How do people start indie products? I mean if you had to boil it down for some one else?
Is "start" like this:
Imagine also, most people don't start with twitter followers. Most people don't even desire to do the social networking thing. I guess more than ever this is necessary. So where does that fit in the above 3 steps?
I read articles here where the company started as a hobby, or a tangent to something someone was already working on. And others are "info products" (btw, what's the functional difference between "info-product" and "book"?)
Here's a random idea: Random art graphics (abstract like), based on user parameters, and royalty free? Is that a good enough "idea". How would that be tested without "followers"?
Had to ask I guess.
The "start" you outline is a process littered with the spent husks of a million wantrepreneurs, who all died building something nobody wanted.
A better starting point is to find a problem to solve. Ideally something you have a passion for. It could be a problem you have, or someone you know, or a problem that already has a solution but where you can bring something new or target a specific part of the market.
Test your proposed solution on potential customers. Find a way to do this at little cost to you. If they like it ask them to pay for it.