7 ms·

Ask HN: Please review my site/app - Dokuments.com

15 points by dokuments 16y ago

Hi everyone- I'd love to get your feedback and suggestions on two things: - the marketing site (dokuments.com) and - the software (signup for a free 14-day trial) Thanks in advance for your time and comments.

asimjalis 16y ago
Looks very clean and well designed.
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks! Glad you like it.
marcamillion 16y ago
The site design looks ok, but it looks a bit bland. The color palette is not too enticing. There is too much info on the main page. I have looked at the page briefly twice (while writing this) and I still don't know what the app does. That scrolling image in the middle should tell me what it does, and not show me an abstract example of a screenshot of the app. Upon looking at the page a third time, I see the following: web + database apps made easy create portable, open-source PHP/MySQL/Ajax web apps in minutes. That doesn't sound specific enough. What problem is this solving and why should I care? Looks like you put all of your links in the navbar in the header. Maybe you can reduce the number of links there and move some of the others either throughout the page or to the footer (e.g. the blog, contact us, etc.) The 'free 14-day trial' button doesn't jump off of the page enough. It's your only call to action but it doesn't grab me, per se. Other than that, congrats on actually launching. I am not being mean, just trying to give constructive feedback. Good luck! [edit] All of the above was for the marketing site...not the service itself.
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks for your feedback; this is very helpful. I'll work on improving the issues you brought up.
minalecs 16y ago
I think its good you have a business model, but I think you're price points are little high. I would put one option out there as free. With a 14 day trial at $40 a month, to me is very high. I wouldn't even go through the 14 day trial, as you have a lot of competition in this space. More than likely someone using this type of product is not someone that will want something that complex. Theres wufoo, google spreadsheets, formstack, all offer a free option. Good luck
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks; I think you bring up some good points. I'll keep this in mind as I move ahead.
puredemo 16y ago
I found the design really offputting personally.
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks for your feedback.
  - puredemo 16y ago
    Sure. No offense intended at all. It just struck me as very low contrast and stripped down. And I actually like stripped down sites (craigslist, ycomb, reddit) but your site sort of took it to a whole new level.
marilyn 16y ago
The focal piece on the page, the moving images of the product, is quite off putting, and doesn't really explain what's going on with your product clearly. I suggest replacing it with a demo/promo video with voice over explaining the value of your product.
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks; that is a great idea.
alexwyser 16y ago
I'm a web designer so the criticism I have is of the website itself. While the aesthetics of the site is quite good, it does not meet the objective of introducing the key benefits of the app, and inviting the user to try it out. If you are tracking your visitors, I'm sure you have a high bounce rate. You should redesign your site. <shameless plug> If you need a web designer, I could help you out. My portfolio is at http://www.alexwyser.com http://www.alexwyser.com and my email is alexwyser@gmail.com. Let me know if you need my help </shameless plug>
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks for your feedback. You've got some great work in your portfolio; I may email you soon.
revorad 16y ago
Your pricing looks really complicated. Perhaps you could merge the two dimensions (no.of sites and type of plan) such that each type of plan comes with a set number of sites? Just for fun, I slid the "number of supported users" slider all the way to the right. $20,000 per month for a 1000 users??? That must be some serious support you are offering.
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks for your feedback. I was worried about this. I think I may try out some other ideas which may solve the complexity and other problems mentioned by others.
imp 16y ago
I'm a web developer, and I'm a little confused on who the target audience is. Is this something that I would buy and then resell as a product to clients? Or is this something a mom-and-pop store would buy for themselves and hook into their hosting account? In general it looks cool, but I'm unsure what level of abstraction you're going for. Also, your tagline "custom software solutions" is way too vague. Tighten that up to be more specific so that it's clear what you're offering. Also, your name Dokuments may be a cute domain name, but I'm not sure how documents are related to custom-built LAMP apps. It looks like there's some really cool and easy to use technology there, and this is probably a really good area to target. I know a couple non-technical family and friends who could possibly need a couple of those applications. I would just work on some of the marketing copy to make it clear who your audience is. Good luck!
- dokuments 16y ago
  Thanks for the feedback; this is very helpful. In reviewing this and the other feedback, I think I'm going to focus dokuments.com on non-developers (small businesses), and use another domain I own (appGenerator.com) for a developer-oriented version. Thanks again!
zeroxsys 16y ago
It is also not a "document" for me, a "form" (that a non-programmer may use to build their own custom online forms). So I guess, providing a map of flow of operations/commands will be helpful to tell the clients where Dokuments will play in their business/personal workflow. Good luck!
- dokuments 16y ago
  Great suggestion; thanks!
jkahn 16y ago
First impressions on the marketing (no time to test the software, sorry): - I looked at the site and almost clicked away. There is nothing "grabby". Why would I use this? What would people that land on your site be looking for? Try answering some of those questions. Second thought: I see you have included this lower on the page. It needs to stand out more. Maybe something like "Create powerful data-collection web apps in minutes". - The concept of the animated centre section is popular and works. I think the execution here is not so good. The slides are too busy. Instead, try putting concepts/features/testimonials on the slides. E.g. "With Dokuments we developed our HR survey in hours rather than weeks - Random Company". - What's your market? I'm guessing anyone who knows the buzzwords near the top of the screen probably isn't going to buy dokuments (I could be wrong, though). Talk in their language. I hope that helps.
- dokuments 16y ago
  Great feedback; this is very helpful. I hope I can revise the site to solve the problems you mentioned.

15 points by dokuments 16y ago

asimjalis 16y ago

Looks very clean and well designed.

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks! Glad you like it.

marcamillion 16y ago

The site design looks ok, but it looks a bit bland. The color palette is not too enticing. There is too much info on the main page. I have looked at the page briefly twice (while writing this) and I still don't know what the app does. That scrolling image in the middle should tell me what it does, and not show me an abstract example of a screenshot of the app. Upon looking at the page a third time, I see the following: web + database apps made easy create portable, open-source PHP/MySQL/Ajax web apps in minutes. That doesn't sound specific enough. What problem is this solving and why should I care? Looks like you put all of your links in the navbar in the header. Maybe you can reduce the number of links there and move some of the others either throughout the page or to the footer (e.g. the blog, contact us, etc.) The 'free 14-day trial' button doesn't jump off of the page enough. It's your only call to action but it doesn't grab me, per se. Other than that, congrats on actually launching. I am not being mean, just trying to give constructive feedback. Good luck! [edit] All of the above was for the marketing site...not the service itself.

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks for your feedback; this is very helpful. I'll work on improving the issues you brought up.

minalecs 16y ago

I think its good you have a business model, but I think you're price points are little high. I would put one option out there as free. With a 14 day trial at $40 a month, to me is very high. I wouldn't even go through the 14 day trial, as you have a lot of competition in this space. More than likely someone using this type of product is not someone that will want something that complex. Theres wufoo, google spreadsheets, formstack, all offer a free option. Good luck

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks; I think you bring up some good points. I'll keep this in mind as I move ahead.

puredemo 16y ago

I found the design really offputting personally.

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks for your feedback.
- puredemo 16y ago
  Sure. No offense intended at all. It just struck me as very low contrast and stripped down. And I actually like stripped down sites (craigslist, ycomb, reddit) but your site sort of took it to a whole new level.

marilyn 16y ago

The focal piece on the page, the moving images of the product, is quite off putting, and doesn't really explain what's going on with your product clearly. I suggest replacing it with a demo/promo video with voice over explaining the value of your product.

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks; that is a great idea.

alexwyser 16y ago

I'm a web designer so the criticism I have is of the website itself. While the aesthetics of the site is quite good, it does not meet the objective of introducing the key benefits of the app, and inviting the user to try it out. If you are tracking your visitors, I'm sure you have a high bounce rate. You should redesign your site. <shameless plug> If you need a web designer, I could help you out. My portfolio is at http://www.alexwyser.com http://www.alexwyser.com and my email is alexwyser@gmail.com. Let me know if you need my help </shameless plug>

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks for your feedback. You've got some great work in your portfolio; I may email you soon.

revorad 16y ago

Your pricing looks really complicated. Perhaps you could merge the two dimensions (no.of sites and type of plan) such that each type of plan comes with a set number of sites? Just for fun, I slid the "number of supported users" slider all the way to the right. $20,000 per month for a 1000 users??? That must be some serious support you are offering.

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks for your feedback. I was worried about this. I think I may try out some other ideas which may solve the complexity and other problems mentioned by others.

imp 16y ago

I'm a web developer, and I'm a little confused on who the target audience is. Is this something that I would buy and then resell as a product to clients? Or is this something a mom-and-pop store would buy for themselves and hook into their hosting account? In general it looks cool, but I'm unsure what level of abstraction you're going for. Also, your tagline "custom software solutions" is way too vague. Tighten that up to be more specific so that it's clear what you're offering. Also, your name Dokuments may be a cute domain name, but I'm not sure how documents are related to custom-built LAMP apps. It looks like there's some really cool and easy to use technology there, and this is probably a really good area to target. I know a couple non-technical family and friends who could possibly need a couple of those applications. I would just work on some of the marketing copy to make it clear who your audience is. Good luck!

dokuments 16y ago
Thanks for the feedback; this is very helpful. In reviewing this and the other feedback, I think I'm going to focus dokuments.com on non-developers (small businesses), and use another domain I own (appGenerator.com) for a developer-oriented version. Thanks again!

zeroxsys 16y ago

It is also not a "document" for me, a "form" (that a non-programmer may use to build their own custom online forms). So I guess, providing a map of flow of operations/commands will be helpful to tell the clients where Dokuments will play in their business/personal workflow. Good luck!

dokuments 16y ago
Great suggestion; thanks!

jkahn 16y ago

First impressions on the marketing (no time to test the software, sorry): - I looked at the site and almost clicked away. There is nothing "grabby". Why would I use this? What would people that land on your site be looking for? Try answering some of those questions. Second thought: I see you have included this lower on the page. It needs to stand out more. Maybe something like "Create powerful data-collection web apps in minutes". - The concept of the animated centre section is popular and works. I think the execution here is not so good. The slides are too busy. Instead, try putting concepts/features/testimonials on the slides. E.g. "With Dokuments we developed our HR survey in hours rather than weeks - Random Company". - What's your market? I'm guessing anyone who knows the buzzwords near the top of the screen probably isn't going to buy dokuments (I could be wrong, though). Talk in their language. I hope that helps.

dokuments 16y ago
Great feedback; this is very helpful. I hope I can revise the site to solve the problems you mentioned.