Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Chris delves into marketing mode for the TDD course, removes more client-side analytics code, and starts redesigning the information architecture on Upcase. On FormKeep, Ben alerts users to site down-time, removes all pay-per-form logic from the codebase, and begins to set up trials sans credit-card. Upcase FormKeep Netflix Culture Deck Fundamentals of TDD on Upcase Fundamentals of TDD Blog Post Pingdom Sandi Metz on Bike Shed Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Ben receives some insight on customer referrals for FormKeep, applies his pricing philosophy to Hound, and realizes a personal blind-spot when it comes to customer satisfaction. On Upcase, Chris patches an automated follow-up messaging bug leading to enhanced focus on server-side analytics, welcomes Tyson to the team to begin work on trail mapping course content, and soft launches the Fundamentals of TDD trail. Upcase FormKeep Age Motivation extension The Laila & Brenda Show .fm wiki Amplitude HitTail Hound Fundamentals of TDD Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Ben rants about bad jokes on twitter, doesn't ship any improved activation features on FormKeep this week, irons out some bugs on FormLinter, and begins an ad campaign. Chris contemplates shifting Upcase's business model, and walks through the impetus driving this decision. Upcase FormKeep John Carmack Twitter Fan-In FormLinter The Weekly Iteration Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Ben encounters a downed FormKeep and enables a monitoring service, completes the un-grandfathering process for accounts on old tiers, and begins work on improving activation flow. Chris sends out a survey to users and discovers a shift in the Upcase demographics. Upcase FormKeep pingdom FormLinter Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Chris digs into the causes for a MRR drop, discovering usage trends with seasonality; and in the process gets a clearer picture of Upcase's user base. Also, he welcome Geoff to the project, and begins a new marketing initiative driven by user testimonials. Ben welcomes Tyson onto team Formkeep to begin redesigning on boarding, and continues FormLinter improvements / marketing. Upcase Formkeep Typeform Hiten Shah on Giant Robots ChefSteps FullStory FormLinter Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

This week, we ruminate on the meta-organization of project management. Ben embraces team feedback on FormLinter.com, reaches the end of Formkeep's grandfathered pricing window, and removes sandboxing to streamline plan structures. Chris contemplates Upcase's role as a product within thoughtbot, prepares to welcome on new team members (bye Gabe!), and restructures topic relationships to improve discoverability. Also, the return of Dance Talk! Upcase Formkeep Getting Things Done Warren Buffett's 2-List System FormLinter Ruby on Rails 15 Minute Blog Engine Demo Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

On Formkeep, Ben launches FormLinter to increase form accessibility and conversions, and looks forward to additional persons on thoughtbot product work. Chris continues marketing of the Bourbon Smash course, wrestles with metrics and analytics, and improves team logins on Upcase. Upcase Formkeep FormLinter AccessLint Traction- Gabriel Weinberg & Justin Mares inbound.org Failing on Day One- Chad Pytel Panopticon Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

On Upcase, Chris releases the Bourbon course, restructures how new courses are highlighted, and discusses juggling the various factors that contribute to MRR. Ben takes on-boarding notes from a century old dance school to improve activation on Formkeep. Upcase Formkeep Hardcore History Bourbon Smash Course on Upcase Ruby Tapas Arthur Murray Dance Centers Bootstrapped CPC Rule of Thumb- Jason Cohen Dark Age of Camelot Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Ben changes product activation flow, possibly for the worse, launches a new UI, and muses on new customer acquisition for Formkeep. On Upcase, Chris starts to see benefits from the domain transition, and brainstorms on how to un-bottleneck course releases. Upcase Formkeep Thinking, Fast and Slow Getting Things Done Planet Money 667: The Experiment Experiment Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots

Ben delays a new feature until an easier implementation can be reached, adds additional event tracking for better site usage feedback, takes a medium to large digression to rant about Javascript, and makes headway on Formkeep's UI refactor. On Upcase, Chris steps back from the content spotlight, takes a hit to traffic from the domain transition, and tests all things email. Upcase Formkeep Amplitude Analytics Segment Analytics Bike Shed #58- Rewrite vs refactor episode Keeping the Front-End Modular with BEM- On Giant Robots Blog Inline CSS at Khan Academy: Aphrodite Clearbit Your Money or Your Life How to 10x in 15 months- Rob Walling 2012 SaaS Conversions Benchmark Support Giant Robots Smashing Into Other Giant Robots