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How about employing actual people for them to talk to, as that's the interface they're comfortable with. "We could help our users if only they would totally ch

How about employing actual people for them to talk to, as that's the interface they're comfortable with. "We could help our users if only they would totally change their behavior" isn't a path to success. Get some folks out into your target user's pockets for a couple weeks. You'll gain some understanding of why they need a low attention interface; they have other plates in the air which are far more urgent on a meat level, all the time. Even when they're relaxed and not working, the imperatives of the workday leave that mark.

dizzydes 3y ago
We are currently talking to them so we can learn and look for things to automate. We're aiming to be an online marketplace, so the services we provide (eg skill verification) won't scale if we can't have them use the interface. This is a possibility, but if it's the case we need to learn it early. We're trying to minimise the leap rather than totally change their behaviour. We've started as a messaging jobs bot on apps they already use and are slowly linking more pages to them as we go. Startup history is full of companies that aimed to change people's behaviour over time: Uber is the cliché example in a former call-centric industry. Alas, so are startup cemeteries.
- h2odragon 3y ago
  There's a market there but its already cratered with the distrust left by previous efforts. "Pay us $100 per lead" for jobs 100 miles away, other fun stuff. Suggestion: ask how many of you users actually would appreciate a website they can use with win7/IE or even older. Go into the offices and see what the IT they use is, aim for that.
  - dizzydes 3y ago
    Agree on the distrust, human construction agencies have the same reputation as LinkedIn recruiters. That's why were hoping an open unsiloed marketplace with a references and a clear taxonomy that piggybacks on national certifications might help. On the Win7 point, 90% of our traffic is mobile but I'm sure the offices use v old OS.
    - h2odragon 3y ago
      image the sales point: "Our app can export invoice data to your antiquated backoffice"
    - dieselgate 3y ago
      Make sure it works well on Android given your traffic and intended user base
VoodooJuJu 3y ago
This is what I like about construction and other physical, skin-in-the-game trades: no bullshit. Complete opposite of most white collar jobs. The starry-eyed entrepre-nerd is very often humbled and goes home with empty pockets & a bruised ego when he attempts to penetrate these no-bullshit domains. He just doesn't get it.
- dizzydes 3y ago
  Have you worked in a physical trade? As someone who has, I personally wouldn't go so far as to fetishise blue-collar over white collar. Both have BS - most agency recruiters in construction are really dishonest (and remain profitable) and construction companies generally take their time in paying their bills far beyond the agreement. casual != candid

dizzydes 3y ago

We are currently talking to them so we can learn and look for things to automate. We're aiming to be an online marketplace, so the services we provide (eg skill verification) won't scale if we can't have them use the interface. This is a possibility, but if it's the case we need to learn it early. We're trying to minimise the leap rather than totally change their behaviour. We've started as a messaging jobs bot on apps they already use and are slowly linking more pages to them as we go. Startup history is full of companies that aimed to change people's behaviour over time: Uber is the cliché example in a former call-centric industry. Alas, so are startup cemeteries.

h2odragon 3y ago
There's a market there but its already cratered with the distrust left by previous efforts. "Pay us $100 per lead" for jobs 100 miles away, other fun stuff. Suggestion: ask how many of you users actually would appreciate a website they can use with win7/IE or even older. Go into the offices and see what the IT they use is, aim for that.
- dizzydes 3y ago
  Agree on the distrust, human construction agencies have the same reputation as LinkedIn recruiters. That's why were hoping an open unsiloed marketplace with a references and a clear taxonomy that piggybacks on national certifications might help. On the Win7 point, 90% of our traffic is mobile but I'm sure the offices use v old OS.
  - h2odragon 3y ago
    image the sales point: "Our app can export invoice data to your antiquated backoffice"
  - dieselgate 3y ago
    Make sure it works well on Android given your traffic and intended user base

VoodooJuJu 3y ago

This is what I like about construction and other physical, skin-in-the-game trades: no bullshit. Complete opposite of most white collar jobs. The starry-eyed entrepre-nerd is very often humbled and goes home with empty pockets & a bruised ego when he attempts to penetrate these no-bullshit domains. He just doesn't get it.

dizzydes 3y ago
Have you worked in a physical trade? As someone who has, I personally wouldn't go so far as to fetishise blue-collar over white collar. Both have BS - most agency recruiters in construction are really dishonest (and remain profitable) and construction companies generally take their time in paying their bills far beyond the agreement. casual != candid