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Show HN: Invy - Easiest way to schedule an event with your friends

4 points by wunki 14y ago

wunki 14y ago
We bootstrapped this little app. with a three-person team. I'm really anxious and nervous to hear what the HN crowd thinks of it. Here are some promo code's to try it out: RFTYNEP79YNE HF7EREA7XTW7 KNFJXELEAKW4 33YXN6HKYR64 NKWM7RMXWMWX
dwynings 14y ago
"Easiest way to pick a date with your friends" Maybe it's just me, but when I read that, I initially thought the app was like an OkCupid for my social graph. A more clear tagline may be something like "Schedule events with your friends"
- wunki 14y ago
  Heard you and agree. Changed the title of the submission to avoid any confusion.
  - dwynings 14y ago
    By the way, it's beautifully designed! Have you thought about adding a demo of the website version for an event? (I know you have a screenshot on the tour page, but it's sort of non obvious since you hid the browser chrome).
    - wunki 14y ago
      Thank you! Will pass the compliment on to our designer @wdeb. An extra screenshot of the web app. is not a bad idea, putting it on the list.
richf 14y ago
I really like the overall design — minimal, yet elegant. However, as a user - I don't see myself paying for this app. Have you thought about any other monetization routes outside of straight app purchase?
- wunki 14y ago
  Yes, we have thought really hard about this. We tried to get Google ads on the "invite" page for non-iphone users but were rejected multiple times because of a "lack of content". Because we are bootstrapping, we need to make money from the beginning, so that's why we choose to make it a payed app. on the app. store. We will see how it goes and maybe change our monetization plan along the way.
dwc 14y ago
I looked around the site, but I cannot tell if people you invite need to sign up in order to respond. Over the years I've been invited to things using eVite (or whatever), only to be prompted to sign up before I can RSVP. It's a complete deal breaker for me. Not only do I not sign up, I usually complained bitterly to the person inviting me.
- wunki 14y ago
  No, to respond to an invitation you don't need to signup. You get an unique link in your e-mail which opens your personal invite. We will make this more clear on the site.
  - dwc 14y ago
    Well, that's great! Paradoxically, this will make it much more likely that I will sign up.
sebg 14y ago
Thoughts: /// invy logo - confused as to why there is an asterisks there. /// Two main call to action buttons [in green]: Download app & Available on the App Store - a bit confusing as they both go to the same place. /// Check boxes beneath the "available on the app store button" * Friends can respond from any device via the Invy website - does this mean that my friends can log into your website through a web browser on their mobile device? not sure what this is supposed to tell me. * iCal integration makes sense * Address Book integration - is this outlook address book, or just general address book integrations? * Cheaper than a Caffe Latte - just 1.99. I was still trying to understand what the app did before I reached this, so it seemed disjointed that you were trying to convince me it was worthing paying for your service before I understood your service. /// White iPhone - it took me a while to realize it's a was an iPhone. I thought it was a nice border around your screenshot. Perhaps showing more of the phone would make me realize that it's an iPhone or at least mobile app. /// Three blue links next to "download app" button. As a new user to your website I want to know more about what specifically invy app does. If we look wpengine.com from the left to right links are: about / blog / reviews / our customers / contact. I would have expected something along the same lines. Customer reviews / some type of blog / how awesome my life will be after I use this, etc. The press didn't really fit (especially when I went to the press page and was greeted by : Hello press people :) and an offer to contact you about press related inquiries. Overall - I like the design though think you have to spend more time honing the right message to the right customer and what specific problem you are solving for them. Great work on getting something up, out, and reviewed on HN!
- wunki 14y ago
  Thank you for the feedback. We will definitely use it to improve our homepage.
- johnhartigun 14y ago
  Come on, you are too harsh, this is one of the most polished iPhone app + website combos. Top 2% or better in terms of UI / UX I would say.
johnhartigun 14y ago
I really like the design and simple UI. You have done a great job. Added the website into my "Nice design" bookmarks folder. If it was for Android I would buy it.

4 points by wunki 14y ago

wunki 14y ago

We bootstrapped this little app. with a three-person team. I'm really anxious and nervous to hear what the HN crowd thinks of it. Here are some promo code's to try it out: RFTYNEP79YNE HF7EREA7XTW7 KNFJXELEAKW4 33YXN6HKYR64 NKWM7RMXWMWX

dwynings 14y ago

"Easiest way to pick a date with your friends" Maybe it's just me, but when I read that, I initially thought the app was like an OkCupid for my social graph. A more clear tagline may be something like "Schedule events with your friends"

wunki 14y ago
Heard you and agree. Changed the title of the submission to avoid any confusion.
- dwynings 14y ago
  By the way, it's beautifully designed! Have you thought about adding a demo of the website version for an event? (I know you have a screenshot on the tour page, but it's sort of non obvious since you hid the browser chrome).
  - wunki 14y ago
    Thank you! Will pass the compliment on to our designer @wdeb. An extra screenshot of the web app. is not a bad idea, putting it on the list.

richf 14y ago

I really like the overall design — minimal, yet elegant. However, as a user - I don't see myself paying for this app. Have you thought about any other monetization routes outside of straight app purchase?

wunki 14y ago
Yes, we have thought really hard about this. We tried to get Google ads on the "invite" page for non-iphone users but were rejected multiple times because of a "lack of content". Because we are bootstrapping, we need to make money from the beginning, so that's why we choose to make it a payed app. on the app. store. We will see how it goes and maybe change our monetization plan along the way.

dwc 14y ago

I looked around the site, but I cannot tell if people you invite need to sign up in order to respond. Over the years I've been invited to things using eVite (or whatever), only to be prompted to sign up before I can RSVP. It's a complete deal breaker for me. Not only do I not sign up, I usually complained bitterly to the person inviting me.

wunki 14y ago
No, to respond to an invitation you don't need to signup. You get an unique link in your e-mail which opens your personal invite. We will make this more clear on the site.
- dwc 14y ago
  Well, that's great! Paradoxically, this will make it much more likely that I will sign up.

sebg 14y ago

Thoughts: /// invy logo - confused as to why there is an asterisks there. /// Two main call to action buttons [in green]: Download app & Available on the App Store - a bit confusing as they both go to the same place. /// Check boxes beneath the "available on the app store button" * Friends can respond from any device via the Invy website - does this mean that my friends can log into your website through a web browser on their mobile device? not sure what this is supposed to tell me. * iCal integration makes sense * Address Book integration - is this outlook address book, or just general address book integrations? * Cheaper than a Caffe Latte - just 1.99. I was still trying to understand what the app did before I reached this, so it seemed disjointed that you were trying to convince me it was worthing paying for your service before I understood your service. /// White iPhone - it took me a while to realize it's a was an iPhone. I thought it was a nice border around your screenshot. Perhaps showing more of the phone would make me realize that it's an iPhone or at least mobile app. /// Three blue links next to "download app" button. As a new user to your website I want to know more about what specifically invy app does. If we look wpengine.com from the left to right links are: about / blog / reviews / our customers / contact. I would have expected something along the same lines. Customer reviews / some type of blog / how awesome my life will be after I use this, etc. The press didn't really fit (especially when I went to the press page and was greeted by : Hello press people :) and an offer to contact you about press related inquiries. Overall - I like the design though think you have to spend more time honing the right message to the right customer and what specific problem you are solving for them. Great work on getting something up, out, and reviewed on HN!

wunki 14y ago
Thank you for the feedback. We will definitely use it to improve our homepage.
johnhartigun 14y ago
Come on, you are too harsh, this is one of the most polished iPhone app + website combos. Top 2% or better in terms of UI / UX I would say.

johnhartigun 14y ago

I really like the design and simple UI. You have done a great job. Added the website into my "Nice design" bookmarks folder. If it was for Android I would buy it.