Never Kill Your Products
In the vast sea of web products, apps, and services, the life cycle of a product is fraught with challenges. Many projects never see the light of day, and even more are discarded prematurely, often at the expense of valuable learning opportunities and potential future gains.
The Value of Persistence
Every product, successful or not, is a testament to your skills and dedication. The digital footprints left by these products form a portfolio that showcases your journey, growth, and capabilities.
Building Your Digital Portfolio
Your creations are more than just projects, they are a narrative of your professional evolution. Keeping them alive maintains a living history of your work, allowing others to witness your progress and commitment.
A Case for Patience
Products need time to mature. Immediate success is rare. Search engine indexing and organic growth are gradual, word of mouth needs time to spread. Abandoning a project too early could mean missing out on these opportunities.
When to Hold On
- No Significant Costs: If the product isn't draining resources, let it live.
- Potential for Growth: Some products have a slow start but can gain traction over time.
- Educational Value: There's always something to learn from keeping a project around.
Archiving with Care
If maintaining a product is unsustainable, consider archiving:
- Backup: Always keep a backup of your projects. They're valuable assets.
- Screenshots: Document your work with screenshots. They serve as proof of your accomplishments.
- Showcase: Use these archives to bolster your portfolio. They can be powerful talking points in interviews or meetings.
Web Archive is a great tool for archiving websites. It's free and easy to use.
Conclusion
Before you consider killing a product, weigh its potential against its cost. Remember, every project has intrinsic value as part of your professional story. Make sure it's preserved in some form, as it could one day be the key to unlocking new opportunities.
