Is it possible that things like Freckle or even the 37signals stuff are more "fan based" businesses rather than stuff that people really need? More like "heck, I like these guys, why not pay them 20$/month"?
The real work then would be blogging a lot, going to conferences, socializing, to maintain the fan base.
It's not. We got a first surge of signups from people who heard about it because they followed us, but the vast majority of our paying customers have no freaking clue "who we are."
The real work then would be blogging a lot, going to conferences, socializing, to maintain the fan base.