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I hope that they can put some of this funding to work by hiring a copywriter, as it's impossible to figure out what this software does from reading the homepage

I hope that they can put some of this funding to work by hiring a copywriter, as it's impossible to figure out what this software does from reading the homepage.

warent 6y ago
It says "Open source product analytics" front and center, and then it goes on to elaborate. I grant you that there are features in the screenshot which are not clearly described in the homepage, but it's hyperbole to say it's impossible to figure out what this does from reading the homepage.
- scollet 6y ago
  There is some value in brevity. The 'homepage' typically serves that purpose.
- peteforde 6y ago
  It's not hyperbole in the slightest. "Understand your users." So like, translation? People with accessibility issues? "Build a better product." But you don't know what my product is, and I still don't know if you can help me achieve that goal because a service for everyone is a service for nobody. "Join 1000 companies" Is 1000 a lot? It is if they are fortune 5000 companies, but not a lot if it's Shopify dropshippers or people selling Amway. If you name names, I can quickly decide if I belong in this group. "Try hosted or self-managed" I still don't know what you're trying to pitch me, so how can I possibly know what to click on? "Open source product analytics" - wait, are you an open source analytics tools, or an analytics tool for my open source product? "Understand users and events" So it can tell me how my churn will be impacted by COVID-19 and who is in need of special attention during the Black Lives Matter protests? I could go on and on, and no - I'm not being difficult or contrarian... they have one opportunity to convince me that I'm in the right place and they have what I need. They don't make any kind of attempt to compare or contrast what they are offering to current products I'm likely already using or existing behaviours that I'll be able to change. The whole thing basically screams "if you're here, you already know what this is". That's a missed opportunity and it's what inspired me to post.
paxys 6y ago
What's not to understand on that page? IMO there's no point overcomplicating/oversimplifying or otherwise modifying your message to try and reach people who aren't the target audience anyways.
- peteforde 6y ago
  The only people who could understand already know what it is. That's a problem if they'd like more customers. "Understand your users." So like, translation? People with accessibility issues? "Build a better product." But you don't know what my product is, and I still don't know if you can help me achieve that goal because a service for everyone is a service for nobody. "Join 1000 companies" Is 1000 a lot? It is if they are fortune 5000 companies, but not a lot if it's Shopify dropshippers or people selling Amway. If you name names, I can quickly decide if I belong in this group. "Try hosted or self-managed" I still don't know what you're trying to pitch me, so how can I possibly know what to click on? "Open source product analytics" - wait, are you an open source analytics tools, or an analytics tool for my open source product? "Understand users and events" So it can tell me how my churn will be impacted by COVID-19 and who is in need of special attention during the Black Lives Matter protests? I could go on and on, and no - I'm not being difficult or contrarian... they have one opportunity to convince me that I'm in the right place and they have what I need. They don't make any kind of attempt to compare or contrast what they are offering to current products I'm likely already using or existing behaviours that I'll be able to change. The whole thing basically screams "if you're here, you already know what this is". That's a missed opportunity and it's what inspired me to post.

I hope that they can put some of this funding to work by hiring a copywriter, as it's impossible to figure out what this software does from reading the homepage.

warent 6y ago

It says "Open source product analytics" front and center, and then it goes on to elaborate. I grant you that there are features in the screenshot which are not clearly described in the homepage, but it's hyperbole to say it's impossible to figure out what this does from reading the homepage.

scollet 6y ago
There is some value in brevity. The 'homepage' typically serves that purpose.
peteforde 6y ago
It's not hyperbole in the slightest. "Understand your users." So like, translation? People with accessibility issues? "Build a better product." But you don't know what my product is, and I still don't know if you can help me achieve that goal because a service for everyone is a service for nobody. "Join 1000 companies" Is 1000 a lot? It is if they are fortune 5000 companies, but not a lot if it's Shopify dropshippers or people selling Amway. If you name names, I can quickly decide if I belong in this group. "Try hosted or self-managed" I still don't know what you're trying to pitch me, so how can I possibly know what to click on? "Open source product analytics" - wait, are you an open source analytics tools, or an analytics tool for my open source product? "Understand users and events" So it can tell me how my churn will be impacted by COVID-19 and who is in need of special attention during the Black Lives Matter protests? I could go on and on, and no - I'm not being difficult or contrarian... they have one opportunity to convince me that I'm in the right place and they have what I need. They don't make any kind of attempt to compare or contrast what they are offering to current products I'm likely already using or existing behaviours that I'll be able to change. The whole thing basically screams "if you're here, you already know what this is". That's a missed opportunity and it's what inspired me to post.

paxys 6y ago

What's not to understand on that page? IMO there's no point overcomplicating/oversimplifying or otherwise modifying your message to try and reach people who aren't the target audience anyways.

peteforde 6y ago
The only people who could understand already know what it is. That's a problem if they'd like more customers. "Understand your users." So like, translation? People with accessibility issues? "Build a better product." But you don't know what my product is, and I still don't know if you can help me achieve that goal because a service for everyone is a service for nobody. "Join 1000 companies" Is 1000 a lot? It is if they are fortune 5000 companies, but not a lot if it's Shopify dropshippers or people selling Amway. If you name names, I can quickly decide if I belong in this group. "Try hosted or self-managed" I still don't know what you're trying to pitch me, so how can I possibly know what to click on? "Open source product analytics" - wait, are you an open source analytics tools, or an analytics tool for my open source product? "Understand users and events" So it can tell me how my churn will be impacted by COVID-19 and who is in need of special attention during the Black Lives Matter protests? I could go on and on, and no - I'm not being difficult or contrarian... they have one opportunity to convince me that I'm in the right place and they have what I need. They don't make any kind of attempt to compare or contrast what they are offering to current products I'm likely already using or existing behaviours that I'll be able to change. The whole thing basically screams "if you're here, you already know what this is". That's a missed opportunity and it's what inspired me to post.