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Jason's comment (as well as others) is spot-on. It's only a project. However, projects are how many sustainable businesses begin.

Your project is based on your assumptions on what customers wants. You now need to discover whether those assumptions are true (facts) or completely wrong. If they turn out to be true, then you're on to something.

Don't give up. Even if your assumptions turn out to be wrong, 'failures' are part of the process, and you can use what you learned on your next quest for a sustainable business.

For me, it depends on whether the project is for fun (just something I need) or a chance at a sustainable business.

If I want to test whether the project could turn into a sustainable business, I'll take a few days and create something minimal. This allows me to get the solution "out of my head" and ensure I actually want to work on it. In parallel, I'll start defining potential market segments and the problems the project could solve (C-P-S). This starts the process of customer development and trying to determine problem/solution fit. I'll then tailor the project based on actual metrics and user interviews.

I think utilizing another method besides "votes" could help increase traction for more submissions. For example, if I could easily discover users who share my interests, I'd love to receive an update (RSS) whenever that user submitted, voted, commented, etc. on an article. Instead of receiving a stream of content that may not interest me (I therefore only scan the page), I would know the content I'm seeing is somehow pre-vetted (at a minimum, by the submitter).

Ironically, I've felt this way for a while and created a website to test this theory.

I've used YouTube for some video hosting on my website and don't believe it to be unprofessional. In fact, when requesting feedback on a landing page which showed the video, I never received a comment that would have implied YouTube hosting was anything other then acceptable.

I think that unless you have an overall vision and reasons for running a closed beta, you should open it up. Forcing users to invite their friends for earlier access only works if your website has the capability to go viral. It's worked for the few companies who initially did it, but too many companies are jumping on this method, in my opinion.

If possible, I think the "best of both worlds" solution is to have an open beta, but encourage users to invite friends by offering something other then early access. I do this with my startup and it has helped get the word out.

Thanks Patric. A more compelling preview screen is something that hasn't even crossed my mind (Sometimes it's the little things). Also appreciate the other feedback.

Thanks. Your feedback makes me believe I've fallen into the chicken/egg trap, where I switch between different types of users. Will fix.

Also appreciate the feedback on the video.

Thanks for the links, as well as the feedback. I have been wondering if oAuth with Twitter has been turning people away, so definitely appreciate the comment and will look into straight email.

Thanks. I've been testing different text throughout, but haven't looked at button placement. Will definitely look at that.