’t laughing at the people using Blogger – it’s really a pity…can’t we toss a WordPress install for the Blogger user with the biggest sob story into the prize package??

      Cheers!!
      Ileane recently posted..How To Use YouTube Insights to Find DemographicsMy Profile

    21. Jon Wade
      Twitter:
      says:

      I see that the top of the pages still say “CommentLuv Premium is relased soon Click here to get on the list”. Should that be updated now, or is this for the next launch?
      Jon Wade recently posted..What does it take to get a job at Google?My Profile

    22. Soleil says:

      Hope the free video is releasing soon. Thanks

    23. Norm says:

      To your lesson “The willingness of some people to help others makes you believe in the human race again”, may I suggest reading The Go-Giver, http://www.thegogiver.com. I think you will enjoy it.
      Norm recently posted..Social Media “Share” Buttons Replace “Tell-a-Friend”My Profile

    24. Michael says:

      It doesn’t matter how well you prepare and how well you write the instructions, there will always be people that don’t understand something or are simply too lazy to read, and consider it faster to just send an email and waste your time. I know, i’ve been there. But you get used to it after a while.
      Michael recently posted..General Electric PVM1870SM 1.8 cu. ft. stainless steel GE Profile SpacemakerMy Profile

    25. Scott
      Twitter:
      says:

      Comment Luv is SO awesome! You guys do a fantastic job!!! Thank you!

      Scott
      Scott recently posted..Paco 5-piece Pink Drum SetMy Profile

    26. James Hussey
      Twitter:
      says:

      Congrats, Andy – you deserve to be thousands richer than when you went to sleep (obviously my favorite part of this business we’re in, though in my case it’s just a few hundred, got a ways to go!).

      So, just wondering…does it work on Blogger? Or Joomla?

      :D

      BTW, I’m giving away a free CommentLuv Premium for anyone interested. This thing rocks!
      James Hussey recently posted..CommentLuv Premium GiveawayMy Profile

    27. It was fun to participate, though I only sold a copy or two the product was SOOO worth the price.

    28. Daniel says:

      The accountancy software sounds great. I can imagine the convenience of having lesser work load. It is great to know that comment luv is constantly being maintained and updated. The plugin has been very been satisfying. Thanks on the info on free version comment luv premium. I can’t wait to try it.
      Daniel recently posted..how to flirt with a girlMy Profile

    29. Rodrigo Valenzuela says:

      Hi Andy!
      I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your wonderful invention CommentLuv. CommentLuv has changed how things work on blogs. It has increased backlinking. It has made lot of things easier. It has also generated sources of income for many. I think it is an excellent invention. I certainly want to know how to get noticed on internet and shall get my email ID subscribed.
      Rodrigo Valenzuela recently posted..Como (y de qué) hablar a un hombreMy Profile

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