First paying customer

I prioritized payment processing during development and basically have only enough code to allow people to pay (can still use the app if payment is cancelled, no plan changes, limited visibility into billing activity).

Here's how I did it:

• Added a sign up form to my marketing page
• Collected about 50 email addresses over a few weeks of folks who were interested.
• Handpicked from the contact list about 20 people who filled out the entire contact form and appeared to be human
• Emailed those 20 people inviting them into the product.

Actually I'll just share the whole email here for posterity:

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I'm sending you this email because you expressed interest in trying out the product (https://www.telephony.cc/), and I am using it in production; just today I had to 2fa while signing up for a nextdoor account and got to use my fancy new 512 number.

Here's where I'm at product-wise:

• can purchase a number ($9/month)

• incoming sms is routed to email

• replies to the email will reply to the original sms with your new number

Would you like to try this?

<link to app here> <- personalized but you can change the email address if you like.

One thing I'm struggling with is the upfront payment requirement. My primary motivator for that is to prevent any issues with spam. My previous product was constantly fighting different spam-related issues and I definitely do not want to do that again.

I haven't figured out how to give coupons yet but if you want to try it and don't want to pay just let me know and I'll refund you (the early adopter discount!).

Thanks for your interest!

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